Taizé news

Taizé 2010 report

Zosia writes:

Brother Roger, the founder of the Taizé community once said, “the beauty of a sung prayer, even with just two or three people together, is an incomparable support for the inner life...it can radiate joy”.

In 2010, St James’ held a Taizé style prayer every month, to allow people of the parish, Petts Wood Churches Together and Bromley Deanery the opportunity to pray together in the simple style of the Taizé community. The prayer consists of beautiful chants, a simple phrase sung over and over again, a reflective reading (read in a number of languages), bidding prayers, and a period of silence. The silence provides the opportunity to listen to what God is saying to us, and to reflect on our relationship with Him. We welcome anyone who would like to experience this prayer to join us throughout 2011, as the monthly Taizé prayer will continue throughout this year, having grown in popularity.

We also had our annual pilgrimage to the Taizé community in France. The group from St James’, Poverest Road Baptist Church and St Augustine's, Tunbridge Wells travelled to the community, and spent the first week of August participating in the Taizé day of prayer, reflection, sharing...and fun!! I met the St James’ group out there, having spent the previous week with the Diocese of East Anglia and their Bishop. Every year new people have travelled with us, and new friendships are made, as well as the opportunity for spiritual reflection and growth.

At the end of every year, the Taizé community organises a pilgrimage of trust – a 5 day pilgrimage where the Taizé brothers organise a prayer meeting in a European city. This year, I was one of the 30,000 young pilgrims to make their way to Rotterdam. I was blessed with a lovely host family, a wonderful host church, and started 2011 with the annual prayer vigil for peace and festival of nations. Sitting in a hall and praying with 30,000 others is something so very difficult to put into words. It is something to experience.

The annual Taizé pilgrimage will be taking place again this year – there will be more information about this shortly. However, if you would like experience Taizé style prayer, feel free to come along to our monthly services. Everyone is welcome!

You can see some of the photos of Taizé and Rotterdam here.

Zosia Bajorek, February 2011