Taizé

This short service of song, silence and prayer is a respite from the busy-ness of the season.

As Br. Roger of Taizé, France says, “A Gospel light, however feeble it may be, pierces our darkness with its rays. It is fire; it is spirit. It enables us to live Christ’s life both within ourselves and for others.”

The service itself is very simple having few words and is about forty minutes in length. We enter the candlelit, sacred space in silence. Seated we meditate; we listen to the Word, and we sing and pray together. The music of Taizé can be found in most Protestant hymnals, including the Episcopal hymnal, “Wonder, Love, and Praise.” The songs are short and very easy, almost like chants. As we sing them over and over they become mantras and slowly we are drawn into God’s timeless, peaceful space. Sometimes someone sings a descant; sometimes someone plays a flute or another instrument. We just keep singing the melody until our hearts are stilled and at rest. When we feel ready we leave silently as we came in.

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