Trinity Dedicates
Rose Garden Labyrinth,
June 23, 2019

Trinity United Church of Christ in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, dedicated its new Rose Garden Labyrinth on Sunday, June 23, officially opening the labyrinth to the congregation and community for use. The labyrinth is the Eagle Scout project of Carson Rhodes, son of Trey and Theresa Rhodes of Chambersburg. Carson, a member of Trinity and part of Trinity's Troop 97, undertook the project on behalf of the church.

Rev. Dr. Bruce Druckenmiller blessed the labyrinth, and thanked all those who had made the project possible. Carson also shared remarks thanking his parents, Scout leaders, and church members who all worked together to make the project a success. 

“I am thrilled at how well the project came together," Druckenmiller said. "When I first proposed it to Carson, I didn't realize how much work it would really be, but everyone really pulled together to make it happen.”

Druckenmiller also thanked Trey Rhodes for his support in overseeing the project to completion, and Theresa Rhodes for her help in fundraising. 

The project took about 16 months to complete from initial discussions to dedication. At the dedication, Rhodes shared some of the stats related to the project, including that the project took over 340 man hours, 88 tons of gravel, and 13 tons of sand to complete.

Rhodes noted that the project would not have been possible without the generous support of many individuals who contributed time, equipment, and other donations toward the project. These included Ben Adams who assisted in getting the 21 pallets of bricks needed for the project from Nitterhouse, and Tony Gladfelter, Todd Dutton, Jonathan Scott, and Allen Scott of Troop 97 for their work coordinating the Scouts who worked on the labyrinth and the materials needed for the project. 

"Thanks also go to Gordon's Memorials for engraving the bricks, Cy Gessaman of Waynesboro Construction for the excavating work, Leroy Houpt of Leroy's Lawn Service for hauling gravel, and T. J. Minnich for assistance in spreading gravel," Rhodes said.  

Rhodes estimated the total cost of the project at about $12,000. Carson coordinated a discount card fundraiser that brought in about $2000 for the project. The church's Memorial Fund purchased the 56 rose memorial bricks that identify the types of rose bushes in the garden, and the congregation donated funds for nearly 100 bricks in honor and memory of loved ones. As part of ongoing maintenance of the garden and labyrinth, bricks can still be purchased for engraving and can be added to the labyrinth. Interested parties should contact the church office, 717-762-7191.

The project also includes the addition of a trellis arbor and two climbing rose bushes donated in memory of church member Paul Fogle. Fogle was part of the group that originally put in the rose garden around 2003. He planned the selection of the roses and the configuration of the beds, then worked tirelessly in the garden for many years.

Trey and Theresa Rhodes along with Carson provided a light lunch following the dedication.

The Trinity Rose Garden Labyrinth includes a wheel chair accessible ramp from the sanctuary side.

For more information about the project, including suggestions for how to walk a labyrinth, see tuccwboro.com/rosegardenlabyrinth. 

See also this linked “shared folder” on Google drive for photos chronicling the process.

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