The Office of Spiritual Life announced Monday it is the recipient of a Worshiping Communities Vital Worship Grant which will be used to produce a liturgy and prayer book for the Campbell University community. Worshiping Communities Vital Worship Grants are curated by The Calvin Institute for Christian Worship and made possible through the generous support of Lilly Endowment, Inc.
Spiritual Life was awarded the full grant amount of $25,000 with the aim of partnering across the university on a year-long project built around liturgy and prayer.
The inspiration to produce a liturgy and prayer book came last summer when Spiritual Life replaced a prayer journal kept in the prayer room of the Dinah Gore Bell Tower, part of the Butler Chapel worship complex. The original prayer journal was placed in the prayer room by Campbell University Divinity School in 2017 and has since that time been filled with prayers written by students, faculty, staff and alumni.
“It was when we read through the entire book of prayers written by members of our community that we were convinced that prayer remains important to our campus. Students are willing to write and voice their prayers, and the creation of a liturgy and prayer book for our community would further the spiritual formation of students,” said Rev. Louisa Ward, dean for Spiritual Life and campus minister.
The goal of this project is to produce a liturgy and prayer book written by and for the Campbell community.
“Our hope is to facilitate educational and formational opportunities that will bring together diverse voices and expressions of prayer,” said Rev. Zachary Parks, associate campus minister. The grant will help fund a series of writing retreats and allow for workshops and other educational opportunities for anyone interested in learning and contributing to this project.
This project is written to be a multi-academic endeavor to produce a book that will serve as a “living document,” speaking to the needs, confessions, rhythms, and celebrations of the Campbell University community. Plans to install and dedicate the liturgy and prayer book in Butler Chapel are set for December 2024. In the meantime, you are invited to join the story and share in this season of writing and prayer.
Launch Week Details
Feb. 20
- Tabling in the Union | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Writer’s Retreat Interest Meeting | Noon
Feb. 21
- Student Leader’s Workshop with Doug McKelvey | 4 p.m.
Feb. 22
- Faculty and Staff Coffee Break with Doug McKelvey |4 p.m.
- Lecture Workshop with Doug McKelvey | 5 p.m.
Feb. 23
- Tabling in the Student Union | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.