After an unusual summer, meetings are continuing in Taizé
The summer period was unusual in Taizé due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since youth meetings restarted in June they have taken place without difficulty but in strict compliance with “barrier gestures” which we have been able to explain as being gestures of care for others, especially those who are most vulnerable.
Each week in July and August, around 500 people arrived: mainly individuals or small groups of friends, but also some groups of young people from France, Germany, Poland, Estonia and the Netherlands. A Dutch TV crew recorded a programme for the Protestant Sunday broadcast in mid-August, centering on the the newly released recording of Taizé songs in Dutch.
The meetings will continue over the coming weeks, and this year adult participants are also welcome in November and December.
At the end of 2020, a European meeting in Taizé
As the European meeting in Turin has been postponed for a year, the Community is inviting young adults aged 18 to 30 to take part in a new stage of the pilgrimage of trust on earth: a European meeting in Taizé, from 27 December 2020 to 1 January 2021.
It is already possible to register for this event on the Taizé website-. The deadline for registration is the beginning of December. However, the number of participants will probably be limited to 500, with quotas by country, depending on our hosting capacity following the health regulations in force at the time. A series of online events will include young people from all continents in this meeting.
For those who wish it will also be possible to come the previous week, from 20 to 27 December, in order to celebrate Christmas at Taizé.
At the beginning of January, brothers of the Community will travel to different cities in Europe for prayers with songs from Taizé. If possible one prayer will be held in each country Additional information will soon be published.
A double anniversary in August
The month of August marked in Taizé a double anniversary: the 80th anniversary of the first arrival of Brother Roger in Taizé, on 20 August 1940, and the 15th anniversary of his death, on 16 August 2005. During one of his weekly meetings with young people, Brother Alois said: “This month of August, allows us in our community to give thanks to God for the life of Brother Roger, who arrived in Taizé 80 years ago. It was the beginning of a foundation that continued over the years, in successive stages.”
Some news in brief
- At the end of August, an “online weekend” allowed 300 young adults from more than 50 countries to participate in a special programme including Bible studies, sharing groups and workshops.
- The same weekend, another online programme was offered to families who would have liked to come to Taizé this summer but who had to postpone their stay.
- In August, Brother Alois sent two messages of solidarity, one to the leaders of the Churches in Lebanon following the explosion in Beirut, and another to young people in Belarus.
Live online prayers
Prayers continue to be broadcast live from Taizé. This was started when many countries in Europe entered lockdown and it has proved to be a link of communion for many people across the world:
- each day, it is possible to hear the midday and evening prayers by live audio from the Church of Reconciliation.
- and every Saturday the evening prayer is broadcast (live video) at 8:30 p.m. (CEST | UTC + 2) on Taizé social networks.
Feedback on the workshops held this summer
Many workshops were held in the summer. Those presenting them included Sister Cécile Renouard from the Ecological Transition Campus, MEP Philippe Lamberts, Protestant theologian Katharina Opalka, Dr Christoph Benn, from the “Joep Lange” Institute” in Geneva, and Germain Dasylva, former FAO representative.
Every Saturday afternoon, one of the workshops workshop was broadcast online. They can still be viewed on the Taizé website.
Prayer vigil for the safeguarding of creation
All over the world, from 1 September to 4 October, Christians are gathering for prayer vigils, to reflect and to take concrete action for the safeguarding of Creation. For the third year running, we are publishing an order of prayer for such a vigil.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, in our trials you encourage us to look to Christ. His are the ups and downs, the joys and sorrows of our lives. And when the obstacles seem insurmountable, your mercy assures us that we can continue to love.
