A Pilgrimage through Holy Week
Sunday, March 16, 6 pm
Walk through and experience the events of Jesus’ last week on earth. We’ll begin with a short time of worship in the sanctuary, and then move individually through the theme-based stations, including the prayer labyrinth, in the sanctuary and fellowship hall.
 Walking the Labyrinth . . .
How do you pray? Do you bow your head and close your eyes? Do you kneel with your face to the floor? Do you lift your hands, open your hands or fold your hands? Do you pray while you’re driving, shopping, running, or only when you are sitting still? Are you open to exploring new ways to pray?
During the Sunday evenings of Lent 2008, we will be offering different practices of prayer. Some may be new to you, but as spiritual disciplines, they trace their roots back hundreds of years. One such practice is the Labyrinth. Not to be confused with a maze, a labyrinth offers one path that weaves through circuitous twists and turns toward the center. Faithful pilgrims throughout the ages have walked labyrinth patterns while praying, meditating on Scripture or practicing silence. Walking the path itself mirrors the spiritual life as some of the turns take the walker toward the center, while others turn away from the center. While walking, there is no awareness of where the next turn might lead, but there is trust that the final destination is the center.
At our Omega retreat in January we walked a labyrinth at Skyline Camp and Conference Center. Unlike other labyrinths these high school students had walked before, this one was outside, under whispering pines. The path was marked by stones of varying shapes and sizes, and there was a large rock in the center. Benches dotted the path, inviting reflective pauses. Each participant was given a Scripture verse upon which to pray or meditate while walking.
Later that evening when we gathered together for worship, time and space was given for people to share their experiences of praying the labyrinth. Some observed that noises were evident since we were outside. Some found these distracting and others found these distractions actually led to deeper reflections on the distractions of life. One student observed that the inside branches of the pines along the path had to be cut to create the path. The sap reminded her of blood and the sacrifices that had been made by these trees for her to walk this path, and she wondered about the sacrifice of Christ. Another spoke of the stones that lined the path, reflecting that each of us, too , are living stones, on a faith journey ever closer to The Living Stone, The Cornerstone, Christ.
What experiences might you have if you prayed and walked a labyrinth? Come and see . . . come and learn . . . come and grow . . . “Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!” (Isaiah 2:5)
—Cathi King
Offered here are several resources designed to help you know God better and grow in your relationship with him. Each item opens in its own window. To return to this page, close the new window.
Bible resources
Looking for God . . .
See the word . . .
These Bible verses can help you know God and experience the abundant life he promises.
Look here in the Bible when you . . .
Presbyterian Church (USA) daily lectionary: A set of daily readings from the Old Testament, letters and gospels (see RSS feed below). (What’s an RSS feed? Learn more here.)
Presbyterian Church (USA) mission yearbook: Stories of mission in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), with prayer requests for each day. Click on the button Today in the Mission Yearbook.
Presbyterian Church (USA) daily catechism question: A catechism is a learning tool designed in question and answer form. This one is about Christian faith, and includes scriptural references to illustrate each point.
The Upper Room: daily meditations and Bible readings
The Bible online (New Revised Standard Version); other translations
Westminster’s 2007 Advent devotions (PDF, 327 KB)
|
