Rounding on peace
Congregation, community create a place of sanctuary
For years, the members of the Church of Our Redeemer dreamed of welcoming their fellow Lexington residents in a way appropriate for a house of worship and respectful of the historic community's diversity.
At first blush, the vision was simple. The congregation wanted to transform the grassy plot of land that hugs their handsome brick church on Meriam Street into a tranquil spot, a respite from the hectic pace of modern life. They wanted to create an outdoor sanctuary of sorts, a place where passersby of any age or faith - or even, no faith at all - would feel comfortable.
Six years later, the Episcopal church's well-manicured lawn is home to a memorial garden and labyrinth, with a single winding path leading to the center and back out again. A service was held last month to bless the garden and labyrinth.
"The labyrinth is the ideal metaphor for life's journey, and the memorial garden is a symbol of peace for when those journeys end," said Janet Kern, chairwoman of the Labyrinth/Memorial Garden Committee. "It's like an extension of the church, something that we feel the community can see and enjoy."
From the start, parishioners encouraged the community to take part in the project. Rather than draft their own design for the grounds, the committee chose to reach beyond the church walls. A juried competition attracted several candidates; in the end, a sketch by Monica Connor of Cambridge, a graduate student at Boston Architectural College, was selected as the winner.
"One favorite feature of the labyrinth design is a 'dot,' or special paver, between the entrance and the center of the labyrinth," said Connor. "The dot can be used for several purposes. It may become a common place for a candle, but the dot also tends to allow people to pause on their journey towards the center. The way that the labyrinth path is arranged, you end up coming back to the dot several times as you wind contemplatively towards the center."
The labyrinth was built over a four-day period last month by expert masons Dean Marsico and Derek Stearns, hosts of "Rock Solid," a program on cable television's DIY Network. The two craftsmen used a custom-designed kit to piece the pathway together.
The memorial garden, with its flower beds and river of smooth beach stones, took more than four months to take shape. Work on the garden began in November. In all, the project cost $75,000, money the congregation raised through its "Committing to Our Dreams" fund-raising campaign.
The campaign itself was inspired by a pivotal moment in the church's history. In September 2002, the Rev. Alden Flanders announced his plans to retire the following summer. Over the next nine months, the congregation embarked on a voyage of self-discovery.
"Sometimes when clergy leaves, a congregation hunkers down and just waits for the next clergy to come," said Flanders, reached at his home in Worcester. "I hoped that the congregation would be more active and get ready for the new rector. For ages, we had been talking about a memorial garden and labyrinth. The congregation decided that is what they wanted to do during that interim time."
For the Rev. Tricia de Beer, who arrived at the Church of Our Redeemer in May 2005, the congregation's enthusiasm for the project was contagious. Watching the landscape evolve into a place that welcomes all people was exciting, she said, even inspirational.
"The labyrinth's open-ended design can be used by anyone," said de Beer. "Its roots go back to pre-Christian times, to Greek mythology. It gives people a wonderful opportunity to slow down and to be mindful of the presence of God, or the mystery of what some might call a higher power."
Lexington resident Deb Jackson, who served as a community representative on the Labyrinth/Memorial Garden Committee, encourages folks to walk the labyrinth's circuitous pathway, particularly when they have something to ponder.
"The idea is to walk with intention, any intention - whatever's on your mind at the moment," she said. "As you walk, you find your mind is cleared of clutter. They say the journey out is often more important than the journey in."
Readers interested in watching the labyrinth's installation can catch it on "Rock Solid," on the DIY Network, at 11:30 a.m. on July 26.
Brenda J. Buote can be reached at bbuote@comcast.net. 