Notes from a snowy Taize
by Sheryl Johnson
SCM Co-Chair
Greetings on a snowy winter morning in Taize, France! I arrived here 2 nights ago, after a 2 hour train ride, 1 hour bus ride, and long walk up to the top of a hill where the Taize community is located, about 1.5 hours west of Geneva.
I’ve always wanted to visit Taize. Taize worship (a form of worship involving the repeated singing of a variety of short refrains generally in a dark and candle lit atmosphere) seemed to be only the tip of the iceberg of what this community is all about. Most people visit during the summer, when up to 6000, mainly young adults, from all over the world come for week long sessions in the community. In the winter time, I am not sure what it will be like, but there are 300 others here this week so I had no need to worry about not making lots of connections from all over.
This week there are people here mostly from Germany (as there is a university holiday there) but also France, the UK, Chile, Italy, Malta, and Poland, amongst others. The days are structured around three worship services in the Taize style, accompanying the times of the three daily meals. It feels like being at camp as we serve one another in a long line. Days also include meetings with smaller groups around Bible study and discussions about life, sharing in the community chores, and optional talks given by the brothers of the community on a variety of topics.
There is a lot of time, though, for playing in the snow, exploring the area, taking long meditative walks in the silence-designated forest, and chatting with folks from all over. There are Christians of many denominations as well as a small interfaith presence. It’s pretty amazing. Language presents challenges but certainly no barriers as in some cases sentences get translated through 4 or 5 languages until everyone has some sense of what has been said. Young people as young as 15 come with their parish or their school and intermingle with older ministers and priests who have been coming for years.
Worship is definitely the highlight for me. The warm reds and oranges of the fabric and stained glass of the chapel are so warm compared to the bleak snowy cold outside. It is amazing to feel the energy of so many other people around me and to hear their voices join the songs. No language is dominant in the service and songs and scripture readings flow smoothly between a variety of predominantly Latin-based languages. It is interesting to see how many linger long “after” the service and how there is a very fluid beginning and ending. As the service draws to a close, many leave but others stay and sing while some join in deep conversations with the brothers who stand around the perimeter waiting to be joined.
I could go on at length, but needless to say this is an amazing place and one I hope to return to. Additionally, having spent time now in both the Iona and Taize communities, I wonder how something similar yet unique and contextual could emerge in Canada or North America. How do such communities start? Is there a need? Is there a possibility?
