Greetings Taizé friends! As you journey in Lent, enjoy an excerpt from Br. Matthew’s annual letter 2026, the subject of which is “What are you seeking?” See below for upcoming prayers around the state.

“Seeking a direction”

“Silence makes true discernment possible. When we are seeking which direction to take, silence allows us to listen to what is deepest in us. We also need an inner freedom so that we can make a responsible choice. Such freedom involves accepting our limits, but without being afraid: fear is never a good counsellor, and God never forces our hearts.

Everyone is seeking both a sense of belonging and some form of security. And as we seek an authentic way of living, sometimes it is other people who can help us find who we really are. Through others we may be surprised to discover something that we could not have found alone.

In John’s Gospel, two young people are staying in the Jordan valley with their teacher, John the Baptist, whom they trust. Not wanting to keep them for himself, he points them towards another, to Jesus. And they leave to go after him.

When Jesus sees them, he asks, “What are you seeking?” When they reply, “Master, where do you live?” he tells them, “Come and you will see”.^*

Those two questions sum up the process of seeking and discovering a direction for a life with Christ. Starting with our own desires, with expressions of our longing for greater life – “What are you seeking?” – we go on to confront them with the person of Jesus – “Master, where do you live?”

The Jesus who invites us to “Come and see” is gentle and humble of heart, and he loves us with a love that is unconditional, secure and unfailing. Will I dare to respond to his invitation despite my hesitations and even my doubts?

Christ Jesus, show me the way and make me ready to follow it.^*

Who are the people who point me towards Christ? Spend a moment giving thanks for them.“

REGULAR PRAYERS AROUND GEORGIA

THIS THURSDAY, March 12, Thursday, 7:30 p.m., St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 636 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. Decatur, GA 30030. Prayers in Advent and Lent. Tea and cookies following! Park in front of the church for easy access.

March 16th, Third Mondays, 8:00  p.m., Cathedral of Saint Philip, 2744 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA. https://www.stphilipscathedral.org. Labyrinth walk in Atrium 7:00-8:00.

March 22, Fourth Sundays, March 22, 10:00 a.m.Atlanta Mennonite Church, 1088 Bouldercrest Dr SE, Atlanta, GA. https://atlmenno.org. Sunday worship on Fourth Sundays is always a Taizé service.

March 24, Fourth Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m., Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church, 471 Mt. Vernon Highway NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Labyrinth available during prayer.

April 1, First Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m., St. John Lutheran Church, Griffin. 1689 Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy, Griffin, GA 30224. (Contact Larry Boudon, larryboudon@gmail.com).

Weekly on Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m. On Zoom, Columbia Presbyterian Church. Zoom link: https://cpcdecatur.com/online-worship-links. With recorded music.

Weekly on Wednesdays, 5:30 – 6:00 p.m., Vineville United Methodist Church, 2045 Vineville Avenue, Macon. https://vinevillemethodist.com/taize/ Communion service.

See also the Taizé Atlanta Facebook page for prayer listings and other stories. Apologies for gaps in communication!