Labyrinth
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church
Chelsea, Michigan
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St. Barnabas
St Barnabas Episcopal Church worships in the Total Ministry model which recognizes that we are all called at Baptism to a life of meaning and purpose. Each member has value. Each member has gifts. Through participation in worship, prayer, and study, we can become the fully engaged disciples Jesus calls us to be. Intentional spiritual practices are critical to our growth in Christ. We want to create an outdoor space, accessible anytime to all, to be used as an intentional place of prayer, healing and discernment. We will build an 11-circuit Chartres Labyrinth, which is an ancient symbol of spiritual wholeness and has been an integral part of Christian churches for centuries. We will educate our congregation on the history and use of a labyrinth. We want to share our knowledge and experience with the surrounding communities by telling our stories and experiences from walking the labyrinth. We are confident that a labyrinth will help us become more intentional in our prayer practices which will help us discern the still small voice of God. With God's help, this will make us comfortable in identifying and sharing our gifts and being there for others as we journey through life. Like the labyrinth, we will go inward to listen to God and discern our gifts and then go outward into the world with centeredness and purpose.
Update: As of August 2020 – We have built the labyrinth; we have educated our congregation. We have taken intentional time to reflect. St. Barnabas is continuing to go forward with our plans, taking time to discern our experience as a congregation with this spiritual tool. We KNOW that God is in us and not the church building!
We have re-worded the BFL Prayer for Discernment for our Blessing of the Labyrinth:
Eternal and gracious God, we came together to discover what it means to live lives of meaning and purpose as your disciples. You drew our hearts to you and guided our minds; filled our imaginations and controlled our wills: continue to make us wholly yours, wholly dedicated to your service. Then use us as you will, for your glory, and for the welfare and blessing of your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Eternal and gracious God, we came together to discover what it means to live lives of meaning and purpose as your disciples. You drew our hearts to you and guided our minds; filled our imaginations and controlled our wills: continue to make us wholly yours, wholly dedicated to your service. Then use us as you will, for your glory, and for the welfare and blessing of your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
8/12 at St. Barnabas, they had a “warming ceremony” which happens when the labyrinth is finished and includes a thanks to the people who constructed the labyrinth.
8/16: Blessing of the Labyrinth:
A Reader: Many years ago, this land became sacred ground when it came into the hands of St. Barnabas’ congregation. Following the example of our Patron, St Barnabas, we discern and encourage the growth of the gifts that are given to us through the Spirit. The labyrinth built on this ground is ours to share with our community. We know that all that we have, and all that we are, is a gift from God.
A Reader: Built for joy, healing, guidance, and transformation, we raise it to the Holy Spirit as a sacred space. For those who see God’s peace in the chaos in the world, it was built. To open the hearts and minds of those who step onto its path, it was built. As the Spirit whispers through the treetops, may all who walk here be refreshed and renewed.
A Reader: Through the ages, God’s people have been moved to set apart holy places for prayer, and to recognize and celebrate God’s presence in those places. With gratitude and thanksgiving for this labyrinth, this sacred path, we are now gathered to bless it in God’s Name, and to give thanks for those whose prayers and hands built it.
Song of Praise: Lead me, guide me
A Reader: Let us pray. Eternal and gracious God, we came together to discover what it is to live lives of meaning and purpose as your disciples. You drew our hearts to you, and guided our minds. You filled our imaginations and guided our wills. Make us wholly yours, whole dedicated to your service. Then use us as you will for your glory and for the welfare and blessing of your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Reader: Let us pray. Holy One, we thank you for the beauty of creation, for making us in your image and likeness, and for calling us to be your people and follow you on the path of holiness and life. We offer this work of human hands to you as a sacred space for those who see peace in the chaos of the world. Open the hearts and minds of those who step onto its path. Be with them as they walk in your unconditional love, to the glory of you, our creator, and for the greater good of all. Amen.
A Reader: Let us pray. Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; for this we pray. Amen.
Blessing the Labyrinth
The Priest: Holy One, your Son, Jesus Christ, said to us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”: Bless this labyrinth + to be a sacred path, that it may lead and guide us to you. Be always near us that we may find you in this place. Draw us to you when we come seeking comfort and wisdom, support and strengthen, to rejoice and give thanks. With you may we walk this path, that we may be made one with you and with one another.
May we always be surrounded and supported by the love, prayers, and witness of Saint Barnabas, and all your saints in heaven and on earth. This we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
Thanksgiving
A Reader: We give you thanks, O Holy One, for your gifts to your people, and for the work of the many hands, which have planned and built this sacred path. Accept and bless all we have done, and grant that, in thee earthly things, we may behold the order and beauty of things heavenly; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Deacon: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God , and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia!
People: Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia!
Closing Song: Go light your world
From Cynthia Wentworth, BFL Leader St Barnabas (8/23):
“I just had to share this with you. I am up here at St B's working on mulch and a car comes in our driveway, he walks towards me and Alan and turns away. We stop him in the drive way to inquire if he was here for the labyrinth. He says yes but did not want to bother us. We invite him, tell him it is our pleasure and I could use the break (it is hot today) come to find out he is a longtime Episcopalian and a friend of his from California had posted this and he had to come walk it. Even in Covid, social distance and taking our time to figure out how to make sure the community knows it is here, people are already coming to experience it.
And on my way into church this morning someone was walking it also.
