SEPTEMBER 28, 2025 – The Georgetown Ecumenical Wholeness Service kicks off a 2025-26 season of candlelight prayers on Sunday, September 28 at San Gabriel Presbyterian Church, 5404 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas. The service will begin with Taizé Evening Prayers at 6:30 pm, with pastoral leadership by Rev. Tom Tickner. Come early (6:20) for ten minutes of classical guitar provided by Georgetown artist, Dr. Hugh Chandler.
This news is shared with joy and love for our Central Texas based congregation, whose remote followers span across the United States. Since we are a movement established to serve people from all church groups, including those who claim no church at all, our volunteer staff is eclectic and often temporary. This year, brand new volunteers join us as we say goodbye to some whose work is done. God never ceases to call us back year after year, and to send people who are happy to serve. And so contemplative prayer returns to Central Texas once again, in 2025-26.
Every season brings welcome changes. While planning these services in early Spring, worship leaders felt a call to follow the Community of Taizé even more closely than usual, this time with direct inspiration from the 2025 message of Prior Br. Matthew, “Hope Beyond All Hope.” We had no idea how timely the message would become in September, 2025. In light of the fears and tensions that grip our world today, we now know why God led us here: Hope is a defiant act of faith; the part of us that chooses to grow and thrive in the midst of tragedy, war, and ruin. Far from shallow optimism, hope accepts life’s harsh reality and insists on gratitude over despair, love over bitterness. God led us here, and we now see that God’s timing is perfect.
As such, we believe that prayer for God’s people is more important than ever. The nine services of 2025-26 will span over three hosts: San Gabriel Presbyterian Church (Georgetown), St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church (Salado), and St. Philip’s United Methodist Church (Round Rock). As always, our services remain ecumenical, our scripture-based liturgies focused on God alone. Meetings take place on these dates and in these locations:
| DATE | TOPIC | SITE |
|---|---|---|
| September 28 | Courage to Hope | San Gabriel Presbyterian Church |
| November 2 * | Listening to People of Hope / Celebration of Saints | San Gabriel Presbyterian Church |
| November 23 * | Taizé Evening Prayers | St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church |
| December 21 * | Striving for Hope / Christmas by Candlelight | San Gabriel Presbyterian Church |
| January 25 | Taizé Evening Prayers | St. Philip’s Methodist Church |
| February 22 | Remaining People of Hope | San Gabriel Presbyterian Church |
| March 29 | Easter Hope | San Gabriel Presbyterian Church |
| April 26 | Taizé Evening Prayers | St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church |
| May 31 | Pilgrims of Hope / Pilgrims of Peace | San Gabriel Presbyterian Church |
Join us at our first service, The Courage to Hope this Sunday, September 28. When two or three are gathered together, God is there. Come with us, and spend a quiet hour with God.
