Do you want opportunities for learning, service, worship, and fellowship? You’ve found the right place.
Canterbury at Cal is the place for UC Berkeley’s Episcopal and Anglican students and their friends to gather. Please join us at one of our regular programs described below. All are welcome.
Taizé prayer - Thursdays at 6:30. Taizé is first and foremost an ecumenical monastic order in France devoted to reconciliation, simplicity of spirit and hospitality. As a community of welcome visited by hundreds of thousands of young adults each year from all over the world, the form of prayer in Taizé is grounded in ancient tradition but utilizes simple chant and language in order to be accessible to as many languages as possible. Taizé is often used as an alternative form of worship in many churches in the U.S. but the worship is most profoundly experienced when participated in regularly as part of a community of trust. The founder, Brother Roger, wrote this of the community: “Since my youth, I think that I have never lost the intuition that community life could be a sign that God is love, and love alone. Gradually the conviction took shape in me that it was essential to create a community with men determined to give their whole life and who would always try to understand one another and be reconciled, a community where kindness of heart and simplicity would be at the centre of everything.” For more information visit www.taize.fr please join us.
Young Adult and Graduate Student Fellowship - this is a time of gathering for those in the shared and formative time of life post college (20’s and 30’s). Wine, beer, non-alcoholic beverages and light snacks will be provided. If you need heavier food it is encouraged to bring it with you. We will be discussing selected readings from the publication Context by University of Chicago religion professor emeritus, Martin Marty. The website for context describes the magazine thusly: “Context presents the latest in theology, philosophy, and culture in one easy-to-read newsletter. Marty does the work for you by sifting through thousands of books, magazines, newspapers, academic reports and personal correspondence with America’s leading religious and cultural thinkers.” Thursdays at 7 PM (following the Taize prayer).
Sundays at 6:30 PM: Revolutionary Mark. This group is open to the Cal student and young adult community. In this time we will have a simple meal together and look at the gospel of Mark from both it’s geopolitical/historical and contemporary context with the idea of strengthening faith and understanding through this the oldest of gospels.
Sundays 8:30 PM: Sung Night Prayer - A new take on an ancient practice. Each week we sing a version of the Compline service developed by the Anglican Church of New Zealand. Compline (from the latin completorium or the end of the day) dates back at least to the beginning of the 6th century C.E. The music in part uses chant also dating back to the 6th century while our words reflect contemporary understandings of life, gender and nature. Night Prayer provides a breath of peace before the beginning of another week of work. This service is open to all.
Groups and programs in the process of formation:
Pilgrimage - a study of the ancient human practice of journey as a tool for understanding inner growth. We will use myths and stories, films, music, art and small pilgrimages throughout the year to enter into a study of the journey of life.
Reflections on the Tarot - this is a look at the images found on the Tarot Deck through the lens of Christian mysticism. Source text is “Meditations on the Tarot” by an anonymous author, foreward by Cardinal Balthazar.
Qristianity - an open discussion of theology, the bible and what it means for Christianity to be “queer” to the norm. This group is mainly with LGBT students in mind.
