Booking now: International Taizé Weekend in Birmingham

Hundreds of young adults (16-35) from across Europe will be travelling to Birmingham in the spring - to take part in a gathering led by the Taizé Community from Friday 28th April - Monday 1st May 2017.

The weekend will explore the theme of Hidden Treasure: The small and often hidden ways in which Christians are nourishing their faith through prayer, and acts of solidarity with those in most need.

In the wake of a number of international events which have brought to light divisions in our societies, the weekend will celebrate the beauty of the commitment lived out by many Christians and others of goodwill. With very humble means they contribute to the building up of trust and community, and point to another future. The gathering will also seek to give confirmation to those whose commitments are discreet or hidden, encouraging them and renewing their joy.

Birmingham is a particularly young and ethnically diverse city: a good place to undertake this. Therefore there is an 'appeal' attached to the invitation to participate: Bring a Hidden Treasure with you!

In our world of deep divisions, the organisers are asking participants in Hidden Treasure to put into practice some new action of friendship or solidarity, and to bring this experience with them to the meeting. During the weekend participants will be invited to share their Hidden Treasure with others during the small discussions groups, and to confide it in prayer when we gather in the churches over the weekend.

A regular common prayer for all participants will be at the heart of the weekend. Brother Alois, prior of the Taizé community, will take part in the weekend.

In eleven host neighbourhoods of the city, people of different churches are working in teams to prepare accommodation and to prepare a morning programme for participants. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, there will be workshops, forums and visits on a wide variety of subjects.

Young Adults from across the UK, whether of the Christian faith or not, are welcome to take part registering at the website.

The meeting is being held with the encouragement of the presidents of Birmingham Churches Together, Archbishop Bernard Longley, Bishop David Urquhart and Reverend Ian Howarth.

Archbishop Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham, said: " We are looking forward to the coming together, a great gathering, we hope and pray, next year in Birmingham when young people will pick up something of the spirit of Taizé focussing on the central part that Jesus plays in the life of each individual but also within our communities.

"I know that the churches in Birmingham, we try to work together, to witness together, to do as much as we can together, but I know that we will benefit tremendously from this wonderful gathering of prayer."

One of the organisers, Matthew Neville said: "We are already working hard to prepare. Different congregations all over Birmingham are getting ready to welcome young people. It is our hope that together we can explore the many ways in which young Christians are quietly working for a better world. Deep prayer and concrete actions for others feed each other."

For more information and booking details see: https://taize.fr/birmingham

Watch a publicity video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeMvFrWM_mY