Taize
Tuesday night I went to a Taize service at a local Lutheran church, sponsored by an Episcopalian church, and with musicians from as many as six different denominations. I have been missing the experience of God. This was a wonderful reminder of why I believe.
To me, the most interesting part of the service was the first Silence. Each Silence lasted for 10 minutes–interspersed with music, readings and prayers, there was time for only two. The first one started out well, but quickly deteriorate. Americans can not be silent! We can’t be still. We can’t let go of our brains or our control or our humaness, something. Papers rustled. Musicians changed their music. Couples talked. People came and went, banging the door behind them. It became an exercise in finding ways to be anything BUT silent!
I’ve been thinking ever since of our seeming inability to simply wait on God. Barring that, doesn’t a few moments of quiet contemplation or meditation fuel the soul and calm the heart? Having practiced a 10-minute period of silence at a recent conference in which we were prepared–sit up straight, get comfortable, find a word in the reading or service upon which to meditate–I found the absolute silence of nearly 50 women to be envigorating! And perhaps having a discussion about the upcoming Silence in a Taize service defeats the purpose, but it seems that if I use these techniques in worship in the future, I will find a blend of the two.
All the same, when we reached the prayers spoken aloud, the beauty of the music, prayers, readings and, yes, even Silence, had moved me to a place I haven’t been in quite some time. I was able to pour my prayers out to God in a way I have been missing. I wept in The Presence for the first time in some months. Ah, beautiful cleansing! Beautiful worship!
Sudoku
Bible says be still and know I am God…in the stillness we know him …in our praise he is made known
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Ideas Man 2 Listen to the Universe « said this on April 20, 2007 at 4:19 am
I experienced that same frustration at that same conference as you, earlier that day when we were to observe silent time with God. I could NOT get anywhere that was silent. The room next to ours was up for grabs. I was disappointed because I had experienced this discipline at our church retreat nine months earlier, and as goofy as we all are, as juvinile as we can be at times, we ALL participated and respected the time. And it was amazing. I find frustration that we can’t be alone with our thoughts, alone with God in silence and not be antsy, or feel guilty; that we can’t embrace and live in the silence without stress…..says a lot about our culture.
I’ve never had a taize experience, tho I’ve heard they are awesome. But then again, why go if you are not fully prepared to participate? I am finding it harder, and harder to truly worship in a group setting. And it makes me sad.
Hmmmm.
Be still, and know that I am God…..
It’s great to see that someone else in Albuquerque is interested in some of the stuff the emerging church is doing. I went to a church in town about 20 years ago that regularly incorporated Taize music in the worship services. The corporate aspect of this music is phenomenal. Just love the way that I feel wrapped up in all the voices around me while singing it.
Lived in London for a while recently and went to the Taize service at my local COE church. Just found out that there’s a Pres. church in town that does some Taize stuff along with labyrith walks. I’m checking that out on Friday.