About twenty of us, young and old, travelled across to St Serf’s church, Comrie for a day together at the end of the school holidays. Our plans for a picnic outside were looking a little uncertain due to the weather but on arrival we found that Kate Sainsbury, St Serf’s Lay Reader, had thoughtfully rearranged the furniture so that we could picnic inside the church building. She showed us key points of interest in the building and told us a little about the activities that take place there.

After an informal time of fellowship over lunch Kate suggested that we walk the prayer labyrinth that is maintained in the glebe land next to their church and gave us leaflets about the history and purpose of labyrinths. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has only one path which leads both into the centre and out again: there are no dead ends. Some people walk the labyrinth as an aid to contemplative prayer or reflection; others enjoy the physical experience of tracing the path as it twists and turns. Walking it as group also offers the experience of unexpected encounters as the path brings people close together for a moment before they move apart again. In many ways this experience mirrors life!

Taking advantage of the afternoon sunshine, Kate then guided many of us along the Lednock Millenium Footpath, a level all-ability path which leads alongside the River Lednock below Comrie Golf Course with informative panels on the area’s history and heritage. After pausing by a small dam where children and dogs were enjoying the water, we successfully negotiated steep steps to a viewpoint where we paused to enjoy the view before following a more gentle gradient back.

We all appreciated the opportunity to see a little of life in the diocese outside our own boundaries and all enjoyed our day out. We expressed our gratitude in a letter to Kate enclosing a small contribution to St Serf’s church funds.