Chapel

Am I required to attend chapel?

Yes. Chapel at Messiah College is a central expression of our identity as a community of Christians with a deep commitment to spiritual growth and academic excellence. Chapel is a required opportunity for exposure to forms of worship, various speakers and ideas which are put together with the intention of affirming our common commitments while they both reflect and challenge individual preferences in style. Though we hope that students will be challenged in their faith through chapel, we realize that spiritual nurture is ultimately a function of each person's will, preference and responsibility and cannot be subject to requirements. Chapel is required as a common experience. Spiritual nurture is each student's own responsibility.

How many chapels must I attend?

Students are requred to attend 24. There are certain circumstances where a student's requirement may be lowered such as student teaching. Adjustments are made to a student's requirement once College Ministries has been notified by the appropriate department requesting the adjustment.

May I submit corrections to my chapel attendance?

Corrections are accepted during two time periods each semester. College Ministries will notify students of these dates by email, on our website, in MCSquare, in the Community News and on Channel 6. The dates will be sometime during the middle of the semester and again after the last chapel of the semester. Students are allowed to submit up to 3 corrections each time. All 3 corrections must be submitted on the same form online.

I work during chapel time. May I be excused from chapel?

If your work hours coincide with chapel time, you may be excused from chapel. Please fill out a chapel petition form located in MCSquare. For verification purposes, you will need to supply your employer's name and phone number.

I didn't attend enough chapels during the semester. What happens now?

Any student who fails to attain the requirement of 24 chapels in a given semester will be placed on chapel probation and notification will be made to the student's academic advisor, the Registrar and the Dean of Students. Please refer to the following website for further details: Chapel Policies

I live off campus. Do I still need to attend chapel?

Commuters who have classes either before or after chapel are expected to attend chapel; other commuters may file a request for an exemption using the online chapel petition form. College Ministries will begin reviewing chapel petitions once the drop/add period has ended and we are able to verify class schedules.

I was sick during chapel. May I be excused?

Students who need to be excused from chapel because of sickness or other medical reasons may request an exemption using the online chapel petition form. All medical exemptions must be accompanied by a note from a physician, counselor or the Engle Center for Health and Counseling Services.

I am student teaching this semester. How can I be excused from chapel?

The Teacher Education Program will send our office the names and IDs of students who should be exempt from chapel. Once we have been notified by the TEP office, we will adjust your chapel requirement accordingly.

I have an internship/practicum this semester. Do I still need to attend chapel?

College Ministries will be notified by the Internship office of those students who should be exempt from chapel. Students are still required to fill out the online chapel petition form in MCSquare.

I heard on campus I may be excused from chapel if I babysit. Is this true?

If your babysitting arrangement is not organized through a church, you will need to submit the online chapel petition form in MCSquare. Please provide us with the name of the parent and a phone number we may reach them at for verification. The hours you babysit must coincide with chapel time.

If your babysitting arrangement is organized through a local church, please have thr program director contact us for further details.

Where can I find a list of chapels to be held during the semester?

Common and Elective Chapel Schedule

Alternate Chapel Schedule