Whoever you are, wherever you are on your journey of faith, you are welcome here. Saint Jude s is a spiritual oasis where lives are transformed.

Transcription

1 Whoever you are, wherever you are on your journey of faith, you are welcome here. Saint Jude s is a spiritual oasis where lives are transformed. December 2, 2012 The First Sunday of Advent Taizé Evening Service St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church McClellan Road, Cuper no, CA Phone: (408) Fax: (408) Web site: office@saintjudes.org Office hours: Open Tues.-Fri. 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Mon. 10:00 am to 1:00 pm Celebrating 50 years

2 WELCOME! ADVENT TAIZE PRAYERS: A NIGHT OF LIGHT As you enter, you are encouraged to keep silent, to reflect and prepare for worship. Please feel free to enter fully into the prayer. Worship is quiet and reflective, deeply peaceful and joyful, including four-part harmony chants in different languages, silences, prayers, and readings. In terms of the singing, you are encouraged to listen to the tune, to follow the music provided, and to join in singing the harmonies if that is your preference. It encourages us to pray in the mind with the heart, and to wait in contemplation. It is beautiful in its simplicity and depth. Introduction to Advent: By preparing us for Christmas, Advent prepares us to welcome Christ. In the life of the people of Israel, God prepared the coming of Christ. The prophets announced his coming; John the Baptist opened the way. Advent reminds us of the longing of God s poor: Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zechariah, Anna, Simeon.. Advent is also a time of waiting and longing for Christ s presence in us, and through us, the world. We are called to bear Christ, to live Christ for others. This longing is made up of simplicity, the spirit of childhood and joy. Introduction to Taizé Taizé is a tiny village hidden away in the hills of Burgundy, France, not far from the ruins of the old monastery of Cluny. Since 1940 it has been the home of an ecumenical community of brothers whose common prayer, three times a day, is at the center of their life. The focus of their ministry is reconciliation with Christ and in the world, as they seek through their common life and worship to enable people to find ways of reaching beyond the barriers that divide, by being more open to God and one another. There are about ninety brothers, some of them scattered around the world in small groups, working amongst the poor on different continents. They work together with an Ignatian order of sisters in the next village of Ameugny, and today, Taizé is a place where many hundreds and thousands come to participate in their community way of life, have retreats, or in international meetings of prayer and reflection. Visitors are of all ages, and backgrounds and nationalities but it is particularly a place of welcome for young people. For more information about the Taizé community, visit 2

3 Short Silence Bless the Lord my soul Come and fill our hearts 3

4 Psalm 19: Adoramus Readings Isaiah 61: Luke 1:78-79 Silence: This is about 6 minutes. Be comfortable in the quiet! Intercessions We sing Kyrie eleison in between the prayers. After beginning with some set prayers, we will move into free and spontaneous prayers. These should be brief, and end with the words Lord we pray or similar words. 4

5 Lord s prayer Please feel free to use the language or version of your choice as we recite the prayer; O Lord, Hear Our Prayer Prayer before the cross We say together: O God, always present, you want happiness and not sorrow, And you suffer with all who suffer on this earth. You welcome whoever comes to you, with all their burdens And it is as if everywhere, in every place, You receive them with open arms. When we let you welcome us, the eyes of our souls perceive, Beyond our own confusion, A reflection of the Christ of glory, the Risen Lord. For we are brought back to life, Each time the confidence of Christ Jesus shines forth in us. Prayer around the cross Our prayer can find expression in a simple gesture. We take turns to gather in small groups around the cross, which has been laid flat on the ground. Those who wish may rest their foreheads for a moment on the wood of the Cross. By this gesture we commit to Christ, in another way than by words, all that is weighing us down and all the burdens of others, near or far away the victimized, the deprived and the persecuted. This form of prayer, developed by young people in Eastern Europe, is accompanied by singing alternately with periods of silence. 5

6 Wait for the Lord Nada te turbe 6

7 Bonum est confidere Jesus your light is shining 7

8 Closing prayer Short Silence Closing song Stay with us, Lord Da pacem, Domine Please leave quietly at the end or feel free to wait in silence for a while. If you would like to help with the music, preparing the chapel, or leading the prayers, please speak to Wilma. 8