Union Reinstating Once-a-Month Voluntary Chapel Services

David Saylor • February 13, 2026

Beginning this Sunday, Union Commonwealth University will reintroduce voluntary chapel services for students, faculty, staff, and community members, providing opportunities for worship and spiritual exploration. Services will be held once a month during the spring semester and will feature speakers from Union’s partnership churches.

[PHOTO: Rev. Thom Brown]

Reverend Thom Brown, interim campus minister and pastor of First United Methodist Church, is overseeing the services. Attendees can expect each chapel service to include music and a message from a partner church, with student chaplains leading prayers, liturgies, and other elements of worship. Brown emphasized that the services are designed to be student-centered while welcoming community participation, creating a unique opportunity for meaningful spiritual engagement each month.

“We hope people come with an open spirit,” Brown said. “There will be a slightly different experience every time. They’ll get different kinds of preachers, different kinds of music. The expectation is that we’re embracing an experimental mindset. Even if one of the sessions isn’t quite your cup of tea, try it again the next time. Maybe it’ll be something you’re interested in.”

All chapel services will begin at 5:00 p.m. on the following dates:

Sunday, Feb. 15 – St. Gregory Catholic Church

Message by: Father Dickson
Commissioning of Student Chaplains

Sunday, March 1 – Immanuel Baptist Church

Message by: Rev. Allen Bonnell

Sunday, April 19 – Beacon Baptist Church

Message by: Rev. Pat Chestnut

Sunday, May 3 – Union Spiritual Life

Message by: Rev. Thom Brown

Services are expected to run about 45 minutes to an hour.

For now, the chapel services are being offered as a limited pilot during the spring semester. Brown explained that Union will evaluate the program over the summer, make any necessary adjustments, and determine whether it should return on a more consistent basis. “I’d rather go slow and purposeful than rush into something,” Brown said.

For more information and for those interested in being partner churches of Union, contact Reverend Thom Brown at tbrown2@unionky.edu

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