Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School will begin its weekly community worship services Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 11 a.m. in Andrew Gerow Hodges Chapel on the theme, “Hosanna! In excelsis deo.”
The fall 2019 chapel series will highlight hymns found in Scripture, such as the Song of Moses (Exodus 15:1-21) and the Magnificat (Luke 1:39-45). The first sermon of the fall semester will be given by Beeson’s new dean, Douglas A. Sweeney, during Opening Convocation, Aug. 27.
“The words of this term’s theme are well-known to Bible readers. Hosanna means ‘save us’ or ‘save us, we pray,’ and is taken from the language of the crowd on Palm Sunday,” Sweeney said. “In excelsis deo means ‘to God in the highest’ and is taken from the angels’ song in Luke 2:14. ‘Hosanna In Excelsis Deo’ is the text of several well-known sacred anthems, not the least of which was written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. ‘Gloria in Excelsis Deo’ is an ancient hymn known to many Christians as the Greater Doxology or, sometimes, just The Gloria.”
The chapel schedule is as follows:
Aug. 27, Opening Convocation: Douglas A. Sweeney, dean
Sept. 3, “The Lord, My Strength and My Song,” Ex. 15:1-21: Allen P. Ross, professor of divinity
Sept. 10, “God in the Midst,” Isa. 12:1-6: N. T. Wright, research professor of New Testament and early Christianity at the University of St. Andrews (*Ticketed event; see below for more details)
Sept. 17, “The Word of the Lord Stands Forever,” Isa. 40:1-31: Paul R. House, professor of divinity
Sept. 24, Anglican Theology Conference: Foley Beach, archbishop of Anglican Church in North America
Oct. 1, “The Magnificat,” Lk. 1:46-55: Christy Harper, curator of Hodges Chapel
Oct. 8, Go Global, Jer. 31:10-14: Miriam Adeney, associate professor of world Christian studies at Seattle Pacific University
Oct. 15, “Soli Deo Gloria!” Rom. 11:33-36: Mark Gignilliat, professor of divinity
Oct. 22, “The Relentless Romance,” 1 Cor. 13: Robert Smith Jr., Charles T. Carter Baptist Chair of Divinity
Oct. 29, Reformation Heritage Lecture: Kelly M. Kapic, professor of theological studies at Covenant College
Nov. 5, “Name Above All Names,” Phil. 2:5-11: Piotr Małysz, associate professor of divinity
Nov. 12, “The Preeminence of Jesus Christ,” Col. 1:15-20: Reginald Calvert, pastor of New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, Bessemer, Ala.
Nov. 19, “Before the Throne,” Rev. 7:9-17: Student Preacher, winner of the James Earl Massey Preaching Award
Dec. 6, Commencement and a Service of Consecration: Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.
Community worship takes place each Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters at 11 a.m. in Hodges Chapel. Worship and lectures are free and open to the Samford community and public. View the chapel schedule, prompts for reflection, and other events on the website.
*Due to limited seating, the Sept. 10 chapel service with N. T. Wright is ticketed and priority is given for current students, staff and faculty of Beeson Divinity School and Samford University.