Workshop and Ecumenical Prayer Service lead by brothers of the Taizé Community, France.

Workshop: venue and time TBA

Ecumenical Evening Prayer: Saturday 17 Sept 2011, 7 pm, St John’s Cathedral Anne St Brisbane.

Every week thousands of young people flock to the tiny village of Taizé in France to spend a week with a small community of brothers founded by Br Roger. Br Roger founded a community of hope, reconciliation and hospitality to all regardless of creed, culture or language. The brothers welcomed refugees and prisoners of war as well as orphaned children to their small community during WW2. Later many people visited the tiny community of brothers. The brothers responded by developing a style of contemplative prayer which would aid people from all denominations, and none, to meet and worship God together. Taizé has been visited by Popes, Ecumenical Patriarchs of the Eastern Churches, Archbishops of Canterbury, and leaders of many Protestant denominations. The music from Taizé is used in worship in many countries around the world and has inspired many to see God for the first time or in a new and personal way. This Ecumenical prayer service will be led by Br Ghislain and Br Matthew from the Taizé community. Come and experience this beautiful style of worship and meet God in a new and embracing way through prayer and song.

For further information contact Br Nathan-James SSF

Sunday May 10 (2.30 pm – 8.30 pm)
1357 Logan Road
(cnr Mountain Street)
Mt. Gravatt 4122

(you are invited to attend all or part of the program)

2.30 – 5.30 pm: Worskhop
5.30 pm – 6.30 pm: Meal Fellowship (RSVPs would be appreciated for catering purposes)
7 pm Contemplative Prayer Service using Songs of Prayer from Taizé

Program Details:

A “Taizé Service”, or more correctly a contemplative prayer service using Songs of Prayer from the Taizé Community, comes from, and reflects, a deeply powerful witness of reconciliation and Christian unity. The Community began to offer shelter and refuge to those fleeing war or inprisoned because of war. Later, tens of thousands of young people began to come together in the village of Taizé; today during peak summer periods the Community weclomes several thousands of young people each week from all walks of life and stages of spiritual and faith journeys. The form of Common Prayer used in the Taizé Community was born out of the need to find a way for Christians of all denominations, languages and cultures to come together to worship God in Spirit and in Truth.

The message and gift of the Taizé Community is greater than the sum of its music. Thus, the workshop has been structured to provide participants with an understanding of the context in which the Songs of Prayer from Taizé emerged. The concept of prayer is explored; particularly in relation to Song as Prayer. There will be opportunity to explore the structure of Common Prayer as used in the Taizé community, and ways of adapting this in a local situation. There will be opportunity for both ‘singers’ and ‘instrumentalists’ to explore Songs as Prayer with their own respective ‘instrument’. Participants will then put together all the information that has been discussed by preparing and participating in a contemplative prayer service using the Songs of Prayer from the Taizé Community.

[Musicians are encouraged to bring along their instruments]

For further information contact Rev Cheryl Selvage 07 3849 4411 or email Cheryl.