Worship

Each weekday from 11-11:20 a.m. (CST/SDT) is considered Sacred Time, set apart for a special purpose--no classes or meetings are scheduled.

You’ll find no better place that bears the power of God’s word through the gift of exceptional music. While morning chapel is traditionally based, it features a variety of musical styles. Morning Prayer and Matins are regularly prayed, the  Résonanz ensemble leads alternative worship services, and a quiet, meditative prayer service called Taizé occurs every few weeks.

As part of the University's strong extended faith community, guest preachers regularly include LCMS pastors, CUC theology faculty, and other spiritual leaders. Nearly every morning the ordinary becomes extraordinary in Concordia-Chicago’s chapel—and all to the glory of God for the furtherance of the Gospel!

Sunday morning worship is at 10 a.m. in The Chapel of Our Lord, and is conducted by ordained members of the CUC faculty and staff. A large number of students attend, and the entire campus community is welcome.

There are also a number of other houses of Christian worship in the River Forest and Oak Park communities. Feel free to speak with the University Pastor to find one that fits your needs.

• Prayer and Praise is on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. Led by the Prayer and Praise Ensemble, students are invited to an informal mix of word, fellowship, prayer and praise.
• Compline is on Monday night at 9:45 p.m. This is a student-led prayer service used at the close of the day.
• Vespers is each Tuesday at 9:45 p.m. This is also a student-led evening prayer service.
• Holy Eucharist is held each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. during the academic year. 
• Evening Prayer is on Thursday night at 9:45 p.m. This is a student-led evening prayer service.
• Hymn of the Week Meditation is a weekly devotional based on the great hymn texts of the Church.

It emphasizes the importance of worship as the very heart and center of all college activities. The Clara and Spencer Werner Auditorium is a symbol of the Christian use of the arts in the service of God and His people.

The ecclesiastical appointments of the chapel emphasize the importance of the proclamation of the Word of God and the celebration of the Sacraments. Carved from Botticino marble, the altar, baptismal font, lectern and pulpit remind us of the solid foundation upon which our faith is based, namely, "the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ Himself being the cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:20).

The design of the building permits its use either for worship purposes or for a variety of musical and dramatic productions.

The Organ

The Schoknecht organ was built by Wilhelm Zimmer & Sons and designed by Paul Bunjes. It was repaired and refurbished in 2004 to better meet the needs of near-constant use by University students and faculty. The organ has 52 ranks with 2,791 pipes.

The Christ Sculpture

The bronze Christ Sculpture on the building's exterior shows the resurrected Christ. The lower portion displays the open tomb. The Christ figure is depicted with arms extended in victory and in blessing. Above and to the right of the figure is the sun representing the statement of Malachi 4:2: "The Sun of Righteousness shall rise with healing in His wings."

The Windows

The north chancel window symbolizes the Holy Trinity. There are no predominant symbols other than the color of white representing the Father, the cross representing the Son and the color of red representing the Holy Spirit.

The east chancel window depicts the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the graduates. Represented are the graduates and various scenes symbolizing teaching, the family, the spread of the Gospel in the world and service to the needy. The descending dove, together with the flowing of red color throughout the window, represents the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit in the lives of God's people.

The south sanctuary window represents "the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). The five figures symbolize the five races of men—all redee