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Open ChurchesIdeas for reflective stations - "What is this life …?"With thanks to Elizabeth Jones of St Laurence's Church, Norwell
These ideas were inspired by the famous poem by William Henry Davies.
Around the churchyard and the church were created a number of opportunities to pause and ponder. Life is often so busy that we seldom have time to ‘stand and stare’. The reflections made use of surroundings which are naturally very tranquil. In the churchyard a grass labyrinth to journey through, a bench to sit on and an ancient sundial, heralding from a more leisurely time, to consider. In the medieval church the atmosphere of peace comes from nearly a thousand years of use, from the stones and from the light of the windows. Visitors were invited to pause for a moment and think about some of these questions.
In the churchyard
In the church
The 8 questions above link to PDFs of cards from each station that was set up in the church or churchyard. These cards helped visitors to pause and ponder about life and God. "Where to?" invited the visitor to wander through a grass labyrinth mown in an open part of the churchyard. "Where from?" invited the visitor to sit on a bench for a few moments and consider the view out across water meadows. "Is there time?" focussed on the ancient sundial in the churchyard. "Which way?" made clever use of a projected labyrinth. "What am I?" invited the visitor to consider themselves in a mirror. "Who's there?" encouraged prayer with the use of candles. "Are you anxious?" invited the visitor to consider the beauty and scent of lilies. "Is life full of care?" invited the visitor to drop a stone into a pool of water (in the font) and with it let go of cares.
Some of the stations were accompanied by flower arrangements in green and white to reflect the atmosphere of calm. A service on the same theme took place on the Sunday evening.
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