MEDITATIVE PILGRIMAGE WALKS
LOCAL PILGRIMAGE WALKS
Templestowe Uniting Church has become the starting point for meditative pilgrimage walks using nearby Westerfolds Park and the banks of the Yarra River. The church is open for personal prayer prior to the walks which commence and end with a short prayer. Provision is made for those unable to walk the route to join in the prayers before and after and to take part in meditation at the church.
There are organised walks at special times such as Advent and and Lent, but you can do the walk at any time.
ASH WEDNESDAY PILGRIMAGE .
Ash Wednesday Pilgrimage and Service commences with prayers of preparation at the Atkinson Street entrance of Templestowe Uniting Church. We then set off together for an hour-lomg walk through Westerfolds park.
A booklet is available with suggested themes for prayer. For more information, or to RSVP, please phone Rosemary 9846 2213 or Adele 9846 1130.
If you do not wish to walk, the Church is open from 6pm onwards for quiet prayer. Come when you can or join the walkers when they return (approx 7.20 pm) for a special service led by Rev Andrew Boyle. It concludes at 8.00 pm.
ADVENT PILGRIMAGE WALK
Held each year on a Saturday morning and follows a route through Westerfolds Park and the banks of the Yarra river. Walking time with stops for reflections along the way is approximately two hours. If you cannot walk you can join in the prayers and spend the time in meditation in the church grounds while the others are walking and join them in a short service when they return.
The pilgrimage walk was initiated as part of our Advent preparations for Christmas, but has been repeated since by groups and individuals and was used to introduce the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday.
A guide to the route and suggested meditations are now available in the church. Everyone is welcome to use these and to join with others making the pilgrimage.
EASTER PILGRIMAGE WALK
The Pilgrimage starts in the city on Good Friday and arrives at Templestowe Uniting church approximately 2.00 pm Saturday after an overnight stop in Kew. If you cannot walk you can join a support group or welcome the pilgrims when they arrive. Co-ordinator is Rosemary.
From some who have taken the walk
"Rosemary invited a small group of us on a meditative advent pilgrimage. We left here at 7:30 in the morning for a walk that took us several hours through the nearby park and along its river banks.
We were invited to put aside the busyness of our lives and spend some time with God reflecting in silence.
We paused at a place to look over Melbourne and pray for people to keep on seeking God. We stood at fence and reflected on the barriers preventing us from knowing God. At different bridges we could reflect on how we could contribute to the well being of others. Then finally we were asked to ponder on what would happen if we said yes to God.
I appreciate the gift Rosemary offered me. It moved me to look at my life afresh and embrace it."
Pilgrim
"I looked forward to the Pilgrim Walk (or meditative walk) for many reasons, the main one being I needed to take time for God. I needed renewal of my spirit, I needed space for myself.
With the Festive Season in full swing there were too many engagements, too many places to go, too many things to do and too little time. I needed to re-learn how to slow down, how to include God in my everyday activities and not just to focus on the ‘too many’ etc.! I have a bad habit of doing everything that needs doing first and then if there is time over (which there usually isn’t) to then focus on my needs.
Why is it that when Christmas approaches each year we think we must spring clean the house fix up the garden, make-over all around us and then of course we must have everyone over for a meal, drinks or whatever. Does this have anything to do with putting ones house in order to get ready for the birth of Christ? Sometimes I wonder? Or perhaps it’s just me!
Well, the walk was everything I had hoped for and needed and more. The quiet time in Church prior to leaving helped me to focus and I was then ready with a calm and quiet mind to walk. Being able to follow the leader but make ones own pace was good. Stopping along the way to read and reflect was indeed helpful, it certainly made me think of things I probably would not otherwise have done.
The silence was wonderful, broken by the bird calls, (what an orchestra), the rippling water and the beauty, all so breathtaking. One never stops marvelling at God’s creation but one needs prompting about it every now and then.
I have been walking this area for at least 15 years and I am still blown away by the beauty of the trees, their shapes, their colours, and their true majesty. And of course there is always the animals, kangaroos, bunnies and ducks, always inquisitive but quickly off as you get closer. The river curving along, running over rocks, swirling around and off on its journey again. How lucky, how spoilt, how blessed we are to have this in our own backyard, so to speak.
