IN TAIZE, PEOPLE FEEL PRESENCE OF GOD QUIET SERVICE CALMS SOUL.Byline: HOLLY J. ANDRES Staff Writer NORTHRIDGE -- Stilling -- the act of quieting the soul to encounter the presence of God -- is the goal of a Taize service to be held Sunday evening at Northridge United Methodist Church United Methodist Church, in the United States, religious body formed by the union in 1968 of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church (see Methodism). . ``The Taize service is a service of prayer. The prayers are in song, word and silence. People reflect, center themselves and feel the presence of the Holy Spirit,'' said Amy Goss n. 1. Gorse. , the Taize lay leader at Northridge United Methodist Church. ``It's a very calming and quiet service.'' The church has held a monthly Taize service since 1999, a legacy of the Rev. Mark Ulrickson, the former pastor who made a visit to the ecumenical monastery monastery Local community or residence of a religious order, particularly an order of monks. Christian monasteries originally developed in Egypt, where the monks first lived as isolated hermits and then began to coalesce in communal groups. in Taize, France. The Taize monastic community was founded in 1949 by Roger Schutz, a Swiss Protestant theologian the·o·lo·gi·an n. One who is learned in theology. theologian Noun a person versed in the study of theology Noun 1. , and is composed of Protestant, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. Sunday's contemplative con·tem·pla·tive adj. Disposed to or characterized by contemplation. See Synonyms at pensive. n. 1. A person given to contemplation. 2. A member of a religious order that emphasizes meditation. service begins in silence. Attendees are greeted at the door and given a songbook for the music-driven service. There is no sermon. People sit facing the cross and a Communion table laden with lighted candles. During the one-hour service, individuals may participate in the singing of chants that are accompanied by an instrumentalist or recorded music recorded music n → música grabada . The first half of the service includes chants, readings and a silence of seven to 10 minutes. ``The reader, the cantor cantor [Lat.,=singer], a singer or chanter, especially one who performs the solo chants of a church service. The office of cantor, at first an honorary one, originated in the Jewish synagogues, in which from early times it was the custom to appoint a lay member to and the instrumentalist are in the back of the sanctuary,'' Goss said. ``Your full attention is on God, not watching the instrumentalist or the reader.'' The songbook includes chants in many languages, but the Northridge church generally uses English, Latin and Spanish. ``The songs are prayers. You do what you feel comfortable doing, though. Sometimes I just sit,'' said Elizabeth Beckman, who has been attending the monthly Taize services since 2003. ``There is so much distraction and pressure in our community. Taize offers a different way of coping. It gets me closer to God. In Taize, one can find peace.'' People who are struggling with a health or family problem give positive feedback that the service has brought them a sense of calm. One woman, Goss recalled, told her that the service wasn't what she expected, but she bought a CD of the Taize music anyway. ``For individuals who are anxious, rushed, impatient, this service may be difficult to sit through. But maybe that's what they need,'' said Don Brownlee, a professor of Communications Studies at California State University, Northridge CSUN offers a variety of programs leading to bachelor's degrees in 61 fields and master's degrees in 42 fields. The university has over 150,000 alumni. It's also home to a summer musical theater/theater program known as TADW (TeenAge Drama Workshop) that leads teenagers through an . ``It's an alternative means to worship to connect with the Holy Spirit. I feel buoyant Buoyant The term used to describe a commodities market where the prices generally rise with ease when there are considerable signals of strength. Notes: These types of markets can be very volatile as the prices are rapid to rise and fall with investor sentiment. and less burdened when the service is over. In many ways, it's kind of an oasis. I wish it were held more than once a month.'' At the beginning of the second half of the service, one of the Taize team members places the church's wooden cross on the floor in front of the Communion table. During the singing of six chants that follow the silent meditation, people may choose to walk up to the cross and touch it with their hands or forehead. The music ends, and, after a short benediction benediction [Lat.,=blessing], solemn blessing usually administered in the name of God by a priest or a minister. The temple worship at Jerusalem had fixed forms of benedictions, and Christians have always given them an important place in ceremony, especially at the , people leave the silent sanctuary when they are ready. ``I believe that we are fulfilling a need in our religious community by holding the Taize service. In the Methodist Church, there's been a greater interest toward spirituality,'' Goss said. ``There was a great need to get back to this part of our faith. It's part of my responsibility to my community, but I feel like I've also come in contact with the Holy Spirit. I'll go down to the cross, too.'' Taize service, 6:30 p.m. Sunday and the fourth Sunday of each month, Northridge United Methodist Church, 9650 Reseda Blvd. Child care available. Donations accepted. Call (818) 886-1555. holly.andres(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3708 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Amy Goss arranges the Taize service, set for 6:30p.m. Sunday at Northridge United Methodist Church, 9650 Reseda Blvd. Michael Owen
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