By Jonathan Smith, Staff Writer

A new contemplative worship service, called Taizé, will be conducted 15 minutes after each evening Lectureship speech this week at about 8:30 p.m.

Taizé (pronounced Teh-zay) originated in Taizé, France, and focuses on “simplicity, silence, confession, reconciliation and prayer,” according to its Web site, www.taize.fr/en/index.htm.

“The service is a blend of Christian styles, both liturgical and free, both ancient and contemporary,” reads the site.

Started in 1940, hundreds of thousands of people now have experienced Taizé services around the world.

“Over the past few decades, it has been primarily young people across Europe who have most responded to the worship of Taizé,” said Dr. Jack Reese, dean of the College of Biblical Studies, in an e-mail. “In the U.S., Taizé services have sprung up all over the country.”

Reese learned about Taizé worship about a year ago and decided to bring it to Lectureship.

“My desire is not to try to have churches use this style of worship rather than what they are used to but to expand their resources for worship,” Reese said. “Many people find these quiet, contemplative services a source of renewal in the midst of very hectic lives.”

Because people live hectic lives, Reese said, they enjoy Taizé services.

Their enjoyment comes partly “because of the wonderful music, but it also relates to the desire for simplicity, the use of all the senses in worship and the desire of many young people to connect to the worship of the past,” he said.

A Taizé service took place in the Chapel on the Hill in November and was attended by about 250 students. Many were “overwhelmed by the experience,” Reese said.

“A number of Christians in Abilene have found this to be a powerful resource for spiritual renewal,” he said.

Reese said Taizé worship crosses generational gaps and said he hopes people with a variety of ages and backgrounds attend the services this week.

Reese will be giving lectures about Taizé worship Monday through Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. in Fulks Theatre of the Williams Performing Arts Center. He said the lectures will be focused on looking at “worship impulses in American churches, sharing aspects of worship from Taizé” for part of the time and spend the rest worshipping.