Jesus according to Taizé

Something Beautiful Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 11:51:58 PST

Something Beautiful Sunday (Thanksgiving Sunday)
(Open Mic)

This (Jan 30 2011) is Something Beautiful Sunday when you share something meaningful, something beautiful, or something that you are thankful for. I hope you bring something.

You can also share little bitty testimonies that show that God was in action.
You may simply tell us about something that you are thankful for in these days.

It can be expressed in songs, or words. So, you may sing a song.

1. These Days (D. P): This is a daily devotional material where you can read daily and pray. It is also known as QT: Quiet Time. I would like you to have a Quiet Time with God daily. It is beautiful. It makes my day starts.

We do this, the last Sunday of each month.
So, bring something that you are thankful for next month.

Note:
This is when people share anything they are thankful for.
You may end with singing a couple of songs.
This kind of Sunday encourages and edifies people.
It is completely positive.

You may want to have a regular gathering like this so that people can have an uplifting experience. People get used to it. In this way, you can build some positive attitude among your congregation.

Note: “Collection 331 - Reuben Archer Torrey, III. T2 Transcript,” Billy Graham Center, http://www.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/trans/331t02.htm (accessed 1 November 2006)

Life at Taizé

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 18:53:30 PDT

Life at Taizé from Taizé on Vimeo.

Taizé Prayer (Stay with me / Watch and pray w/ Mark 14:27-38)

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 14:49:05 PDT

Stay With Me (MP3)

Eat This Bread, Drink This Cup

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 07:48:20 PDT

You may sing this song during communion.

Ubi caritas

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 06:28:49 PDT

In manus tuas, Pater

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 11:02:07 PDT

In manus tuas, Pater

Lord Jesus Christ

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:29:04 PDT

Laudate omnes gentes

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:20:55 PDT

Laudate Omnes Gentes (music)

Bless the Lord my soul

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 11:00:41 PDT

Bless the Lord my soul

In God alone my soul can find rest and peace

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 10:52:13 PDT

In God alone my soul can find rest and peace

Jesus remember me, when you come to your kingdom.

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 10:43:29 PDT

Jesus, remember me

Taizé prayer videos

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 04:26:11 PDT

There are many Taizé prayer videos.
I often play these as a background while I am working.
It is refreshing.
Or you may click here to listen to Taize Songs and service (mp3) at Taize community.

Taizé prayer service

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 09:52:54 PDT

Here are some of my popular posts here:

Watch and Pray (Stay with me)
Taizé Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7 and Part 8.

If you are looking for a local Taizé prayer service, try to find here:

Prayer Contacts at USA
Regular prayers at UK
Regular prayers at New Zealand

If you don’t have one near you, you may conduct your own Taizé service or group lectio divina.
You may use Songs and Prayers from Taize and sing at home. Maybe you will be able to conduct your own service. If you like to learn some songs, you may look here (@ Amazon.com) or here @ Christianbook.com
Following is a shortest Taiz é service I am able to make. I just want to give you a taste if you are not familiar with Taizé prayer.

http://hwaryu.blogspot.com/2009/05/sample-of-taize-liturgy.html

Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?”

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:23:08 PDT

Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8: 29)
This is the question.
Who is he?

Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?”
We always answer this question by our action.
We always answer that question unconsciously.
It is now a time to make a conscious decision.
It is a time to answer this question.

Brother Roger of Taizé answers: “You are the one who reconciles.”
So, for him, reconciliation and peace and harmony are very important words.
It is all because he determined to experience Jesus in the action of reconciliation.
So he lives with Jesus pursuing a unity of the churches. (John 17)

His understanding was growing.
Then he finds a practical advice that Jesus gives to carry out this vocation of reconciliation. Jesus says: “Do not judge!”

His understanding was growing.
Then he sings: “Jesus is forgiveness. Dare to forgive.”
It sounds like his faith statement.
In forgiveness, we experience the very Christ.

This journey started because he tries to answer consciously the question of Jesus: “Who do you say that I am?”
Taizé is still answering the question by living in a certain way, finding a new meaning of their answer.

Now Jesus asks you and me today: “Who do you say that I am?”
Make a decision and live accordingly.

Recommending books

Universal Heart: The Life and Vision of Brother Roger of Taize

The Rule of Taize in French and in English

(This is part 8 in a series of posts on Taizé. The full series is Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7 and Part 8.)

Lectio Divina

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:39:13 PST

The Hub - Stop And Search

View more presentations from easyrew.

How to make a Prayer List

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:21:11 PST

Christians are called to pray and intercede in Jesus Christ.
By praying and interceding, you make a difference in your community.

Look around you.
This is your ministry field.

List names of individuals whom you want to pray regularly.
You may pray for them saying, “Christ here is so and so.”
You may pray, “God keep them safe.”
Pray for your friends.

God uses you to changes people.
God hears your prayer.

Listing these names before God change our hearts, too.
It transforms you and the one whom you are praying for.
It changes your personality.
Try praying each day for those on your list.

