2008 Woodie Awards
Campus Ministry Corner
Chrissy Hanchett
Issue date: 12/7/04 Section: Campus Life
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So what are you up to tonight? Yeah, I know you have that paper due for Professor Boutin on Wednesday and you haven't started it yet. You have that huge biology test and Friday, and you haven't even begun to start making flashcards. Did you forget to mention you have a presentation on Thursday and haven't a single word prepared? Stressed much? Well, have I got the solution for you: Candlelight Prayer!
I'm sure some of you are wondering what exactly Candlelight Prayer is. It's a student-run reflection held every Tuesday night at 10:00 p.m. in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit where students can come and take about a half an hour to de-stress from the draining aspects of college life. The chapel is completely dark, except for the light provided by the candle arrangements that are uniquely created for each week. Students gather with friends, or even come alone to relax and reflect on three different talks that are given by fellow students, all pertaining to one particular topic. After each piece is read, a song that pertains to the reading is played. Some of the topics that have been read at previous Candlelight gatherings have been "Remembrance," "Waiting in hope," and "Family."
Now I know what some of you might be thinking: "I don't go to Church; why would I want to go to Candlelight?" Well, let me tell you how I fell into this wonderful aspect of campus life. It was my freshman year, and you could say that I wasn't the most involved person. I was that person who loved to run around her pod in Salisbury, distracting everyone from actually getting his or her work done. I loved meeting new people, but I wasn't one for getting involved with anything. I never had been, even in high school. The only thing I cared much about in high school was playing sports, and since I decided against that in college, I was left with the mere activity of socializing. It was fun for a while, but then I started to see everyone around me getting involved and meeting new people, and I wondered how I could slowly infiltrate myself in with the rest of them.
I'm sure some of you are wondering what exactly Candlelight Prayer is. It's a student-run reflection held every Tuesday night at 10:00 p.m. in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit where students can come and take about a half an hour to de-stress from the draining aspects of college life. The chapel is completely dark, except for the light provided by the candle arrangements that are uniquely created for each week. Students gather with friends, or even come alone to relax and reflect on three different talks that are given by fellow students, all pertaining to one particular topic. After each piece is read, a song that pertains to the reading is played. Some of the topics that have been read at previous Candlelight gatherings have been "Remembrance," "Waiting in hope," and "Family."
Now I know what some of you might be thinking: "I don't go to Church; why would I want to go to Candlelight?" Well, let me tell you how I fell into this wonderful aspect of campus life. It was my freshman year, and you could say that I wasn't the most involved person. I was that person who loved to run around her pod in Salisbury, distracting everyone from actually getting his or her work done. I loved meeting new people, but I wasn't one for getting involved with anything. I never had been, even in high school. The only thing I cared much about in high school was playing sports, and since I decided against that in college, I was left with the mere activity of socializing. It was fun for a while, but then I started to see everyone around me getting involved and meeting new people, and I wondered how I could slowly infiltrate myself in with the rest of them.