Labyrinth a site to quiet the mind

A place to quiet your mind, open your heart, exercise your spirit and walk with your god. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Detroit Lakes is welcoming anyone to come visit their newly created labyrinth and experience any of the above personal moments. The labyrinth and memorial garden has been five years in the making and was dedicated July 6. About five years ago, church member Bill Blain and his wife were in Arizona when he first started to get interested in labyrinths. His wife had attended a luncheon and labyrinths were the topic. “It was something that interested me,” he said. “It put me on a quest.” From there, he started to research labyrinths and visit them. “I thought maybe it was something this parish would want to investigate,” he said of St. Luke’s. And it was. He brought it to the board and they were interested. Next was getting the congregation’s support. “She spoke on the spiritual practices and walking the labyrinth,” Blain said of Dana Emery, who is a reverend at the church.
The classical, or seventh circuit labyrinth, refers to the seven paths that lead to the center or goal of the structure. The ancient design, which dates back more than 3,500 years, is found in most cultures. The classical design has an association with Christianity, and the cross at the center becomes the focus for meditation. It is found in many churches in Europe. Many times, labyrinths are used as a pilgrimage, a searching journey to become closer to God. Unlike a maze, the labyrinth has no dead ends, but instead just a winding path. “There is no right or wrong way to walk the labyrinth,” Emery said. To show the St. Luke’s congregation what the labyrinth would look like, leaders drew it in the parking lot with chalk. They received a lot of feedback and the planning began. Along the way, a memorial garden was added, and the ashes of Betty and Frank Greenough have been spread in the garden. They were pillars of the church. Since the labyrinth has been completed, the church has held a twilight walk and a wedding in the area. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"1175837","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"350","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"750"}}]] The space is for anyone to see, not just church members. “We encourage people to come and use it,” Emery said. “We are loving it.” Whether it’s for “celebration, healing or just talking to God,” the labyrinth is open for anyone, Rev. Coke Smith added. “We welcome anyone to come meditate in our labyrinth.” Rev. Georgia Hecock said that neighbors were coming over to see the labyrinth and its progress before it was even completed. “It’s universal and it’s meaningful to become a part of something universal,” Blain said of the labyrinth. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, which is located on Corbett Road, holds services Sundays at 10 a.m. But, since the labyrinth is outside, the public is welcome to stop by any day to view the creation. Follow Pippi Mayfield on Twitter at @PippiMayfield.A place to quiet your mind, open your heart, exercise your spirit and walk with your god. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Detroit Lakes is welcoming anyone to come visit their newly created labyrinth and experience any of the above personal moments. The labyrinth and memorial garden has been five years in the making and was dedicated July 6. About five years ago, church member Bill Blain and his wife were in Arizona when he first started to get interested in labyrinths. His wife had attended a luncheon and labyrinths were the topic. “It was something that interested me,” he said. “It put me on a quest.” From there, he started to research labyrinths and visit them. “I thought maybe it was something this parish would want to investigate,” he said of St. Luke’s. And it was. He brought it to the board and they were interested. Next was getting the congregation’s support. “She spoke on the spiritual practices and walking the labyrinth,” Blain said of Dana Emery, who is a reverend at the church. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"1175836","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"350","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"750"}}]] The classical, or seventh circuit labyrinth, refers to the seven paths that lead to the center or goal of the structure. The ancient design, which dates back more than 3,500 years, is found in most cultures. The classical design has an association with Christianity, and the cross at the center becomes the focus for meditation. It is found in many churches in Europe. Many times, labyrinths are used as a pilgrimage, a searching journey to become closer to God. Unlike a maze, the labyrinth has no dead ends, but instead just a winding path. “There is no right or wrong way to walk the labyrinth,” Emery said. To show the St. Luke’s congregation what the labyrinth would look like, leaders drew it in the parking lot with chalk. They received a lot of feedback and the planning began. Along the way, a memorial garden was added, and the ashes of Betty and Frank Greenough have been spread in the garden. They were pillars of the church. Since the labyrinth has been completed, the church has held a twilight walk and a wedding in the area.
