Dedication of Prayer Garden and Labyrinth
August 22, 2007

Creekside Church of the Brethren will dedicate a Prayer Garden and Labyrinth at its property, 60455 C.R. 113 in Elkhart on Sunday, August 26, 2007. Morning worship is at 9 a.m., and the congregation will be invited out to the garden for a service of blessing and dedication at 10 a.m. Fellowship time will follow.

Adjacent to the Prayer Garden is a Labyrinth, a circular path for walking and meditation. The Labyrinth is a project of the Creekside Youth Group and leadership along with others, who donated time and labor to create the serpentine brick borders. It is a place to be drawn inward, upward, and outward in prayer.

The public is welcome to the Prayer Garden and Labyrinth any time free of charge. They can be accessed by parking at the northwest corner of the church parking lot. Printed information about the Prayer Garden and Labyrinth are available on site and may be returned after use.

The Prayer Garden was conceived as an embodiment of Creekside's vision statement: "Like a tree that draws life from the river of God's love, we are a Church of the Brethren congregation rooted in God, growing in Jesus, and bearing fruit in the Spirit." The garden features a 50 foot rock-lined stream bed with a pond at either end, flanked by over one hundred perennial plants, shrubs and several trees. The Prayer Garden was planned in honor of song leader and choir director Janet Berkebile, who passed away in June of 2007, and in honor of Pastor David Bibbee, who has served as pastor at Creekside for fifteen years. The garden was designed by Creekside member and landscape designer Judy DePue of New Vistas Landscaping. It was paid for by donations and memorial funds, and labor was donated by members and friends of the congregation.

Goshen sculptor John Mishler designed copper fish sculptures which are mounted over the lower pond, and artist Jim Profitt has engraved words that are mounted on either side of the arbor which marks the entry and exit. The Creekside Junior High group has created a "prayer walk" pamphlet with scriptures and meditations that correspond to markers in the garden.

For further information contact:

Pastor David Bibbee
Creekside Church of the Brethren
60455 C.R. 113
Elkhart, IN 46517
Church phone: 574-875-7800

Judy DePue
New Vistas Landscaping
Business phone: 574-534-3298
Cell: 574-215-3298

John Mishler, sculptor
Phone: 574-533-8971

See Photo Gallery to Download Accompanying Photo

Creekside Prayer Garden Web Page

For more information contact the church office at