Worship
One of the most important aspects of training for Christian life is vigorous, inspiring, and varied participation in corporate worship.
The Divinity School enjoys a particularly close relationship with Duke Chapel. Divinity School administrators and faculty, as well as guests of national and international stature, preach at Sunday morning worship services. Many students join the 200-plus member Duke Chapel Choir that provides choral music on Sunday mornings and special music programs throughout the academic year, including an annual Christmas performance of Handel’s Messiah. Divinity students and faculty also contribute to the leadership of the ministry of Duke Chapel by chairing and serving on standing committees: Faith and the Arts, Supportive Ministries, Worship, Prophetic Concerns, and Leadership and Development. Students are also strongly encouraged to involve themselves in the life of a local church community, either through the field education program or on one’s own initiative.
Worship
Our community gathers for worship eight times throughout the week in Goodson Chapel. Services of morning prayer are held at 8 a.m. Monday through Friday. Worship services are held Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of each week from 11:25 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in Goodson Chapel.
Faculty members, administrators, and students share joint responsibility for these services that seek to express the variety and diversity of theological and liturgical traditions represented in the community. Services are scheduled through the Chaplain’s Office.
Choir
Duke Divinity School Choir is an ensemble dedicated to praising God, leading worship, and expending the musical horizons of the participants by exposing singers and congregants to the vast breath of quality church music. Singers of all talent levels make up the choir, which is conducted by Allan Friedman and accompanied by David Arcus. The Divinity Choir, the Gospel Choir, and the Praise and Worship Team sing regularly for weekday worship. Additionally, the choir usually sings a service dedicated to music once each semester, and also participates in special services like opening and closing convocations. The Divinity School Chaplain shares leadership of the services with students, faculty, and staff.
Singers rehearse on Monday mornings from 10:35-noon in Goodson Chapel and generally sing in the 11:20 Thursday worship service.
For more information on the choir, contact Allan Friedman at (919) 684-3855.