Candle-filled, contemporary and contemplative gatherings will take place on two Sunday evenings per month beginning with Taizé Worship on September 14th, and Celtic Evening Eucharist on September 28th at the First Church chapel, 12 South Main Street, West Hartford Center.

by Joy Taylor

If you have a busy life, raise your hand! Those seeking some peace and a break in an otherwise hectic schedule now have two opportunities a month to find a calming note on which to end the weekend, and the services are open to the wider community.

The Spiritual Life Ministry arm of First Church will start its eighth season of Taizé Worship on Sunday night at 5:00 in the Chapel. Taizé Worship is an ecumenical, contemporary, contemplative worship service with song, silence, scripture and prayer. The Taizé Community was formed at the end of World War II in Taizé, France with the purpose of promoting peace and understanding through common worship. The influence of the Taizé Community has now spread all over the world, including West Hartford. The quiet, reflective services are co-sponsored by the Spiritual Life Center, Inc. of West Hartford

On the fourth Sunday of the month, from September to May, the new Celtic Evening Eucharist gathering will fill the chapel. This candlelit service will offer beautiful Celtic music, prayer, reflection and Holy Communion.

“Our evening worship services are very welcoming… and the beauty of holding the services in our chapel space is that we now have flexible seating, allowing us to create a more laid-back and casual setting, which is especially nice to newcomers and those who may not be comfortable in the ‘traditional’ church setting,” commented Susan Izard, the Minister of Spiritual Life for the church and Taizé and Celtic leader. Susan is particularly interested in the contemplative journey, and she is a compassionate listener who brings a creative approach to her ministry.

Taizé Worship takes place on the second Sunday night of the month, at 5:00 at First Church. Photo by Amy Melvin.

Taizé Worship Dates for the 2014-15 season:
September 14
October 12
November 9
December 14
January 11
February 8
March 8
April 12
May 10

The Celtic Evening Eucharist services start on September 28th at First Church. photo by Susan Izard.

Celtic Evening Eucharist dates for the 2014-15 season:
September 28
October 26
November 23
December 28
January 25
February 22
March 22
April 26
May 24