‘A sheltered place where people can look out on the world.?
That’s how Father Richard Herbel described the new gazebo and meditation garden at St. Augustine’s House in Addison Township, which was dedicated and blessed Sunday afternoon.
The gazebo and surrounding meditation garden are located on the site of the Lutheran monastery’s old chapel. All that remains of the former chapel ? a quonset hut used for prayer and worship services from 1958 to 2001 ? is its foundation.
‘I am very pleased we found a way of using this space,? said Father Herbel. ‘It turned out very nice.?
On very spot where the altar was located, the gazebo now sits in the shadow of the monastery’s beautiful new chapel.
Father Herbel said the altar is ‘the place where the earth looks up to heaven? while the word gazebo is a ‘corruption of the Latin word videbo,? which means ‘I shall see.?
Therefore, the new gazebo is a place where people through prayer and meditation can ‘look on the world about them? and ‘look up to heaven.?
Father Herbel said the gazebo and garden area is a ‘parable? for ‘what we want to be here at St. Augstine’s House? ? ‘a place for prayer, peace . . . a sheltered place where people can look out on the world.?
The gazebo was built by Lake Orion resident Richard Dixon and his two sons, Ted and Walter, in memory of their later wife and mother, Mabel Dixon.
The surrounding bushes and flowers were planted by Boy Scout Brad Haney of Troop 108.
As the garden’s bushes grow, they will surround the gazebo and old chapel’s foundation like walls, forming what Father Herbel referred to as a ‘roofless church.?
While the gazebo and garden will primarily be used for personal pursuits, such as prayer and meditation, Father Herbel said some outdoor services maybe performed there during the summer months.
Robert Rimbo, Bishop of the Southeastern Michigan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, attended Sunday’s ceremony to officially bless the gazebo.
During the dedication ceremony, Father Herbel recognized all the people who helped make the gazebo/garden project a reality.
First and foremost on the list was Lake Orion resident Ernie Baker, who ‘engineered this and pushed it through.?
‘He knows how to get things done,? Father Herbel said. ‘He was the one who got everyone else on board.?
For a list of the benefactors who contributed to the gazebo/garden project and the new chapel see below.
St. Augustine’s House is located at 3316 E. Drahner Road.
*****
John and Laura Baker ? Built new chapel, hydroseeded the grounds around the steps
Chuck Clark ? Clark Graphics
Richard, Ted & Walter Dixon ? Built new gazebo
James Ferraro ? United Tile and Stone Works
Randy Fox ? Oxford Bank
Brad Haney ? Boy Scout Troop 108
Edward Holm ? Orion Stone Depot
Jared James ? James Lumber Company
Doug Kotula ? Doug’s Sealcoating
Anthony Lasher ? Oxford Bank
Richard Morton ? Scoutmaster Troop 108
Larry Mullins ? Environmental Wood Solutions
Carol & Dwight Thomas ? Sherwood Forest Landscaping
Joe Wojciechowski ? WOJO’s Greenhouse