Vespers
If you were given the job of organizing a neighborhood summer camp experience, what Evening Programs would you include? S’mores and games… Check. Movie night… Check. Talent Show… check. Lots of good ideas out there, but I bet none of you would leap to the program we enjoyed last night.
Opening Vespers is a counter intuitive program. The whole premise is hard to sell: gather in silence, sit quietly for more than an hour listening to a story and quoting a verse from the Bible with your friends. All capped off with lighting a candle then blowing it out 30 seconds later. I can imagine your response to that proposal… No Way! The surprise at camp is that this program is beloved and deeply appreciated by all. Campers and counselors alike embrace the simple message and are sometimes even touched in a meaningful way.
The story is a story of love that endured generations. A young couple get married and settle in Saluda (5 miles from camp), keep a fire burning continually for their entire life (this was in the 18th century, not uncommon), and that fire was kept burning for subsequent generations all the way till 1937 when William Morris became famous as the “Keeper of the Flame”. Mr. Morris was invited to be interviewed at Radio City Music Hall in NYC and his story was featured in the local paper. We have told the story ever since, embellishing the details as suits the storyteller.
The girls were absolutely silent throughout the program, they sang the praise songs with heart, they recited the scripture loudly, they lit their candles carefully and blew them out at exactly the same time. It was a perfect vespers and I think the girls were touched at the beauty of it all.
The afternoon rains provided a glorious double rainbow just before the program began, a fitting way to begin the show. We had our first thunder and lightning of the session and Perry (our warning system) performed flawlessly. All were out of the water and safely under cover 5 minutes before the storm hit. No-fuss.
Tonight will be our first “Group EP”, where the 6 different groups head out to do a rotation of games and challenges. 20 minutes at a station, the bell rings, and switch to the next one. We are praying for good weather!
- Breakfast Cheese Bagles and Sausage
- Lunch Chicken Fingers and Salad
- Dinner Flank Steak and Polenta
Thank You!
