Reset and Refocus

Students often approach Thanksgiving break a bit weary–exhausted from the demands of the semester and anticipating the whirlwind week of finals awaiting shortly after their return to campus. For many, the rhythm of chapel throughout the week is a grounding time to reset and refocus by gathering to praise God. On the Monday before Thanksgiving, a special “Songs of Thanksgiving” chapel is set aside for student-led worship. Rather than following the typical format, which includes one or two songs and a talk from a professor, guest speaker, or Chaplain Lowe, the entire half hour is spent praising God in song.

Intentional Worship

The heart behind the chapel is to express gratitude with intentional depth. The student worship leaders choose the songs and several scripture passages to be read throughout the chapel. Chaplain Lowe explains, “I encourage them to thoughtfully put it together. You may have a bit of lament that is met with gratitude. Each year, it's a little bit different based on who the leaders are, based on what's going on culturally and what's going on on campus.” Worship leader Will Stewart ’26 echoed this sentiment, stating, “I think the heart of the Songs of Thanksgiving chapel is to give the Lord praise for his unchanging kindness toward us. As student leaders, it is always our hope that the songs we choose and the scripture we read reflect the joys and needs of our community. Especially when the end of the semester can feel so overwhelming, it is a gift to simply gather and remember that the Lord has been faithful in the past and he will be faithful to us today and tomorrow too.”

Sending Out

This chapel, which has been a staple of Covenant’s fall chapel schedule for the past four years, is a way of intentionally sending students into the holiday week ahead, according to Chaplain Lowe. Whether they are headed into a week of calm or chaos, or a mix of both, students will have spent time before God, thanking Him for His goodness and provision.