Labyrinth Project ~ Work Camp 2011

                             

            

            

 

 

"A Labyrinth is NOT a Maze"

By Jill Williams

"A labyrinth is Not a maze" is how I always introduced walking the Labyrinth to youth and children at Bement Camp.  You can't get lost in a Labyrinth.  You can't walk the wrong way.  No matter what you do as long as you follow the path you will find your way to the center.  A Labyrinth is a path that represents our life's journey, and for those on a Christian path our journey with God. Sometimes we feel very close to God and other times very far away, but as long as we keep struggling on the path we will find our way into God's arms.

Walking the Labyrinth is an ancient practice that dates so far back we cannot even be completely certain of its origins.  But, the practice is always the same... with a Labyrinth we can pray and think and reconnect with our own spiritual journey.

This summer the youth of St. Francis and Immanuel Lutheran built a Chartres Labyrinth (the most popular Labyrinth design) in the backyard of St. Clare house.  They used the stones from the Bement Camp Labyrinth as a reminder of the tradition and fellowship involved in walking.  They also understood the project as a way to cover all of their local volunteering in prayer.  With the completion of this project the community has a chance to join them in the walk by reflecting on each individual's journey and prayer time with God and at the same time covering the community in prayer.  Perhaps it is the biggest "walk for a cause" in history.  Walk for you, walk for God, walk because prayer and reflection make a difference.

The Labyrinth behind St. Clare House has been built in memory of Jeanne Schutte, a long- time member of St. Francis whose dream it was to have a Labyrinth built.

A park bench around the Labyrinth was given in loving memory of Joshua Thibodeau by the youth of St. Francis and Immanuel Lutheran Churches.