Submitted by rlp on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 15:57.
Last March I wrote about someone stealing part of a prayer labyrinth at a church here in San Antonio. At that time Paul Soupiset was working on his Moleskine watercolor Lenten journal (which I HIGHLY recommend you seeing). One of of his Lenten pictures was inspired by his thoughts about building a prayer labyrinth at the back of the property at our church.
It looks like that dream is going to become a reality. A natural clearing has been levelled and some preparatory work done. There are a number of us who have volunteered to work on the labyrinth. Paul is blogging about it the process of this in a series of pictures during Lent.
This thing is going to be absolutely stunning. First of all, our church is buried in the woods. You'll have to follow a rather secretive and non-advertised prayer path out back that has no label and was made almost entirely by the vision and work of our 3rd to 6th graders. The path leads you through the woods to the back of the property where there is a simple pile of stones that forms an altar. And soon a labyrinth.
Here's a little video I made of the prayer path. The kids along with their very cool Sunday school teacher Ben have doubled its length since then.
Sorry about the video being jumpy
So now I want to let you in on a little secret. It's a dream that Tim Heavin (our other minister) and I have talked about. What do you think about having a Franciscan retreat at our church that would be open to anyone in the world who wanted to come? It would be rustic. We'd sleep on the floor and do contemplative prayers and singing at various hours of the night. Also hang out at the fireplace and talk about...everything. By then the prayer labyrinth would be finished, so people could try that too. What if all you had to do was get a plane ticket to San Antonio and you could stay at our church? We'd all eat together at the church, so you wouldn't have to worry about that. Then we would take people back to the airport and say goodbye.
Here's another cool thing. We wouldn't care if people were Christians or not. That's not the point. Anyone who is interested in exploring a monastic way of living could experience that for one night. We'd be thrilled if atheists and people of other faiths joined us. Imagine the conversations around the table.
I mean, do you think something like that could work? In this crazy world where we keep creating ideological and theological/philosophical barriers that keep us a part, do you think we could do something that would bring us together?
If we tried it, would you come?
rlp
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If we tried it, would you come?
Count me in. :-)
In a heartbeat.
In a heartbeat.
sounds great!
sounds great!
at a moment's notice!
at a moment's notice!
um....YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS
i can be packed & there in 75 min
seriously
Yes
Please. Yes I would.
Since I know you care...
We'd be thrilled if athiests and people of other faiths joined us.
You might want to rearrange the middle vowels in "atheists." ;)
RLP, sometimes I'm not sure if you're brilliant or insane (potentially both?), but I am fairly certain you have a big and generous heart. God bless you, my friend.
thanks for the spelling
thanks for the spelling catch. fixed.
I tend to be skeptical but I
I tend to be skeptical but I might.
becky
I'd be there. Of course I
I'd be there. Of course I live in Austin so it's not that far for me.
I'd find a way. Somehow.
I'd find a way. Somehow. Time is always the issue.
His name is really Heavin? As in Reverend Heavin?
Oooohh...that's like the funniest bad minister dream ever!
Projection and transference anyone?
Yes
I thought you'd never ask .
I thought you'd never ask .
I wonder how far it is from
I wonder how far it is from Abilene to San Antonio? I'd definitely be interested in coming. I wonder if disc golf could somehow be fit into a day of monastic living...
David Mahfood
dmahfood@gmail.com
http://spiffthespaceman.blogspot.com/
I'm there!:)
I'm there!:)
Sounds amazing.
Sounds amazing.
Great idea
I'm a long way from Texas, but it's tempting.
If I could get down there, I
If I could get down there, I might. (That is, if I could just drop money on a plane ticket.) I tend to be more into silent retreats, though.
I'll come
next year. As I've exhausted my annual vacation days for 08. I'm a cross between a pagan and a children's bible reader.
I'd be there with bells on.
I'd be there with bells on.
Build it and they will come
I think the phrase was build it and they will come.
I'm in.
Blessing,
Bill
bill.finley@gmail.com
just one night?
It sounds great. I'd be more interested if it was for more than one night though...
And it would have to coincide with a trip to the US for me, but that's possible.
R
I would be
the first to jump on a plane and be there. I have been trying to figure out a reason to be in San Antonio and come be in church with you one Sunday. This would be just the reason.
I'd be interested, but
I'd be very interested, to meet other members of this virtual community that I have been part of for years, if nothing else, but finances and family obligations would probably prevent such a trip.
