SUMMER TAIZÉ REFLECTION

Our last gathering on June 12 was difficult. Earlier that morning, a man took the lives of nearly 50 people and injured many more at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. This act of violence was heartbreaking and we were angry that someone would target those who are LGBTQ. It was hard to put words to our feelings that day, but the prayers of our quarterly Taizé service seemed to be especially fitting: “Come and fill our hearts with your peace…”

We had already planned to spend time in prayer for those around the world and in our own community that night, so we also spent time in lament and prayer for Orlando. Below is an excerpt from our evening–may we not be the kind of people who stop at prayers and then go back to business as usual, but the kind of people who actively seek to make our world a place of peace and justice.

“The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.”
John 1:5, CEB

“We see the devastation in other nations—
and today in our own with the shooting in Orlando.
And our hearts are wrenched within us
We see the suffering of God’s children
And we grieve for their loss and pain….
May we be inspired to a generosity like unto that of Christ,
A generosity which is both spiritual and tangible.
Which doesn’t stop at words and prayers,
but continues with actions which bring peace and justice
to all God’s people.”