We will now return to the Gospel, which not merely in one way gives us counsel and aid against sin; for God is superabundantly rich [and liberal] in His grace [and goodness]. First, through the spoken Word by which the forgiveness of sins is preached [He commands to be preached] in the whole world; which is the peculiar office of the Gospel. Secondly, through Baptism. Thirdly, through the holy Sacrament of the Altar. Fourthly, through the power of the keys, and also through the mutual conversation and consolation of brethren, Matt. 18, 20: Where two or three are gathered together, etc.  (Smalcald Articles III:4)

The WVU Christ the King Lutheran Chapel had been a very important part of my college life at WVU. In fact on one occasion my sophomore year it provided a warm comfortable place to stay when WVU failed to do so. It was a late night in the winter, and I was asleep in my dorm room. The fire alarm went off, and everyone was told to report outside. After several minutes of waiting in the freezing cold, people began to ask if we could go back in, but the resident advisors actually starting sending us further away from the dorm. After twenty minutes of waiting, I told three of my friends to follow me to the Lutheran Chapel which was only a few minutes away. The chapel was well equipped to house us for the evening as we all slept on very comfortable bean bags and couches. The chapel provided us a safe, warm, and comfortable place. The rest of the students staying in my dorm were sent to a different hall with no blankets in an uncomfortable room. This is just one example of how the WVU Lutheran Chapel provides so many opportunities for WVU students. It truly is a strong asset to the community. Mark Santore ('06)

When we talk about the Word, we usually think of preaching.  Sometimes we remember that the Sacraments are, in the words of Luther, Visible Word.  Rarely do we remember the Fifth Mark of the Church: The Mutual Conversation and Consolation of the Saints.  When the Word of God is shared among his children in edifying conversation, the Holy Spirit is present to engender and strengthen faith.  Too often, we think of fellowship as nothing more than a covered dish dinner, forgetting that the covered dish dinner is the opportunity for conversation.

The "undercroft" (lower level) of the Lutheran Campus Chapel was designed to be a place of fellowship.  The open floor plan allows the room to be shaped and reshaped to meet the needs of whatevery gathering uses it at the moment.  The kitchen at the one is available for food preparation.  Bookshelves at the other, provide a library space.  Couches, tables, chairs have served students, faculty, and staff over the decades as they have gathered for food, fellowship, study, instruction, and business meetings.

Since the chapel's construction in 1968, some changes have taken place: the periodic replacament of an appliance, carpeting, the gift of the used couch or recliner.  A significant change was the addition of the cypherlock on the undercroft door.  Prior to this, participants in the campus ministry were dependent upon the chaplain or sexton opening and closing the facility.  Trusted students, faculty, and staff can now access the facility whenever they need to.  This has improved the usefullness of the undercroft, and increased use has been the fruit.

At the time of its construction, the 1968 sacntuary offered many advantages over the meeting facilities in the old St. Paul parsonage, but that was forty years ago.  Several factors compel us to make improvements.

• There are no windows--just cinderblock walls--consequently, there is neither natural light nor natural ventilation.
• The outside entrance is hidden (not visible from the street) under the fireescape next to the dumpsters and made of solid wood.
• There is no air conditioning.
• All the furniture is second hand or dates back to the 1960s and 1970s.  We have the original bean bag chairs--they've been in and out of fashion three times.
• The carpet has seen better days.
• The kitchen cabinetry is failing.  There is neither dishwasher nor garbage disposal.  Layout is inconvenient.  There is a shortage of storage.  The electrical layout is insufficient in both capacity and location.