4:00pm, Fellowship Hall, Tempe
Simple chants, Silence,Scripture, Silence,
Prayer, Silence, Prayers at the Cross, Silence.
Repetition of the words of the chants still our souls.
“O Lord hear my pray’r, O Lord hear my pray’r. When I call answer me. O Lord hear my pray’r, O Lord hear my pray’r; come and listen to me.”
Silence draws us closer to that inner place where we know God is truly with us.
“Stay with me, remain here with me, watch and pray, watch and pray.”
The time and space become sacred. Nothing is hurried.
“Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life”
Finally we are at a place where we can plan our monthly Taize Services! Norman Jensen and I are thrilled because we have truly missed this form of worship during the Pandemic.
The Taize service comes from the ecumenical community of Taize, France. Gathered in the presence of Christ, this is a time of meditative common prayer. During the service, we sing uncomplicated, repetitive songs, uncluttered by too many words, allowing the mystery of God to become known through the beauty of simplicity. A few words are sung over and over again which helps us to go deeper into prayer. In between the chants we have a Scripture reading followed by silence. During this silence, we allow the Word to sink deep into our hearts. Brother John, a Taize monk, tells us, “Taize is time to rest in God, to let the words listened to and sung penetrate one’s being.”
Email Pastor Shirley for more information.