This week, it was the fifth grade’s turn to lead Share Chapel. Students from Ms. Hancock’s and Mrs. Fallon’s classes took responsibility for the program, presenting the Bible passages they have memorized throughout the year. After each recitation, they reflected on the significance of each verse and shared practical ways these words could shape their lives.

They kicked off the chapel with our theme verse for the year, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). One student reflected, “I think we learned that verse so when faced with a hard time in our life, we can say this verse to ourselves.  It shows that God is always with us.”

Other passages included:

• Psalm 135:5-7 - “I think we were asked to memorize this passage so we would do our best to follow God and treat Him with respect.  I like that it says, ‘Our Lord is greater than all Gods.’  That tells me that no one is in a higher position than Him.”

• Psalm 145:8-21 - “’The Lord is trustworthy.’  I know that I can always trust Him.”

• Ephesians 4:29-32 - “We should only say things that build people up and never say things that tear people down.”

• James 1:16-17, 19-20, 22, and 25 - “This verse is significant to me because it teaches us that God does not change. God is the same today as He was in the beginning.”

• James 3:5, 7-10, and 13 - “God’s faithfulness will protect us wherever we go.”

• Ephesians 6:1-3, 6-8 - “We should serve God with joy.”

From their earliest years in elementary school (and even preschool!), our students are encouraged not only to memorize Scripture but to hide it in their hearts. While memorization sharpens the mind, our greatest hope is that these verses become lifelong anchors of faith—offering comfort, wisdom, and guidance whenever they are needed. As Psalm 119 beautifully expresses: "I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You" (verse 11), and “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (verse 105). We are deeply grateful for a Savior who gives us a map, guiding us each step of the way as we pursue Him and His purpose for our lives.

Thank you, fifth graders, for setting a wonderful example of diligence in Scripture memorization and intentionality in applying and living out God’s Word each day!

Chapel was a wonderful celebration of the hard work and dedication shown by our third-grade students as they prepared for the annual Live Wax Museum. Each student selected and read a biography of a Christian hero, past or present. Dressed as their chosen hero, they shared the inspiring stories and impact these individuals made for Jesus. Later in the afternoon, the students brought their heroes to life in the Live Wax Museum. Each with a bell, they stood ready to come to life to share interesting facts and lessons about the lives they researched.

This special Heritage tradition reminds us that even small acts of faith and obedience can lead to great outcomes for God’s kingdom. Third-grade teacher Mrs. Gaeta opened the chapel by asking us to think about what truly makes someone a “Christian hero.” She reminded us that the true mark of a Christian hero is not talent, but the willingness to trust and follow God faithfully. The heroes represented on stage were not superheroes, but ordinary people who responded to God’s call. We, too, can show perseverance and faith in our own lives, making a difference for Jesus in our world.

Thank you, third graders, for your enthusiasm and effort. Your hard work has truly inspired us all to walk in the footsteps of these Christian heroes! Thank you, Mrs. Gaeta and Mrs. Benzel, for guiding the students so intentionally through this incredible experience!

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord." Colossians 3:23

This week in chapel, our secondary students were encouraged by Mr. Saunders’ (HCA Head of School) message about Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46). He shared how Jesus faced deep sorrow knowing what was to come, reminding us that Jesus knows what it’s like to feel overwhelmed and that He was both fully God and fully human. Even Jesus wanted His friends nearby during tough times. He began with 11 disciples, then invited His closest friends, Peter, James, and John, to go further with Him. Mr. Saunders explained that when we face hard times, we should lean on a few trusted people for support. Not everyone needs to know, or can handle, our struggles—often a small circle is best.

In the most important step of the process, Jesus showed us the value of taking our worries to God. Mr. Saunders encouraged us to be honest and open with God, because that’s when we experience His comfort and draw closer to Him, just as Jesus did in the garden. Jesus woke up Peter after he fell asleep while Jesus was praying. Jesus knew Peter would soon face a big challenge—he would deny knowing Jesus three times- so Jesus wanted Peter to stay close. Mr. Saunders reminded us that God uses these moments in our lives to help us grow stronger. Even when we make mistakes or feel weak, God is at work in us, shaping our hearts.

Thank you, Mr. Saunders, for reminding us to trust Jesus through both the peaks and the valleys.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Our middle and high school students received an encouraging and challenging message from Mr. Benzel. He reflected on the lyrics from the hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”: “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.” Mr. Benzel reminded us that lulls in life can make us drift from faithfulness and the God we love. Sometimes we’re not spiritually awake due to boredom, exhaustion, or a sense of distance from the Lord. He emphasized that we’re most vulnerable to wandering when we’re isolated, rather than in community with others who know and love Jesus.

Drawing from 1 Thessalonians 5, Mr. Benzel encouraged us to support one another, practice self-control, put on the armor of God, and show love to God and others. We’re grateful for Mr. Benzel’s reminder to seek Jesus always and to remain especially diligent in seasons when our faith feels stagnant.

Third-grade teacher Mrs. Benzel wrapped up a month focused on the character trait of gentleness at chapel yesterday. Gentleness, she explained, is speaking truth with both love and respect. Mrs. Benzel highlighted that Jesus is the ultimate example of gentleness and pointed to two instances in the Bible where He demonstrated this trait.

The first example of Jesus’ gentleness comes from Luke 19, when He interacted with Zacchaeus, a sinful tax collector. Jesus showed Zacchaeus love and compassion by inviting him to come down from the tree, then shared the truth with him in the comfortable setting of Zacchaeus’ home. Mrs. Benzel explained that Jesus needed to show both love and truth to Zacchaeus, as one without the other is often not the best way.

