New Salem Lutheran builds labyrinth prayer path with community help
Nearly three dozen church members helped BSU graduate Lisa Moriarty build a new labyrinth at New Salem Lutheran in Bemidji, a meditative walk now open to the whole community.
Nearly three dozen church members joined Bemidji State graduate Lisa Moriarty, known informally as the Labyrinth Lady, to build a labyrinth at New Salem Lutheran in Bemidji. The project turned a Sunday gathering at 7491 Island View Dr. NE into a hands-on build for a space the church says is meant for reflection, prayer and quiet walking meditation.
New Salem Lutheran invited community help in creating the labyrinth prayer path following the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday, July 12. The church later said it now has “a nationally registered labyrinth” and described it as “a meditative prayer walk for the whole community.” In a post about the build, the church summed up the work this way: “We worked, we laughed, and moved some serious rock!”
Labyrinths have a long spiritual tradition as places where people can walk slowly, think and pray, and this one was built with that use in mind. The church’s description points to a public-facing space rather than an interior sanctuary feature, giving Bemidji residents another outdoor place tied to contemplation and spiritual practice. The location at New Salem Lutheran also makes it a straightforward stop for people in town who want a quiet walk without a fee or a formal program.
Moriarty brought a distinctive local connection to the project. Paths of Peace identifies Lisa Gidlow Moriarty as a professional labyrinth designer and master labyrinth maker, and says she has 40 years of experience in large-scale fiber and fabric installations. Her nickname, Labyrinth Lady, has followed her work and gave the New Salem build a recognizable face, especially for people who know her through Bemidji State University and the wider Bemidji community.
The result gives New Salem Lutheran more than a one-day volunteer project. The church now has a nationally registered labyrinth that can serve as a lasting part of its grounds and a destination for people looking for a quiet, reflective stop in northwest Bemidji. For a congregation that asked neighbors to help build it, the finished path stands as both a community-made feature and a place intended to be used by the whole community.
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