As the sky darkened outside Saturday, commencing the longest night of the year, the City Mission\u2019s chapel in Washington also dimmed its lights. Faces bowed in prayer were dimly illuminated by flameless candles dotting the pews and Christmas decorations strung along the wall.<\/p>\n
In addition to City Mission\u2019s regular church services, the nonprofit organization held a \u201clongest night vigil\u201d\u009d Saturday for the winter solstice in remembrance of those who have died, and to recognize others still battling homelessness, addiction or illness.<\/p>\n
Names were read aloud: Richard, Jack, Maggie, Papa, Pap Pap, Kenny and the list went on. Some people became emotional during the candlelit vigil as the names they had written down \u201d\u201c of loved ones lost, or still struggling \u201d\u201c were read from slips of paper placed in a basket.<\/p>\n