At McGilvary we have a lot of time set aside for prayer and worship. Monday through Friday every morning at 6:30 a 30-minute time of singing and sharing occurs in the chapel of the student hostel. Mostly students attend, though some faculty may come occasionally. It is student led.

Two nights a week are set aside for group devotions and prayer. Monday evenings the students meet according to their class year. Since I am the advisor for the third year students, Pat and I often meet with them from 7:30 to whenever it is over -- usually 30 minutes to an hour. On Tuesday evenings the male students meet together and the female students meet together for the same. Both times are student led, though they may sometimes ask a faculty member to bring the devotion.

Monday through Friday faculty and staff can meet together for devotions and prayer from 8:00 to 8:30. Then on Thursdays at 11:00 we have our weekly worship service in the main chapel.

There are other occasional meetings for prayer and worship.

That sounds like a lot of praying and worship to me, but apparently for some it is not enough. Last Monday morning I was going to attend the morning 6:30 prayers with the students as is my custom. I ran by my office first to deposit my briefcase. Then I walked past the main chapel on the way to the student hostel. I notice inside were around eight students sitting on cushions and praying. Later I found out that these students gather every morning at 5:30 to begin their day together in prayer. Then they come to the regular 6:30 meeting.

McGilvary is not a perfect place, but it is a place where worship is offered and conversation with God happens. May God bless each sacrifice of praise and prayer.