Chapel is educational and church is important, but there is something unique about worship led completely by other students. With dimmed lights, acoustic guitars and soothing voices leading songs like David Crowder’s, “How He Loves,” 10:07 provides an enlightening worship experience that refreshes the soul and replenishes the spirit.
10:07 is student-led worship with a focus on creating a comfortable environment for all students. After joining hands for prayer, a small group of student leaders shares between eight and nine songs for worship.
Coordinator of 10:07 Emma Haupt explains that a unique part of 10:07 is that it encourages students to participate in whatever way they worship best: standing, sitting, journaling, singing or just listening and observing. The experience is personalized and tailored to what each student feels works best for themselves.
While this can seem intimidating in a large worship setting, 10:07 stands out with its welcoming and safe atmosphere. Students are free from the spiritual constraint of self-consciousness as they worship.
10:07 has existed for many years, and leaders continue the worship experience to keep an opportunity for authentic worship that allows students to restart and refocus. 10:07 is meant to be just what students need, providing worship music and prayers and letting students receive whatever their soul needs from the experience.
Haupt stated that leaders of 10:07 aim to create a breath of fresh air for students because, “even something as simple as just breathing can be worship for God.” No student is pressured to participate in any specific way.
Part of the 10:07 worship that sophomore Morgan Budd appreciates is that everyone is respectful of each other. Budd describes the atmosphere as being“relaxing and peaceful” and “a place of comfort.”
Sophomore Isaac Stults elaborated on words often used in association with 10:07, including “fresh” and “focus.” Stults stated that 10:07 is “a fresh reminder of God,” and that no matter what state of mind he is in, the worship always turns his eyes back up to heaven. He also noted that an important reason for students to attend 10:07 is to “unwind and refocus on the Lord.”
Although it can be easy to compare 10:07 to Chapel or church because it focuses on God, it creates a vastly different internal stir.
“Chapel and church are focused on growth, but 10:07 is meant for worship,” Stults said. “Worship, in its most basic definition, is praising God. When you spend 45 minutes or so just praising the Lord, it affects your mood and your mindset.”
10:07 is meant to be a safe space to worship in unique ways, allowing students the freedom to explore different methods of worship instead of following a structure that Chapel or a church service follows.
According to Brenna Taulbee, one of the worship leaders, “There are no microphones or PowerPoint slides. We use a projector and hand-written sheets for lyrics.”
Simplicity is emphasized at 10:07, contrasting from the electric guitars, drum set and amplifiers at Reardon Chapel. This simplicity clears distractions and aids in creating a more focused worship time. 10:07 provides a worship experience unlike any other on campus.
Not only are attending students touched by the atmosphere and experience, but Taulbee explained that 10:07 is spiritually-fulfilling for the worship leaders as well.
“I always hear people come up to me and say, ‘I needed to hear that,’ or ‘I’m thankful I took the time to come tonight,’” she said. “To me, that is so encouraging and powerful.”
She also expresses that, because there isn’t much rehearsing before 10:07, it “has implanted a habit to trust in the way the Spirit moves in those listening.”
Leading worship teaches Taulbee to trust that God will say what he needs to say through her and to take comfort that it’s that simple.
Worship is held every Tuesday night at 10:07 in Fair Commons Lobby. Anyone is welcome to stop by for a night to refocus and restore spiritual relationships in a welcoming environment.