Mar. 19, 2014: Every year in February, the Episcopal Youth Community of Christ Church in Bronxville travels to the monastery at Taizé, France. This year is no exception. The monastery is an international community to which Christians of all ages go to encounter a unique blend of worship, communal living, and silence.
This year, Christ Church's EYC traveled first to Paris to tour the city and then to the monastery, where they spent a week. At the monastery, the teenagers ate mass-produced meals of varied taste, slept in institutional bunk beds, and cleaned toilets. They also helped the community prepare for thousands of visitors by erecting tents used for food distribution and meetings.
EYC members from Bronxville, Mount Vernon, and New Rochelle met students from Paris, Germany, Sweden, and Australia. When asked, most students responded that the singing and silence of the monastery helped restore their sense of self and of God's constant presence.
Brother Roger Schutz founded the monastic community in the Burgundy region of France in 1940. Known for his hospitality and belief in reconciliation, Brother Roger began sheltering refugees and orphans during World War II. Today, the community hosts over 100,000 annual visitors who come to join the brothers in prayer. Daily life at Taizé includes three church services, morning, midday, and evening prayer, three meals, and group work sessions.
Owen Jones, a senior at Bronxville High School, said about the trip: "Each year, friends ask why I want to spend my winter break in worship all day, not understanding the true meaning of Taizé. It's not a place where we devote an entire week only to God and cleaning bathrooms. Taizé is much more. It is a place where you can find yourself and learn more about who you are as a person. It's where you meet new people from all over the world. It's where you make long-lasting friendships that carry you through tough times in high school because, let's face it, we all have them. The insight and friendships I have made on this trip have helped to smooth the rocky road of high school and make me a better friend and family member."
Pictured here: The group that traveled to Taizé.
Photo by Katherine Gojkovich
Christ Church Bronxville
Christ Church Bronxville, or "CCBNY" as it's known in the community, is the village's Episcopal church, whose beginnings date back to 1898. The current church, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was completed in 1926 and was designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, who also designed St. Bartholomew's in New York City and the Chapel at West Point.
CCBNY offers a wide array of programs to its parishioners, who live throughout southern Westchester. The acclaimed music program boasts five choirs; international outreach efforts to Cuba; and education and service programs for family members of all ages. CCBNY is also home to the renowned children's music program Young at Arts (http://www.youngatartsny.org), and Eliza Corwin Frost (www.elizafrostschool.org), a nursery school for children ages 1 to 5.
Our services are as follows:
8:00AM Rite I Spoken Eucharist
10:00AM Family Choral Eucharist, with 11:00 AM Coffee Hour
5:00PM Informal Eucharist or Choral Evensong
"No matter where you are on your spiritual journey there is a home for you at Christ Church. Our worship, music, education and outreach challenge us to embrace holiness and fearlessly share Christ's love."
First Baptist Church
The First Baptist Church was organized in 1854. Its mission is “to reach out as a caring and Christ centered Church to people of all culture and races, helping them to know God and find fellowship with each other through Jesus Christ to the glory of God.”
407 New Rochelle Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-793-2560
http://www.firstbaptistchurchbronxville.com/
Reformed Church of Bronxville
The Reformed Church of Bronxville is the community church in the heart of the village. We welcome people of all faiths and persuasions to be a part of our church family. We have exciting programs to meet your interests including music and the arts, service and outreach, children's ministry and a wonderful Nursery School.
Starting Sept. 7th, we have three Sunday services held at 8:30 am, 10:30 am and 5:00 pm. A Fellowship Coffee Hour is offered after the 10:30 am service. Childcare is available during our 10:30 am service along with Church School classes for children from 2 years old through the 8th grade.
The Reformed Church
180 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-6776
www.reformedchurch.org
St. Joseph’s Church
St. Joseph Church, which opened its doors in 1925, is the Catholic Church in Bronxville. It offers services on Saturday, Sunday, weekdays and Holy Days. It offers a religious education program for K - 8th grade which takes place on Wednesday during the school year. It also offers a myriad of opportunities for parishioners to meet, share ideas and experiences and help others. The St. Joseph’s School offers classes for K – 8th grade.
15 Cedar Street
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-1660
http://www.saintjosephsbronxville.org/
Village Lutheran Church
The Village Lutheran Church “is a ministry of word and sacraments. This ministry gives opportunities for witness, nurture, fellowship, stewardship and service.” The Chapel School, which goes from pre-school three-year olds through 8th grade, is an integral part of the Church’s ministry for children.
172 White Plains Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-0207
West Center Congregational Church
West Center Congregational Church is a member of The United Church of Christ. It welcomes “all who seek to find, know and serve the living God better in all they are and do.”
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-3829
Sinai Free Synagogue
Sinai Free Synagogue is Westchester`s "newest" Reform congregation but its roots go back almost 100 years. Formed in 1999 by a merger of Mount Vernon`s Sinai Temple (founded in 1906 and the first Reform congregation in Westchester County) and the Free Synagogue of Westchester (founded in 1927), the 250-member congregation has a long, distinguished history.
Please check the Calendar for dates and times.
550 North Columbus Avenue
914-664-1727