What fills your cup? For our students, we hope they answer with "Chapel."
Chapel is more than just a time slot three mornings a week—it’s vital to our school’s community. It’s a time to experience God’s love, grow in faith, and build unity as the body of Christ. Here are three key reasons why chapel matters so much to life at LuHi:
1) God is a Good Father
In Luke 11:13, Jesus reminds us that God, as a good father, loves to give good gifts to His children. In chapel, we receive the gift of forgiveness and a reminder of our salvation through hearing His Word. Faith comes from hearing His Word. As theology teacher Mr. Oberdieck says, “Let’s proclaim the Gospel often!”
Just as a father provides for his children, God provides for us by filling us up with His truth and love so we can serve others. Chapel is where we get to pause, receive, and recognize the spiritual gifts He freely gives.
2) Hearing the Word as a Means of Grace
Worship allows us to be honest about who we are and reminds us of the powerful, unconditional love we have in Jesus. 1 John 1:8-9 emphasizes that we all fall short, yet we are met with grace and forgiveness. Chapel offers a safe place for students to lay down their struggles and be reminded that God loves them deeply, no matter what. This honest reflection keeps us grounded in the truth and renews our understanding of who we are in Christ. Three times a week, we’re reminded that grace is real, and it’s ours in Jesus.
Hearing God’s Word is one of the means of grace. As theology teacher Mr. Vanderhyde shares, “We are dependent on God and in constant need of receiving from him. Faith is not just knowledge that we own. We receive faith from the Holy Spirit daily, and He gives it to us through His means of grace. To fall away from the means of grace is to fall away from the pipeline of God's gifts, which will starve us spiritually.”
3) Building Community in Christ
In Hebrews 10:24-25, we are encouraged to meet together and build each other up. Worship is more than a personal experience; it’s a chance to connect as the body of Christ. Gathering as a community in worship helps create a bond that goes beyond academics, sports, and daily routines—it builds a spiritual family. In worship, we turn our eyes upward, look beyond ourselves, and see God as our Creator. In turn, this helps us see one another as *imago Dei*, made in the image of God.
In Sticky Faith by Kara Powell and Chap Clark, the authors share, "Despite the age segregation that exists in our churches and broader culture, each young person is greatly benefited when surrounded by a team of five adults. We call this the new 5:1 ratio." LuHi staff attend chapel alongside our student body. It reminds students they are not alone in their faith walk.
Just like the students, our staff benefits from hearing they are also broken in their sin but have abundant grace in Jesus.
According to Romans 10:17, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Chapel gives us the opportunity to hear God’s Word together, building up our faith and allowing each student to grow, surrounded by mentors, teachers, and peers who can support them.
Chapel at LuHi: A Place of Faith, Forgiveness, and Fellowship
At LuHi, we are intentional about making chapel a meaningful experience. We hope it fosters a lifelong commitment to faith and Christian community in our students. One of the hallmarks of a LuHi grad is that they know Jesus. Three times a week, students are presented with the Gospel and a clear picture of who Jesus is: our Lord and Savior.
In chapel, we also help reinforce the answer to the four big questions our students wrestle with:
In Chapel, we experience God’s love and grace as real and available to us every day. Chapel fits into our mission to “Encourage Growth in Christ.”
Hebrews 10:23-25: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Originally published in 2020, updated for accuracy in 2024.
