Weller Auditorium Reopens for Chapel after Summer Renovations

by Corrianne Cain 

After three and a half weeks of worshipping in Janzow’s Cattle Conference Room during renovations in Weller Chapel, Concordia welcomed students, faculty and staff back to the chapel for worship Thursday, Sept. 15.

The worship space was updated to include many features that make the chapel more modern and flexible.

“I think…you are going to feel that this is truly a chapel…with the stained glass windows, the artwork (and) the other liturgical stuff on the stage area…it is going to be very mind-changing for a lot of people,” CFO/COO Dave Kumm said. “I hope I never hear again that Concordia really needs to have its own chapel.”

New features include the new stained glass windows and art created by Concordia’s Center for Liturgical Art, a new projection screen and new chairs. There are also many elements of the chapel that will be more versatile for the variety of events held in Weller, such as daily chapel, Praise and productions by the theatre department.

The chapel now includes a main-level audio/visual station that allows for ease of access during events. In addition, the organ was integrated into the original Kuhn organ, which provides more seating space in the balcony for music ensembles. Finally, the addition of stand-alone seating in the front of the space and the balcony, along with removable stairs at the front of the stage, will allow the space to have seamless transitions from worship to drama and other events.

Pastor Lonnie Jacobsen of Calvary Lutheran Church in Lincoln preached on the connection within the body of Christ, as Concordia gathered together in the new space. The student praise band led the students, faculty and staff in song on the renovated stage.

“The new stage is a fantastic update. There are new electric plugs in the stage that should help it be less cluttered with cables and extension cords,” senior Paul Nelson, member of the Student Worship Committee, said in an email interview. “While I mainly work with the tech and production side of chapel, I did get emotional during the Lord’s Prayer because the wait was over, and we were together worshiping our Lord. It was relief and comfort. While worship was great in Cattle Conference Room, it’s good to be home in Weller.”

Chapel will now be held in Weller Auditorium again at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday. Praise will also return to Weller at 9 p.m. on Wednesday nights.