Every Monday at noon, students, faculty, staff and even community members can be found at the Dahl Chapel celebrating their faith at Space for Grace, a service that provides a chance for the MC campus and Monmouth community to come together. Unfortunately, many students seem not to be aware of this chance to join with others in spiritual reflection and congregation.

While the official, weekly Space for Grace service has only been around since the beginning of this past fall semester, Rev. Dr. Kathleen Fannin has been leading some sort of religious meeting since she first came to the campus in 1997. Fannin noted that “Many years ago, before I arrived on campus, there used to be chapel service five days a week,” adding that, “attendance was mandatory.”

When Fannin arrived on campus, she started out holding services on Sunday nights in the Morgan Room (Poling Hall). “I soon realized that Sunday night was prime time for sorority meetings, so the next year we moved to Fridays at noon,” stated Fannin. This became one of the many changes to place and time of the service, before the standard Space for Grace time, place and name was set in place in the fall of 2007.

Space for Grace not only allows Fannin to deliver her Christian message, but also gives students a chance to take part in the process in more ways than one. Many members of the Monmouth College Student Chaplains take part in this process. Fannin highlighted this point when she said, “Some of the Student Chaplains serve on the chapel planning committee, which is a group whose function it is to choose and/or write the liturgy for each service.” Others also have a hand in putting the service together, including Dr. Graham, Rev. Reginnitter and Mrs. Ditzler, who have helped choose the music.

This school year, Space for Grace has definitely transformed into a consistent service that many people can take part in every Monday at noon, and not just Christians. Fannin made this clear by pointing out, “While it is definitely a service of Christian worship, everyone is welcome, regardless of their faith tradition.”

Fannin also commented that “Space for Grace is an opportunity to come together as a community to praise God, reflect on who we are and to take a break from the daily routine-to make space for grace in our lives.” Space for Grace has most definitely made its presence known on campus this year, and should undoubtedly continue to serve as a chance for the community to come together each and every week.

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