Labyrinth

June 26, 2018 - Outdoor Labyrinth Worship Services: 7/8 & 8/26

Pastor Mary will be holding 8:30 am Worship Services at the Labyrinth in the Woods (at the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust- click here for directions) on July 8 and August 26th. All are welcome!

June 17, 2018 - Church School at the Labyrinth

On Sunday, June 17th, our FPC kiddos wrapped up their Church School year with a special worship service at the Labyrinth in the Woods.

We all began by walking the Labyrinth (some of us made it further than others!), and did some call-and-response singing together.

Candi Hine played her Native American flute- and told us a little about how she came by her extraordinary instrument.

Pastor Mary shared a Jewish Midrash on Noah’s wife, Na’amah, in which she collects seeds while her husband pairs the animals.

The children enjoyed making their best “rain storm” sounds to help tell the story.

We closed with some music and fellowship time together.

Pastor Mary will be holding additional Labyrinth Sunday Worship Services at 8:30 am on July 8 and August 26.

December 22, 2016 - Solstice Labyrinth Walk Draws Community to the Center

A vision for light in the night led one First Parish family to create an event that gathered almost a hundred friends and community members to walk the Labyrinth in the Woods on the night of December 21st, the winter solstice.

Sarah Rodgers, a First Parish member, shared her family’s tradition of a solstice candle-light walk with the church and its partner in the Labyrinth, the Brunswick Topsham Land Trust. Her idea quickly developed to invite families and neighbors to walk together through the longest night. Lanterns were crafted, cocoa was made,  and the labyrinth’s path was carved into the recent snowfall to welcome walkers of all ages.

After an introduction by Sarah, First Parish, and Land Trust leaders, a line of lanterns stretched into the woods, and then began to wind its way through the labyrinth’s circuits. As the walk concluded, participants circled the path, singing a new version of This Little Light of Mine, which ended with this verse:

If your candle goes out
I’m gonna lend you mine…
Then we’ll shine, then we’ll shine, then we’ll shine…

May 15, 2016 - Journey – Rev. Baard

Scripture: Mark 6:6b-13
On a day marked by milestones: joining of members, baptism, and a dedication of the Labyrinth in the Woods, Mary reflects on the journey of faith, and lightening the load we carry.

Download PDF here – 05/15/2016

May 11, 2016 - FPC and Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust Dedicate Labyrinth

On Saturday, May 14th, from 1pm to 4pm First Parish Church and the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust will celebrate the formal opening of the Labyrinth in the Woods honoring the life and ministry of long-time Labyrinth and Christian Education leader, Susan Fitzgerald. All are welcome to explore this community offering, on that day or any day from dawn to dusk.

Directions to the Labyrinth:

From downtown Brunswick, head south on Maine Street (toward Bowdoin College). Turn right onto McKeen Street. In 0.8mi turn left on Baribeau Drive. In 0.6mi turn right onto Maurice Drive. At the end of Maurice Drive, turn left into Horizons nursing care facility, then immediately right into the small lot marked with a Land Trust sign.

The trailhead (access to the Community Labyrinth) is marked by a kiosk in the woods to the right when facing the Community Garden entrance gate.

Though this is not the actual address, for GPS, use 90 Maurice Drive, Brunswick, ME.

“Why a Maine church, land trust are walking circles in the woods” Bangor Daily News – May 11, 2016

March 31, 2015 - The Labyrinth in the Woods: A Community Resource in Honor of Susan Fitzgerald

From Pastor Mary

Susan Fitzgerald

Susan Fitzgerald has been dreaming about an outdoor labyrinth for many years. We are inviting you to help make that dream come true. First Parish Church and The Brunswick Topsham Land Trust are working jointly on an outdoor labyrinth that will be located on one of the BTLT trails near the Community Gardens just off Baribeau Drive. The setting is lovely, set gently into the wooded area, but with a clear view of the field. Our intention is for this labyrinth to be a spiritual resource to the wider community. We are very excited about this project and this opportunity to work together on a project for the whole community.

A labyrinth is a single path that winds around itself, drawing participants into a center space. People find that walking the labyrinth provides an opportunity for relaxation and spiritual reflection. We have a portable indoor labyrinth that Susan Fitzgerald and a group of people made over ten years ago. This labyrinth is set up in Fellowship Hall six times a year and open to the public. Many people from the wider community come to walk the path. We believe that a permanent outdoor labyrinth will make this spiritual practice available to many more people. In fact, we hope as word gets out that school groups may walk to the labyrinth and church groups may travel here to use this labyrinth.

We would like to raise the money for this project in just one month – this month of April. The estimated cost for this project is $35,000 to cover both construction and ongoing maintenance. This is an opportunity for all of us to express appreciation and gratitude to Susan for her loving ministry in the church over the last 16 years. It is also a way for us to reach out to the wider community with spiritual nurture. If 350 people (which is about half our church membership) each gave $100 we’d have the money we need. We are grateful for whatever gift you are able to give – no matter how small or large. I encourage parents to invite their children to give some of their own money as well. If you have friends outside the congregation that you believe would like to contribute, please invite them to do so. We’d like everyone to be a part of this project both in its construction and in its use. We will have an opening celebration when it is completed.

If you’d like to, you may bring gifts to worship (drop them in the wooden “church boxes” at the door) or send gifts to the office. Make your check out to First Parish Church, and note “Labyrinth Project” on the memo line. Additionally, you may give to the project through our e-Giving page by clicking here.