October 16th Labyrinth event for WISDOM

The Thursday, October 16th General Board meeting of WISDOM will include a very special happening at the NorthMinster Presbyterian Church in Troy (3633 West Big Beaver Road – just East of Coolidge on the North side of Big Beaver – 248-644-5920).


Starting at Noon on October 16th Thursday, WISDOM would like to invite the public to join us as we hear Pastor Charlotte Sommers discuss the building of the Interfaith Labyrinth and what the Labyrinth symbolizes, we walk the Interfaith Labyrinth, and we discuss our personal reactions to the Labyringth during a “bring your own bag lunch” interfaith lunchtime. Please read the article below about the Troy Interfaith Labyrinth and mark your calendars to join us on October 16th as we walk a spiritual path built to aid in meditation. What can we get out of walking a labyrinth? “The labyrinth can be used for many goals. It is a tool. If a person enters seeking to quiet their mind and relax, they will find calm. If a person enters seeking insight into their life, then they will find out about themselves. There are a number of techniques that are effective. One is to enter recalling your life. At each turn look for either a decision or event that changed your life. Watch as the path brings you nearer the goal and then back out. Another technique is to start with a song, prayer or meditation. Give thanks for a blessing each time you turn to your left and release an event that pains you on each turn to the right. It has been said that the labyrinth came into the western religions in a response to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. At that time, it became impossible for most people to travel to Jerusalem for the pilgrimage holidays. The labyrinth was substituted for the pilgrimage. As churches grew in Europe, a labyrinth was often included in either the floor or the garden.” (This information came from www.BodyMindSpiritGuide.com).

Please e-mail us at wisdom@interfaithwisdom.org to let us know if you would like to join us at the Labyrinth at noon on October 16th. There is no charge – just bring a “brown bag lunch” for yourself. WISDOM will provide drinks and coffee, so we would like to know how many folks plan to join us. The Labyrinth and lunch should conclude no later than 1:30 PM.

Here is an article that appeared in the Detroit News about the Troy Labyrinth.

Church's labyrinth a route to reflection
Troy Interfaith Group builds gift with donations
Catherine Jun / The Detroit News
TROY -- To most, the newly landscaped ground in front of Northminster Presbyterian Church might look like nothing more than a brick-laden courtyard.
But a careful look at the pavement reveals a meandering pattern, one that if followed will lead visitors on a slow, meditative walk to the courtyard's center -- and possibly to a more peaceful state of mind.
It's a labyrinth, fashioned after those found on the grounds of cathedrals in medieval Europe, once used for repentance or as a substitute for a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
The one in front of the church on Big Beaver is nondenominational, drawing people seeking a moment of quiet reflection.
It was laid last month by several religious groups that wanted to offer something to people of all beliefs.
"We see it as a symbol of our peace among our diversity," said the Rev. Charlotte Sommers, pastor at the church and member of the Troy Interfaith Group, which spearheaded the project.
The group built the labyrinth with donations, about $47,000, mostly from individuals and area houses of worship.
For those involved in the project, it is a concrete reminder of the growing interfaith network in the city, formed several years ago to hold its own prayer event when a Hindu was denied participation in the long-held National Day of Prayer event in front of City Hall.
"We never expected to go beyond an initial event," said the Rev. Rich Peacock of Troy First United Methodist Church, who convenes the group's monthly meetings.
Eventually, "the interest and the need to understand each other and the need to witness that we can work together mushroomed," he said in a recent interview.
About 100 people from about nine faiths turned out for the dedication this month, said Sommers.
Among them was Reema Butt, an Ahmadiyya Muslim, one of the several growing area faith communities.
"It is very inviting," she said.
Butt has since returned to walk the colored bricks. And as she walks, she recites in her head the first chapter of the Koran, a supplication that asks for help in seeking the right path.
"I just think about the words and prayer," she said.