Dr. Jim Vernon, chair of the Division of Music and Burton H. Patterson Professor of Music, conducts Symphonic Winds during Holy Week chapel April 13.

Dr. Louima Lilite, McGavern-Montgomery Professor of Music, sings, “It Is Well With My Soul."

Dr. Kelsey D’Emilio, assistant professor of music, conducts the Bisonette Glee Club.

OBU student Nathan Henager sings, “He Never Said a Mumbalin’ Word.”

Dr. Jim Vernon, chair of the Division of Music and Burton H. Patterson Professor of Music, conducts Symphonic Winds.

Dr. Louima Lilite, McGavern-Montgomery Professor of Music, sings, “It Is Well With My Soul.”

Dr. Stephen Sims, assistant professor of music, leads worship, assisted by the combined choirs.

Dr. Kelsey D’Emilio, assistant professor of music, leads the invocation.

Dr. Louima Lilite, McGavern-Montgomery Professor of Music, directs the University Chorale.

Dr. Patty Nelson, associate professor of music education, conducts University Ringers.

University Worships Together During Special Holy Week Chapel April 13

April 13, 2022

The OBU community worshiped together during a special Holy Week chapel service April 13. The annual Holy Week chapel takes place the Wednesday before Easter in Raley Chapel’s Potter Auditorium. Faculty, students and ensembles from the Division of Music led the service.

The service opened with a performance of “Amazing Grace” by Symphonic Winds, the university’s wind ensemble. Following a prayer of invocation, congregational worship and a scripture reading, the Bison Glee Club sang, “Vere languores nostros.”

University Ringers, OBU’s handbell choir, then performed a rendition of “Were You There?” Following a performance of “Ten Thousand Angels” by student Alethea-Jade Coffey and a scripture reading from Isaiah 53, student Nathan Henager sang, “He Never Said a Mumbalin’ Word.”

After the continuation of the scripture reading from Isaiah 53, Dr. Louima Lilite, McGavern-Montgomery Professor of Music, sang, “It Is Well With My Soul.” He was accompanied on piano by Dr. Mark Franklin, assistant professor of music. A poem, “Holy Sonnet XI” by John Donne, was then read before the Bisonette Glee Club performed, “God of Wonders.”

The University Chorale followed with an excerpt from Handel’s “Messiah.” The service concluded with a scripture reading of Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Watch the Holy Week chapel service.