Grace-Saint Luke's Episcopal School

Our mission includes caring for the whole child in a setting that reflects the faith of the Episcopal Church. As a church school, the expression of our foundation of faith is an important aspect of our life together, and one of the more outward and visible expressions of our community faith is worship. All of the mission and ministry of the school finds its specific expression within the structure of the faith and practices of the Episcopal Church. From the early childhood program at Miss Lee’s through grade eight in Middle School, students attend age-appropriate chapel services. At Miss Lee’s, preschool students have chapel once a week at Miss Lee's or in the ASC room. These short services reinforce the message that every child is loved by God, and provide the opportunity for students to celebrate birthdays, new siblings, and other important events in their lives. Lower School and Middle School students attend chapel services twice a week in the Church. These services are led by the Rector, clergy, and staff of Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal Church, and typically include an adapted form of Morning Prayer with collects from The Book of Common Prayer, a scripture reading, and a short homily from one of the clergy/staff or a chapel talk presentation by one of our 8th grade students. The chapel talk series—a tradition at GSL—allows 8th graders the opportunity to stand up in front of the school and speak about their unique experience at GSL. Chapel services generally conclude with the school prayer and a hymn. Students serve as acolytes, readers, and sometimes as musicians for these weekly services. I love the motto we have for GSL, an anchor for life.” I attribute a lot of my early spiritual training to chapel at GSL. It definitely helped to foster something in me that keeps bearing fruit.