Chapel Talks

A forum for students and faculty to share with and inspire the Episcopal community

On most Fridays during the school year, the Episcopal community gathers in Callaway Chapel at 11:30 a.m. Although chapel services are a regular part of the school week, Friday chapel services are unique because of their chapel talks, which have become an integral part of the EHS experience.

At Episcopal, the phrase “chapel talk” refers to a speech given by a student or faculty member at Friday chapel. Organized and run by student members of the Vestry, Friday chapel services provide a forum for community members to speak to the School about a topic that has special meaning to them.

These chapel talks can be funny, insightful, challenging, moving, and often deeply personal. Each topic resonates differently with the community, but all leave a lasting impression, one that stays with the listener long after graduation.

Below are a selection of student and faculty chapel talks from recent years.

  • Cathy Bai ’11

    Cathy Bai ’11

    "Tackling any problem can be awkward at the start. There are so many ways to approach a problem, and it can be hard to choose which path to take. Starting discussions can also be challenging. Sometimes, we need that one person to break the silence, to be the activation energy that propels us forward."

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  • Catherine Lambert '11

    Catherine Lambert '11

    "My brother Caleb, who will be turning 17 this October, was diagnosed with autism, a mental disorder, at 2 years old when he began to have obsessions with stacking cans, flushing building blocks down the toilet, and spending 30 minutes sitting on the ground spinning a wheel. He will never talk and will function at the level of a 2-year-old for the rest of his life."

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  • Elizabeth Merten '13

    Elisabeth Merten ’13

    "I used to think that people who lived through major catastrophes were destined to do so, to tell the story afterward. Every day on TV or in the newspaper, we hear at least one tale of survival told by someone who witnessed some kind of disaster, whether natural, political, or accidental. I never thought that I could be that person with a story to tell. Not just any story; a story of extreme change that altered my life and so many others forever."

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  • Erik Skytting ’12

    Erik Skytting ’12

    "When you think about Swedish Christmas, you probably think about snow, skiing, cold weather, and polar bears walking on the streets. Some of you might even think that Christmas in Sweden is all about pretty blond girls in Christmas dresses. This is partly true, but a Christmas in Sweden is much more than that."

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  • Dan Hatfield, Faculty Member 2006-2009

    Dan Hatfield, Faculty Member 2006-2009

    "I recently did a Google search for the word 'fear,' and elicited about 203 million hits. Incidentally, that’s nearly four times the mere 53 million sites that popped up when I performed a second search for the word 'courage'. . . What, I asked, 'Is everyone so afraid of?'"

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  • Mason New, Faculty Member Since 2001

    Mason New, Faculty Member Since 2001

    "Now, you all need to know something. I am not an athlete like Mrs. Ferrell or Mr. Walsh. I’m not a former college athlete like Mr. Watts or Ms. Gregory. In fact, there are few activities that I HATE more than running. So when all of my friends heard me announce that I would run a marathon, they laughed. 'Are you serious?' one asked. 'I just told you I would do it. I’ll run it.' I said."

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  • Brad Park, Faculty Member Since 2007

    Brad Park, Faculty Member Since 2007

    "Last year, a student in one of my junior English classes began a presentation by having everyone in the room write down an answer to the following question: What is your personal relationship with God?"

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