On September 17, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Corner Brook held a Seasons of Life Prayerwalk during its Sunday morning liturgy to celebrate the Season of Creation. The walk began at the baptismal font and ended at the altar, but stopped at various points to reflect on and pray for the seasons of our lives: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.
The Baptismal Font—our entry into the church and its life of faith and faithfulness—represented the springtime of our lives. At the south transept, which houses the cathedral choir, we celebrated the joyful music of summer and our rich liturgical tradition, while the Lychgate Entrance (autumn) helped us focus on all who enter the church, whether the curious or the committed. At the Lady Chapel, we contemplated the winter of our lives, both the joys and challenges of winter weather and the many phases of aging.
Lastly, at the Altar, we gave thanks for all that the Creator has given us, but also prayed for those who are dealing with the vengeance of nature. The prayers ended with a plea for forgiveness for wrongs done and a request for guidance to “give our lives in service to the Creator.”
Throughout the Season of Creation, prayers, sermons, and hymns referred to various aspects of creation, and each week the congregation sang a Season of Creation hymn: “Crashing Waters at Creation” by the late Sylvia Dunstan. This hymn highlights the life-giving waters of creation, the liberating waters of the Red Sea, the covenantal waters of baptism, and the never-ending living water that makes us whole.
During the coffee hour that followed the Eucharist, there were numerous expressions of gratefulness for the prayerwalk. Holding it in the sanctuary ensured that all could participate.
