University Chaplaincy
The Rev. Thomas E. Macfie Jr., University Chaplain
The Rev. Annwn H. Myers, Associate Chaplain
Dixon Myers, Outreach Coordinator
Seth Olson, Lay Chaplain
All Saints’ Chapel is the University Chapel and serves the college and seminary. It is the gathering place for the corporate events in the life of the University community and is the principal place of worship for the University. The chapel stands in the center of the campus to focus attention on our purpose and mission: to provide and create a Christian community in which an education of the whole person may take place.
Although it is a Chapel of the Episcopal Church and services are in accordance with its rites, All Saints’ is ecumenical in scope. Its services are open to all, and all baptized Christians are invited to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion.
Each Sunday during the academic year the Holy Eucharist is celebrated at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. in All Saints’ Chapel. A more informal celebration of the Holy Eucharist with guitars and singing takes place each Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. around the Nave Altar. Choral Evensong is sung the first Sunday of each month at 4 p.m. There are other services daily: Morning Prayer, the Holy Eucharist, Evening Prayer, and Compline.
The University Choir provides music for major services. Students serve as lay readers, ushers, acolytes, sacristans, and members of the altar guild.
Undergraduates are welcome at the services of the School of Theology in the Chapel of the Apostles and at churches of other denominations in the Sewanee neighborhood.
The chapel program offers a variety of groups for Bible study, prayer, theological study, and spiritual and personal growth. These events are announced at the beginning of each semester. For those wanting to explore the Christian faith as the Episcopal Church has received it, the catechumenate is available.
The University chaplaincy is under the direction of the University Chaplain, Thomas Macfie. Members of the chaplaincy, including the lay ministry staff, work with volunteers in ministry in the community. The Community Service Council oversees programs such as Big People for Little People, Senior Citizen Visitation and the Central Homeless Shelter staffing project. The largest portion of volunteer labor that works with Housing Sewanee Inc., a local organization that builds affordable housing for community members, comes from the Sewanee Collegiate Chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
There are several outreach trips during spring break that venture to Jamaica, Costa Rica, New York City, New Orleans and Ecuador, serving people in need. The Outreach Office also helps place students in international service programs that are for a semester, summer or post graduation. Most students volunteer their time in order to serve those in need; most discover that they receive far more than they give.
The University Chaplains are available to all students, regardless of one’s faith background, for pastoral counseling, discussion, and spiritual guidance. They conduct services in All Saints’ Chapel and coordinate an extensive program of religious and volunteer programs for the community. Through such programs students develop a fuller sense of their vocation and of the opportunities available for service. The chaplaincy also includes lay ministers who are available to students for counseling and discussion.
Appointments can be made directly with a chaplain or through the chapel secretary.
