Encouragement – Page 8

Taizé Four 4/9/25 “Let All Who Are Thirsty”

Posted on April 9, 2025 by Neal Saye

Tonight was our church’s (Asbury Memorial, Savannah) fourth and final Taize service before the beginning of this Sunday’s Passover and Holy Week.

“Taizé is a meditative prayer service that incorporates simple repetitive song and chant, scripture readings, and periods of group silence in a setting of peace and soft light that fosters communion with God.” St. Mary’s of the Hill

After Pope John Paul Il visited the ecumenical, monastic Taizé community in France in 1986, he said:“One passes through Taize as one passes close to a spring of water. The traveler stops, quenches his thirst, and continues on his way. The brothers of the community do not want to keep you. They want, in prayer and silence, to enable you to drink the living water promised by Christ, to know his joy, to discern his presence, to respond to his call, then to set out again to witness to his love and to serve your brothers and sisters in your parishes, your schools, your universities, and in all your places of work.”

So come into this place of peace & let its silence heal your spirit; Come into this place of memory & let its history warm your soul; Come into this place of prophecy & power & let its vision change your heart. (From the service bulletin.)

Tonight‘s chant:

Let all who are thirsty come. Let all who wish receive the water of life freely. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Although you can’t quite tell it, this is a fountain filled with little stones.

REMEMBERING OUR BAPTISM. You are invited to “Remember your baptism” by coming to the altar and receiving a stone from the flowing water of life. We encourage you to keep the stone with you throughout the seasons of Lent, Easter, and Eastertide. (From the service bulletin.)

May a Bit of Evening Peace be yours tonight.

My Saturday Evening Post

My Saturday Evening Post: 3/29/25 “I Get Knocked Down”

Posted on April 5, 2025 by Neal Saye

Walking into The Fresh Market the other day, the first thing that greeted me was this, uh, spring display with, uh, colorful hyacinths.

Goodness!

Poor things.

I tried, but nothing I could say would cheer them UP.

I finally succeeded with this lively little ditty …

And that is my Saturday Evening Post.

Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 4/4/25

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Morning Glory.

Early morning walk on Skidaway Island (Georgia)

2. Simple Beige Beauty.

3. The inhale and the exhale.

And the oft-forgotten mindfulness of the inhale and the exhale.

4. The Breath of Fresh Air Robert and I are experiencing with the television reality series, “Love on the Spectrum.”

“Overview: Seven adults with autism dive headlong into a dating group to explore the unpredictable world of romance, tackling misconceptions about both themselves and how they want to live.” (Series Website)

We recently stumbled upon season two and are working through it now.

5. Playing hide and seek with a Japanese Flowering Cherry tree near us here in historic district Savannah.

May you experience a Bit of Play somehow this spring weekend.

Holiday Joy

Taizé Three 4/2/25 “There Is a Balm”

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Neal Saye

Tonight was our church’s (Asbury Memorial, Savannah) third Taize service of the 2025 Lenton season.

Taize is a meditative worship service known for simple, repetitive chants, scripture readings, and times of silence, originating from the Taizé community in France.

Peacefully beautiful as usual, with the theme this evening of “There is a balm in Gilead.”

Whatever our faith (or lack thereof), we all probably need a balm from time to time, a gentle soothing.

The tranquil chorus we sang several times throughout the thirty minute service:

“There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.”

May we all experience a Bit of Balm this lovely Springtime Season.

Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 3/21/25

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. The delicious simplicity of a good hot dog.

Slaw Dog, Hot Dog Alley, Saint Simons Island GA

2. Completing 1800 meditation sittings with my Happier app.

SURELY I should be a little more enlightened by now?!

3. The ability to … Stretch. I’m having some arthritis issues, and simple stretching often helps with the pain.

4. My old front door. It has welcomed us home many a time.

5. Benny needing his rest this morn (on my I’m-still-wearing-them Christmas jammies).

May you have a Merry Weekend

Holiday Joy, Holidays and Seasonal Changes

And Now, A Truly Warm and Heartfelt Irish Blessing

Posted on March 17, 2025 by Neal Saye

Beauty, Holiday Joy

Taizé One 3/12/25 “Light”

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Neal Saye

Tonight was the first of our church’s five Taizé services during the Lenten season leading up to Easter Sunday. (Asburymemorial.org)

I LOVE the quiet, almost somber, beauty of Taizé.

A little about the history of Taizé:

“The Taizé prayer service is from an interfaith community founded in Taizé, France in 1940. A Taizé service provides a meditative style of song and prayer known for its simplicity and focus on Christ. Today the Taizé community comprises those of Catholic and Protestant backgrounds from regions around the globe. At a Taizé service we pray as we sing, as we reflect on the Scripture reading, as we sit in silence, and as we offer our prayers to Christ.” jaxcathedral.org

TONIGHT’S INVITATION: “Come into this place of peace and let its silence heal your spirit; Come into this place of memory & let its history warm your soul; Come into this place of prophecy and power and let its vision change your heart.”

Tonight’s theme focused on light.

And the MUSIC/CHANT:

“Lord Jesus Christ, your light shines within us.

Let not my doubts, and my darkness speak to me.

Lord Jesus Christ, your light shines within us.

Let my heart always welcome your love.”

Whatever your belief, or lack of, may Peace be your Portion at this time of year.

Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 2/28/25

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Signs of approaching Springtime in Savannah.

2. The ability to hear. And to mindfully know, in the moment, that we are hearing.

3. Boardwalks. Especially as they weather and age a bit.

4. This cool sign we came upon this morn in Savannah’s eclectic and edgy Victorian District.

5. Rest.

May you have a restful weekend ahead.

Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 2/21/25

Posted on February 21, 2025 by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. The amazingly resilient beauty of Savannah’s Resurrection Fern.

The green plant growing on the live oak tree behind me, Pleopeltis polypodioides, commonly known as Resurrection Fern, is “a native plant known for its ability to survive extreme dehydration and revive when exposed to water. Appearance and behavior: During dry periods, the fern shrivels and turns brown, resembling a dead clump of leaves. It can lose up to 97% of its water content, while most plants can only tolerate a 10% loss.”

“When it rains, the fern uncurls and turns green within hours.” National Wildlife Federation

(I need a little of what it has!)

2. Recognizing that two out of three isn’t bad.

High School Basketballer Grandson Gabriel practicing three-pointers

3. Going on a fascinating Savannah Port Tour this week.

Savannah has one of the busiest ports in the nation. We live a few blocks from the Savannah River, walk along it often but have never toured the port.

Fascinating!