The Trip
Nebraska Lutheran Campus Ministry is hosting a week-long pilgrimage to the Taizé Community in the Burgundy region of France. The Taizé Community is made up of over 100 brothers from all Christian traditions, coming from around 30 different nations. Pilgrims who visit Taizé share this international flavor.
Over the years, young adults have been coming to Taizé in ever-greater numbers; they come from every continent to take part in weekly meetings.
While in Taizé, participants will worship three times daily at the Church of the Resurrection, attend Bible studies and do chores as part of the community life of Taizé. We will share in the life and rhythms of a thriving ecumenical monastic community.
We will depart from Omaha on May 19, 2017, arriving in Paris, France, the morning of May 20. While in Paris, we will explore the Latin Quarter and tour Notre Dame. After spending the night in a Parisian Hotel, we will travel by high-speed train to the Burgundy Region, where after a short bus trip, we will arrive in the Taizé Community. We will return to Omaha on May 29, having spent a full week (Sunday through Sunday) in Taizé. (These dates are subject to a change of +/- one day depending on flight availablity and costs.)
The $2100 cost of this pilgrimage includes airfare, train tickets, hotels in Paris, lodging and meals while in Taizé.
Why Taizé?
The Lutheran Center (NeLCM - Lincoln) has been building a relationship with the Taizé Community over the past couple of years. In the summer of 2011, three students from the Lutheran Center visited Taizé. The following spring, Br. Emile of the Taizé Community visited the Lutheran Center and led a service of Evening Prayer while promoting the Taizé Pilgrimage of Trust meeting in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend 2012. Nearly a dozen students or friends of the Lutheran Center attended the Chicago meeting. In 2012, Br. Emile again led worship at the Lutheran Center. That summer Lutheran Center students attend the Taizé meeting in Pine Ridge, SD, and traveled to the Taizé Community in France. A group from the Luthaeran Center visited Taizé again in 2015.
Still more significantly, NeLCM's emerging relationship with Taizé has deeply influenced the prayer life of the Lutheran Center. The Monday-Friday service of Morning Prayer was started in response to Pr. Adam's pilgrimage to Taizé in 2010 and uses the songs from Taizé almost exclusively. The Lutheran Center worships in the style of Taizé on the first Wednesday of the month. Taizé has been teaching us how to pray.
Who Can Come?
The NeLCM Pilgrimage to Taizé is not limited to students who are active in NeLCM ministries, although space may be limited. NeLCM is the Campus Ministry of the Nebraska Synod, therefore all young persons 18-29 from or residing in the Synod may register for this pilgrimage. Registrants will need to participate in a group meeting TBD prior to the pilgrimage, will be asked to read a book on Taizé and will need to secure a passport prior to departure. The final determination of the number of participants and eligibility will be determined by the Campus Pastor at the Lutheran Center who serves as registrar for this pilgrimage.
What if I have questions?
Contact Pr. Adam White at a.white@nelcm.com. Pr. Adam will be happy to speak with you about his experiences at Taizé or refer you to a student who can answer your questions.
Click on the REGISTER NOW link below, fill out the online form, and send in your $600 deposit check to the Lutheran Center by Friday, February 17, 2017. The balance of $1500 is due by Friday, April 14, 2017. Once we have received your completed registration, including your deposit, we will send you a packet including insurance information forms, packing lists, recommendations for money and other information.
When registering, there are three discount codes you may use:
NOFLIGHT - You will book your own flights and meet the NeLCM group in Paris. (Registration cost: $600)
NOTRAVEL - You will arrange your own travel to and from Taizé. (Registration cost: $500)
PAYALL - You will pay the entire registration fee at the time the deposit is due and, as a result, have your fee discounted $100. If you accept the PAYALL discount code, you will pay $2000 by February 17, 2017.