Re-Moodling: Simple Christmas Idea #9... Attend an Advent prayer

For the past five years, a group of churches in my neighbourhood has welcomed Christians of all denominations to pray in their worship spaces one Sunday evening each month (except June to August) in the style of prayer that originated in Taizé (pronounced Tay-ZAY) Community in the Burgundy region of France. The beautiful music and the spirit of the place draws people from all over the globe to go on pilgrimage to the tiny village every year (see www.taize.fr).

I would like to invite you to come and join us for a musical, meditative, internationally flavoured way to pray this Advent.
We will gather at 7 p.m. next Sunday, December 11, at Ascension Lutheran Church, 8405 83 Street.

Music is the foundation of the prayer that flows for an hour, interspersed with psalms, a gospel reading, silence and intercessory prayer. At the evening's conclusion, we sometimes gather as neighbours and friends for conversation and refreshments. Honestly, it's one of my favourite ways to pray, because I've always been strongly drawn to music as a form of worship... and because there is no preaching. We sing and listen to the scriptures and let them speak to us of God in the silence of our hearts.

Please consider joining us, and bring friends!

Holy is the name of God, sing out my soul, praising God evermore!

Holy is the name of God, sing out my soul, giving praise to God!

Praying for Change

This Sunday evening there will be a wonderful prayer vigil in the lead up toward the December climate talks in Paris. There are several Christian communities involved in its organization, and the centre piece will be a special Taizé Prayer for Ecological Justice. I know of quite a few people planning to attend, and I hope that if you're able, you will, too. The building is accessible for people with disabilities, and the music promises to be wonderful. Bring a friend and come to pray and take action in Creating a Climate of Change for the sake of our planet...

Taize Thanksgiving Prayer Sunday October 11th is CANCELLED

It's impossible to know how to reach everyone who might want to attend Sunday's Taize Prayer at St. Thomas D'Aquin, but it turns out that there won't be enough musicians available to lead the prayer. If you know anyone who was planning to attend, please pass the word along.

Heartfelt apologies to those who might not receive this news. Hopefully we'll all meet again soon.

Upcoming Taize Prayer events

Because of the Laudato Si Sunday reflections, I haven't been moodling about Taizé very much this fall, but Taizé Prayer events are still happening. Here are the details about three events planned for October...

A student's group is starting Taizé Prayer on campus at the University of Alberta. Their first prayer will take place at 5 p.m., Friday, October 9th at St. Joe's College Chapel (west end of the college) on 113 Street and 89 Ave. You don’t have to be a student to join them!

The next monthly prayer (for Thanksgiving) IS CANCELLED on Sunday, October 11th at 7 p.m. at St. Thomas D'Aquin Catholic Church (8410 89 Street).

And last but not least, Concordia University, King's University (Micah Centre), and the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace are teaming up to host a Prayer Vigil for Ecological Justice on October 25th at 7 p.m. at Concordia University (7128 Ada Boulevard). This is a wonderful opportunity to pray together for our planet's needs and to take action to encourage world leaders to make wise decisions at December's Climate Change Summit in Paris.

All are welcome to all of these events, to join us in prayer for justice and peace... Bring a friend!

How is Lent treating you?

Or, I could ask, how have your conversations with God been going lately? Did you give something up for Lent to remind you that it is Lent? And how is that going? (I always give up chocolate -- but accidentally had some chocolate chips in a muffin on Tuesday morning! God smiled, I think, because we were in the middle of quite the conversation about God stuff at the time.)

My Lent has been pretty good so far. I met my spiritual director last week, and he offered me some very helpful things. I've had lots of time to pray with Helena at the hospital -- a very precious time of feeling God's nearness to a dying friend. And in the week ahead, I'll be going to Villa St. Martin in Montreal to help with another silent retreat for L'Arche assistants. To be honest, I'm feeling a bit spoiled this holy season. Usually, finding time for God in Lent is an effort, but this year she and he has handed me time on a silver platter.

How are you doing? Are you looking for a little bit of God time on a silver platter? Our Taize ecumenical prayer group is meeting on Sunday evening at St. Luke's Anglican Church (8424 95 Avenue) at 7 p.m. We'll be praying in song and silence, and all are welcome. Please feel free to join all those present, and bring a friend if you like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyvZW0zKPxI

Praying with song and silence

Taizé Prayer will be held at Hope Lutheran Church (5104 106 Avenue) tonight at 7 p.m. We really enjoyed our prayer there last year because of the community’s warm hospitality on a cold evening, and Reinhart’s amazing piano skills! Not sure if he’ll be playing with us tonight, but it’s a possibility! All are welcome!

For those who are unable to join us this evening, here’s a little video made in Taizé last May featuring Frère Ghislain, who led scripture study for the adults when I was there in June. A gentle, humble man, as you can see, whose passion for unity, communion and reconciliation is visible when you hear him. After a few days attending his sessions, that passion rubbed off on me, too, which is why I hope to be part of an ecumenical Taizé prayer group for as long as I live.

The music in the video is an Italian chant called Tu sei sorgente viva, which you can hear more clearly in the second video -- You are the living source, you are fire, you are love... Come Holy Spirit!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UchTTkCPujs



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRgb4hlTFXw

Simple Christmas idea #9 -- Attend an Advent prayer service

Taize Prayer -- 2014

For the past three years, a group of churches in my neighbourhood has welcomed Christians of all denominations to pray in their worship spaces one Sunday evening each month (except June to August) in the style of prayer that originated in Taizé, France. If you've never heard of the Taizé (pronounced Tay-ZAY) Community, or the beautiful music that draws people from all over the globe to go in pilgrimage to a tiny village in the Burgundy region of France, I would like to invite you to come and join us for a musical, meditative, internationally flavoured way to pray (also, see www.taize.fr).

Music is the foundation of the prayer that flows for an hour, interspersed with psalms, a gospel reading, silence and intercessory prayer. At the evening's conclusion, we gather as neighbours and friends for conversation and refreshments. Honestly, it's one of my favourite ways to pray, because I've always been strongly drawn to music as a form of worship... and because there is no preaching. We sing and listen to the scriptures and let them speak to us of God in the silence of our hearts.

I am posting the dates and times below for future reference of any of my readers who might want to attend. (If you want a printable poster of your own, email me -- my e-address is on the sidebar under profile.) All are welcome! This Sunday evening's prayer (Dec 8th, 2013) at Holyrood Mennonite Church will be a beautiful Advent meditation for all who join us.

Wait for the Lord, whose day is near; wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart!

Taizé Prayer 2014

Ecumenical, musical, meditative prayer 

in the Taizé style from 7 - 8 p.m.

January 12   St. Thomas D’Aquin Catholic Church   8410 89 Street
February 9   Hope Lutheran Church   5104 106 Avenue
March 9   Lenten Prayer St. Luke’s Anglican Church   8424 95 Avenue

April 18   Good Friday Prayer Around the Cross

Providence Renewal Centre   3005 119 Street
May 4   Easter Prayer   St. David’s Anglican Church   7751 85 Street
September 14   Assumption Catholic Church   9040 95 Avenue
October 5   Holyrood Mennonite Church   9505 79 Street
November 9    Peace Prayer    Strathearn United Church   8510 95 Avenue
December 14   Advent Prayer    First Church of God   9224 82 Street

Everyone is Welcome!

•For more information, email Maria; also see www.taize.fr

•Sponsored by these church communities, 
and the Edmonton Taizé musicians/organizing group.

•Music copyright permissions obtained through the kindness 
of the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton,

and candles donated by Universal Church Supplies.