| A GENTLE WAY TO BE WELCOMED AND HEALED BY CHRIST THE TAIZÉ SERVICE OF HEALING AND WHOLENESS by: Rebecca Lynn Hemphill |
I have friends who long for peace in their hearts, who know their souls are hungry and
thirsty, and who long for healing. I have friends who know that their spiritual needs are
unmet in our fast paced, materialistic society. They strongly suspect that they need a
regular interaction with the Divine, and stillness to receive Something (they are often
afraid to even say God’s name). Some of them are sick in body, mind, and spirit, and
long for Help (of a divine nature). But they don’t think they want to come to church.
These intelligent and aware people tell me of their memories or ideas of church being
“too formal,” “too judgmental” with “too much talk about sin” and “too many people
coming up to talk and pressure you into being Christian.” Sometimes they tell me
painful stories of how they, or their friends or families, were not helped or even were
hurt by a church or its members or leaders, in their hour of need. A few have some
memories of good associations with church and tell me, “I remember I liked the music.”
Some of them remember moments of Grace in their lives, or happy memories of
childhood faith. But they cannot bring themselves to come to church on Sunday and be
confronted with so much that is uncomfortable and unfamiliar (or that brings back
painful memories).
I was one of these people, not too long ago. In His timing, and by his Grace and Mercy,
God called me to Him Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit), by showing me he
knows my innermost thoughts and desires and by meeting me along the way, gently
and without any human pressure put on me.
Hope’s Taizé Service of Healing and Wholeness epitomizes that same kind of open,
safe, welcome that only God can perfectly offer and provide. A person who is shy
about attending church can come to Hope’s healing service, only once a month, on a
Tuesday evening, enter and leave the sanctuary without having to speak to anyone
(silence is kept before and after the services), hear God’s word and mercy spoken,
pray, sit in the presence of the Lord in stillness and in beautiful song, receive healing
grace, and commit less than one hour of their time to do so. In the stillness and prayer
they can open their heart without fear and receive God’s love and guidance.
Visions and circumstances guided Hope to offer a healing service in the Taizé style.
God knows whom He is calling through our church and it appears that He wants us to
reach us and heal us through this service. I urge you to come and experience this
Taizé service of healing and wholeness for yourself. Then, consider whether it might
not be just the place to invite your seeking friends.
thirsty, and who long for healing. I have friends who know that their spiritual needs are
unmet in our fast paced, materialistic society. They strongly suspect that they need a
regular interaction with the Divine, and stillness to receive Something (they are often
afraid to even say God’s name). Some of them are sick in body, mind, and spirit, and
long for Help (of a divine nature). But they don’t think they want to come to church.
These intelligent and aware people tell me of their memories or ideas of church being
“too formal,” “too judgmental” with “too much talk about sin” and “too many people
coming up to talk and pressure you into being Christian.” Sometimes they tell me
painful stories of how they, or their friends or families, were not helped or even were
hurt by a church or its members or leaders, in their hour of need. A few have some
memories of good associations with church and tell me, “I remember I liked the music.”
Some of them remember moments of Grace in their lives, or happy memories of
childhood faith. But they cannot bring themselves to come to church on Sunday and be
confronted with so much that is uncomfortable and unfamiliar (or that brings back
painful memories).
I was one of these people, not too long ago. In His timing, and by his Grace and Mercy,
God called me to Him Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit), by showing me he
knows my innermost thoughts and desires and by meeting me along the way, gently
and without any human pressure put on me.
Hope’s Taizé Service of Healing and Wholeness epitomizes that same kind of open,
safe, welcome that only God can perfectly offer and provide. A person who is shy
about attending church can come to Hope’s healing service, only once a month, on a
Tuesday evening, enter and leave the sanctuary without having to speak to anyone
(silence is kept before and after the services), hear God’s word and mercy spoken,
pray, sit in the presence of the Lord in stillness and in beautiful song, receive healing
grace, and commit less than one hour of their time to do so. In the stillness and prayer
they can open their heart without fear and receive God’s love and guidance.
Visions and circumstances guided Hope to offer a healing service in the Taizé style.
God knows whom He is calling through our church and it appears that He wants us to
reach us and heal us through this service. I urge you to come and experience this
Taizé service of healing and wholeness for yourself. Then, consider whether it might
not be just the place to invite your seeking friends.
Hope+in+the+Desert Episcopal Church's Taizé service of Healing and Wholeness is held the third Tuesday of every month. Doors open for silent contemplation at 7:00 PM The service formally begins at 7:30 PM. The service is always over by 8:30 PM. Service is held at Hope+in+the+Desert Episcopal Church located at 8700 Alameda Blvd. NE (on the south side of Alameda between Barstow and Ventura) |
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