Taizé – 4th Tuesday of Each Month
April, May, and June the Taizé services will be at Church of the Hills in Evergreen, CO. In July, August, and September Wild Rose Congregational Church in Evergreen will host the Taizé services.
Taizé is the name of the village in France where the Brothers of an ecumenical community reside. The founder of this community was Brother Roger, a “bearer of trust, reconciliation, and peace.” The community gathers three times a day for prayer, scripture readings, silent meditation and singing of short chants and simple songs. The singing often in four-part harmony, or in a round, is offered in many languages. Since the late 1950’s young adults have been gathering on the hillside of this little village – gathering to meet one another, to pray and to discover how they can be messengers of hope and reconciliation in their own life situations.
Taizé worship involves the repetition of simple Christian phrases and nourishes us on a deep nonverbal level. The service consists of quiet singing, a psalm, readings from Scripture, silence and prayer. The prayer time provides time for us to speak the particular needs of our world and of our own needs. It allows us to bring our burdens and the burdens of our world, committing to Jesus all that is in our hearts.
Songs
The songs of Taizé are easy to sing. These simple melodies enable us to keep on praying when we are alone, by night and by day, sometimes in the silence of our hearts when we are at work. Accompanied by such instruments as piano, cello, guitar, flute and harp, the short repeated songs give a meditative character. Listen as each song is sung and join in singing whenever you feel comfortable.
Scripture
Scripture is read in a way that we open our minds to the resonance of the Word. We are encouraged to listen deeply in order to hear “with the ear of our hearts” as St. Benedictine encouraged, to listen for the still, small voice of God that will speak to us personally.
Silence
The service will include periods of extended silence, anywhere from 3 to 10 minutes each. In silence we listen, we are present to God. Just as we spend time with our best friend, so we wait upon the Lord. Silence allows God to transform us more into the image of Christ.
Prayer
Prayer is simply communication/communion with God. It doesn’t have to be fancy or poetic. It doesn’t have to be in the King James English. It doesn’t even have to employ words. When you are conscious of being in the presence of God, you are in prayer.
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