Taize Meditation Service

The meditation service which started up just one month ago has been a tremendous blessing to those who have attended. The service provides space for silence, chant music, Scripture and prayer, and lasts about 45 minutes. Dress is informal but the space provides an amazing sense of God's presence.

The service is still in the design stage, and a core group is meeting regularly to revise and improve the experience, and two folks from this group design, set up and lead each service. These folks include Betty Lane, Claralee Street, Ellen Dunn, Earle Harvey, Karen Freitas and the pastors. For example, in the beginning we incorporated a space for discussion in the midst of the worship service. However, when we began sharing how this was being experienced by worshippers we realized that this was actually detracting from the meditative character of the service. Instead, we are now inviting folks to stay for a time of casual fellowship with light refreshments after the service for any who wish to stay.

This style of worship is certainly not for everyone. On the other hand, our hopes for this service are not primarily to reach folks who already attend Peoples, but to provide an opportunity to reach others in the community who are not comfortable attending a typical Sunday morning service. New worship services, particularly when their style is different from Sunday morning, are the perfect opportunity to invite someone you know (even if you don't personally care for the style). Perhaps someone at school or work seems a bit stressed out ... why not offer to pick them up to attend the Sunday evening meditation service with you? It could be life changing, for both of you.