Yesterday I attended my first Taize Prayer and Worship service. I almost didn't go. I asked my mother-in-law (Blake's step mom) to come and she was unable to, which meant I was out of a ride since Blake had to have the car for work. I also been dealing with a cold since almost a week ago today, so my health wasn't exactly walking ready. Well, 3:00 PM rolled around I decided to put my walking shoes and go for it. What I wasn't counting on was a long walk. I think I knew how long it was in my heart, but since I'm a visual person it didn't seem that long in my mind. So off I go to St. Matthias Anglican Church. The walk also seemed hard. I almost turned around and then I thought, "this is my pre-Taize" and so I started thinking and praying as I walked along. An hour later I ended up at the church. The people there were so kind and so welcoming. It was a very small group about 10 and 3 members of the "band". In front of me were a lot of candles, icons of different natures, one being of Jesus on the cross. I sat down, very nervous, but a nice older gentlemen sat down beside me and explained what was going to happen. Soon the worship began, I was disappointed it wasn't dark in the room, it seemed the service almost called for it. Anyway, we started with the first chant called "Be Not Afraid", I thought that was fitting, because I was kindof scared to death. LOL The chant went like this: "Be not afraid, sing out for joy! Christ is risen , alleluia!" We repeated that several times. It was different for a bit, but I liked it. Following right after that we did another chant called "Sing, Praise, And Bless The Lord". I loved it. What I noticed as things went on that it followed a prayer style I had been doing called P.R.A.I.S.E. So we praised God first, someone read from Eph. 1:11-14, then we did a chant that invited God called "Come And Fill Our Hearts", then asked Him focus us more in "Our Eyes Are Turned". Next someone shared from John 14:23,25-27. And then my favorite chant we did the whole evening inviting the Holy Spirit among us "Holy Spirit Come". Then the tough part came. The part, that when we are faced to do so we just want to squirm. We had a 10 Min. Silent period. With all the icons it was fairly easy to focus and meditate, although I wish I would have had a reading that would have helped along with this as well. Very quietly they began another chant and were invited to come forward to the cross and symbolically lay our burdens down there and then light a candle as a symbol of our prayer. The first chant was very moving it was called "In God Alone", but the second one is the one that moved me off my feet. It was called "We Adore You" and the words are: "We adore you Jesus Christ, and we bless your holy name. Truly, your cross and passion bring us life and healing." I went to the cross, bent down, touched the cross, and prayed for healing. I prayed that even if tonight was the starting gate I was ok with that, I then stood up, walked over to the table of candles,and lit my candle. I never thought I would be so moved by such symbolic thing, but I was. I could "see" my prayer, it was my beacon, my visual calling out to God. How moving that was. We then did a Litany of Thanksgiving. The words that were shared were amazing and so fitting to my struggles. I felt again a sense that I was in the right place. We then did three more chants. What I liked about them was that the older gentlemen that spoke to me before held the Christ candle, as we were singing we smiled back forth acknowledging the blessing and the joy of a risen Savior.
I can't say that I had an ephiany there, but I can say felt like I had a good start again. Its funny or maybe not funny, but my walk home wasn't that hard. Matter of fact it seemed faster.
They will be having another service May 8. I'm going to try and be there. It was so encouraging and such a wonderful way to start this journey again.
No comments:
Post a Comment