Special Worship Services

From Jesus College in Cambridge service of Compline:

The ancient office of Compline derives its name from a Latin word meaning ‘completion’ (completorium). It has its origins in the monastic office for the end of the day, and so our prayer tonight is joined with the whole Church in giving thanks to God for the day past and for all past worshippers in this place, and in entrusting ourselves to His protection during the night ahead. Most of the service is sung by the choir to plainsong, simple chant which has been used by Christians since the earliest days of the Church. The congregation is encouraged to participate by listening to the choir, by joining in the parts in bold, and by keeping silence before and after the service. Through this reflective meditation, we allow God to speak to us amidst the stresses of life, and we offer our cares and concerns to Him. At the heart of tonight’s service is the ‘Nunc dimittis’. This can be found in the Gospel of St Luke as the song of Simeon, who was promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the salvation of God’s people. As the infant Jesus was brought before him in the Temple, he sang these words. So we are pointed beyond ourselves to the wider implications of Christ’s coming for the world, and at the same time we entrust all our cares into the unfailing mercy of God.

The Service of Evensong has its origins in the sevenfold monastic cycle of daily prayer, which was reduced by Thomas Cranmer to a twice-daily pattern of Morning and Evening Prayer, to be said daily, at least by ordinary clergy and members of religious communities. The Prayer Book of 1662 cemented this practice, which, although altered in content since then, remains a staple part of Anglican life.

As the beauty of this experience has continued for centuries, it has fostered the creation of an immense body of music written solely for this service. A first time participant may feel as if he or she has joined in a conversation already begun; but eventually the wash of music and liturgy carries one into a new sense of God’s presence in daily life. Choral Evensong is sung in many cathedrals and parish churches in England and throughout the Anglican Communion. Consider the possibility that at any given moment, somewhere on the earth, someone, in some language, is offering up a voice of sung prayer as this miraculous conversation continues between the Creator and the created.

Information about Evensong Adapted from material from St. Paul’s, London, and Trinity Church, Concord, MA.

The Taizé Community is an ecumenical monastic order in Taizé, Saône-et-Loire, Burgundy, France. It is composed of more than one hundred brothers, from Protestant and Catholic traditions, who originate from about thirty countries across the world. It was founded in 1940 by Brother Roger Schütz, a Reformed Protestant. The brothers of Taizé are committed to a lifetime of simplicity, service, and community. There is an ecumenical emphasis at Taizé which “wants its life to be a sign of reconciliation between divided Christians and between separated peoples.”

The community has become one of the world’s most important sites of Christian pilgrimage. Over 100,000 young people from around the world make pilgrimages to Taizé each year for prayer, Bible study, sharing, and communal work. Through the community’s ecumenical outlook, they are encouraged to live in the spirit of kindness, simplicity and reconciliation.

The Taize community is committed to “seeking visible communion among all who love Christ.” Christ extended his friendship to all, without rejecting anyone. Those who love Christ all across the earth form, in his steps, a large community of friendship. For this reason, each person has a contribution to make in healing the wounds of humanity: without wanting to impose themselves, they can promote a globalization of solidarity which excludes no people and no single person.

In order to reach this hope, the Taize community recommends that Christians undertake the following steps: 1) Join a local praying community; 2) Extend friendship beyond the boundaries that separate us; 3) Share and pray regularly with others; and, 4) Make the communion of all who love Christ more visible.

Please watch our weekly e-mails and website for Taize services.

Services are held throughout the year and include periods of silence, instrumental music, and opportunities for hands’-on prayers, including Reiki. Watch for days and times in our e-mails, and on the website. The style, language, and music are adapted from the Celtic tradition.

The Healing Service

“They anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.” (Mark 6:13)

The Healing Service is an essential part of the Christian Church’s ministry and offered for those seeking God’s strength in a time of need. The Laying on of Hands, Anointing with Holy Oil, and prayers for the sick and their care givers have been part of the Church’s ministry since the days of the apostles.

God in Jesus came among us to repair, to make whole, and to complete the Creation. Often, we deny our need for healing. Or we may feel we can only press on, trying to muddle through whatever is troubling us in order not to burden others. We may not understand or believe that healing is possible. Or we may think our problem is insignificant in light of others’ problems. But we are not meant to just muddle through; not intended to just endure our burdens. Jesus came that we could have life and have it abundantly. Jesus came among us bringing the Good News of redemption and salvation that wholeness and restoration may be ours, and through us be known to all.

Healing is not just about physical health. You may be carrying the burden of a troubled marriage or relationship, a concern about your career, a conflict in your family, a financial worry. The burden you carry need not even be your own, but concern for a friend in trouble, or a neighbor in distress, or a co-worker in need. It is for these times that God offers us the gift of intercessory prayer. “Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will refresh you” is more than a nice sentiment; it is an invitation to receive the joy and the hope and the promise that God makes known in Christ.

Often when ill we tend to forget the reassurance of our faith. The Healing Service is a reminder of what Jesus has done for us in the past, what he can do for us in the present, and what his death and resurrection have secured for us in the future.