Kenya: visiting with women's micro finance groups

The women in his picture are from a local Masai tribe. They are committed to developing their business making beautiful beaded jewelry, belts, and bags so they can educate their daughters. They also want to have financial independence to cultural withstand pressure to submit their daughters to genital mutilation. These women are savvy and work hard. They strategize ways to bring their product to market. All proceeds from their sales are shared equally among the group.

These women also share a strong Christian faith which guides the ethics of their community and the ethos of their business. What they now need to expand is a broader market place than the two markets they are able to walk to weekly. This is the challenge for our K2K team.

Gail Greenwell

Sent from my iPad

Small Groups

Small groups make up an important part of the experience in the community.  The groups are designated first by your preferred language, and secondly - and arbitrarily - by date of birth.  By this random creation I ended up in a group that had 5 Germans, 3 Dutch, I Scot, and 1 from Great Britain.  The Germans and Dutch speakers were very adept as English speakers and welcome the chance to get practice in conversation.  You can tell from the delineation of my group which country send the greatest number of participants to Taize'.  German churches organize what they call 'Rainbow buses' which run several times a year to Taize'.

Trust is theme of Taize' for the next 3 years and trust is what builds among members of any small group.  Our sharing became deeper and more personal as the week progressed.  But perhaps what I appreciated most about my group was the representation of so many who are not from North America.  Most of our European brothers and sisters in Christ speak 2 - 3 languages other than their own.  They are not only tolerant of difference but see it as a part of God's plan for Creation.  Whether we discussed the Bible, politics, family life or church life, I was awed by their sense that God calls us to a common good.  The idea that God wants us to pull ourselves up by our own boot straps seemed laughable to them.  They are puzzled by some of the trends in US politics - especially quizzing me as to why the healthcare reform is controversial.  They are amused that some in our country see this kind of universal healthcare reform as 'socialism'.  Of course, I did not feel able to defend something this complex but it was certainly enlightening to hear their prospective.  On the other hand, I learned from these new friends how different church life is in most of Western Europe.  If we think church attendance is waning in the US, let me assure you that is happening faster in Germany, England,France, the Netherlands, and elsewhere.  They distinguish between membership and attendance just as we do - but the gap between membership and attendance is huge - Sunday morning attendance at worship might be 5% of registered members!  They were interested in the kinds of ministry that is alive at St. Michael's, especially our Companions in Discernment ministry and our vast numbers of members who are not only involved in outreach and pastoral care but that members are able to suggest and create new ministries without 'permission'.  They presume a hierarchical system of consent and mission.  I appreciate this perspective and the opportunity to share what we can about ministry and mission.

Gail Greenwell

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Bible study on solidarity and trust

Each day Brother Matthew leads a one hour reflection on scripture and the theme of solidarity and trust. Day One we began with the story of blind Bartimaeus in Mark's gospel (10:46-52). He reminded us that this blind man was excluded, poor, and unimportant because of his disability ... and yet it was not the restoration of his sight that liberated Bartimaeus. With a trust that cries out to God, his healing began when he recognized who he was and what he needed from the Lord. And so it is with our own healing. The story asks us to acknowledge our own blindness and when we do we will also be liberated from the confines of who we have been and into the new reality of who we can be. Trust recognizes things for what they are yet leads us into a new future.

Worship at Taize'

Most of us recognize Taize' as a type of chant used in worship .... "Jesus Remember me when you come into your kingdom" or "Eat this bread, drink this cup, come to me and never be hungry" are familiar. Because of the international and ecumenical mission of the community, the Taize' songbook includes nearly 100 chants in 6 or 7 languages including French, German, Spanish, Latin, and Russian. Here is something I found surprising - I would have expected that a chant in my own language would be more prayerful, more meaningful. But not so. The compelling success of Taize' music is that in some mysterious way my the music of my soul can understand a language that my head cannot even pronounce. I now have several more favorites.

Which nationality has the greatest representation at Taize'? Think you know? I will tell you in the next post.

The 2012 Taize' Letter

2015 will be the 100th anniversary of the birth of the brother that founded Taize', Brother Roger, and also the 75th anniversary of the founding of the community. Taize' plans a large international gathering and are using the next 3 years to educate and communicate about the theme, "Towards a New Solidarity". In a letter penned by the current abbot, Brother Alois, the theme is outlined in profound terms. Here are some excerpts:

"For a new solidarity to spring up at all levels - in families, communities, tons and villages, between countries and continents- courageous decisions are needed .... To create new forms of solidarity, could the time have come to make a greater effort to uncover the wellsprings of trust?"

" ..... faith in God makes us free - free from fear, free for a life of service to those whom God entrusts to us."

Daily Life at Taize'

The next few posts will be a catch up of all that has occurred at Taize'. There was no Internet connection either in the monastic community nor in the villege of Cluny where I was staying with Nan and David With. The Withs have come often to Taize' and are wonderful guides to life at Taize' as well as the beauty of the surrounding countryside of Burgundy.

Here is an example of life in Taize':
* 8:30 - attend worship with Holy Communion
* 9:30 - eat communal breakfast with the entire international group of adults (young adults live, eat and study in separate gathering)
* 10:00 - attend bible study led by one of the brothers
* 11:00 - one hour of silence and reflection
* 12 noon - worship
* 12:30 - lunch
* 1:00 - 3:30 - free time
* 3:30 - 5:00 - small group discussion
* 5:45 - dinner
* 8:30 - evening worship

In the monastic tradition everyone must work. My assignment was breakfast dishes.

Taize map

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