★★ December Newsletter ★★
* Vespers *
I have been reflecting on the past. It’s that time of year again, and I hope you’ll bear with me.
When I was a small child, my mother occasionally went to Vespers at the church where she was raised. It was the same church where my siblings and I went to Sunday School while our mother played piano or sang in the choir. We watched our mother among her church friends and felt that this was a very warm and welcoming place to spend Sunday morning.
In retrospect, we laugh about how Sunday mornings also gave our Papa a little break, as we perceived that he was slightly inept at managing four children of a four-year age span. Sometimes, on an occasional evening, our Papa would tell us, in a pseudo whisper, “Your Momma is going to Vespers. So, let’s see if we can surprise her and have you all ready for bed when she gets home.” Then, we were happy to buy into the plan that seemed like a ‘secret’, a strategy that was reserved for special occasions. (Perhaps he was not so inept after all!)
Somewhere along the line, I equated Vespers with whispers. It made us all want to do something nice for our Momma. It was our secret way of showing her how good we could be. We would plot and plan in whispers, even when she was out of the house, beyond hearing.
Fast forward 70 years. Our Momma and Papa are gone, but I can still hear the whisper about Momma going to Vespers, and how it made us want to be good.
I had to explore, having lost all connection to our family church. I learned that the Latin word ‘vesperalis’ refers to evening and the Roman god, Hesperus, personified the evening star. Both have meaning in the common term of ‘Vespers’. Interestingly, even the early editions of the Oxford English Dictionary referred to ‘Vesperal’ in the 1623 writings of theologian, Henry Cockeram.
Vesper services have been celebrated for hundreds of years in the Catholic and Orthodox religions. The term ‘Vespers’ now refers to the evening prayer service held in Protestant denominations as well. A similar call to evening prayer is also important in other religions such as Jewish Ma’ariv or Arvit, Hindu Sandhya, or Muslim Maghrib (evening), or Isha (night). It appears to be a universal concept that is steeped in the ancient history of many cultures and religions.
While thinking about all this, I came upon the notion that perhaps we should all celebrate an evening service, a sunset service for 2024. Our meditations and prayers, silent or shared, might reflect hope for the tomorrows looming large for 2025. We don’t know what will happen. The uncertainty might be how we can frame our deepest personal ideas or concerns about the future and the lessons learned from the past. A prayer service, by any name, could give us communal strength and offer a quiet way to say goodbye to 2024 while we anticipate the value of friends, family, and community for the coming weeks, months, and years.
Plan a goodbye party for 2024, a special contemplative service. Consider it an homage to a year that was unlike any in our memory. Think about ways to heal the rift that was rendered by vitriol and untruths. Find your Evening Star and take time to quietly ponder the ways we can make a beautiful life under that star. Peace, love, hope, charity, compassion, collaboration, generosity, and a welcoming spirit are all qualities that build strong communities. So, take a little time in the evenings to contemplate the goodness in your community, Village, family, and friends.
Whisper thoughts that will make us all want to be our best selves.
So, with whispers and wishes, I am sending all good thoughts your way for an inspiring and hopeful look forward, to 2025.
Enjoy the beauty of the holiday season.
~ Nancy Doty[email protected]
* Your Gift this Holiday Season Supports Villagers Aging at Home *
After she was widowed, Ellen moved back to Portland to be closer to her family. She was the very first member of our first Portland area Village and proudly remains a very active member. “The more actively I participate, the more I get out of my membership,” she says.
“The genius of the Village is we can contribute according to our abilities and receive from it according to our needs. These days I like to think of myself as the Village Cheerleader.” Cheer on, Ellen!
Our senior population is growing. In just 5 years, 20% of the population will be over 65, and 80% of us want to age in place. Your donation to Villages NW or your favorite Village will help elders like Ellen realize their wish to remain in their chosen homes and communities.
It’s easy to donate online. If you want to designate your gift to a specific Village enter the Village’s name in the Comment box. We also accept checks. Make your check out to “Villages NW” or “Villages NW f.b.o. and mail it to Villages NW, PO Box 33642, Portland OR 97292.
If you need to take a required minimum distribution from your IRA before the end of the year, you can reduce the taxable portion of your distribution by having your financial advisor send your contribution directly to “Villages NW” or “Villages NW f.b.o. ”, PO Box 33642, Portland OR 97292. For information on how to make this type of gift, contact [email protected] or call 503-515-1948.
* Online Quilt Auction *
Sunday, December 1 – Friday, December 13. Hosted by UpRiver Village
Six beautiful handmade quilts will be auctioned online starting December 1. The auction will conclude at UpRiver Village’s holiday gathering on December 13 at 1:45 pm. Bids will start at $40 and subsequent bidding will be in increments of $5. For more information about the auction, go to https://www.uprivervillage.org/main.tpl?menu=auction.
* Get to Know Our Villages! *
Join Eastside Village virtually to discuss EV volunteering and membership on Saturday, December 14 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am. They will outline what they have been up to historically. Registration is recommended.
An informational session for prospective members, volunteers, or anyone interested in Viva Village. Please join us online on Saturday, December 14 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am. Register on the website or contact the office for the Zoom link.
RiverWest Village invites anyone interested in aging better and learning more about how to become involved either as a member or volunteer to have a one-on-one conversation with a RiverWest volunteer. Call their office and request an Introductory Chat (503-495-4934 to leave a message), or email [email protected]. You will be connected with a volunteer from their Outreach Team. Include your name, phone number, and email address in your message and RWV will be in touch with you soon.
UpRiver Village serves the communities of Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, and Wood Village. Join UpRiver Village at its Monthly Pizza Get Together on Monday, December 16 at 12:00 pm at Flying Pie Pizzeria, 1600 NW Fairview Dr, Gresham.