Duke Chapel to Host Day of Silence Nov. 18

On Monday, Nov. 18, Duke Chapel will be a quiet place of refuge for students, staff, faculty and community members who wish to participate in a day of silence. The chapel organs and carillon will not play that day. 

"This is a busy time of year," said Christy Lohr Sapp, the chapel's associate dean for religious life. "So we're inviting the community to take a moment to pause and be silent, and let the stillness remind us that we can live mindful lives in the midst of the noise and activity around us every day."

The day of silence was organized in conjunction with the Muslim Student Association's "Fast-a-thon" canned food drive and concludes with an interfaith event to break the fast.

"During the day, some of us are fasting from food, and some of us from words, but when the day comes to a close, we will all come together to feast," said Dean of Duke Chapel Luke Powery.

The Religious Life Thanksgiving Dinner will be held 6 p.m. Nov. 18 and is open to all students who RSVP by Nov. 14 at https://chapel.duke.edu/religious-life-thanksgiving-dinner-registration-....

The event includes a vegetarian meal along with comments on feasting and fasting from speakers in Christian, Islamic and Jewish traditions. They include Laurie Patton, dean of Arts and Sciences at Trinity College; Norman Wirzba, professor of theology and ecology at the Divinity School; and Mohsen Kadivar, visiting research professor of Islamic studies in the religion department.