I first heard about the Taize community while in seminary a number of years ago. The community is considered a global ecumenical youth worship movement based in France and has been responsible for some very powerful and moving words and songs about God and community.

Founded by Brother Roger Schutz in 1940 it draws more than 100,000 youth from around the world every year and is a monastic community composed of 100 brothers from both the Protestant and Catholic traditions. The Taize community was planted in the wreckage of war-torn France specifically to create a community of hope in the midst of despair.

A quote from Brother Roger adorns the community’s website and it says it all:

“Since my youth, I think that I have never lost the intuition that community life could be a sign that God is love, and love alone. Gradually the conviction took shape in me that it was essential to create a community with men determined to give their whole life and who would always try to understand one another and be reconciled, a community where kindness of heart and simplicity would be at the centre of everything.”

Community. What is it? It is many things but it is only fully realized in the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. Community is not simply a lot of people who happen to meet in the same place at the same time for the same reason – that’s a meeting. What drives community is a Spirit-empowered deep love for one-another. It is koinonia – a sacrificial gathering of people driven by the Spirit of God to enact God’s kingdom here and now through their own broken ways. Taize exists to teach youth and young adults that, especially through prayer and song.

So why write about Taize now? Well to my surprise two local Winkler churches have partnered to offer regular Taize-inspired evening worship services – Emmanuel Mennonite Church and Covenant Mennonite Church.

“Evening Song and Prayer” is an ecumenical service, open to members of any church. It also may be of interest to community residents who currently do not attend traditional worship. The next service will be held on March 20th at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of Covenant Mennonite Church, 363-8th Street in Winkler.

I might go. I am not sure yet. I like these types of services from time to time that force us to slow down. Deliberate and deep, Taize allows for meditation in a fast get-it-over-as-soon-as-possible world.

Along the lines of Taize (since I am writing about such things) we are in the season of Lent being prepared to deal with the sacrifice of Christ come Easter.

Easter brings to mind the very significant and moving worship service Tenebrae. I love a Tenebrae service. The word tenebrae comes from the Latin word for shadows or darkness and the service is typically held Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings before Easter Sunday. During each service, which is lit usually only by candlelight, a series of Psalms are read while the candles are slowly extinguished until Saturday at the end of the last service is is completely dark signifying the death of Christ and preparing the community for the ultimate brightness of the Easter morning resurrection service in which we celebrate the triumph of God over death and sin and darkness.

The community of Christ has always been a community steeped in symbolism. Symbols are intensely meaningful to people and impart truths in ways other mediums cannot.

If anyone is aware of a Tenebrae service happening locally let me know and I will strive to attend that as well.