But I hope the rest of you do make it, and have a fine time.
I am so there
Just tell me when you are ready, Gordon. I could do with the time away right now, well soon anyhow. What is the weather like there in mid-November? I think I might be ready to ditch the rest of the world by then.
Peace
Hook
Yep...
Just need a time and a date.
It sounds like a wonderful
It sounds like a wonderful time. Like a great stop on a road trip.
halfway round the world
I would love to -- but I'm from the other side of the world, so it's a little trickier than just getting the car out of the garage and driving there :)
Would love to...if I could
Would love to...if I could get there and stay in my budget coming from another corner of the US. I have a crazier dream, though. Remember your post on open communion?
Four.Retreats.per.Year
labyrinth in a good outdoor season (what do I know from San Antonio weather?)
open communion for Easter or Christmas.
two more that have yet to be shown to you.
:)
the worldwide family starts with each of us.
I'll start listening.
I'll start listening.
RLP is not crazy and
RLP is not crazy and brilliant may not fit either but he is on to something. I have heard that we are much more alike than dissimilar and I can only imagine the conversation around the fireplace with some very bright and open and divergent types present. Sign me up. Southwest can get me there in only a few hours...
Peace,
Richard
YES!
I'm there!
Sounds cool. Except I like
Sounds cool. Except I like hot showers. (I am fond of modern plumbing.) You all have hot showers down there? And I like mattresses. Can I just bring my travel trailer?
We have hot showers and you
We have hot showers and you can bring an air mattress. Travel trailer? We wouldn't mind but we might not be zoned for that. The question has never come up before. ;-) We haven't worked out the details on this, but there is an inexpensive couple of motels (You know, Day's Inn or La Quinta types) within 5 minutes of the church. So we'll have an option for people. This is new. Depending on the response, Tim and I may put something together for this fall.
The problem might be numbers. We have a small facility. It would have to be a small group. I don't know how many people would want to come. Well, it seems like a lot would like to, but how many will actually buy a plane ticket and come down?
we're just exploring the idea. I'm liking it though.
how many will actually buy a
how many will actually buy a plane ticket and come down?
For me, it all depends on how the vagaries of cosmic biorhythms are looking when you get it going. If it feels as though the wheel of fortune is about to click over and stop on WRITING RETREAT, I'd look for a way to do it in combination with this, out thataways.
When you say small, how many
When you say small, how many are you talking about? 6? 25? 70? What if you hold it in the summer and we rent tents from a camping store??
Gordon, Many of us out here
Gordon,
Many of us out here are in churches with resources to fund a portion or all of the expenses so an actual registration process would be cool.
Blessing,
Bill
bill.finley@gmail.com
Thanks Bill, I'll think
Thanks Bill, I'll think about that. If you like, email me with more details about what you're thinking about.
Oh so very yes
I would love to! I've considered coming to visit your church if I'm ever in the States, so the whole monastic retreat thing just adds to the reasons. Conveniently, I also have American relatives I'd love to meet - maybe I should organise a holiday :)
I'm not sure if I could make it this year, but maybe next year. My flatmate and a number of friends are also into exploring that monastic/alternative Christianity side of things, so we could bring a whole Kiwi contingent.
Sure, rlp. I'm sure it would
Sure, rlp. I'm sure it would be a great time.
Scott
One condition
We have to have permission to pee standing up!
said permission is now
said permission is now officially given. You may pee any way you like as long as your aim is true.
Heck yeah
It's just a 10 hour ride from Kansas.
On visiting
I'd love to visit. ;-) I should be in USA in April (if they give me a visa), should I stop by?
this is AWESOME. I love
this is AWESOME. I love labyrinths. I will come visit when it's complete. Adn yes, yes, yes I would come to a retreat.
BTW, we missed you in Austin last week. Hope you are well.
Boo Hoo
escapeofnotions.livejournal.com
I just moved from San Antonio! Yes, I'd love to visit! God is really working His Work and using you in a mighty way RLP!
I'll come if I can talk the family into it
I live within driving distance, so it's not such a big task to get there for me.
Im in. I live in the
Im in. I live in the NOrtheast. San Antonio for a few days in the week or two after Christmas sounds like heaven to me. Hey could kids be there?
Sounds great!
I think it is a great idea and just might come. For those traveling farther distances it might be nice if it were for more than a day. Maybe you could tie it into your Sunday service or something.
