Augustana Lutheran Church of Hyde Park

By Will Host

Friday, March 3, 2023 – 7:30 PM

Since we’ve already used some of their chants in our own worship, we thought it might be
inspirational to attend a regular Taize Prayer Service. One of the most popular ones is held
at Ascension Catholic Church, 808 S. East Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60304 in Oak Park at 7:30
pm on the first Friday of every month. A group from Augustana will be attending on Friday,
March 3. If you are interested, contact Will Host at 773-793-6251 or
hostmeet80@gmail.com, and let us know if you can drive. We’ll leave the Augustana
parking lot no later than 6:00 pm (the nave fills up early). It is best that we carpool it since
parking is tight.

“In the Spirit of Taizé is an ecumenical form of prayer modeled after the Taizé community
(an ecumenical Christian monastic community of brothers) founded in the 1940’s by Br.
Roger in Taizé, France. The purpose of the prayer is to foster reconciliation and peace
among all people. Christians of all traditions share in this ecumenical prayer. The simple
monthly service consists of song (using the simple chants of the Taizé community),
scripture, a service of light, an extended period of silence for meditation concluding with
prayers for the world.”

From the website: https://www.ascensionoakpark.com/apps/pages/taize

On a personal note: I was fortunate enough to visit the Taize Community in June of 1977.
Literally 100’s of people or all ages, colors, abilities were there for a day, or two, or a week
or more, camping in tents or staying in one of the guesthouses. Chants and prayers were in
abundance throughout the day as well as the gracious hospitality of the brothers of Taize.
It was a spiritual experience of awe, wonder and mystery I’ll never forget