Westmont Magazine Gathering Again for Vespers

by Kelly Vivanco ’25

After stargazing and listening to worship songs with other students, Emmie Matthews ’25 and John Kratzberg ’25 discovered a shared vision: reestablish Vespers, Westmont’s student-led, Sunday evening worship service. A year later, a team dedicated to leading worship and serving others through prayer has restarted Vespers after the pandemic shut it down.

While hundreds of students once attended Vespers in Page Hall Multipurpose Room, the service now meets in Voskuyl Prayer Chapel with about 10 to 12 students each week, many of them sophomores.

“I like how intimate it feels, not just with each other, but with God,” says Claudia Canizares Guerra ’25. “Everyone gets their own space and their own moment, and each has such a willingness to be present and involved with God. We pray for each other and over the gathering before it begins until after it ends, and the presence of the Holy Spirit is undeniable.”

The vision for Vespers includes a strong focus on prayer along with song. At each service, at least one person talks to and prays with students. Participants can write prayer requests in the Vespers journal, and the leaders pray over it. After the service, students may stay and keep worshiping, praying and reflecting together.

“I like that we don’t have a stage,” says Isaiah Underwood ’25, who plays guitar and leads worship. “Sometimes we just sit together and play with everyone. I really enjoy the message that everyone is part of this together.

“It may be small, but we’re trying to carry on the legacy alumni left for us. We’re grateful God has given us the opportunity to restart it again.”