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Winnipeg, Man.
CMU holds last chapel for the year


The presidents of Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg called on the words of Joshua to end the first year of CMU chapel services April 6.

“The end of the school year is a time of change. A time of moving forward,” Gerald Gerbrandt, president of Canadian Mennonite Bible College – a partner of the University, told graduating students. “You are moving to an inheritance.”

Speaking to a full chapel of about 200 students, faculty and staff, Gerbrandt and John Unger, president of Concord College, concluded the chapel year with the book of Joshua, the same book they spoke from to open the first year of CMU classes.

“I chose that text as an illustration of how we interact with students,” Unger said about Joshua chapter 24. The passage is Joshua’s final speech to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land. It reviews what God did for His people and challenged them to make their own decisions about serving God.

Unger said he hopes students were guided into new ways of thinking while professors shared their own experiences in making decisions and serving God.

Gerbrandt spoke on the transitions of the Israelites from their days as slaves in Egypt to wandering the desert and being delivered to the Promised Land.

“We trust Concord, CMBC and now CMU played a role in preparing you for the Promised Land,” Gerbrandt said.

The final chapel included musical selections by the CMU Praise and Worship Band and the University Women’s Chorus.

After the service, Unger said he was encouraged by the strong attendance of the final chapel because building a common worship tradition among different church conferences has been a challenge. “I sense there’s a real coming together; a community of heart among students, faculty and staff,” he said.

Graduating music major student Ingrid Skjaerlund Neufeld (University of Winnipeg/Concord College) said the last chapel was a strong reminder she is part of the CMU community even though she lived off campus for two years.

“Sometimes I take it for granted that I’m a student here,” Skjaerlund Neufeld said.

But being at the final chapel, and performing with the University Women’s Chorus, helped her know that a chapter of her life was closing.

“It was good. Sometimes I feel isolated because I’m a commuter. Just to be able to worship with everyone there was awesome,” she said.

 – CMU release

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Last modified May 17, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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