New prayer garden offers spiritual space for all

Offering a peaceful and serene refuge, beautiful landscaping and a quiet, spiritual outdoor space for reflection and prayer, Community Lutheran Church is inviting the community to visit its new Prayer Garden.

“God put on my heart to start a prayer garden,” said Gwen Collins. 

So when pastor Jeremy Durpey started talking about increasing prayer, Collins knew they had the perfect space. 

“It was that empty space by the fire pit. My husband and I thought, ‘Well, that’d be the perfect place for a prayer garden,’” said Collins. 

With the help of her husband, Stuart, along with many other helping hands and donors, Collins carefully crafted the spiritual space. Inspired by the Custer Healing and Wellness Garden as well as Pathways Spiritual Sanctuary in Lead, Collins implemented ideas from both. The Prayer Garden features Adirondack chairs, benches, Autumn Blaze Maple Trees, flowers and a stone sign with a biblical quote that says, “Welcome to the Community Prayer Garden. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Mt. 11:28.”

“When people go there, I hope they realize that it’s God’s creation,” said Collins. “Just to recognize who our Maker is.”

The community is invited to an open house Sept. 21 from 1-2 p.m. where Pastor Duprey will dedicate the church’s new spiritual space.