Keep Watch: Youth Build New Rhythms of Prayer and Rest

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.

This compline prayer was the inspiration for the annual youth retreat. How do we end our days and start our rest at the close of each day? We can all name the things we do in the morning to insure we start our day preparing for success—eat a good breakfast, make our beds, pack our bags with the right materials—but the evenings, when we are tired, we often don’t have the same regimens for a successful night. Further, what do we keep watch over? Keeping watch over the things that we care about or the things that are heavy in our lives is a 24/7 job. We are often unable or unsure how to rest from this watch. Compline offers a time for stillness, a time to give the things we keep watch over so carefully to God, and receive the peace needed for successful rest.

Youth from all over the diocese came together for a weekend of fun, fellowship. Sixty-two youth and thirteen chaperones, from 14 churches met at Camp Stevens over the long Presidents Day weekend, a new date for the annual Epiphany camp. During the days, the weekend took middle school and high school youth to the climbing wall, ropes course, on a goat hike, and a compost service project for camp. The nights were filled with small group time, community gatherings, smores, glowstick folk dancing, games and compline services.

During the time together, we learned the art of an Examen—a prayer of reflection and discernment of God’s presence —as well as the practice of a prayer labyrinth. Sunday night’s compline service brought six prayer stations, derived from the Keep Watch prayer, allowing space for reflection and deeper connection to God.

Lamenting Prayer Wall -those who work, or watch, or weep

Make your own Anointing Oils –soothe the suffering

Breath Prayers/yoga movement –rest to the weary

Votive Candle Vigil –bless the dying

Pompom Making– shield the joyous

Get Well Cards –tend the sick

Monday morning marked the end of the retreat, beginning with the optional sunrise hike—with over half the youth participating—and concluding with a large group gathering. At this closing, we reflected on our time together and prayed the four compline prayers written by the groups during their weekend time around the labyrinth.

Keep watch, Dear Jesus, for those who need guidance, those in need, those who are sick, and those who are homeless. Prayers for good health, support for immigrants, and food for the hungry. Amen.

Keep watch, over those who call on your name, and those who we love, the San Diego Padres, the Green Bay Packers, the bugs, trees, the sick, the mourning, and the vulnerable. Help us to do your will in all things, in all ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.

Dear God, we pray for good health for all your people, and your creation. Lord, grant us joy and protect it day and night. Thanks be to God. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.

Dear Lord, I am thankful for my family and God, please protect them. Keep watch over family as they sleep, keep people in danger safe and people who are sick, make them well. Fill the stomachs of the hungry, Lord, and unite your people in love. Give protection and health to those who need it, deserve it, and are without it. Give prosperity and protection to all dangerous situations. Protect and watch over those who are unhoused and lonely. Give protection to those who have lost their homes. Grant good health to those who are sick. Give protection to the people with no homes and the people losing family to ICE. Lord, give the suffering relief and pleasure. Feed those in need. Thank you for life. Amen.

How do you end your day? What things do you keep watch of in your life? These are questions we continue to ask ourselves in our daily reflections. Now, after the retreat, we have the tools to nurture a new way of finding rest—the words of compline, examen practices, our written compline prayers, and each other. Join us in finding rest, too.

To find out more about Youth and Formation opportunities in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, visit edsd.org/formation