Religiously affiliated boarding schools

[ops]

<p>Actually should read THE BIG GUY, my bad.</p>

[golfkid]

<p>christian schools will help you
what point is there to life if you are agonstic or atheist
I hope you will see why many people are christians because we love each other and the whole world
Jesus is the way.</p>

[Periwinkle]

<p>There’s an ongoing debate on this site as to whether boarding school officials read CC. Now, if they aren’t reading this site, it’s a very strange coincidence that St. Mark’s weekly Dean’s letter to parents this week outlines the chapel program.</p>

<p>

Two mornings a week we begin the day with chapel, where we practice silence as we enter and listen to the organ prelude. The service begins with an opening sentence, a hymn, and a reading, which is frequently from the Bible but can be from other spiritual traditions or may be a poem or other nonreligious text. The main presentation of the service can be any of a number of things. We often hear a homily or chapel talk by a chaplain, faculty member (eg. Henry Large commenting on the story of David and Goliath) or a student (eg. talks by Monitors Ibrahim Ayb and Rachel Sohn,) and we sometimes hear a musical presentation by students or faculty members (such as songs by English Department Head Jason Eslick or works by Elgar and Bach by VI Form cellist Howard Lee,) or a more unique presentation such as the reading of the “Eeyore’s Birthday” chapter from Winnie the Pooh.
Last Friday Chaplain Barbara Talcott introduced us to the practice of Metta Chanting from the Buddhist tradition, and then led us in chanting together for the peace and well-being of the world. Following the presentation, we spend several minutes in silent prayer, meditation or reflection (as each person understands the meaning of that shared silence,) which is often introduced with suggested focus on specific individuals or groups in need, either in the community or in the world. Our silence is concluded with a summarizing prayer and a blessing, after which Head of School John Warren dismisses us after announcing student birthdays. As we adapt to a new schedule in these opening months of school year, St. Mark’s is coming to love this new time and these rituals in terms of their ability to connect us to one another and prepare us for the day.

[St</a>. Mark’s School: News News Detail](<a href=“http://www.stmarksschool.org/news/detail.aspx?pageaction=ViewSinglePublic&LinkID=1405&ModuleID=345&NEWSPID=1]St”>http://www.stmarksschool.org/news/detail.aspx?pageaction=ViewSinglePublic&LinkID=1405&ModuleID=345&NEWSPID=1)</p>

<p>For all applicants, please don’t post too much personal information on CC, if you do not want to be identified by admissions officers.</p>