Reflect: The Labyrinth
Christians have used labyrinths for centuries to engage in prayer and meditation. This circuitous path is not a maze, where you lose your way. It is an ancient practice intended to help you find your way in a profound spiritual sense - a metaphor for the journey to the center of your deepest self and back out into the world with a broadened understanding of who you are.
As followers of Christ walking this sacred path of prayer, we release our worries, fears, and burdens; we receive God’s presence, peace, and guidance for our life journeys; and we return changed and transformed - feeling lighter, free, and in tune with the path God has for our lives. Each time you walk the labyrinth, you become more empowered to find and do the work your soul is reaching for.
We built our labyrinth in 2013, in honor of the minister emerita Rebecca Spencer's 25 years of service to Central. During the year, we host occasional Labyrinth Walks in the evenings. But you are welcome to come and walk in this gorgeous setting most any time. Contact Claudia Demick at claudia@centralchurch.us
Remember: West Lawn Terrace
Some relationships are so extraordinary - and some occasions, so momentous - they demand special tribute. At Central you can honor a loved one or memorialize a special event with an engraved brick that will become a permanent part of Central’s West Lawn Terrace, leaving a lasting legacy of your esteem.
Personalize your brick however you wish - with names, dates, places, and even personal messages. Each brick can accommodate a three-line inscription, 18 characters per line.
It’s wonderful way to remember family and friends - and commemorate special memories - and makes a particularly thoughtful gift for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations and other milestones.
Equally important, you’ll etch your name and memories into the history of Central Congregational Church while also supporting its future. Contact the Church Office at 401-331-1960 for details and pricing.
Rest: Memorial Courtyard
Our Memorial Courtyard functions much like the churchyard cemeteries of the past - while offering a less expensive form of burial. The Courtyard provides a beautiful and dignified place for the interment of ashes, as well as a sacred space where families can enjoy quiet reflection. It is available to all Central members and their families.
Dedicated in 1993, the Memorial Courtyard is located in a secure area between the church buildings and includes an underground columbarium with cement niches for storing the ashes. Above ground is a beautifully appointed garden with a monument proclaiming Jesus’ words from John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life.” An In Memoriam plaque in Wilson Chapel lists the names of those buried in the Courtyard, along with the dates of their birth and death.
The Memorial Courtyard is open during Sunday Worship, regular church hours, and by appointment. For more information or to make arrangements for the interment of ashes, contact the Church Office at 401-331-1960.