At a time when many churches are attempting to become more contemporary to attract followers, St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in Scarborough has decided to take a more traditional route, at least for a few days.

In late November and twice this month, the church held Taize services, an old fashioned service involving candles, meditation, prayer and chanting.

Anne Hunter, a deacon in formation at the church, presented the idea this fall. She had participated in Taize services held by St. Nick’s Pastor David Matson when he worked in Rangeley. She found the services beneficial and thought it was an excellent time to start them here.

“In a hectic season like December, it’s nice to take an hour and just sit,” Hunter said.

Taize services were started by a monastic community in southeastern France that was founded in 1940 to heal divisions between Christians. The service is noted for its simplicity.

A Taize service lasts about an hour and consists of singing, periods of silent meditation, prayers of intercession, and readings from Psalms and Gospels.

While Catholics started the services, they can be used by any Christian denomination, Hunter said. “It’s all coming from the same Bible. It appeals to Christians all across the board.”

Hunter, who is working at St. Nick’s as part of her study, designed all three Taize services.

“The service is very simple; it’s darkness, candlelight and beautiful chants and prayers, and extended periods of silence,” Hunter said. “It gives you time to go inside yourself.”

While each service has some common threads, they are not exactly the same, and Hunter has made changes to the readings for each service. On Sunday, the readings were based around the birth of Jesus, which is an appropriate subject around Christmas time, she said.

Taize services can be held any time, Hunter said Advent is an ideal time because it is a thoughtful service, and Advent is contemplative time.

Functionally, winter is the best time of year for the services, since it gets dark early, allowing a service to be held in total darkness as early as 5 p.m.

The services have been popular, and each one has been well attended, Hunter said. She estimated about half of the participants are members of St. Nick’s.

Hunter also heard positive remarks about the service from attendees and said about the only people who should not come are those who do not enjoy sitting quietly.

Sunday night’s service included about 20 people. Upon entering the darkened church, which was lit only by candlelight, each participant took a candle and a copy of the prayers from a table and then sat in chairs arranged around the alter in a semicircle.

The service started out with chants and moved to a reading from Palms. Also included were readings from Isaiah and Luke. In between, there was chanting and silent reflection.

Hunter is not sure whether St. Nick’s will continue holding Taize services, but she said that wherever she goes after her time here she will work to hold them.

“It’s something I will certainly push wherever I am,” she said.

Anne Hunter, a Deacon in Formation at Scarborough