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

The Rev. Barbara Briggs and Fr. Nathan March joined together to bless pets from parishioners of St. Margaret’s and St. Francis of Assisi on October 4th, Feastday of St. Francis of Assisi.

The Rev. Canon Michael Ambler will be with us at both services to preach, and at a forum between services will talk about the work he is beginning in Laos.  He says, “Laos is a gorgeous country of mountains and rivers, of orange robed monks and iridescent green rice paddies.

It’s also the most heavily bombed country in the history of the world. The bombs were ours: during the Vietnam War, we dropped nearly 300 million bombs on Laos.  30% of these failed to detonate, meaning that they’re still there.  Teams of technicians work across the country finding bombs so that land can be used safely.  I have started Restoration Laos to fund one team that would not otherwise have existed. One village at a time, one school yard at a time, we are at last bringing the Vietnam War to an end for the people of Laos. 

You are invited: learn more, support the team, and if you like, come to Laos with me!”  To learn more, visit www.restorationlaos.org, or come to the forum Sunday morning at 9:15. 

       Beginning in October, we invite you to join us at noon on the second Thursday of the month for a Celtic inspired time of Common Noonday Prayer. This service is gently connecting with God and all created beings, and provides space for scripture, poetry, music, prayers and reflection. It will not last longer than 30 minutes so that you can receive the gift of a prayerful pause in the midst of your daily round without burdening the rest of your day.

The “Songs of Taizé” published in different languages are simple, but preparation is required to use them in prayer. Short songs, repeated again and again, give the time of prayer a meditative character. As the words are sung over many times, it becomes a way of listening to God. It allows everyone to remain together in attentive waiting on God. See below for more on this way of praying together:

1. October 4 at 4:00PM* we are hosting a pet-blessing together with St. Francis Church at the entry to our sanctuary. (At the bottom of the steps near the sunflowers). Please do bring your scaly, furry or feathered friends! * note the time change 
2. October 4 at 5:00PM we will be hosting an ecumenical song practice. If you can sing, PLEASE come to help us! We will be preparing the 5:30 Prayer Vigil for the Care of Creation. We need your presence. We need your prayer. We need your voice. 
3. October 4 at 5:30PM we will gather with people from many different congregations in our area for a Prayer Vigil for the Care of Creation.

Every Tuesday from noon to one, Lectionary Lectio. We gather in the parish hall to listen to the Scripture text(s) appointed for Sunday. Lectio Divina is a contemplative way of reading the Bible. It dates back to the early centuries of the Christian Church and was established as a monastic practice by Benedict in the 6th century. It is a way of praying the scriptures that leads us deeper into God’s word. We slow down. We read a short passage more than once. We chew it over slowly and carefully.

As the people of St. Margaret’s, when we celebrate the Celtic heritage of our region, we not only celebrate Celtic art, music and dancing, but also its rich spirituality of finding God in all of creation. On Saturday, July 23, St. Margaret’s will host Celtic prayer at noon, five, and eight. In between noon and five in the church. The memorial garden is also open for quiet reflection.

June 21, 5:30PM (and every Tuesday until the day after Labor Day) Taizé Vespers in the church. Praying in the style of Taize allows us a chance to slow down and to listen to God’s Word in silence and song.

The Rev. Barbara Briggs will be formally installed as rector of St. Margaret’s by Maine Episcopal Bishop Thomas Brown at a service at the church on Sunday, May 8, at 3:30 p.m. All are invited, and a reception will follow.

Where are the HEPA filter air machines? The church’s new built-in air exchange and filtration system has been installed and is now operational. The machines you are used to seeing have been relocated to the Parish Hall.  Masks will continue to be available. Some in our community will choose to wear masks, others of us will feel safe not wearing masks. We honor this diversity in our congregation.