Taize Service

For the last 50 years, Taizé, a tiny farming village in France, has been the site of an ecumenical monastic community. Today, the community numbers some ninety brothers from over twenty different countries throughout the world. At first, the community was made up of brothers from different Protestant denominations. Today it includes many Catholics as well. The community dates its beginning from August 1940, when a young theology student named Roger left his native Switzerland to offer shelter to refugees fleeing the Nazi occupation. His purpose in going to Taizé was to call others to live a “parable of community on account of Christ and the Gospel,” a living sign of reconciliation among Christians split apart into different denominations. Today, tens of thousands come each week and represent between thirty and seventy nations. Over the years, the community has tried to offer space where the young pilgrims who visit can discover, in silence, prayer, simple chants and sharing, God’s will for their life, and ways of living this out.

Taize worhip at Brown is modeled on the worship of the original community. It combines a sense of the beauty of the worship space, simple yet gorgeous chants, the calm of intermittent silence, and communal prayer.

Join us for Taize Worship every Friday at 5:30 in Manning Chapel

For more information, write The Rev. Beth Sherman, beth_sherman@brown.edu

Sponsored by the Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD