Dear Tufts Community,

At Protestant Evening Worship on Sunday nights in Goddard Chapel, we have a lovely and longstanding tradition. Each week we gather in a circle to light candles, place them into a container of sand, and share our prayers of concern and gratitude. One person might pray for a loved one who is ill or a friend who is struggling, while another will remember victims of hurricanes and war. Others give thanks for life’s joys and blessings. Whatever it is we are praying for, the candles, lit one at a time, remind us that Divine Light enters the world through each and every one of us as we open our hearts to Love.

The lighting of candles and lamps is a sacred practice in many traditions. In a few weeks, as part of the celebration of Diwali, the “Festival of Lights,” Hindus will light clay lamps called diyas to symbolize the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. Similarly, during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, which begins in late December this year, candles are lit on the menorah to commemorate the miraculous victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Other examples abound in many religious and secular traditions, each uniquely expressing the shared human yearning for illumination, especially amid the gloom of life’s struggles and uncertainties.

A new program hosted by the University Chaplaincy, Ponder & Pause, invites you to light candles and engage in other spiritual practices you might find meaningful. In addition to candle lighting, these include letter-writing, prayer bead-making, meditation, and a labyrinth walk. The offerings, arranged in different areas of the chapel space, will change from time to time to reflect our diverse multifaith communities. We welcome your input as this program evolves. Come by Goddard Chapel on Wednesdays to take part or simply be still. May Peace and Light be with you always.

Pax et Lux,

Dan

The Reverend Daniel Bell

Protestant Chaplain