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 Brian McLaren’s book, We Make The Road By Walking, offers a perspective on the plans for the labyrinth if only in the title. A labyrinth is a place for prayer and contemplation, and a place to gather with others, or to be alone in one’s thoughts.  It is our hope that the building of a labyrinth can be all those things as well.  The following is a thumbnail sketch of the way forward.

During June and the first part of July, we will be continuing to read, consult, and participate in a workshop on the use and construction of a labyrinth.  During this period, we welcome suggestions, and ideas as to the best way forward.  Inevitably, not all of the suggestions made can be implemented, but it is our labyrinth, and all should feel invited to participate in its creation.

In the latter part of July we will gather materials, and we plan the construction for August.  Construction will consist of laying out the pattern on the grass, and then construction of the labyrinth on and into that pattern.

We are hoping that as many people as possible can participate in the construction of the labyrinth. If all you have time for is laying one brick, or stone, we would love for you to do that. As has been noted, Covid has divided us into a community of those who gather by Zoom, and those who do not.  We hope the building of the labyrinth can be one of the things we all do together, to come together again.

We would also like the construction of the labyrinth to be an act of prayer.  One of the ways we can do that, is by writing our prayers onto the bottom of the brick or stone that we lay into the earth, so that the act of laying a piece of the labyrinth is in itself a prayer.

As we move forward, we contemplate adding a bench, or benches to the labyrinth site.  The suggestion of a path through the trees as a prayer walk has been made, and that is something we are exploring.

We are trying to make the grounds around the church building a place of contemplation, and a place of refuge from the world around us, both for those who would enter the building on Sunday mornings, and for those who would not.  We hope you will join us. 

David Fitzimmons