Rev. Neal Kentch
Minister
738-3797

Corydon Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
216 N. Mulberry Street
Corydon, Indiana 47112
(812) 738-3939

"In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity."

  --early Disciples motto

What you will find at a Taizé Prayer Service is a time of quiet prayer in beautiful, candlelit surroundings with beautiful and simple singing. You will find a chance to feel yourself surrounded by the beauty, compassion, and goodness of God.

Taizé is simply the name of a village in France in which a Christian community was founded in the midst of World War II. The music and the prayers used in a Taizé Service come from this community.

Several chant-like songs are sung during the service. These songs are themselves prayers, many of them using words from the Bible. They are easy to sing and are the kind of songs that remain with you; they remain as a prayer in your heart.

A Psalm and another passage from the Bible are read. They are read by someone who is sitting in the middle of everyone else. There is no one standing at the front of the church during these services.

There is a time of silent prayer, lasting about five minutes. You may pray as you wish with many unspoken words or just a few. Or you may remain quiet with the words of one of the songs in your heart. Or you may let Christ pray in you. Or you could just listen, for the voice of God often comes as a whisper.

Then there are several sentences of spoken prayers read by someone sitting in the middle of everyone else. There is also a time for anyone who chooses to do so to pray for others out loud.

The Lord's Prayer is prayed, a few more songs are sung, each person has a small candle that is lighted, and we leave carrying the light and peace of Christ with us.

These prayer services are brief, lasting about 20 minutes. They are hosted at Corydon Christian Church, but everyone is welcome regardless of church affiliation. You may not even have a church. You can come, anyway. No one will ask you to join any church.

If you would like to participate in these services as a musician or as a reader, call Neal Kentch at 738-3939. If you can play guitar, piano, flute--almost any instrument--or if you can sing solos, there are ways you can contribute to this prayer service that will make the music richer and fuller. You can help make these prayer services even more beautiful.

Each summer, thousands and thousands of young adults from all over the world travel to Taizé to spend a week praying three times a day. To find out more about Taizé, visit their website.

We practice open communion. You are welcome to come join us at the Lord's table.

"They'll know we are Christians by our love."--Peter Scholtes