Saturday, June 02, 2007

Blessings from Taize

Hi folks! I've got just one month left in Europe - it's hard to believe it's almost time to come back to the U.S.A. I finished my masters thesis last week and am now waiting on comments from my advisor, after which I have a few weeks to kick back before I defend the thesis and hop a plane for home. I would covet your prayers for June 10 when I'll be preaching a sermon in Calvin's Auditoire (I hope not to get struck by lightning...)!

After finishing my thesis, I spent the past week with my dad at the Taize community in France. Let me tell you, the ritual of Taize worship three times a day, interspersed with simple living, Bible study, sharing with others and personal time for reflection, is not a bad way to spend a week. The photo here shows the brothers sitting inside the sanctuary. About 2,000 people were there this week (most of whom are young adults, teens to 30ish), and they can accommodate something between 6,000 and 10,000. Singing those Taize songs with hundreds of others is quite an experience - the music just washes over you. The existence there is rustic - think church camp for adults - but it's worth the trouble it takes to get all the way to France. Once we all have study leave (time and budget) built up, we should take a class trip...