Fokke Wouda

CHAPTER 3: EUCHARIST IN ECUMENICAL MONASTERIES 109 prayers via loudspeakers in one of the tents adjacent to the church building because the number of guests once again exceeded the capacity of the Church of Reconciliation. Entering the Church of Reconciliation through one of its many entrances, one passes by young people holding signs reading ‘silence’ and distributing the famous Taizé songbooks and several additional sheets. Most entrances give access to narrow hallways containing storage cabinets with more of the songbooks and leaflets. Announcements, a map of the church, and a sign explaining the Communion policy in French, English, and German cover the wall above. The English translation reads in full: On weekdays, communion is distributed by the brothers at the end of morning prayer. It is offered to the baptized who trust that it is Christ who gives himself and whom we receive, and who desire the visible unity of all who love Christ. Those who would like to receive communion but who are not accustomed to doing so can speak with a brother. The blessed bread, given out by young people in various parts of the church, is for everyone, for those who have received communion and for those who do not receive communion. It is a sign that Christ rejects no one but welcomes everyone, just as he welcomed the crowd in the desert and gave them bread. The Eucharist, presided over by Catholic priests, is celebrated on Sunday morning at 10 am in the Church of Reconciliation and each weekday morning at 7: 30 am at point M (or in the crypt). During some weeks there are other Eucharistic celebrations, Protestant or Orthodox, held in the Orthodox chapel or in the village church.269 Passing through a second door, one enters the actual church. It is quite an overwhelming experience as a vast space able to host some five thousand people opens up, which it does, at least, during the prayers in high seasons, when the entire church is in use. In between services, and during the winter season in a permanent fashion, garage door-like systems divide the church into smaller spaces in order to enable alternative use of the space (for example, to host workshops) or to accommodate a smaller number of visitors. The light is gentle, especially in the evening when no daylight comes in through the small 269 This text is displayed in French and German as well.

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTk4NDMw