Taizé (Contemplative) Worship - Season 3 Episode 3
This Episode, Fr. Ben and Fr. Chris welcome Peggy Haas Howell, Organist and Choirmaster of St. John’s, to talk about Taizé! We learn about the community, the worship style, and how this might be a peaceful way to pray this Advent season. If you’re listening before December 14, 2022, join us at 6:30p to be a part of our Taizé service. If you’re listening afterwards, we hope this will be edifying as you consider your own spiritual practices during the Advent season and beyond as we consider this season how we do worship in The Episcopal Church.
Show Notes:
Our Opening Prayer is from one of the many Taizé resources that we will draw from in our service on Wednesday, December 14th at 6:30p.
Peggy found out about Taizé for the first time when visiting Europe and decided to visit in person for the first time; we can begin our journey in learning about Taizé for the first time by visiting them online: https://www.taize.fr/en
Their community then was incredibly open; and still is. People come as pilgrims and stay for a short or long period of time. Early on they took a freewill offering, and now they offer very low rates to stay with them and experience their worshipping community.
We discuss thin places— those geographic places where we feel closest to God. What are your thin places?
We also discussed the style of Taizé, some of which we will replicate. Fr. Ben and Peggy even sang a piece— Magnificat Animamea Dominum - Translated “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” We also sang “Bless the Lord my Soul.”
Fr. Ben also encountered Taizé in his youth group setting as a way to worship and to pray.
Every morning the community and those who want to contribute rehearse for the evening worship— Taizé takes hard work to put together, even though in the moment it feels so organic!
Our service will include meditation and quiet, time to reflect on scripture; it will be a true time to come and rest in the Lord. You can come and participate whether or not you feel called to sing! We’ll follow “An Order of Worship for the Evening” on page 109 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Read more about our Advent program here.