God’s small voice may lead you to pray occasionally.

Here are some suggestions for your prayer list.
Have a notebook.
Write with a pencil.
Make enough spaces between each prayer.
It will help you to change prayer as God directs you.

Pick a nation in the world.
Pray for a nation as well.

George Müller was known as a man of prayer.
He practiced like this.
He opened the Bible before him, and put his finger upon God’s promise.
He would plead that promise.
Then he received what he asked.

Müller also discovered that meditating on Scripture he was more able to have a meaningful prayer time.
John Calvin said that prayer is to be confident and understandable, relying heavily on God’s promises.

So, on each prayer list, you may write a bible verse (e.g., Matthew 7:7) to encourage yourself.

Where is Christ leading you? (Examen)

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:53:04 PST

Journaling as a discernment process

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:54:14 PST

Our journaling can be our prayer, our conversation with God.
Ancient prophets may have used journaling as their way of conversation with God.
The prophet Hosea also used this method.
For example, in Hosea 6 we see Hosea speaks but then suddenly God speaks through him. The speakers change.

God is already within us.
Christ lives within us.
It may be beneficial to do this spiritual exercise to hear God.

How?
Write, “My son…” or “My daughter…” and then try to write whatever is coming after these words.

1. Say a prayer followed by a brief silence

2. Write, “My son…” or “My daughter…” and then try to write whatever is coming after these words.

Or, write a question to God and then write down what comes to you as an answer.

3. Quietly resting in God’s Presence.
Close this session with a short prayer

4. If you practice with a group, you may share your experience with them.

Group Spiritual Direction

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:51:28 PST

This is a method of group spiritual direction which can assist some healing process to be occurred.

To teach about this group spiritual direction, the leader may need to explain this process first.

The leader may need to do a role play before the group, so that the group knows what to do.

1. Have a silent moment of prayer.
2. Invite the Holy Spirit into the process.
3. Ask whether there is a volunteer directee who would like to share his or her story: Let’s say person A.

4. Let A share whatever in his or her mind for 5 minutes
5. During this time, the leader and group simply listen, praying silently without making any comment.
6. The leader and participants can ask question for clarification.
7. After a short silent prayer, the leader will invite people to share his or her thought; understanding; and impression on what the Holy Spirit seems doing in A’s life or on how God’s plan seems manifested in A’s thought or life.
8. Finish with silent prayer

9. Ask whether there is another volunteer to share his or her story:
10. Let’s say person B. Then the same process is repeated: #4 - #9.
11. In the end, share about this experiences together.

Jesus Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:49:48 PST

By repeating "Jesus prayer" you may be able to bring your attention to Jesus and meditate on him.

Preparation:
Rest in God and empty yourselves to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
The leader may pray aloud, “Lord have compassion on us, and fill us with Your Holy Spirit.”

Prayer:
the leader repeats twenty times, “Jesus, the Son of the living God, have compassion on us” or “Jesus, splendor of the Father, have compassion on us.”
During this time, everyone meditates individually.

What does God speak to you?
What kinds of connection do you feel with God?

Which thoughts stir you up?
What prayer arises from your meditation?
Communicate with God as God speaks to you.
Say your prayer silently.

Quietly rest in the presence of God.
Be saturated by God’s presence.

After twenty times, the leader finishes saying “Lord have mercy on us, and fill us with Your Holy Spirit.”

Or, you may finish with singing a hymn.

Sharing:
Share with the group about this experience.

What is prayer?

noreply@blogger.com (Hwa Sung Ryu) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:46:08 PST

Through prayer we reach into the heart of Christ.
Most of all, prayer is an act of faith.
We recognize Christ who answers your prayer and prays with you.

What do we do when you pray?

You can practice prayer in various ways.

1. Wait on God in attentive and expectant silence.
2. Meditate on Christ, Christ’s actions, Christ’s Word, and Christ’s character
3. contemplate on Christ, moving beyond words and thoughts to communion of your spirit with the Spirit of Christ
4. draw near to Christ in solitude
5. pray in tongues as a personal and private discipline
6. Take on an individual discipline of prayer through dance, physical exercise, music, or other expressive activity as a response to grace.

Which one would you like to try?

You may pray according to your personalities, concerns and interests.
As you see, the word, “prayer” contains various activities, forms and methods: contemplation, meditation, intercession, prayer with the Scripture (Lectio Divina) and waiting.

Taizé practices a time of silence as prayer.
It is a good method of prayer, because prayer is listening.
God speaks to us in silence.
Through this kind of prayer you find an answer.
You feel the presence of God.
You make a deep conversation with God.

Don’t too much dwell on praying for the forgiveness of your sins.
Christ forgave you.
Pray to hear and feel the love of God.

You may also pray for the love of prayer.
You may pray for patience.

What can this prayer do for you?

Prayer unites you to Christ.
It makes you heavenly minded.
It strengthens you, gives you zeal and energy for good.
It comforts you.
It helps you in time of need and the grace of perseverance.