Taizé Be reconciled all you who enter here Parents, children, partners, friends, enemies; believers and those who cannot believe; Christians and their fellow Christians.
variation of greeting posted outside the Church of Reconciliation Taizé, France
Third Mondays 8:00 p.m. The Cathedral of St. Philip
INTRODUCTION TO TAIZÉ PRAYERS For those new to this unique form of musical prayer, a few notes of introduction may be helpful. The songs are not meant to be sung as hymns, but rather as a series of prayers. Each chant is repeated many times over. The hope is that you will find the repetition helpful, not only to learn the chant, but to allow it to become a prayer of the heart. This is a service in which time is suspended. Do not be anxious about knowing what comes next. Silence is a central part of this service. Allow the silence to be a vehicle in which you can speak to God; but, more importantly, allow God to speak to you.
During Advent, we remember and wait for the light of Christ coming into our world and our souls; and we celebrate those who prepared his way, as we consider how we, too, are to prepare. In the fourth week of the season, we turn our attention to Mary and the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel announces that she has found favor with God and will bear a son, who is to be called Jesus, the Son of God. You, too, have found favor with God. What is God bringing to life through you?
PRAYER AT THE CROSS
A simple gesture may now express our prayer. Kneeling around the cross, we briefly touch its wood with our foreheads. In silence, without words, we commit to Christ everything that is on our hearts; our desire for Christ in our lives, our joys, our thanksgivings, all that weights us down, and the needs of others. Through this prayer we become one with those for whom we pray.
TAIZÉ Prayers for Peace December 20, 2021 GATHERING CHANTS Our darkness
14
Wait for the Lord
12
from Songs & Prayers from Songs & Prayers
CANTICLE: The Song of Mary Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) Sing out, my soul
24
from Songs & Prayers
SILENCE
15 minutes
I bless you Lord my God from Christe Lux Mundi
8
READING – Luke 1:26-38 Look to God and be filled from Christe Lux Mundi
INTERCESSIONS
Silence follows each of the three intercessions.
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
32
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Lighten our darkness, we beseech you, O Lord; and by your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER PRAYER AT THE CROSS The Lord is my light from Songs & Prayers
Jesus, your light
from Songs & Prayers Jesus, Your light is shining within us Let not my doubts and my darkness speak to me Jesus, Your light is shining within us Let my heart always welcome your love
36 52
CLOSING CHANT O Come Emmanuel O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Refrain Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
Next Taizé Service: January 17, 8 p.m. Bring a friend.
LIST OF ATLANTA TAIZÉ PRAYERS Due to Covid 19 and the Delta variant, most in-person prayers are on hold. Please see the Taizé Atlanta Facebook page for updates and links to online prayers around Atlanta. Visit www.taizeatlanta.me for more information. Second Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m. In-person service Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church 471 Mt. Vernon Hwy, NE Sandy Springs, GA 30328 (404) 476-1652 Contact Person: Rev. Barrett Abernathy Third Monday of Every Month, 8 p.m. Cathedral of St. Philip 2744 Peachtree Road Atlanta, GA (Buckhead) (404) 365-1000 Contact Person: Jeannie Mahood www.cathedralATL.org There is a monthly labyrinth walk from 7:00-7:45 p.m. before the prayer. An introduction to how to walk the labyrinth is at 6:45 p.m.
About the community of Taizé Taizé is a monastic community in southeastern France. It was founded in 1940 with the mission of healing the divisions between Christians and within the human family. This community seeks to create a community where reconciliation could become a concrete reality every day. It is an ecumenical community which includes 100 brothers from over 20 different countries. The worship of Taizé is marked by depth and simplicity, consisting of much singing along with significant periods of silent meditation. “Prayer is a serene force at work within human beings, stirring them up, transforming them, never allowing them to close their eyes in the face of evil, or wars, of all that threatens the weak of this world. From it we draw energy to wage other struggles—to enable our loved ones to survive, to transform the human condition, to make the earth a place fit to live in.” -Brother Roger of Taizé
THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. PHILIP
The Very Reverend Samuel G. Candler, Dean Dale Adelmann, Ph.D., Canon for Music The Reverend Lauren R. Holder, Canon for Community and Education The Reverend George M. Maxwell, Jr., Vicar The Reverend Catherine Zappa, Canon for Liturgy and Pastoral Care The Reverend Julia B. Mitchener, Priest Associate The Reverend Deacon Juan Sandoval, Deacon for Hispanic Ministries The Reverend Theophus “Thee” Smith, Ph.D., Priest Associate Mr. Del King, Senior Warden Mr. Samuel T. Wilmoth, Junior Warden 2744 Peachtree Road, NW ∙ Atlanta, GA ∙ 30305-2920 ∙ (404) 365-1000 www.cathedralATL.org