This year’s chapel theme, “Who is God? Who am I?” is a 9-week study of Genesis that will cover most of the major stories found in the first book of the Bible.
“Many of us have heard these stories, but we’re going to be looking through the big lens of who God is and what that means for me and my life,” said Mark Lewis, assistant dean for Spiritual Life and Chapel programs.
In order to help communicate these stories, this semester’s chapel slate is filled with exciting guest speakers, Lewis said. One such speaker, Curt Cloninger, is coming as a part of ACU’s efforts to incorporate the arts into Chapel on a more regular basis.
Cloninger, an actor and storyteller of sorts, will be performing a humorous, yet poignant skit taken from his video, “God Views.” In this skit, Cloninger will depict various stereotypical ways that God is perceived, including perceptions of God as Santa Claus and God as a grandpa.
Lewis believes that Cloninger’s performance will help students understand Chapel’s overarching questions of “Who is God” and “Who am I?” in a unique and creative way.
“Cloninger’s skits give students a good way to take a broad look at the images we have in our minds as we pray and think about God,” Lewis said.
Because Chapel is considered a part of ACU’s curriculum, Chapel themes are set up in a four-year rotation. As a result, this semester is the only time Genesis will be a part of current students’ chapel experience.
Stephanie Day, sophomore accounting major from Oklahoma City, says that she is excited about the opportunity for growth that this semester holds.
“I think that Genesis is a key part of the Bible that we often overlook in our study of who God is,” Day said. “We tend to view God through the lens of Jesus and His time here Earth, when in reality we get our first view of God in the Bible’s opening chapter.”
Lewis shares Day’s views, and believes this study is critical.
“Genesis is so foundational to the rest of the Bible,” Lewis said. “It’s where we’re first introduced to who God is. The way you read the other 65 books of the Bible is greatly affected by how you read Genesis.”
