In the Name of Tradition and Nykerk Love: Candlelight

This month I have been blessed with the opportunity to be a part of the Hope College Tradition of Nykerk. The fun, community, and experience of playing a small role in something as big as this 80 year long tradition are memories I will be able to recall forever. In addition, last night will be another one of these treasured memories.

On Monday night I participated in another piece of the Nykerk tradition: Candlelight. Even and Odd Year Song gathered in Wichers Auditorium. I met my Odd Year sister who gave me a glass she decorated and we all learned Hope’s Alma Mater.

This is the decorated glass my Odd year sister, Elizabeth, gave to me to hold my candle for Candlelight
This is the decorated glass my Odd year sister, Elizabeth, gave to me to hold my candle for Candlelight

Then we made our way to Maas Auditorium where all of the Nykerk participants, including Even and Odd Year Song, Play and Oration, gathered with our decorated glasses, a candle placed within. We were lucky enough to have a beautiful, unseasonably warm night as we made our way out of Maas towards Lubbers. All the Morale boys lined the sidewalk, lighters in hand, to light up all the candles in their beautifully decorated glasses (or, as some called them, Goblets of Fire 😉 )

Finally, as a large, 400+ member Nykerk Family, we made our way to the President’s house. Before we sang the alma mater for President and Mrs. Knapp we paused and raised our glowing goblets of fire for President Knapp to snap a picture.
(Side Note: President Knapp uses Twitter all the time to post about everything happening at Hope from free food on his patio, to Nykerk Candlelight. So, if you feel the need to have that in your life via Twitter you can see more here 🙂 )

Here is President Knapp's picture that he tweeted. I'm in there! (towards the back. Yeah, the one raising a glass with a candle in it!)
Here is President Knapp’s picture that he tweeted. I’m in there! (towards the back. Yeah, the one raising a glass with a candle in it!)

On the surface, Candlelight was a fun time to walk around campus with candles and sing while being lost among a large group of friends and strangers under the common tie of Nykerk love. However, on a deeper level Candlelight reminded me of how neat it is to be a part of community. To come together under a common cause despite age or year or competition, is encouraging. It brings to mind Psalm 133:1, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” I think this verse represents quite well the goal of community here at Hope. Candlelight reminded me of how thankful I am to be in Nykerk, just a smaller scaled portion of the greater Hope College community, and how good and pleasant it truly is.

~Erin
For more of my thoughts and pictures of the Hope College life you can check out my Twitter and Instagram

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Published by Erin Hoolahan

Hi! My name is Erin Hoolahan and I am a Sophomore at Hope College. I am from Wexford, Pennsylvania (a suburb of Pittsburgh) and intend to double major in Classics and either English or Communications during my time here at Hope. I love to bake, play guitar and am involved in Ultimate Frisbee and Silent Praise. I am extremely excited about sharing my insights on life at Hope! Thanks for reading. :)

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