Lent Taizé Prayer Service

Sunday, March 23 at 7:00 PM
Saint James Church

*** and livestreamed on Facebook ***

Imagine the scene. Silence. Church lights dim. In the sanctuary, dozens of candles flicker near icons. In pews, worshipers hold their own candles, long and slim, then light each others’ one by one until the church is alive with even more candlelight. They chant together, slowly repeating a single line over and over as they rise and carry candles toward the altar, adding their own flames to the ones already burning.

Returning to pews, worshipers then sit in silence just beholding this magical scene: small flames around the altar like a sunburst in shadowy darkness. There is no other light. There is no sound save the occasional cough. And nothing moves, save the flames, which dance.

This is a Taizé prayer service.

It is a time to rest in God, to let the words listened to and sung penetrate one’s being.” So says Brother John, a Taizé monk, in lectures and writings explaining what the service is all about.

There is no preaching, no teaching, no talk of sin or repentance or forgiveness. There is just this elegantly simple service: short chants, and simple song refrains, plus some short Scripture readings or psalms. And silence, at least 8 or 10 minutes, sometimes more. In 45 minutes, it’s over.

Join us at Saint James Church on Sunday, March 23 at 7:00 PM to experience this moving form of prayer as part of our journey through Lent.

No registration required!  Just come and enjoy!