In a little village in the Burgundy region of France live some 100 monks from all over the world and from many different church traditions. In beginnings of ecumenism and the excitement people were feeling in the 1960s, young people began showing up at the monastery church wanting to pray and visit with the Taizé brothers. In order to make the prayers more accessible to their visitors, the brothers began composing simple texts, (inspired by the Bible), set to simple 4-part harmonies that could be chanted for minutes at time.

Since then, Christian communities all over the world have used their repertoire for prayer.

We are offering such an occasion tonight, Tuesday Nov 1st, at St. Margaret’s in Belfast, 95 Court St.

We are hosting Taize: this kind of praying together is marked by simple chants built from verses of Scripture, prayers, candle-light, icons, readings, and a period of silent prayer. It lasts just over a half hour.

6:15 PM Gather with Kristen in the sanctuary to learn the chants

7:00 PM Taize service

The church lights are somewhat dimmed. Candles burn by the altar. A beautiful icon is on the altar.

People enter in silence and sit quietly wherever they feel comfortable and then the singing begins. After a brief Bible passage is read, the people gathered sit in silence to reflect and pray. The prayer ends with more singing, and people are free to come and go at their leisure.

Come to this service regardless of where you’re at spiritually. You are welcome as you are.

Here is a taste of some of the kinds of simple chants we’ll be doing:

With you, O Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-NeTJTmZfI

But You Know The Way for Me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eseK_kVgdMU&t=12s

O, You Are Beyond All Things: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmSycLfd0Qg