Church of the Ascension

Ascension Office

Good Friday Labyrinth Walk

an invitation to engage your body, mind and spirit
in prayer and reflection on the seven last words of Christ
11am-noon

Please join us on Good Friday to reflect on the seven last words of Christ, using a poetry and image resource entitled “Seven Christs” created by Steve de Paul. A series of portable cards with “Seven Christs” will be available for those who wish to walk in the outdoor labyrinth.* 

“Seven Christs” will also be available inside the church on a video loop along with “lap size” paper labyrinths for those who chose to remain indoors.

Beyond Good Friday, the outdoor labyrinth will be permanently available, painted on Ascension’s driveway, just outside the backdoors. Resources for using the labyrinth will soon be available on the website. 

Our thanks to Hans Posthuma for painting the labyrinth.

*Diana Partridge and Linda Posthuma will be facilitating the outdoor walk and the indoor “walk” will be self-directed.

Click through to learn more about the history and practice of labyrinths.

History and Practice of Labyrinth Walking

Labyrinths are a simple tool used to engage our bodies, minds and spirits in prayer and reflection.

The labyrinth is believed to have evolved out of the most basic spiral and circle forms, found in nature. While its origins are still mysterious can be traced back over 4000 years. Over time, the labyrinth pattern, its symbolism, and its mythology have been integrated into the lives of people of different cultures for a variety of purposes, both spiritual and secular.

While Christians used labyrinths found on pre-Christian sites and modeled their own after those earliest labyrinth forms, the development of the high medieval Christian labyrinth was a breakthrough in design. The best known is the 13th century 11-Circuit labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral, France. The medieval Christians walked the labyrinth as a way of symbolically participating in the great pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Walking the labyrinth has re-emerged today as a powerful tool for personal and spiritual healing and growth, professional development, and community building. The labyrinth, both in permanent and portable forms, is now found in many contexts and environments including churches, schools, hospitals, birthing centres, hospices and other healthcare facilities, senior’s centres, retreat centres, prisons, community centres, parks and public and private gardens, as well as in the workplace.

We are very glad to provide access to a labyrinth at our church and pray that it will be a blessing to many.

(History of the labyrinth taken from the notes of Beverly Chen, Certified Labyrinth Facilitator, Ottawa, 2003)

Holy Week and Easter Services

April 10th – Palm Sunday

  • 9am -Service of the Word on Zoom
  • 11am – Holy Eucharist at the church

April 11th – Holy Monday

  • 8:30pm – Compline at the church

April 14th – Maundy Thursday

April 15th – Good Friday

April 17th – Easter Sunday

  • 9am – Service of the Word on Zoom
  • 9am – Holy Eucharist with Baptism and Children’s Talk at the church
  • 11am – Holy Eucharist with Choir and Sermon at the church