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Current Students > Campus Services > Campus Ministry > Dedication Narrative At 3:50 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, 2006, the carillon installed only days before in the steeple of the David The service of dedication began in the plaza outside the doors of the chapel at 4:00 as the chimes fell silent. Campus Pastor Paul Baglyos spoke the apostolic greeting and led the opening collect. President Lance Masters welcomed the worshipers, articulated the significance of the day, and invited remarks by some of the major donors to the chapel campaign. LaVonne Johnson, wife of Glen Johnson (H ’88) and mother of David Johnson, spoke first, expressing her family’s support of Thiel College and their appreciation for the opportunity to memorialize David through the new chapel. Virginia Woods Hajewski spoke on behalf of her family regarding the initial gift from her father, the Reverend Colonel John Woods (’28, H ‘57), and his wife, Dr. Arlene Sitler Woods, which had inaugurated the chapel campaign. Paul O’Brien, who served as chief contractor, then presented President Masters with a key to the chapel. President Masters, Mrs. Johnson, and Mrs. Hajewski stood side by side for the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon stretched across the doors of the chapel; they were joined by Board of Trustees Chair Ron Anderson and the Reverend Martin Roth (’66), representative of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Greenville, the congregational home of the Woods family. (Pastor Roth received an honorary degree from his alma mater the next day during the commencement exercises.)
Following the prayers of dedication and blessing, the altar was vested by Judith Boal and Christina Suciu, wh The first lesson, from the eighth chapter 1 Kings, was read by John Woods (’58), brother to Virginia Hajewski and son of the Reverend Colonel Woods. Members of the Thiel College Choir sang “I Have Longed for Thy Saving Health,” written by William Byrd and directed by Dr. Michael Bray, of the Thiel College faculty. The second lesson, from the second chapter of Ephesians, was read by Trustee Fred McCullough (’65). Worshipers greeted the gospel by singing the Easter hymn, “Christ Is Arisen.” Pastor Roth read the gospel lesson, from the second chapter of John, and preached the sermon. The text of his sermon is available in the archives of the College. Following the sermon, the congregation sang the hymn, “Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty,” and confessed the faith of the Church in the words of the Nicene Creed. The prayers of the community were led by Pastor Gleason, who had also prepared the petitions. The text of Pastor Gleason’s prayer is available in the archives of the College. The offertory hymn was “We Place Upon Your Table, Lord.” Thiel College students Sara Hazeltine and Patrick Miller presented the bread and wine for the eucharist. Sheila Johnson, wife of David Johnson, and their daughters Kora and Kari Johnson assisted Pastors Baglyos and Gleason with the distribution of communion. During the distribution, the congregation sang the hymns “At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing” and “We Who Once Were Dead.” The hymn “Praise the Savior, Now and Ever” accompanied the clearing of the table and the recession. Mr. Achenbach spoke the dismissal.
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Johnson Memorial Chapel began to chime as celebrants gathered for the dedication of the first free-standing house of worship in the 140-year history of Thiel College. The day’s weather provided a clear blue sky, brilliant sunshine, mild temperature and a steady breeze. 
The doors of the chapel were opened, and Pastor Baglyos traced the sign of the cross on the threshold with the staff of the processional cross. Worshipers then processed into the chapel behind the processional cross, which was carried by Don Achenbach (’77), Vice President for Facilities and Planning. The processional hymn, sung a cappella, was “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” chosen in part for its summons, “let all who hear now to his temple draw near.” Pastors Baglyos and Roth, along with the Reverend Dr. David Gleason, Trustee of Thiel College and Senior Pastor of First Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh, the congregational home of the Johnson family, then followed the processional cross in turn to the baptismal font, the ambo, the altar, and the center of the congregation, where prayers of dedication and blessing were said to consecrate those furnishings and the chapel as a whole for their sacred purpose. The pulpit bible (previously dedicated) was carried into the chapel and then forward to the ambo by Marietta White of the Thiel College housekeeping staff. Other items for dedication were then presented before the altar, having been carried into the chapel by those who presented them:
o designed and produced the new vestments and paraments for the chapel. Pastor Gleason was vested in the new dalmatic for his role as deacon of the liturgy, and Pastor Baglyos was vested in the new stole and chasuble for his role as presiding minister. Because the service of dedication was held on Saturday in the Third Week of Easter, the propers for the eucharist were those for the Easter season; the vestments and paraments dedicated and used in the liturgy were white/gold. Once the altar and ministers were vested in the newly-dedicated items, Mr. Achenbach lit the new paschal candle and altar torches for the first time. The congregation sang the hymn, “God is Here!” which proclaims that sacred place and sacred furnishings serve the gracious encounter between God and God’s people. Thiel College faculty member Kathryn Gray accompanied the singing of the hymn on the Young Chang piano, recently donated to Thiel College and designated for use in the new chapel; Mrs. Gray served as pianist for the remainder of the liturgy.
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