Seeking God's Peace: A Taize Service
D'Esta Love
6 min read ⭑
Taize worship is marked by simplicity, silence, confession, reconciliation and prayer.
This contemplative style of worship grew out of a community in Taize, France, founded after World War II to provide a place of refuge and forgiveness for those seeking healing and reconciliation after the distress and devastation of war. The service is a blend of Christian styles, both liturgical and free, both ancient and contemporary.
Singing is one of the most essential elements of Taize worship. Short songs, repeated again and again, give it a meditative character. A leader usually sings a song through once and then the audience joins in, singing the melody or providing harmony. Meditative singing thus becomes a way of listening to God. It allows everyone to take part in a time of prayer and to remain together in attentive waiting on God.
Enter expectantly. Sing these simple songs with joy and hope. Listen, confess, pray, forgive, receive and wait.
Gathering Songs
“Kyrie Eleison”
Kyrie eleison
Kyrie eleison
Christe eleison.
“Veni Sancte Spiritus”
Veni Sancte Spiritus.
Call to Worship
Leader 1: We live in a troubled and anxious world. Our lives are busy and fretful. We come in the quietude of this hour seeking the peace of God.
Leader 2: Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
Ll: The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.
L2: Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
Ll: To do the will of Jesus — this is rest.
L2: Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?
Ll: On Jesus’ bosom, naught but calm is found.
L2: Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?
Ll: In Jesus’ keeping, we are safe, and they.
L2: Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
L1: Jesus we know, and he is on the throne.
L2: Be pleased to draw near to us, a Lord, in the quietude of this hour. Grant us your peace and fill us with your love.
Song
“Psalm l45 — There Can Be No Greater Love”
There can be no greater love than to lay down our life for those we love.
Prayer of Confession
Ll: Holy and merciful Father: We confess to you and to one another our sins in thought, word and deed; by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We seek the peace that forgiveness brings.
All: Have mercy on us, O Lord
L2: We confess that we have not loved our enemies, as you have taught. We confess that we harbor hatred and fear in our hearts, that we seek revenge and inflict pain upon our adversaries, even upon those we love. We seek your peace in our own hearts.
All: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
L1: We confess that we have not sought your ways of peace. Lead us in paths of righteousness and call us to lives of service. Teach us to forgive as you have forgiven us and to love as you have loved us.
All: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
L2: We confess that the storms of life make us fearful. We confess that we are anxious and troubled about many things. Let our ordered lives confess the beauty of your peace.
All: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
L1: Accept our prayers, Lord, for the wrongs we have done. Lift us over the hard places, carry us safely over temptations, and open the doors of our hearts so that Christ may enter and dwell there. Then we will know your peace. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.
Silence (5 minutes)
L2: For you our souls wait in silence.
Song
“Come and Fill Our Hearts”
Come and fill our hearts with your peace.
You alone, O Lord are holy.
Come and fill our hearts with your peace, alleluia.
Scripture Reading
L1: A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. And Jesus woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Peace be still!
L2: Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. And they said to one another, “Who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Ll: In the world you have tribulation, but in me you have peace.
L2: But take courage, I have overcome the world.
Ll: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
L2: I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid.
L1: And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
L2: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
Song
“By Night”
By night we hasten in darkness, to search for living water.
Only our thirst leads us onward.
Invitation to Prayer and Confession
Ll: Many things in our lives rob us of the peace of God. We carry burdens, we harbor doubts, we know our sins, we experience strife in our families and in our world, we are anxious and troubled about many things. The God of heaven, who is our peace, invites us lay our burdens down, find rest and peace in his presence, to cast all our cares upon him because he cares about us.
L2: As we sing together now, you may sing or sit in silence. You may kneel where you are or come to the altar to kneel and pray. Cards are available on the tables beside us on which you may write whatever is on your heart-whatever sin or burden you are carrying that is robbing you of your peace. You are invited to place the cards in the basket. No one will read them. You may also light a candle as a symbol of your prayer being offered to God.
L1: As you let go of the cares of your day and unburden your heart, may God fill you with his peace.
Songs (to be sung as people come to pray and light candles)
“Psalm 62 — ln You Our Hearts Find Rest”
In you our hearts find rest and peaceful gladness.
In you our hearts find rest and peaceful gladness.
“In God Alone”
In God alone my soul can find rest and peace, in God my peace and joy.
Only in God my soul can find its rest, find its rest and peace.
Lifting Our Petitions to God
Ll: (Lifting the basket, then placing it on the altar after the prayer.)
We lift these prayers and confessions of need before you.
We are confident that you have heard us, that you have seen us in our need, and we receive with gratitude your peace.
Prayer for Peace — Response: Hear our prayer, O Lord.
Ll: We seek the peace that healing affords. In your mercy,
All: Hear our prayer, O Lord.
L2: We seek the peace that forgiveness brings. In your mercy,
All: Hear our prayer, O Lord.
L1: We seek the peace that reconciliation creates. In your mercy,
All: Hear our prayer, O Lord.
L2: We seek the peace that love imparts. In your mercy,
All: Hear our prayer, O Lord.
Ll: We seek the peace that you alone can give. In your mercy,
All: Hear our prayer, O Lord.
Song
“Peace, Perfect Peace”
Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.
Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.
Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus' bosom naught but calm is found.
It is enough: earth s struggles soon shall cease,
And Jesus calls us to Heaven perfect peace.
Passing of the Peace
Ll: You are invited to stand and greet those around you with the peace of God. The peace of God be with you.
Closing Song
“Lamb of God”
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world
Lord have mercy upon us.
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world.
Lord have mercy upon us
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world.
Grant us peace, Lord, grant us peace.
Final Blessing
L1: Grace be with all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ. Go now in the name of the one who is our peace.
D’Esta Love is University Chaplain at Pepperdine University and Co-Editor of Leaven, a journal published quarterly by the Religion Division at Pepperdine University
Adapted from “Seeking God's Peace: A Taize Service” by D’Esta Love. Used with permission of Pepperdine Libraries.