Author, Deacon Carlton Shuford, shuford3@home.com Church of Our Savior, Martinez

It is difficult to imagine 75 third through sixth grade children gathered in one place, and absolutely silent. It is perhaps a little less difficult when one knows that the gathering place is Our Savior Chapel at Honey Creek, a place dear to the hearts of many in the diocese. One expects a church or chapel to denote holiness and reverence but sometimes there is more.

Each summer, on the last Friday evening of Camp St. Gregory, there is a special Service of Light held in this special chapel built of wood, glass, prayer and song. The young and old alike, file into the chapel in the dark, lit only by rows of red and blue votive candles placed along the ledges of the chapel's glass entry wall. In the shadows, below the Christus Rex, is the altar and assorted stands, barely distinguishable in the diminished light. Then the Celebrant and acolytes enter, bringing a spark of light amidst clouds of incense, and as the candles on the altar are lit around an icon of Christ, and more candles progressing out to the sides and back of the church, with one voice the assembly sings:

"Our prayers rise like incense, our hands like the evening sacrifice"

The refrain is repeated over and again as a holy peace enfolds the congregation. As the singing stops, all present are bathed in the glow of over 350 candles. The Light of Christ, visualized for us and reflected infinitely in the glass walls that surround this place where without doubt, we know that God is present with us, and hears our prayers both spoken and unspoken..