Saige Mattson
MOORHEAD – Amid multitudes of political, environmental, and economic strife, tensions are running high in many parts of the world which greatly affects many students, faculty and staff at Concordia. Such contention can contribute to increased stress both in and outside of the classroom, which leaves some overwhelmed with what can seem like endless sources of anxiety.
Pastors Dave Adams and Kim Adams provided a space for hope, healing, and grief at the Chapel for the Healing of the Nations, which was held on September 11 in the Centrum. The service was well attended by students and faculty alike, with a crowd of approximately 75 attendees.
The service incorporated global perspectives through music, scripture readings in various languages, and prayers for peace and justice worldwide.
“We always try to [hold the service] early in the in the fall semester and then late in the spring semester, kind of as a bookend to the academic year. And it always just feels important, especially at an institution like Concordia, where, you know, you see all of the flags of the different countries that are represented. We just love having an opportunity to really lift that up,” Adams, who is in his seventh academic year as a campus pastor, said.
A portion of the service was dedicated to the Litany of the Nations, in which countries were individually named through song in order to lift them up in prayer.
During the music, congregants were invited to light candles beside a map of the world to symbolize their prayers for specific countries. In total, 91 countries were named, as well as “all immigrants and exiles.”
Fifth year commissioner of the Campus Ministry Commission, Mariana Martins, said: “You’re seeing the countries that other people around you represent. And maybe there’s some tension between your country and theirs. How can I impact that? How can I help? How can we just take off that idea of difference between people and just see, see people as humans, not as members of nations?”
Additionally, Psalm 46 was read not only by Pastor Kim Adams, who did so in English, but Concordia students Sthandiwe Mhlongo, who read the psalm in Zulu, and Martins, who read in Portuguese.
“I always came to the healing of the nations because I think it’s a very important service. It doesn’t matter about any political problem that you might have with the country, it’s just about really praying for the healing of all people, all nations, and all people that don’t have a nation or are transitioning through nations,” Martins said. “As an international student, it has always been a very important service for me. It’s a time to actually think about my country and its relations to the world and also to just think about the rest of the world.”
Throughout the service, Concordia students Martan Gregoire, who played piano, and Sam Deneen, who played percussion, provided music, along with Concordia’s Music Enrollment Coordinator Kristen Hatfield, who played flute. Music included songs such as “The Canticle of the Turning” and “Though the Earth Shall Change.”
“This is just one of our efforts to remind us that we are part of a global community. In a service like this, we remember, not only are we not alone here, but we’re connected to this whole global tapestry. It’s very healing.” Adams said.
According to Adams, Campus Ministry can act as a support resource for any student, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof.
“We just really want people to know that our job is not just to lead worship services, our primary role here is to is to care and support everyone on campus in whatever way that means,” Adams said.
