STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Winter Taize services will return on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Sun Valley, marking the first week of Advent.

The services will continue at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through the season of Epiphany with two weeks off during the Christmas holiday.

Taize (pronounced tezi), is a quiet, meditative candle-lit service offered during the dark of winter that includes simple chants, spoken prayer and silent meditation.

This year—with wars in Ukraine and Gaza and civil unrest in parts of Central and South America--the focus will be on peace in the world.

The practice was founded in Taize, France, in 1940 by a Brother Roger. Today pilgrims from various religious practices around the world flock to the Christian ecumenical monastic community led by  brothers from Catholic, Anglican and Protestant churches to pray for love, reconciliation, forgiveness and spiritual rootedness.