Meditation/Taizé Service

First and Third Wednesday at 7:30 pm

What others are saying:

"Sometimes I sing, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I jot down things that come to mind, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I cry - sometimes I cry a lot - sometimes I don't cry at all. Sometimes I feel more settled coming out than going in, sometimes it's the other way around. Sometimes I don't even know until the next day whether I'm more settled or less. Whatever happens, the service is always a gift."

The Taizé community is an international ecumenical community located near the small village of Taizé outside Cluny in the Burgundy region of France. Founded in 1940 by Brother Roger, who brought together brothers from all over the world, the community has long been committed to promoting and praying for reconciliation, peace, and unity. Each week it welcomes up to 8000 people, mostly young adults (19 - 30 year olds), from around the globe. They spend time in prayer, song, Bible study, workshops, discussion, andfellowship.



This community has developed a style of worship that reflects its lifestyle: it is simple, beautiful and prayerful. An aspect of Taizé prayer is the music which is sung through simple prayer-chants. By singing together simple chants that are short, easy to learn, and repeated many times, those worshipping in the style of Taizé are able to let go with their mind and to pray and listen to God with their heart. Nothing is more conducive to a communion with the living God than a meditative common prayer with, as its high point, singing that never ends and that continues in the silence of one¹s heart when one is alone again.

When the mystery of God becomes tangible through the simple beauty of symbols, when it is not smothered by too many words, then a common prayer awakens us to heaven¹s joy on earth. Prayer is a serene force at work within human beings, stirring them up, transforming them, never allowing them to close their eyes in the face of evil, of wars, of all that threatens the weak of this world. From it we draw the energy to wage other struggles to enable our loved ones to survive, to transform the human condition, to make the earth a place fit to live in. Taizé has become a model for the formation of community all over the world. Joining in prayer together, as in the style of Taizé, is one small step we can take to begin the work of reconciliation, peace, and unity here in SanFrancisco. Come join us on the first and third Wednesdays at 7:30PM

To learn more about Taizé, visit their web site: http://www.taize.fr/