Show i A The Herald Journal Ijogan Utah Thursday July 2 1998 i t i 5 Scripps Howard photos With candlea burning churchgoers taka off thair ahoaa and walk tha labyrinth at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Greensboro NC Above Stave Frost prays altar wafting the labyrinth with othar members of Cary’s Covenant Christian Church In churches across America Christians have soizad on tha agooid patten as a way to awakan thair spirits Christians everywhere are rediscovering the labyrinth By Yonat Shannon Raleigh News & Observer IALEIGH NC — In ancient timet Christians Jesus' torturous journey to the cross by traveling to the ly city of Jerusalem (day some churchgoers celebrate the completion of a uiiMiiiuiiJsimjar spiritual journey These modern-da- y Christians travel across a serpentine scheme they say is as sacred as the route travened by their ances tors They walk the labyrinth In churches across America Christians have seized cm an age-ol- d patten as a way to awaken their spirits and open their souls to God Reprints of ancient labyrinths have like the biblical loaves and fishes in many Christian churches hungry for new mul-tipli- t ed rituals and sacred history With candles burning and soft music playing churchgoers take off their shoes and step into the canvas labyrinth in search of an inner revelation “I started walking the labyrinth hoping there would be a healing of sorts for my son" said Helen Hinerman 73 of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Greensboro and buried thoughts rise to the surface One woman learned to deal with her impending divorce Another with her children leaving home For others a labyrinth walk during Lent was an opportunity to think about Jesus' death and the role that death plays in their lives "I often experience it as walking into the center of myself” said the Rev Jeanette Stokes director of the Resource Center for Women in Ministry in the South and a labyrinth guide “It's a way of being open to the truths in our lives” Fascination with the labyrinth has grown steadily since Grace Cathedral in San Francisco laid a labyrinth oo the floor of its sanctuary in 1991 and invited the community to walk iL When its pastor Lauren Artress wrote a book "Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering die Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool” other Episcopal churches jumped on the practice Since then day NC Her son Joseph died two yean ago “As I walked weekly it became easier for me to accept the fact that he would not live Life goes into death but you have to go on The labyrinth was my great medilatknal sup- port” The appeal of the labyrinth lies in its simplicity There is no script to tell a person how to interpret the experience this is a solitary walk between the individual and God As they traverse the labyrinth many church members say their beans open up long labyrinth workshops have been held in most mainstream denominations Although few churches actually buy the labyrinths — which can cost $1500 to $3500 — about a dozen nonprofit groups and businesses have formed to guide churches in how to use it and to lend them the pattern One Sl Louis man makes a living constructing 36-focanvas labyrinths which he produces at ante of 100 a year "Our ultimate goal is to get labyrinths into the world" said Robert Feme the director of the St Louis Labyrinth ftpject "Hospitals ought to have labyrinths Churches ought to have labyrinths I don’t see why airports schools and parts can’t have labyrinths” The benefits of the labyrinth transcend religious experience — often they are used as a walking meditation or as a psychological tool for healing But churches have packed up this new form with zeal ot America was bom great but keeping it great is up to us By Kenneth W Godfrey of the war for independence — "the primacy of individual rights" and each society’s "sovereign power of legislation” ed to experience f Certainly Paul Johnson in his new book A Histo- - many of the men ry of the American People argues that ' and women who fee Great Awakening a religious move- - formed this nation ment brought a kind of unity to the were people that colonies that made the War of Indepen- - exemplified the dence possible He also argues that doctrine Edwards joy Jonathan Edwards was not simply an evangelist but a major philosopher as and was furthermore the first great thinker in American history Edwards preached that great events were impending and that “Man — including American man — bad a dramatic des- - preached Thomas rooted in liberty Patrick Henry whom Johnson calls “a -- ' Jeffer-we-ll son a man Johnson says had the power “to analyze a historic situation in depth" and then "propose a course of conduct and present it in such a way as to shape the minds of a deliberate assembly" tiny" Folks born in the huge iff God used John Locke to structure two themes bad boundless capacities and were crest- - winch became the “dominant leitmotifs" IOR COPY 1 ’ of a dow who shouted manacled slave intoning in a low but life so dear our peace so rising voice sweet as to be purchased at die price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God!” He then bent to the earth with ha hands still crossed for a few seconds and suddenly sprang to his feet shouting "Give me Liberty!" Is born bam actor in an age of acting" gave words to the value of liberty of which Jefferson wrote Henry speaking to the burgesses of Virginia proposed that a militia be raised and prepared for He flung wide his arms paused lowbattle Using the words of Johnson and ered his arms clenched his right hand as if tolling a dagger at his breast and said Henry the details of what happened follow: "What is Virginia waiting for? in sepulchural tones or give me Massachusetts is fighting Our brethren death!” He then beat his breast with his are already in the field Why stand we hand bolding the imaginary dagger The here idle? What is it that gentlemen silence that followed was only broken by wish? What would they have?" Then a man listening outside at an open win i Friday Outdoors: Mountain Valley Tirout Henry got to his knees in the posture ' ' this spot!" Americans lxt me be buried on Jefferson wrote shed monarchy with as much ease as would have attended their throwing off an old and putting oo a new suit of clothes Monarchy Johnson says did not make much practical sense in a country that had no aristocracy Our land was to be a nation where merit counted more than parentage It was to be a place where people who started by being torn illegitimate and poor as did Alexander Hamilton could like cream rise to the top The Coastitutioaal Convention See GODFREY on Page Features: 752-212- 1 It |