There were times along the way when I had to stop because of my painful feet and ask God to give me the strength to continue and he did (was this when he carried me). He knew how much it meant to me to finish the walk. And finish it I did – back to the church to light a candle and sit with God and give thanks for all things bright and beautiful. And enjoy a wonderful breakfast spread (thanks girls) and a chat.
Because of the peace and contentment created in me I have decided to do this pilgrim walk each Saturday until Christmas, and beyond? Who knows?
Making space for God was made a lot easier than I thought especially when someone else, some special someone else has gone before and leads the way.
Thank you Rosemary, for letting God work through you to reach me, to inspire me to walk the pilgrim walk and in doing so allowing my spirit to be peaceful and strengthened."
Sharon
A MEDITATIVE PILGRIMAGE - GUIDE TO TAKING THE WALK
This guide was written on the theme of Advent, but you can modify it to suit other seasons, or just use it as it is at any time of year.
Purpose: To follow the example of the "Three Wise Men" who left the known way and the distraction of their lives to seek Jesus.
INTRODUCTION
In Luke Ch 1 v 39 we read how Mary, while waiting to give birth to Jesus, embarked on a journey to visit her relative Elizabeth. After their meeting and in anticipation of what was to take place, Mary began a song of praise with the words, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour’.
Advent is a time of journeying while waiting with anticipation.
Commence your journey at Templestowe Uniting Church or in the car park of Westerfolds Park (Porter Street entrance), Templestowe.
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Lord, as we set off on this journey; help us to be open to see what new thing you want to bring to birth in us, through us and among us. Amen.
Approach this pilgrimage with an open and eager mind. Go in peace. Have a safe and fulfilling journey. Amen.
(Words used to bless pilgrims walking the ‘Way of St James’ pilgrim road in Spain).
1. Walk to the Manor House, pause here and look towards the City.
Prayer: Lord we pray for all those in the city and beyond who need you or are searching for you. Please grant them the openness of Mary, and the persistence of the Wise Men to keep on seeking until they find you. Amen.
Reflection: Pray for those for whom you long that they might find God.
2. Walk down the hill and on until you come to the fence barring you from approaching the river.
Prayer: Lord, there is a barrier here preventing me from seeing the life-giving water of the river. Please show me what barriers I have set up that prevent me from drawing close to you, the source of living water. Amen.
Reflection: How can I make more room for you Jesus in my life?
3. Now walk along the river until you arrive at the first bridge.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the water in this river. We pray for those suffering the effects of drought in this country and beyond. We also pray for those suffering the effects of spiritual drought. May dried up creeks and rivers flow again and parched souls find the living water of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Reflection: What part does God want me to play in restoring the physical and spiritual health of this land?
4. Continue onto the swing bridge near Odyssey House and pause in the middle. Look at the cables supporting this bridge and the water flowing beneath.
Prayer: Father God, these cables supporting the bridge are a reminder of the way Mary trusted you to uphold her, as she awaited the birth of Jesus the source of our hope.
Help me to trust you more and to share with others the hope and joy that the knowledge of your presence with us brings. Amen.
Reflection: In what areas of my life do I need to trust God more? In what way can I share the source of my hope with others this Christmas?
5. Continue along the pathway to the left as you come off the bridge and continue left through a small park (not towards Ruffy Lake Park) until you reach the road, continue straight ahead and pause at the carved tree. It has undergone radical change. Notice how the carved man cannot ‘see’ beyond the tree.
Prayer: Father God, when Mary said ‘yes’ to you her life was radically changed. Yet her ‘yes’ brought forth the source of light and hope for the world. Please help me to lift my eyes beyond the busyness of this season to see what new thing you want to bring to birth in and through me for the sake of others and our world. Amen.
Reflection: As you journey back gather up any insights, concerns or decisions that this pilgrimage may have evoked.
When back home, light a candle as a symbol of what you would like to commit to God.
PRAYER
May the love of God enfold you.
The wisdom of Christ enlighten you,
The fire of the Spirit inflame you;
And may the blessing of God rest upon you today,
And abide with you as you journey on through this Advent season.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
