Monmouth College STUDENT CHAPLAINS 

Monmouth College Student Chaplains exist to assist the College Chaplain with the planning and delivery of religious and spiritual life programming to the campus community.  As such, each student chaplain serves on one or more committees including, but not limited to, the following:

 Campus Chapel Liturgists – persons on this committee volunteer to lead various portions of the liturgy at “Space for Grace” (weekly campus chapel service).  They read prayers, scripture, lead responsive readings, etc. which have been prepared by the Chapel Planning Committee.  They make it a point to attend campus chapel services even when they are not responsible for one of the readings.

Campus Chapel Speakers – persons on this committee volunteer to write and deliver one or more messages in campus chapel during a semester.  They also help recruit guest speakers for campus chapel services.

 Chapel Planning – persons who serve on this committee meet weekly with the Chaplain to plan the liturgy for “Space for Grace.”  Serving on this committee offers valuable experience to  persons interested in pursuing a career in Christian education, pastoral ministry, or other church-related occupations.

 Chapel Choir – students may sign up to participate in chapel choir for course credit.  This group rehearses on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon and sings at “Space for Grace” (campus chapel service) on Mondays. 

 Praise Band – Student Chaplains who participate in praise band also serve as worship leaders during campus chapel services.  This group rehearses twice a week at times that meet the schedules of students who participate.  The Praise Band leads the congregational singing at “Space for Grace” on Mondays from 12:10 to 12:40.

 Monmouth Christian Fellowship – persons who serve on this committee plan and deliver programs for Monmouth Christian Fellowship (which meets on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. at the Weeks House, 1002 E. Broadway). 

 Bible Study – Student Chaplains who serve on this committee facilitate one or more weekly Bible Study groups on campus.

 Angel Tree – Student Chaplains who serve on this committee manage all aspects of the annual Angel Tree project on campus.  Committee members are responsible for contacting Warren Achievement and Dave Giles for lists of names and gift suggestions, preparing paper angels with this information to give out to donors, keeping track of the names and contact information on persons who take angels, keeping track of which presents have been returned and contacting donors who are slow getting their presents in, picking up packages at a central delivery point and taking them to storage to await delivery, contacting the recipient agencies to arrange for delivery, etc.

 Retreats – Student Chaplains who serve on this committee meet with the Chaplain to plan all aspects of the annual spiritual life retreat.  Students help select the retreat theme, plan activities designed to help participants focus on the theme, help carry out the activities at the retreat, help gather supplies beforehand, and recruit the services of other student chaplains to help with retreat responsibilities such as quartermaster (running the kitchen smoothly) and taskmaster (seeing to it that all participants sign up to help with cooking and cleaning chores).   

 Scots Day – Student Chaplains who serve on this committee plan and carry out activities/events that give the Student Chaplains a noticeable presence during Scots Day festivities.

 Student Chaplains make a commitment to attend weekly meetings to keep the entire group apprised of their committee activities and to seek help with carrying out planned events.  Student Chaplains make a commitment to support their fellows at all times and to maintain the confidentiality of information shared at meetings.  Student Chaplains make support of campus religious and spiritual life programming a top priority in their lives. 

 Additionally, Student Chaplains

§        are themselves seekers, unafraid to question tradition, eager to explore possibilities new and old

§        actively engage with the campus community by participating in spiritual life programs, supporting campus spiritual life with their prayers, presence, and service

§        engage in random acts of kindness, aware of the ripple effect this has in the repair of the world

§        are deeply concerned with issues of social justice and actively participate in raising community awareness about these issues

§        practice and promote environmental stewardship, understanding that dominion does not mean domination; that God made us keepers of the Earth

§        are compassionate

§        are good listeners

§        are open-minded and refuse to engage in bigotry and/or prejudice with regard to another’s race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, gender, age, physical appearance, mental aptitude, or any other human characteristic

A number of students serve as volunteer student chaplains to help meet the spiritual needs of the Monmouth College Campus.  They meet together on a regular basis to share ideas for nurturing student spiritual life.   They are available to talk with members of the campus community individually or in groups.  

 Emily Bakes    Sanju Gautam   Paige Halpin    Eva Kainer   

Annie Lane    Melissa Lindsay Jill O'Bryant   Mark Polak  Ashley Trueblood 

      One of the major projects the student chaplains sponsor each year is the annual Angel Tree.  This project benefits the residents of the Warren Achievement Center--adults who are often forgotten in the many philanthropic efforts put forth by various groups during the winter holidays.  These are folks who might otherwise receive nothing.  The angels are always "adopted" very quickly by the Monmouth College community. 

In April, 2005 & 2006 they co-sponsored Social Awareness Week with a number of other student organizations in an effort to raise consciousness about social issues such as racism, diversity and the environment.  Additionally, in 2005 they held a raffle on Scots Day to help raise money for Tsunami relief.  Their 2006 Scots Day project was a car smash to raise money for a trash hauling vehicle for the people of Belize.  The result of these social awareness activities was the creation of a new campus organization called "Listen Up!" which has continued to sponsor speakers and other social awareness events.

The student chaplains have also sponsored Earth Day activities.  In 2002, they held an environmental education program in the Quad and had participants plant flowers in plastic cups to take home with them as reminders of our need to care for the earth.  In 2003 they planted an oak tree at the college's LeSeur Nature Preserve.  In 2004, they sponsored t-shirt tie-dyeing.  To generate interest in this project, they came up with the BYOBS advertising scheme (bring your own blank shirt!).  The resulting splendidly multi-colored shirts reminded everyone of God's covenant with the earth symbolized by the rainbow.  The band ALEX provided live music for the event!  You may view more pictures from Earth Day events at: Earth Day Activities.

Student Chaplains Historical Page: Who Were They?  Where Are They Now?

Photos from Student Chaplain Retreat at Lake Warren - September 14, 2002

Photos from Student Chaplain Retreat at Lake Warren - September 6, 2003

Photos from Other Student Chaplain Fellowship Events 2003-2004

Student Chaplains Senior Farewell Gathering - April 30, 2004

Photos from Student Chaplain Retreat at Lake Warren - September 11, 2004

Photos from Student Chaplain Retreat at Lake Warren - September 18, 2005

Photos from Student Chaplain Retreat at Coldbrook Christian Church - September 2, 2006

Photos from Student Chaplains White Elephant Gift Exchange - December 2, 2006

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