Incorporating aspects of myself into worship was both affirming and stretching as I learned to authentically be myself, rather than role- playing who I might expect a Chapel leader to be.
First, co-ordinating Chapel broadened my prayer life. I knew, stepping into this role, that Chapel plays a vital part in the life of ADC. I also knew that in the preceding year we had been experiencing an acute sense of the Spirit’s presence as we worshiped together. Only God can sustain our communal life and bless us with the Spirit’s presence — our chapel team could offer our best gifts and plans, but God would be the one to bring our community together and meet us in our worship. This called for prayer and was a good chance to practice some of my spiritual disciplines learnings from ADC. The Chapel space itself invited me to use my imagination to picture who might come and then to pray for them. Indeed, before the service began each week, I would sit in different places in the Chapel and ask for God’s blessing on the person who would sit in that seat that day. This helped me understand prayer as a responsibility of ministry leaders and grew my expectation for how God would show up among us.
Second, co-ordinating Chapel helped me grow into myself. I felt this most keenly as I brought my love for writing and reciting poetry to craft our weekly call to worship. It is now clear to me that this poetic bent is the gifting of a liturgist — yet I had not truly made this connection until I stepped into creating liturgy for our community each week. Incorporating aspects of myself into worship was both affirming and stretching as I learned to authentically be myself, rather than role-playing who I might expect a Chapel leader to be. As I wrestle with a future in ministry, this went a long way to understanding that God could use my giftings and personality for effective ministry, despite doubts I might have.
Finally, co-ordinating Chapel has taught me about the priesthood of believers. While our Chapel was organized and led each week by a dedicated group of students, for many components we invite professors, students, and guests to lead us. I was especially glad to have sermons and testimonies brought by faculty, staff, and students, recognizing that God could speak to our community through any of our members. I was humbled by the willingness of each person to bring themselves in honest worship and testimony, contributing to an offering of worship authentic to our entire community.
Co-ordinating Chapel was just one part of how Acadia Divinity College has contributed to my formation. I am grateful to God for all of the ways I have grown by being part of this magnificent community.
FORMATION CALL
We are clay jars for the Spirit,
Formed in strange and wondrous ways Is the potter done with you?
Or will you yet be formed anew?
Some are hardened, cracked, and crumbling. Fired early, over-glazed.
Rigid, fragile, barely holding
Drops of what you first received.
Is the potter done with you?
Or will you yet be formed anew?
What if resurrection bid you soften,
If grace returned you to the wheel?
If nail-pierced hands would change your contours, And shape you once more to be filled?
Is the potter done with you?
Or will you yet be formed anew?
Luke Steeves (’25) a graduate of the Master of Divinity program, will be completing his master of Arts in Theology in Spring 2026.
