Church hopes to stir spiritual awakening
People who yearn for a new spiritual awakening needn’t travel far. That experience awaits them at the new prayer labyrinth at Laurelville Mennonite Center, Mount Pleasant, center officials said. The purpose of this labyrinth, said public relations director Brian Paff, is to offer a space for people who are visiting Laurelville to have meaningful prayer experience. “It’s a space for people to pray and to be led by God’s spirit,” he said.
Paff said that the labyrinth is consistent with Laurelville’s mission to “restore the spirit naturally.”
“It’s in an outdoor setting,” he said. “People can connect with God in a natural setting.”
Construction of the labyrinth at Laurelville began in 2006. It was constructed of local granite, primarily by volunteers. The cost was met mostly by private donations.
Paff said that prayer labyrinths are a re-emerging practice. “We live in an era where we realize that there is more than one expression of faith. Some people prefer to pray in a quiet place. Other people prefer to move to connect with the spiritual world. We want to meet these people where they are so that they can experience the holy.”
Although people can drive from the main part of the Laurelville campus to the labyrinth, Paff encourages people to walk to prepare for the experience of the prayer labyrinth. “It’s a nice hike through the woods to Sunset Hill,” he said. “It’s a chance to be in silence as you prepare your heart. Constantly moving through the corridors of the labyrinth allows people to listen to God’s voice in their spirit.”
Paff stresses that the experience will be different for everyone. “If people desire a retreat from a busy life, they will enjoy the silence. People who are going through trying times can release their cares to God as they progress through the labyrinth.
“I hope that people leave with a restored spirit,” Paff said. “I hope they leave restored, renewed, with a new energy and focus, prepared to go back to what they do. This labyrinth creates a space for God to work in people’s hearts and people’s lives.”
The labyrinth is open to the public. People can visit free of charge during daylight hours. For more information, call the Laurelville office at 724-547-1839.