Vespers

Vespers Reflection - December 2025

Light in the Darkness

The Vespers service is a time for reflection, giving thanks, song, prayers, and focusing on the scripture. The service is held at the end of the day, usually around the time of sunset in the evening, and represents our transition from day to night. We are reminded during the Vespers service of Christ being the light in the world, overcoming darkness. As part of my recent reflection I gave at our last week at our Vesper’s service, I included the below as a remembrance for the call for us to be a light in difficult times.

In 1990, over 1,000 people marched from the White House to the Capitol to demand that Congress pass the American Disabilities Act (ADA) which had been long-time stalled. When participants got there, about 60, some of them children, cast aside their wheel chairs and other mobility aids and crawled up the steps of the Capitol with the help of other participants. Their efforts helped break the impasse of the legislation and the ADA was passed that year.

This last spring, I entered my first jiu-jitsu tournament to mark my retirement and my birthday, and I was scouting out the event the day before I competed. There were hundreds of competitors and even more spectators, people were shouting, screaming, and cheering, and the energy in the conference center was palpable. I felt the heat from the crowd’s bodies and I seemed to be even seem to be even able to smell the cortisol and adrenaline in the air. As I walking around, the crowd began to part and I saw a young woman, who was sight-impaired being led to the mats to complete. She was very small and was using a white cane to help guide herself. I think about the community of people with disabilities and other communities this evening that are frequently marginalized and have to fight for their place in the world as I provide this reflection.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. - John 1:5