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Calvin University's official student newspaper since 1907

Calvin University Chimes

Since 1907
Calvin University's official student newspaper since 1907

Calvin University Chimes

Calvin University's official student newspaper since 1907

Calvin University Chimes

All content by Nolan Cowan
Here’s what to know about Synod 2024

Here’s what to know about Synod 2024

Grace Buller and Nolan Cowan
September 9, 2024

This summer, delegates from across the country gathered in Calvin’s chapel for the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA)’s annual synod, where they discussed recommendations and made decisions...

Pandemic continues to affect student performance

Nolan Cowan, Religion Reporter
April 22, 2024

Four years after the first COVID-19 lockdowns began, education researchers and Calvin professors have expressed growing concerns about the continued effect the pandemic had on education.  According...

Faculty attendance at chapel is encouraged but is frequently low due to scheduling conflicts and other faith commitments.

Chapel underutilized by faculty due in part to scheduling conflicts, other faith commitments

Nolan Cowan, Religion Reporter
March 25, 2024

As faculty chapel attendance remains consistently low, administrative staff and faculty alike speculate that solutions such as continued changes to campus-wide administrative and scheduling practices,...

As a Discipleship Assistant for Outdoor Recreation, Ben Richards plans to lead a group of students through the prayer walk after spring break.

Lenten prayer walk at Calvin Ecosystem Preserve connects nature with church calendar

Nolan Cowan, Religion Reporter
February 26, 2024

In this season of Lent, the Calvin Ecosystem Preserve is offering a prayer walk in front of the Bunker Interpretive Center to students interested in experiencing the themes of the church calendar in nature.  According...

The CCW is open throughout the year, and test seasons usually bring a higher number of students.

Calvin’s CCW and Campus Ministries teams collaborate during stressful times for students

Nolan Cowan, Religion Reporter
February 19, 2024

As midterms steadily approach, Calvin’s Center for Counseling and Wellness (CCW) and Campus Ministries team rely on a close partnership to care for student’s mental health. While many might think...

The Kuiper Seminar was named after Kenneth W. Kuiper, a former English professor who served at
Calvin from 1963-1995. Here, his picture is featured on the English Department's wall of past professors.

Faculty orientation seminar celebrates 30 year anniversary

Nolan Cowan, Religion Reporter
February 12, 2024

Three decades after the Kuiper Seminar’s first session in January of 1994, the seminar continues to work towards its mission of orienting new faculty in Christian teaching and scholarship, rooted in...

Having a set list of songs helps the team coordinate services and gives
students a sense of continuity across years.

The Calvin 50: A fundamental part of chapel worship services

Nolan Cowan, Religion Reporter
February 5, 2024

While many students may notice the same songs popping up in chapel services each week, they might not know why this is the case. The answer is that the songs all belong to the Calvin 50, a list of 50 worship...

Members of Woodlawn Christian Reformed Church, who come worship every Sunday morning at the chapel, change the chapel banners in accordance with the
church seasons. Campus Events staff helps church volunteers hang the banners.

A different kind of changing season: a conversation about the liturgical calendar

Nolan Cowan, Religion Reporter
January 29, 2024

Within Catholic, Anglican, Methodist and some Reformed circles among other denominations, churches sometimes follow what is called the “Christian Year,” or a liturgical calendar which guides congregations...

The Flammarion Engraving (pictured above) shows an example of “firmament theory”, a cosmology found in the Genesis Creation narrative. Students often encounter new perspectives on Creation in their core religion classes. Image from the public domain.

When cherished beliefs are challenged: Calvin students wrestle with hard questions

Nolan Cowan and Ethan Meyers
December 4, 2023

Grace Driggers remembers feeling uncomfortable throughout REL-121, a course she took to fulfill the core religion requirement. For three years, Calvin had been a place that had built her up in song, in...

Hag Ali is a member of the Calvin Interfaith Alliance.

Muslim students, few in number, engage questions about Islam and Christianity

Nolan Cowan, Religion Reporter
October 23, 2023

Sara Hag Ali, a sophomore studying biology and a member of the Calvin Interfaith Alliance, appreciated her core religion classes here at Calvin. Before she took them, she said, “I was so ignorant about...

Calvin's chapel hosts weekday services Monday through Friday.

Chapel attendance remains consistent, doubles for Thursday service

Nolan Cowan, Religion Reporter
October 7, 2023

Changes to Thursday chapel, made in an effort to increase student connection with contemplative worship, seem to be paying off as other chapel attendance trends stay consistent.  In previous years,...

Calvin's football team played its first scrimmage as a part of homecoming weekend.

[Photo] Calvin Knights post strong homecoming performances

Dillion Baumchen, Sports Reporter
October 7, 2023

Calvin's football team played its first scrimmage as a part of homecoming weekend.

Non-CRC professors find a place at Calvin

Nolan Cowan, Religion Reporter
October 2, 2023

A little more than three years have gone by since Calvin’s board of trustees approved the decision to allow Calvin professors to attend churches outside the Christian Reformed Church of North America...

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