Shannon Church Community Finds Sacred Stillness by the River

Prayer course inspires outdoor gathering at local prayer labyrinth

Parishioners walk the prayer labyrinth.

Nearly 30 members of the Venerable Bede Anglican Church in Shannon were transported

this past Sunday down to a tucked away riverside reserve to walk a prayer labyrinth and enjoy outside space to pray. The gathering marked a special moment in the church’s ongoing engagement with prayer, guided by resources from Pete Greig’s Prayer Course and Richard Foster’s teachings.

The council reserve, lovingly restored by a retired Anglican priest, Ian Campbell, borders the Mangaore Stream and features native plantings, paths, seating, and a prayer labyrinth. It has become a cherished space for spiritual reflection for some, especially for the Urban Vision team whose farmlet is just next door.

“It’s been such a blessing to us”, said Reverend Joanna Harrington, Priest in Charge at Venerable Bede. “Many locals don’t yet realise it’s there, but it’s a place of beauty where we can spend time with God in nature.”

The young and old, who braved the dubious weather and more than a spot of rain, walked the labyrinth and had the chance to practice the insights they had been learning during the church’s prayer focus.

It was particularly special to introduce one of our members, a lifelong local, to the space for the first time. “We’re hoping that it’ll now be on the map for some of our crew, providing a place for spiritual and physical refreshment. Just another way and another place where they can enjoy communing with God.”

“People were amazed by the care and effort that had gone into restoring the space,” Joanna said. “We’re very grateful to Ian for the extensive voluntary work he has done to care for it.“

The church has had a series of talks through the term on aspects of prayer, and contributors have drawn on material from the Prayer Course, which offers video and discussion resources on topics such as pausing, adoration, petition, intercession, and many more.

“It’s been really helpful for us,” Joanna shared. “Meaningful, accessible, practical. I’d recommend it to anyone considering teaching on prayer.”