Tessa Shanahan ’28
Every year, the Episcopal Academy Chapel Council votes on a new chapel theme that will connect us to our core values, the stripes, and guide us in becoming better stewards of our school. This year, “Rooted and Grounded in Love” is the new chapel theme, which will be the recurring focus of Chapel Talks. This theme draws from Ephesians 3:17, which states, “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love.”
The meaning of “Rooted and Grounded in Love” has many interpretations. Brandon Bin ’26, Vestry Warden, shares, “I like the definition of rooted and grounded being combined in that the roots of a tree continue to grow deeper, along with new ones that succeed. To be grounded in love is to have your origin or intention be in love.” For Brandon, the idea of being “rooted” in our chapel theme is synonymous with the embeddedness of a tree, how their roots are a perpetual system that grows deeper and deeper. Similarly, our community is comparable to the roots of a tree: Episcopal’s community is a network of students, faculty, and staff who strive to support one another and challenge each other to grow. Without love, our roots would have no direction or strength. When Father Gavin was asked for his thoughts on the new theme, he explained, “The idea of being ‘grounded’ in love implies that our very foundation as human beings is held sturdy by the love of God. Therefore, love is both organic and stable.” Father Gavin’s assertion attempts to remind us that love is constant and unwavering–that God’s love is grounded within ourselves, providing a foundation of understanding. Taking from what Father Gavin has said, students must prioritize this love grounded within and allow it to spread to their peers.
Members of our community are already thinking about how they will live out this theme. Anna Lunn ‘26, a member of Vestry, shares, “At EA, I hope to display being rooted and rounded in love in two ways. While leaning on the people in the community, like teachers, mentors, and friends, in hard times, I also want to be the root and help ground people in our community when they need help, or just someone who is there for them during hard times.” Anna emphasizes that love involves receiving support and offering it to others, touching on the idea of becoming a root for someone who needs help, which will ground and strengthen others during difficult times. To be grounded is to be a constant presence, whether for a friend, on the sports field, or working on academics. Her reflection reminds us that love moves in both directions, and our community thrives when we uplift one another. Similarly, Reverend Michael Palmisano offers new ideas on personal growth from the chapel theme: “I need to nourish myself through prayer and the other disciplines that help me be who I am most – things like running and spending time with loved ones. I want to be able to support others when my proverbial ‘cup’ is overflowing, not just when it’s being poured out.” Reverend Palmisano suggests that “Rooted and Grounded in Love” can also be applied to self-improvement. Practicing discipline, rest, and self-care allows us to become a stronger support system for ourselves, which is essential to self-love.
Ultimately, our chapel theme this year, “Rooted and Grounded in Love,” will help guide not only Vestry but the Episcopal community through our everyday interactions, whether it be on the field, in the classroom, or in the chapel. Through love, we can all contribute support to each other as we grow in mind, body, and spirit, nourishing our central values as we begin a new school year. To embody this theme, Episcopal must remember that love is active, a conscious and engaged effort to create a space where we can remain grounded, respect one another, and learn from our peers and teachers alike.
