Wednesday, April 10, several students of William Jewell College and community members gathered in Gano Assembly for chapel – but they did not sit down. Instead, attendees gathered around a Labyrinth design that was printed on a large circular canvas.

Jeff Buscher, college chaplain, spoke about Labyrinths and their variety of uses. Labyrinths are unlike a maze because they only have one path available. They are not meant to be a mental challenge, but rather a way for people to meditate, pray or think through problems as they walk to the center and back out.  

“Thinking is not required to walk a Labyrinth. At the same time, one must remain alert to stay on the path. This combination of reduced mental activity and heightened awareness makes the Labyrinth ideal for walking meditation or prayer,” a passage of an event handout said.

The Labyrinth was rented from Relax4Life and remained available for student use throughout the remainder of the week. Buscher encouraged students to come back to the labyrinth alone and to use it to help themselves relax and clear their minds. He imagines that one day, a permanent Labyrinth could be installed on William Jewell’s campus.

After Buscher explained the history and uses of the Labyrinth, several attendees removed their shoes and followed the path of the Labyrinth. The Labyrinth gives the walker the freedom to contemplate whatever they wish as they enjoy following a predetermined path.

The event consisted of music performed by the group’s five-member band, open conversations with the audience about CSM’s plans for the upcoming year and group prayer.

This annual event is held routinely during the first week of classes to provide a space for students to worship amongst peers. CSM will be conducting similar student-led worship at different locations around campus at MOSAIC every Thursday at 7 p.m.

Organizer and speaker, Jeff Buscher, chaplain and services coordinator, commented on the value of student-led worship.

“[It] is a way to develop leadership and to give expression to their own personal faith as well as share it with peers on campus and be a voice and a movement for the good of others,” Buscher said.

As Buscher led those who attended the event in worship he urged students to be themselves, be teachable, be ready to share and to serve others. Simultaneously, Buscher constructed a cairn – human-made stacks of rocks originally used to mark trails – on the chapel’s stage using the structure as a metaphorical guide.

The president of CSM, Brooklynn Reynolds, senior international relations, French and Applied Critical Thought and Inquiry major, is excited about the group’s upcoming activities. The group plans to host joint events with the Black Student Association and QUILTBAG, Jewell’s LGBT organization.

“CSM is a non-denominational group that serves a purpose of supporting each other as Christians but also as students on campus,” Reynolds said. “We welcome everyone to our events.”