International Presbytery of the Church of Scotland
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
From the blog
Flowers fall, but …
Lord of the dance
Bend down low
Iona Weekend labyrinth at Dopersduin (NL), outlined in flour
The labyrinth may be a set path, but it does not offer a set experience. Instead, it offers a door that anyone may go through, to discover realities that meet each person where each most needs to be met.
– An Altar in the world, Barbara Brown Taylor
The labyrinth in the photograph was created by Mineke during an Iona Weekend organised by the Dutch Iona regional groups in mid-September 2021.
Mineke is a pastoral worker at a psychiatric hospital in The Hague and is currently involved in establishing a labyrinth (maybe two) on hospital grounds. During the weekend Mineke led a labyrinth workshop, offering participants the experience of walking a labyrinth and getting their feedback on her design. Weather conditions were very favourable, and the labyrinth, outlined in flour, lasted till well after we all left Dopersduin.
I was leading a collage workshop at the time, so I couldn’t take part in Mineke’s workshop, but I was curious and later visited the labyrinth with Mineke and my friend, Margriet (seen here in the photo), and took some photographs.
Unique to Mineke’s design is the option to take the longer way round or move straight to the centre. It’s also easy to follow the longer route as many times as you like before exiting.
Here is a longer excerpt from Barbara Brown Taylor’s book, An Altar in the world, also on the subject of the labyrinth as a spiritual practice.
This truth is borne out by the labyrinth – an ancient spiritual practice that is enjoying a renaissance in the present century. For those who have never seen one, a labyrinth is a kind of maze. Laid out in a perfect circle with a curling path inside, it rarely comes with walls. Instead, it trusts those who enter it to stay on the path voluntarily. This path may be outlined with hand-picked stones out-of-doors or painted right on the floor indoors. Either way, it includes switchbacks and detours, just like life. It has one entrance and it leads to one center.
The important thing to note is that the path goes nowhere. You can spend an hour on it and end up twelve feet from where you began. The journey is the point. The walking is the thing.
More on labyrinths
Logo for PAX Walk of Peace
PAX is the largest peace organization in the Netherlands. They work to protect civilians from the violence of war, to end armed violence and to build inclusive peace. They do this in conflict areas worldwide, together with local partners and people who believe, as they do, that everyone has the right to a dignified life in a peaceful society.
In 2015 PAX teamed up with the Dutch Council of Churches to organize their first Walk of Peace. More than 100 Walks of Peace have taken place all around the country since then.
The Walk of Peace is a walk of and for peace. A walk to experience and to show that, despite our differences, we can still get along.
PAX’s 2021 Walk of Peace will be held in Zwolle this coming Saturday, 18 September.
You can go on a Walk of Peace too, anytime, right where you are – to pray for peace and peacemakers and affirm your commitment to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, our Prince of Peace. And take some friends along with you.
From the blog
A Peace Garden
Lively concern
imagine … no war …
Canal tour in Paris, while waiting at one of the sluice gates (Photo: Irene Bom)
Take time to meditate on this verse and consider how you might put it into practice in the particulars of your life and relationships, including your relationship with the one True God-with-you, who loves you and knows what is good and what is good for you.
No doubt, there will be things to confess and put right, as well as new prayer-inspired, prayer-supported initiatives as your move forward.
From the blog
First love
The last may be first
In the school of prayer with St Francis of Assisi
Discarded (or misplaced) working boots (Photo: Irene Bom)
God empties himself
into the earth like a cloud.
God takes the substance, contours
of a man, and keeps them,
dying, rising, walking,
and still walking
wherever there is motion.
excerpt from the poem, “Feast days”, by Annie Dillard
published in Tickets for a Prayer Wheel
More Annie Dillard
The Holy Other
While I was trawling the internet for play-related prayer topics and resources I came across a website called PLAYFUL PRAYER with the tagline, ‘Exploring creative communication with God’.
The blogs posts are by Susanna from the UK. She writes,
Here are some ways it’s helped me:
The most recent blog post is dated January 23, 2018. Still, the site is a treasure trove of ideas to inspire playful prayer activities where you are – in your family, church and neighbourhood.
Check it out. Creativity, playfulness and prayer are always in season.
Spotted on a canal tour in Paris (Photo: Irene Bom)
We come into the presence of a God
we can neither see nor touch,
yet a God we can sense.
We are fools for Christ’s sake.
We come in the name of Jesus,
whose beauty we cannot explain or capture,
but know intimately.
We are fools for Christ’s sake.
We come to hear from a book,
words and stories that are ancient, and yet ever new.
We are fools for Christ’s sake.
We live in a world whose economy is based on keeping,
yet in this place we are invited to give.
We are fools for Christ’s sake.
We come, leaving behind all the business of our lives—.
all the other important things we could be doing.
We come here to worship.
We are fools for Christ’s sake.
~ from the United Church of Canada’s Bay of Quinte Conference website,
posted on re:worship
I’m glad you are here
From the blog
Wild animal praise
Tree of life
Little eyes
A few quotes on the topic of play from a conversation between Esther Perel and Krista Tippett on onbeing.org:
“… playfulness comes with a certain element of letting go.”
“… play and curiosity are so intimately interwoven.”
“… play is when risk is fun. You can’t play when you are in a situation of danger, anxiety, or contraction. So you have to feel safe in order to play.”
May you find a safe place to play risk free and follow your curiosity, and may you pass on this gift to others too.
May God’s blessing rest on each one of you.
May God’s light shine on you, and make your path clear.
May hope carry you through the challenging times,
and gratitude be your response when life is good.
May your days be filled with curiosity and adventure,
and may you discover the incomparable joy
of living lives that bring honour and glory to God.
Amen.
~ written by Christine Longhurst and posted on re:worship
From the blog
To dance with God
Ding! Dong! Curiosity
Heart’s desire
based on Psalm 149 (The Message)
Hallelujah!
Sing to God a brand-new song!
Praise God in the company of those who love Him!
Let God’s people celebrate their Sovereign Creator,
and praise His name with music and dance!
For God is here among us,
and He delights to hear our praise!
source: re:worship
Extra
Sing a New Song ~ by David Mathis
5 Ways to Teach a New Song ~ by Gary Durbin
Scripture-in-song as genre ~ by me