Shout for Joy to the Lord

Ella Jade Magruder

For the past 2 weeks, worship has filled this school community with praise as we sing to the Lord in the chapel, as we are free from the stress of our daily lives.

Our first chapel, which was August 16, the worship team filled the room of God’s praise as we looked at the words on the screen. Students were passionate as they raised their hands in the air and sang with their hearts. The emotion was filling the room as students were focusing on our love for God, and were not focusing on the stress of work. Mr. Andrew McClary and his many teams of worship leaders pour their effort to make the chapel feel like a different environment, as students are rushing to get a seat or to wait for their friends. The lights dim as everyone stands, and the music starts with the strum of the guitar, a key from the piano, beat from the drum, or the tone of the violin. There is a different presence in the room, as students can let their passion and love for the Lord come out as they sing the lyrics.

As the songs encourage students to help focus on the Lord, the calmness and excitement for the message fill the room. Mr. Kirk Ronzheimer is called up to give his personal experience and stories as his personal life sometimes reflects in other students. Mr. Ronzheimer knows how to add some humor in his stories as at least half of the students either laugh or chuckles at his jokes. Many students are very engaged in his stories, as they are really deep in emotion, questioning, or reason. Sometimes the reflection and question that students are left with really do have an effect on their lives as they continue with school. 

One of Mr. Ronzheimer’s stories was to keep focus as he described that sometimes he zones out when someone is talking to him. He claims that when he zones out, all he does is nods his head to the other person who is speaking. He also claims that we don’t always focus on what our main purpose as human beings is as we tend to other things. We were made for the purpose of glorifying God, and we do show one of the ways we praise God is from academic achievements.

Mr.Ronzheimer said, “When I zone out, I usually nod my head to the other person speaking.” When he claims said this shows that sometimes we want to focus on God’s voice, but we focus on other things in our lives.

This past two weeks of the chapel have led off to a good start as students are having a time where they can worship, and relate to stories to Mr.Ronzheimer and have a very good cool down in the air-conditioned Harbor Hall.