The Hidden Brook

Thursday nights resume on September 7 with a new name. "The Hidden Brook" resonates on several levels, both historic and spiritual. More on the origins of the name. Literally, it describes the underground stream that runs down Russell Avenue and irrigated the celery farms that were on this land before the church was built. It was also the name of Good Shepherd's first nursery school. And now, for CGS's Thursday night community in the 21st century, it evokes the spiritual hidden brooks in all our lives?sources of peace and refreshment that we can touch more deeply by spending time on our inner journeys?individually, yet still together.

This Fall -- Having Our Cake and Eating It Too
After our summer of amazing "experimental" services, we didn't want to give them up. But we missed our Taizé services and the more traditional Compline and Evening Prayer formats. We also wanted to bring back the longer meditation time that used to happen on Tuesday nights. So, rather than choose, we decided to do it all. Starting September 7, we will rotate through the four formats each month.

So, if you can't make it every Thursday, but there's one kind of service you especially like, you'll know exactly when to be there.

A different format each week:

1st Thursday of the month - In the style of Taizé
2nd Thursday - Meditation
3rd Thursday - Freestyle
4th Thursday - Night Prayer or Compline
5th Thursday - Healing

What is TAIZÉ?

Taizé services are characterized by quiet and candlelight,
the repetition of melodious chants sung many times
in many languages, a period of silence,
and contemplative prayer.

Let the songs sing themselves in you.
Once you catch the tune, let yourself find the words?
in your heart or as you listen to your brothers and
sisters as they sing. Let your spirit move along
the path provided by rhythmic repetition,
deeper and deeper into the stillness
and beauty of God's presence.

The song is prayer,
the silence is prayer,
each of us is prayer and
together we are prayer.

Embrace the silence.
It is the sacred space of our encounter with the
Three In One, the environment of grace and love.
Let the flickering candlelight hold you there.
Let the open stillness of the church enfold you
into the wideness of God's mercy.
?Adapted from the Taizé website

AT ANY TIME, FEEL FREE TO:
Light a candle, walk the labyrinth,
hold an object from the altar,
or move to any part of the church you prefer.