The Taize worship
service is a service that began in France, with participants seeking silence,
prayer and music. It is a service
for reflection and thoughts. I went
to this service at St. Paul Lutheran Church with a group of other Wartburg West
students and several members of the Urban Servant Corps. We actually had a dinner with all of
us, and then when the USC told us about the Taize worship service, several of
us decided to join them. It was a
wonderful experience. They “hymns”
were more chant style, with only two phrases repeated until the words began to
sink into us. The prayers were
call and response or silent. The
readings were read in French, German, and English, which lent itself to a whole
community feel very nicely. A
number of the songs were also sung in French, German, and Latin, with the
English translation written, and sometimes sung as well. I think the most moving part of the
service was the instrumental break after the readings. Worshipers could choose to pray where
they were, or light a candle in front of the cross and pray there. This lasted for only ten minutes or so,
but it was highly moving, and I think we should incorporate more time for silent
reflection into our worships on a regular basis. With the world so fast paced, we often don’t have time to
pray quietly, or if we do, we do all the talking. In a deliberate setting like that, it was easier to get
everything off my chest, and then have an opportunity to just let God be,
without needing to say anything.
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