The PCUSA Pilgrim Pastor

So what is Taize? How did it come to be and why is it so popular? Brother Roger founded the Taize Community in the 1940’s after leaving Switzerland at the age of 25. He longed to create a place of simplicity that lived a Protestant monastic way of life yet engaged with the world. When World War II began, he wanted to come to the assistance of those suffering. The small village of Taize was close to the demarcation line dividing France in two so it was well suited to sheltering refugees from the war. They took in orphans, Jews, and German prisoners of war. In 1949 seven brothers took vows of celibacy and a simple life together. Today the community comprises about 80 brothers from Protestant, Anglican, and Catholic background and from nearly 30 countries.

Taize became known as a place that welcomed and valued young adults. Everyone was welcome at Taize. When the church was built Brother Roger thought is was way too big, able to accommodate about 1,000 people. A few years later they were expecting 6,000 young adults for Easter. They knocked out the church walls and put up tents so everyone could worship. Since 1978 they have organized a European Meeting of Young Adults and still cater to this age group today.

Now tens of thousands of young adults come from Europe and other continents every year. They come to pray and worship, to read scripture and discuss it, to ask questions and build relationships in an international environment. The community is run by volunteer young adults. They give a few weeks, months, or even years to do the work of welcoming, feeding, and housing thousands of people. Our host was Felix.

The week I went was a small week with only 400 people attending. Of the 400, 300 were young adults. They try to keep anyone over the age of 35 to a minimum and designate certain weeks they can go in order for the young adults to have the prime summer months.

What most Americans know Taize for is the worship style and music. The songs are a cross between a hymn and a chant. They are simple songs with only a line or two that are song up to 7-8 times in a row. The worship service is set with a lot of candles.

There are no pews or seats. Small benches can either be used to sit on or to kneel and then sit on it.

The bells call people to worship ringing consistently for 10 minutes before worship starts.

The space is simple, like an open gym with partitions which are opened or closed depending on the number of people.

Worship is about 30 minutes long. One theology professor I talked to said he like it because it was a “no preaching zone.” They sing multiple songs, read scripture, have 8 minutes of silence and reflection, sing the prayers, and then sing some more. Communion is open to all and offered everyday at the 8:00 am service.

When the brothers leave the singing continues and you can stay as long as you want. There isn’t really an end to the service. It is meditative and peaceful. People will stay and journal, bow down with their head to the ground, or just sit in the silence.

Prayer is 3 times a day around meals: before breakfast and lunch and after dinner. It is effortless, simple, beautiful, moving. Thousands of people, especially young people, flock to this place every year to worship. So why in the world aren’t there more places like this? Or at least more churches worshipping in this way? It makes me think our one Taize service a year could be expanded. I leave you with a recording without video of a few of the songs we sang. May you take a few minutes out of your day to worship in the Taize style.