Árdís - 01.01.1949, Page 44

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ÁRDÍ S
Hillside Service at Camp Nawakwa
By Thjóðbjörg Henrickson
The inspirational highlight of each busy day at Camp
Nawakwa is the evening devotional service at Upper Temple.
Upper Temple is an outdoor chapel on the side of a hill, facing
west and some distance from camp. The magnificent panorama
of woods, hills, valleys, corn fields and fruit orchards presents
an unforgettable picture of beauty.
On this hillside are four semi-circular rows of white flint
rocks cemented together in tiers, to form rows of seats, the top
tier completing the semi-circular stone wall that encloses this
outdoor temple. A stone pulpit stands in the opening of this semi-
circle. The heaven above is its canopy.
It was indeed an inspiring experience to see close to three
hundred teen-age boys come up the hill, from the woods below,
singing as they walked and then take their seats in complete silence.
The whole service carried an air of religious reverence and was
conducted by one or more cabin groups, showing careful planning
and preparation throughout the service. The hymns and special
music were rendered by a boy’s choir conducted by the music
director. The scripture lesson and prayers were read by the boys
and the message delivered by their leader or by a visiting pastor.
Although the speakers did not seem to raise their voices above the
normal pitch of ordinary speaking, every word could be clearly
heard. The singing was particularly resonant and its echo must
have carried from hill to hill.
As the service ended, the last rays of a setting sun dipped
below the rim of hills beyond, leaving the sunset’s brilliant hues
to fade away into the darkening blue of an evening sky and giving
a quiet, sacred peacefulness to all.
As we wended our way down the hillside into the shadows
of the wooded valley below, my companion quoted:
“Day is done
Gone the sun
From the hill, from the lake, from the sky,
All is well
Safely rest
God is nigh.”