Tim and I will put together
Tim and I will put together some ideas. Off the top of my head, we might have a number of options.
1. Barebones. Fly in, stay at the church and eat there. Fly home.
2. Fly in, get a hotel, stay for an extra night and Tim and I will take you to the Riverwalk downtown for some classic TexMex food.
3. All of the above and join us for church the following Sunday.
This was an idea I thought I'd float. Looks like a good response. Tim and I will put some options together.
Sounds like a great weekend!
Sounds like a great weekend! I'd plan to go.
Most definite yes, then.
Most definite yes, then. Depending on weekend and the vagarities of space/time drift. Hotel and food. Good.
I'll bring a candle for the hearth.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes please! Just as long as
Yes please!
Just as long as it's not in the middle of the summer... I'm a Colorado boy, and I don't get along well with too much heat :)
Retreat
I could probably get a bus load from Florida. How much room do you have?
Only kidding of course . . . I would love to come to San Antonio . . . would just depend on date. Late Fall could work for me.
Peace.
Count me in!
As long as the timing works out with the rhythm of my ministry, I would SO be all over this kind of retreat!!!
And I'd echo the comment about church continuing ed money. All most treasurers or boards require would be some sort of printable form with retreat info, to make sure we're not financing a weekend jaunt on the Riverwalk or something. =)
I wouldn't hesitate to come.
I wouldn't hesitate to come.
I am connected w/ a
I am connected w/ a real-live Franciscan retreat community not far from where I live in the Northeast (they're in WNY, I'm in WPA). My initial thought is "why go to Texas for something I have so close by here?" and here they are like my second family.
But, reading all the responses almost makes me want to say "yes." Participate in the community. Visit the church and worship on Sunday. (wanted to for years, but again ... Texas is far.) And I love the bare-bones, un-programmed, sleep on the floor feel of it. Could people camp if they were so inclined?
I just created a painted-on-fabric small labyrinth for our church for Lent. And today you post about labyrinths and Franciscan retreats. huh.
It's hard to imagine a trip to Texas fitting into my life, but I'm definitely intrigued.
Holly
yes. with. bells. on. and i
yes.
with.
bells.
on.
and i mean that. and i live in england:)x
would I come???
Try to keep me away!! Count me in.
Yes, I would love to visit.
Yes, I would love to visit. More than once, as a matter of fact.
I would love to be a part of it too
Taveling from Central America to Texas is pretty easy these days. I'll start tucking away extra Lempira.
will there be beer?
will there be beer?
Uh, possibly. We've nothing
Uh, possibly. We've nothing against beer, though we don't drink on the church premises for a number of reasons. But if we all went for Mexican food one night, I'm sure we could arrange for some cold cervezas. I'd introduce you to Shiner, a great Texas beer. My favorite.
mmmmm....
Shiner Bock...one of my absolute faves...
**unsucessfully trying to ignore sudden craving for beer**
Yep, I'm up for it. But,
Yep, I'm up for it. But, like some others, I may need to bring an air mattress. And Gordon has to take us for tamales, like he wrote about in his book.
Anybody want to carpool from NC??
I can be there in 15-20
I can be there in 15-20 minutes. Do you need help building it? Always wanted to do that.
Laura
Labyrinth
Just last month I was discussing with the church deacons my dream of building an outdoor labyrinth on the grounds of our church. You are an inspiration that has come at the perfect moment. Is there a resource you are using for determining the size, shape and other particulars of building your labyrinth?
Chartres Labyrinth
Abbot, Order of Saint Patrick
You might check with the occult network of labyrinth energy keepers who demonically load the center of this type of labyrinth.
See: http://www.labyrinthsociety.org/html/energy_keepers.html for their website.
As an exorcist, I have to knock out the network of demons to break the influence they have over those who enter the center of the labyrinth. I had a liberal priest assigned to our Episcopal church who almost kicked me out of the church for speaking against these occult labyrinths. Amazing considering the depravity that is accepted in the typical Episcopal church.
I have since moved on to the less liberal United Methodist denomination.
ATX
Sorry to hear about your surgery. Hope that goes well.
I'd be coming from Austin. Maybe there would be interest in a carpool/caravan.
Jason K
Would be up for the Austin
Would be up for the Austin caravan now that I am "officially" a Texan (via Conyers GA).
kurtiswheeler@yahoo
I would love to do this! My
I would love to do this! My niece lives in San Antonio, so I could visit with her, too.
