Archive: Around Town

The Lansing Christian Women ALWAYS start with a prayer. They ALWAYS say grace before the meal. And they ALWAYS end with a prayer.

But, what happens between prayers is anybody's guess. Or wish.

Program Coordinator Marilyn Paradise anticipates their guesses and fills their wishes. She plans programs and events that fulfill attendees desire to read and discuss a book, attend an event, retreat or workshop, or simply gather for socializing over a potluck meal.

The women who put the group together in April of 2003 decided on only three criteria for participation: be a resident of the Lansing area, be a Christian and be a woman. They still don'ts have a printed membership roll, charge no dues and don't take attendance. In fact, there isn't even a regularly scheduled meeting date, time or place for the woman from Lansing and surrounding communities to gather.

Their most recent excursion on October 30 took ten of their number to various spots in Aurora, New York. Their first stop was at "The Church of the United Ministry", 337 Main Street, which came into being in 1969, when St. Paul's Episcopal Church (established 1835) and the Aurora Presbyterian Church (established 1811) were merged. The resulting congregation has adopted, according to their brochure, "a combination of Episcopal and Presbyterian traditions, developing a Protestant and Anglican worship center for village and rural families in the Aurora area."

The Lansing Christian Women were greeted by Lili MacCormick, a retired art teacher and her husband "Mac" MacCormick, a retired Wells College Professor of Religion. A tour of the building, including the office occupied by Mrs. Paradise during her employment in Aurora, and the sanctuary followed.

It so happened that the Church organist was practicing the entire time we were in the building, serenading the group on a custom designed Moeller pipe organ.

Gathered around on comfortable sofas in a large sun-filled room for Mrs. MacCormick photo and book filled introduction to Labyrinths, Mrs. MacCormick related how her own first exposure to labyrinths in 1948, when she toured the world famous labyrinth at Chartes Cathedral in France. "I wanted one in my garden ever since" and in 1998, she finally had an appropriate space. "I couldn't duplicate the 11 circuit, 45 foot diameter, one at Chartes Cathedral at home" and that couldn't happen at The Church of the United Ministry either, but it is impressive nonetheless. Every single one of the Lansing Christian Women walked the classical seven-circuit labyrinth in reverent silence.

The flagstone and brick seven-circuit labyrinth is located immediately behind the Nativity Chapel north of the church. Between the labyrinth and Cayuga Lake is a small amphitheater where services are held, according to the diplomatic Mrs. MacCormick, "When the weather is suitable."

The brisk, cool breeze coming in off Cayuga Lake prompted a quick return to the vehicles and a short drive through the grounds of MacKenzie-Childs. Lunch was at the elegant Aurora Inn, where waves of conversation were in contrast to the serene quiet experienced during the walking of the labyrinth.

The week prior to the Aurora trip, the Lansing Christian Women met for a salad supper and discussion of the book "The Red Tent" by Anita Diament. Introduced by Marilyn Paradise, Woodsedge resident Dorthea Schrader moderated a spirited discussion of the fictional account of women of biblical times, centering on the life of Dinah, who is mentioned only in passing in the old testament. Woman of many faiths attended the salad supper and book discussion, many eager to apply their faith's grasp of the early roles of women in their respective churches and how those roles have changed through the ages.

According to Mrs. Paradise, Lansing Christian Women was formed in April 2003 to help women cope with the transition of pastors. From that grew a weekend retreat led by Reverend Martie Swords: "The Balanced Life: Work, Rest and Prayer" at Casowasco Camp, Conference and Retreat Center near Moravia.

Another Casowasco event was two day retreat entitled "Sabbath Time: A Time for Rest & Renewal" with two presenters: Pastor William Gottschalk-Fielding from Lansing and Taryn Mattice, of Cornell Univeristy Protestant Ministry.

Watson Homestead Retreat Center, Painted Post, New York, hosted "God's Greatest Gift: Your Life, Health, Wholeness & Taking Care of Yourself". Last December, the Rev. Rachel Quigly spoke to the group on "Holiday Stress"; a subject many feel should be addressed annually.

The Lansing Christian Women don't always venture very far from home and have held several suppers, followed by a speaker and discussions, at The Lakeview Christian Life Center on Burdick Hill Road, Lansing, at The Lansing United Methodist Church on Brickyard Hill Road, in private homes and community centers.

It has become almost a custom that Labyrinths are a recurring subject with this group. An Adult Forum led by Mrs. Paradise discussed them in depth. Many of their destinations have had labyrinths; Aurora was just the latest to be walked. After hearing Mrs. MacCormick talk so enthusiastically about labyrinths, stating they were "A Christian way of making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem without actually going to Jerusalem", Lansing Christian Women agreed "We HAVE to need one!" at our place of worship. Perhaps on the drive back to Lansing, a few of us were mentally measuring our own real estate to see if, perhaps and maybe, we could put in "just a small one"?

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