LECTIO DIVINA PRAYER WITH FR. MARC

WHAT: 
Taize Prayer with Fr. Marc (contemplative singing, silence, Scripture reading and intercessions) 
  
WHEN AND WHERE: 
6PM Wednesday on February 4th in St. Leo Church worship space. 
  
  
It was 1940. In Taize, France. 
Nazi Germany had invaded Poland. 
Japan would soon bomb Pearl Harbor. 
And then America and allies would swiftly enter what erupted into World War II. 
  
Foreseeing the darkness ahead, a small monastic community in Taize, a small village in Burgundy, wanted to provide the light of hope to Christians so that Christians could in turn shine that hope to the world. So they crafted a musical prayer form that centered on the soothing, repetitive chanting of short hymns in a darkened church space surrounded by and lit up with the natural light of candle-flame - the candles represented Christ the Light who comes into the world to scatter the darkness, including the darkness of war. 
  
Taize Prayer was born. 
  
It was a direct attempt to counter and calm the stress and anxiety, the fear and hopelessness, of that dark time of world war. 
We in America are not at war, but stress, anxiety, fear and hopelessness are realities we are increasingly bumping up against about now: Continuing wars in Ukraine and Palestine; political division and conflict over managing illegal immigration; The fallout of the ICE agent's shooting of a civilian in Minnesota, and how that shooting will be investigated, and by whom; tensions between the U.S. and Iran and the U.S. and Venezuela, on and on ... 
Many Americans feel this is an historic dark time of tension and unrest, and perhaps you are among those longing for a safe space to gather with people of like faith, a safe space to get and give Christian support and enjoy fellowship and a love of the Lord, a safe space to encounter Christ The Light. 
Taize Prayer can be that safe space of faith, fellowship and rejuvenating light. Join us for Taize at 6PM Wednesday on February 4th in the St. Leo Church worship space. 
  
No previous experience with this prayer form is needed. We will chant several verses of the hymn Were You There, which can be found in the Breaking Bread hymnal (follow this link to hear the hymn and consider practicing it before our prayer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8h1d8M7y-4) The night will begin with introductions and welcome, then move into a setting of the theme "Crucified, Buried, Raised", words from the hymn verses that help us prepare to soon enter the Lenten/Easter season, when the darkness of sin, death and war cannot keep us down if we are faithfully yoked to Christ, in whom we suffer and die ... then rise! 
Meditative and repetitive singing will be accompanied by piano or guitar and blended with periods of silent prayer, one Scripture reading, and spontaneous intercessions from participants. 
  
Since its founding just before WWII, the Taize community in France has attracted hundreds of thousands of pilgrims in search of Christian community, worship of God and renewal in the face of troubling contemporary world events like those we face now. 
Make a shorter pilgrimage to St. Leo church and pray Taize with us; we will seek the bright light of Christ our Light and Hope as we head toward Lent and Easter. 
Blessings, 
Fr. Marc