Yes!
Absolutely! I'm looking forward to joining you in church one Sunday this summer when I'll be in San Antonio for a conference.
I've been looking for retreat options
I've often wished I could go to some sort of religious retreat. That I could spend a few days in a nunnery - only I'm Lutheran, not Catholic. I would be interested, if it worked out that I could get away from the kids. Although I suspect the structure and ritual that I would crave is the sort of thing yours would be avoiding. I'd still be interested and want to know more.
There would be plenty of
There would be plenty of ritual. We would be observing the Franciscan order's schedule. Chants, prayers at various hours of the night. Vespers, Matins, etc.
But also time for conversations, etc. Free time for people to wander around and do their own thing.
Yep!
I think that's a GREAT idea and yes, I would come.
it sounds really
it sounds really interesting, but i'd feel slightly insane for doing it. i have thought about wanting to do something retreat related. i am a young adult woman and worry about my own safely, but i have traveled by plane alone on 2 trips before. i am sure that as time goes on, the details like that could be more planned out if it is what is supposed to happen.
labyrinth
i'll be there, leading music.
and i promise, my labyrinths will be demon-free™.
Chock full-o-goodness.
Certified. Southern-fried. Good labyrinths.™
lol, you saw the demon
lol,
you saw the demon comment huh? I decided not to reply to it, so as not to encourage anything more.
I thought it was a joke,
I thought it was a joke, since I first did the labryinth in a UM church...
how can you guarentee that
how can you guarentee that it will be demon free?
What kind of snakes are in Texas?
I'll pack tonight. Tripp
I'll pack tonight.
Tripp Hudgins
Wilmette, IL
Not so worried about demons...
but I know copperheads live in them thar Texas hills. Will it be snake-free as well?
We have rattlesnakes around
We have rattlesnakes around here. But haven't ever had trouble at the church. Can't make promises, but so far no one's ever been bit. Our kids run around out here all the time.
A Labyrinth & a Crazy Dream
Yes.
Alrighty then
It was probably a moot question, since we have both where I live, but given a choice I'd take a rattlesnake over a copperhead any day. I think Satan probably takes form as a copperhead.
Yes, I would come. Definitely.
Labyrinth, retreat
rlp, I'm in. Debbie and I built a labyrinth in our backyard about 2 years ago, and you can see photos at her blog, www.goodthoughts.net or at www.amicusdei.com. I've been following Paul's posts about your church labyrinth with great interest. I like the idea of asking people to bring a rock and leave on the marks. The retreat is a great idea, which I also have in my heart for our church here in Virginia. Maybe we could do a network of like-minded churches/retreats across the country. If you think that has merit, let me know. Plus, I like the idea of free. Church ought to be free. I'm really tired of all the "come to our conference for only $99" flyers I get. If grace is free seems like church should be, too. Anyway, count us in and keep us posted. -- Chuck
what about children?
I would love to come, love love love it. My grandfather lives in San Antonio and I haven't seen him in years, so all he more reason to spring for plane tickets. But this is the thing, I have a 2 year old, a very active lively little guy. Does a 2 year old running around create problems for this sort of retreat? Maybe my husband could come along and stay with my son while I'm at the retreat--imagine that, an entire day alone, a day to pray and sing...sounds good to me.
I really like what you said
I really like what you said about your prayer path being not planned, and not much at your church being planned. If I understand what you are thinking, so many churches are "planned" - constantly the hottest spiritual growth programs are brought in, the latest Bible-reading programs from Big Name Christian pastors, all guaranteed to create instant measurable spiritual results which can no doubt be tracked and status'd using Excel. It's like spiritual Quality Control, a spiritual assembly line. So much well, frenzy, I guess would be the word. Maybe the vast majority of people want or need that sort of thing to get them spiritually growing and excited and fire'd up, but there are some who don't do so well in that environment. I think I'd count myself amongst those people.
I like also how your church is in the woods, or at least one can easily get to nature from your church. That's one thing I miss about our church, there is little nature, which is kind of unavoidable seeing how it's in the middle of the suburbs. Except maybe for our prayer garden, which is relatively unplanned, it just kind of goes on. But I know the birds like it, though.
Larry E.
Speaking as a hippie punk
Speaking as a hippie punk Renewal Jew, I'd be very interested in that, assuming I could take care of the usual mundane stuff like time and money.
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