My office on the Makai campus lays just two doors down from Holman Hall where students assemble for various events or lessons throughout the day. On Fridays, around 9:30am, while I’m digging out of emails, prioritizing my many tasks, and feeling the weight of responsibility, I begin to hear a chorus of students singing. Emerging out of my office and the work and worries of the day, I join the students for 15 minutes of worship.
This is not a new invention in our Secondary School. For years, we have reserved this 15-minute period on Fridays for singing hymns and praise songs. And, our students love to sing. What was new for me this year was seeing the five-person praise team completely led by students. Having already practiced together, they set up the equipment, picked the songs, set a tone of praise, and carried the tune for the benefit of their classmates and faculty. What a blessing for me to just slide in the back and join in song. Furthermore, one of the students will always close that time in prayer. So often I am the one called to pray for events and groups assembled at school. But, this is a time the students bless me with their leadership and service.
For much of my life, I’ve separated the sacred from the secular, relegating things like worship to a Sunday service. In the Navy, we didn’t usually burst into song after briefing the Admiral. How refreshing it is, in the midst of a work day and its many distractions, to publically gather and pause for 15 minutes as we corporately direct our attention to our Savior who gives meaning to everything else that happens throughout the day.
The students might think that the Headmaster slides in the back to check up on them. The truth is that I also want to worship and depend on the encouragement of others. So, thank you Trinity students for refreshing my heart with the songs you sing in praise to our Lord.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Col 3:16
Stephen Sprague
Headmaster