Reepham Benefice

 

Taize Prayer September 19th

St. Andrews Church

Wood Dalling NR11 6SN.

 

 

The work on refurbishing St. Michael's Church Reepham has meant that we have had to seek a new venue to hold the Taize Service in September. The churchwardens of  Wood Dalling Church are welcoming us there.

 

The service will begin at 6.30pm.  The theme is "Guide our feet into the way of peace!"

 

For those who would like to familiarise themselves with the prayers to be sing during the service, there will be a Song Practice from 5.54pm. Anyone can join in this.

 

We look forward to praying in the style of the Taize Community in Wood Dalling Church on September 19th .

 

Directions

Come to Reepham and leave on the B1145 as for Aylsham After half a mile when the road bends to the right take the left turn [straight on] Turn next left, past Salle church to T junction Turn right; 21/2 miles to Wood Dalling

 

Do join us!

 

Sue Page, Steve Rashid and the Taize Team

 

Taizé Services will be held at 6.30pm, St. Michael's January 16th 2011.

Reflections on Eight Visits to Taizé

 

In May this year a small group of us returned from Burgundy in France, after spending a week with the Christian community in Taizé. This unusual and attractive community was founded sixty years ago by Roger Schutz, a Lutheran Protestant from Switzerland. On Easter Day 1949, seven young men committed themselves to a life of celibacy and  prayer, living together in great simplicity.

 

Today, the Taizé Community is made up of over a hundred brothers, from about thirty nations. They are ecumenical, from Catholic and various Protestant backgrounds. Their life together is based on Prayer, Simplicity and Reconciliation. It follows Brother Roger's favourite words from Saint Augustine: “Love, and say it with your life.”  The community dedicate themselves to be a sign of reconciliation between divided Christians and between separated peoples. Brother Roger died in 2005 and the new Prior is a German, Brother Alois.

 

The brothers of the community live solely by their work. They do not accept donations, nor personal inheritances for themselves, but use them as gifts to the very poor. Some brothers live in disadvantaged places in the world, as witnesses of peace alongside those who are suffering.

 

Since the early 1970's young adults from every continent have been visiting Taizé to spend a week alongside the Community.

 

In May this year, I was surrounded by four and a half thousand young people, and  many families with small children from around the world. There were 450 of us over thirty years of age, in a separate group. We ate, studied, and discussed the Bible together. In the mornings Brother Pedro, from Brazil, led a Bible Exposition on the first eleven chapters from Genesis. As usual after saying two or three sentences, he had to pause, and we had to wait as those sentences were translated into the languages of the people present; Russian, Portuguese, German, Japanese, Swedish, Latvian etc. The teaching was both compassionate and  stimulating. Later we met in small groups and discussed the challenging questions which Pedro had set us. I was the only English person in my small group Three times a day we gathered together with the brothers and the younger people in the church for 'Prayer and Worship'. Compared with other countries, nowadays there are few young people visiting from the UK. This was not the case during the 70's, 80's or 90.  The twelve or so Britain's, over 30, who were there this May week, were mostly in 'ministry' seeking special renewed hope and refreshment. The English brother, with whom I am in regular contact, is longing for the day when once again more young people from Britain will experience the gift of reconciliation and peace which is offered in Taizé. This brother also said he hoped that he might visit Reepham one day, as he has heard of the authenticity of the Taizé Prayer Services which are regularly held in St. Michael's*

 

Once again I discovered that spending a week with the community in Taizé is not a retreat from the rigours of life; nor a cocoon offering protection and escape. Rather it offers me the opportunity to find a space of stillness, silence and acceptance.  

 

During this time spent in prayer, worship, silence and reflection, I am encouraged to face up with God to the reality of daily life at home, and to gather renewed hope and a stronger awareness of God's presence and power. In Taizé. I always find a special quality in being ALONE with God in a large silent prayerful crowd. The deep silent prayer and the singing show me a foretaste of possible eternity...and I am always healed and inspired.

 

So once more I am thrilled and grateful to Taizé for the attention to God's generosity and love. I have come back to beautiful Norfolk healed and energised to continue with hope, humour....and, I believe, a little more patience!

 

Sue Page