Taize Evening Service (September through May)
This quiet, reflective service with prayer and contemplative music is a good way to re-center yourself after the hustle and bustle of work or other activity in our hectic world. The service uses music from the Taizé Community, an ecumenical group in Taizé, France that draws thousands of visitors (especially young adults) from all over the world who are looking to deepen an inner life and to become ready to take on responsibilities in order to make the world a better place to live in (select the Taizé Community link to learn more about Taizé).
Taizé music is meditative singing—short pieces with easy to learn tunes that are sung repeatedly. There are also a couple of scripture readings, a time of silent prayer (we do approximately 5 minutes of silence), intercessory prayer, The Lord's Prayer, and usually a gathering around the cross (a moment to lay down at the cross of Christ our own burdens and those of others). The sanctuary is dimly lit with a lot of candles to create a welcoming space for meditative prayer. Our service lasts about 45 minutes.
Join us for this refreshing and rejuvenating evening service on the fourth Tuesday of the month September through May at 5:30 PM in the sanctuary.
A Taize Service
by Cindy Wilson
Candles standing in a row
like people in a pew.
Joyfully dancing, sharing light with the world,
others standing tall and new.
Music sung in calm tones of prayer
uniting all in worship and praise.
Following the cantor, we listen and repeat
our voices now we raise.
We ask for our Lord's mercy
as we offer prayers aloud.
Together we pray, as Jesus taught
our heads in reverence bowed.
A time of silence near the cross
with our Lord we find retreat.
Refreshed and renewed in our spirits,
we leave the service complete.