Another example comes from John 8, when the Pharisees brought a woman caught in sin to Jesus. He challenged the crowd, saying that anyone without sin should be the first to throw a stone at her. As the only one who met this standard, Jesus showed the woman love and mercy by telling her He did not condemn her. He then followed up with truth, urging her to leave her sin behind and follow Him.

Mrs. Benzel shared that, while it is not always easy, gentleness is necessary in a world where hard conversations and situations arise. Practicing gentleness brings unity, peace, and joy.

Today, we welcomed back chapel favorite and HCA alum Mr. Jimmy Reed. As the area director for Everett/Mill Creek Young Life, Mr. Reed shared a message centered on Jacob’s dream in Genesis 28. He highlighted how God assured Jacob, saying, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you” (verse 15). Mr. Reed reminded us that just as God kept His promises to Jacob, He will fulfill His promises to us as well. No matter the challenges we face, God is always present and will see us through.

To illustrate his message, Mr. Reed showed a photo of a ziggurat and explained that its staircase symbolized an attempt to draw closer to God. However, because of Jesus, “we don’t have to build a staircase, climb a mountain, or be a perfect person”—we simply need to trust in Him. We are grateful to Mr. Reed for delivering such a powerful and encouraging message!

Mr. Stevens, our middle and high school principal, spoke at our weekly chapels today about the importance of building our lives on the right foundation. He used the illustration of Legos built on pillows versus a solid surface to show how critical it is to build on something strong—Jesus. Jesus is our Rock. Friends, rules, and circumstances may change, but like a rock, Christ never changes. “If He says truth matters today, it will matter forever. That’s why He’s safe to build on.”

Mr. Stevens also spoke about the inevitable pressures of life, both big and small, and reminded us that we are never alone when we trust in Jesus. Building a strong foundation takes effort—obeying, spending time in God’s Word, and praying—but with this foundation, “God is not standing far away...He is with you!”

“Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:4

Thank you, Mr. Stevens, for this important reminder as we continue our year centered on the theme: ‘God is for us!’

Wednesday’s chapel focused on our January character trait: Consistency. We enjoyed hearing from Mrs. Dickinson, Secondary Administrative Assistant, as she shared how God is the ultimate example of consistency. He is unchanging and dependable. When we are consistent in our daily walk with Jesus, we reflect His character of consistency to others.

As James 1:17 reminds us, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." 

We heard from Mr. Benzel, our Athletic and Spiritual Formations Director. As we prepare to cheer on the Seahawks in the Super Bowl this weekend, he pointed out how sports can unite a community. Just as the Seahawks represent Seattle, we represent Heritage—and ultimately, Christ. Mr. Benzel explained how a rock tumbler shapes, smooths, and polishes rocks. In a Christ-centered community, we help shape one another into the people God created us to be. Mr. Benzel encouraged us to work together like a rock tumbler, refining and supporting each other along the way.

"Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
1 Thessalonians 5:11

Today at chapel, we were honored to welcome Mr. Cooper Fallon, husband of our 5th-grade teacher and son of our secondary science teacher, the “Mrs. Fallons.” Mr. Fallon, who serves in the children’s ministry at Northview Community Church, inspired us to reflect on why God created us. He reminded us that our purpose is to further God’s kingdom by blessing others and sharing the love of Jesus with those around us. Drawing from Matthew 4:17, he encouraged us to anticipate Jesus’ return and to embrace our mission to reach the world for Christ. Thank you, Mr. Fallon, for your powerful message today! 

Our students always delight in welcoming Pastor Phillip Kim (CrossPointe Discipleship Pastor) to chapel. This week, he shared the command from Deuteronomy 6:5 to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and might. Pastor Phillip took us on a deep dive into what this extraordinary love truly means. He compared the relational love we have with all the people in our lives, and how we should love Jesus in a “way that’s far beyond what we have for anyone on Earth.”  

As Pastor Phillip pointed out, "we can’t love someone unless we really know them." He challenged us to deepen our knowledge of God through reading and studying His Word and spending time with Him in prayer. The Bible reminds us that if we love God, we will keep His commands (John 14:15, Matthew 22:36-40). What a wonderful encouragement to emulate Jesus' love for us and extend that love to those around us. 

We kicked off the new year with a chapel reflecting on December’s character focus: kindness. Mr. Daniel, our art and PE teacher, inspired students by sharing the importance of showing kindness through giving. He reminded us that we all need to learn and practice generosity, looking to the gift of Jesus as the ultimate example (John 3:16). Mr. Daniel shared a story about the bushmen in Botswana, who always leave water behind for the next traveler—a beautiful act of forward-thinking kindness that we can all embrace in our daily lives. Thank you, Mr. Daniel, for consistently modeling Christlike giving for our community. 

Today, we had the pleasure of welcoming back a beloved chapel guest, Mr. Garrett Shelp, Area Director for Northshore Young Life. Mr. Shelp thoughtfully shared his favorite Christmas Bible verses, John 1:1-5, and inspired students with the reminder that “God is so much more surprising and amazing than we can even imagine.” He emphasized that God has always existed, was present at the very beginning, and has a unique purpose for each of us. Through Jesus, each of us carries a light—to hold, to keep, and to share with others.

As Mr. Shelp beautifully stated, “Darkness can never extinguish the Light of God, and there is nothing we can ever do to separate us from Him.” As we approach the Christmas season and celebrate the birth of our Savior, Mr. Shelp encouraged students to remember that they are endlessly loved. “You don’t come from nothing. You come from something, and that something is love.”