The space is for anyone to see, not just church members. “We encourage people to come and use it,” Emery said. “We are loving it.” Whether it’s for “celebration, healing or just talking to God,” the labyrinth is open for anyone, Rev. Coke Smith added. “We welcome anyone to come meditate in our labyrinth.” Rev. Georgia Hecock said that neighbors were coming over to see the labyrinth and its progress before it was even completed. “It’s universal and it’s meaningful to become a part of something universal,” Blain said of the labyrinth. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, which is located on Corbett Road, holds services Sundays at 10 a.m. But, since the labyrinth is outside, the public is welcome to stop by any day to view the creation. Follow Pippi Mayfield on Twitter at @PippiMayfield.A place to quiet your mind, open your heart, exercise your spirit and walk with your god.St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Detroit Lakes is welcoming anyone to come visit their newly created labyrinth and experience any of the above personal moments.The labyrinth and memorial garden has been five years in the making and was dedicated July 6.About five years ago, church member Bill Blain and his wife were in Arizona when he first started to get interested in labyrinths. His wife had attended a luncheon and labyrinths were the topic.“It was something that interested me,” he said. “It put me on a quest.”From there, he started to research labyrinths and visit them.“I thought maybe it was something this parish would want to investigate,” he said of St. Luke’s.And it was.He brought it to the board and they were interested. Next was getting the congregation’s support.“She spoke on the spiritual practices and walking the labyrinth,” Blain said of Dana Emery, who is a reverend at the church.
The classical, or seventh circuit labyrinth, refers to the seven paths that lead to the center or goal of the structure. The ancient design, which dates back more than 3,500 years, is found in most cultures.The classical design has an association with Christianity, and the cross at the center becomes the focus for meditation. It is found in many churches in Europe. Many times, labyrinths are used as a pilgrimage, a searching journey to become closer to God.Unlike a maze, the labyrinth has no dead ends, but instead just a winding path.“There is no right or wrong way to walk the labyrinth,” Emery said.To show the St. Luke’s congregation what the labyrinth would look like, leaders drew it in the parking lot with chalk. They received a lot of feedback and the planning began.Along the way, a memorial garden was added, and the ashes of Betty and Frank Greenough have been spread in the garden. They were pillars of the church.Since the labyrinth has been completed, the church has held a twilight walk and a wedding in the area.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"1175837","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"350","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"750"}}]]The space is for anyone to see, not just church members.“We encourage people to come and use it,” Emery said. “We are loving it.”Whether it’s for “celebration, healing or just talking to God,” the labyrinth is open for anyone, Rev. Coke Smith added. “We welcome anyone to come meditate in our labyrinth.”Rev. Georgia Hecock said that neighbors were coming over to see the labyrinth and its progress before it was even completed.“It’s universal and it’s meaningful to become a part of something universal,” Blain said of the labyrinth.St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, which is located on Corbett Road, holds services Sundays at 10 a.m. But, since the labyrinth is outside, the public is welcome to stop by any day to view the creation.Follow Pippi Mayfield on Twitter at @PippiMayfield.A place to quiet your mind, open your heart, exercise your spirit and walk with your god.St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Detroit Lakes is welcoming anyone to come visit their newly created labyrinth and experience any of the above personal moments.The labyrinth and memorial garden has been five years in the making and was dedicated July 6.About five years ago, church member Bill Blain and his wife were in Arizona when he first started to get interested in labyrinths. His wife had attended a luncheon and labyrinths were the topic.“It was something that interested me,” he said. “It put me on a quest.”From there, he started to research labyrinths and visit them.“I thought maybe it was something this parish would want to investigate,” he said of St. Luke’s.And it was.He brought it to the board and they were interested. Next was getting the congregation’s support.“She spoke on the spiritual practices and walking the labyrinth,” Blain said of Dana Emery, who is a reverend at the church.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"1175836","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"350","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"750"}}]]The classical, or seventh circuit labyrinth, refers to the seven paths that lead to the center or goal of the structure. The ancient design, which dates back more than 3,500 years, is found in most cultures.The classical design has an association with Christianity, and the cross at the center becomes the focus for meditation. It is found in many churches in Europe. Many times, labyrinths are used as a pilgrimage, a searching journey to become closer to God.Unlike a maze, the labyrinth has no dead ends, but instead just a winding path.“There is no right or wrong way to walk the labyrinth,” Emery said.To show the St. Luke’s congregation what the labyrinth would look like, leaders drew it in the parking lot with chalk. They received a lot of feedback and the planning began.Along the way, a memorial garden was added, and the ashes of Betty and Frank Greenough have been spread in the garden. They were pillars of the church.Since the labyrinth has been completed, the church has held a twilight walk and a wedding in the area.
The space is for anyone to see, not just church members.“We encourage people to come and use it,” Emery said. “We are loving it.”Whether it’s for “celebration, healing or just talking to God,” the labyrinth is open for anyone, Rev. Coke Smith added. “We welcome anyone to come meditate in our labyrinth.”Rev. Georgia Hecock said that neighbors were coming over to see the labyrinth and its progress before it was even completed.“It’s universal and it’s meaningful to become a part of something universal,” Blain said of the labyrinth.St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, which is located on Corbett Road, holds services Sundays at 10 a.m. But, since the labyrinth is outside, the public is welcome to stop by any day to view the creation.Follow Pippi Mayfield on Twitter at @PippiMayfield.