About Us

From the Spirit Service - Labyrinth

This first Sunday of the month we practice in the form of a Labyrinth walk. This form uses our prayer candles, communion and a walking meditation. The labyrinth, for some, brings forth life metaphors. When first entering you may seem close to the center but soon you realize that it takes much longer to get there. The center presents itself just when it seems farthest. Sharing the space with others can be a spiritual connection - passing one another, drifting away, walking in parallel only to turn away and then again towards. For others, the simple act of walking quietly helps to turn off the buzz in their minds so they may hear God's voice. Often people walk with specific questions or to create a spiritual space or to open their hearts. Our labyrinth is borrowed from St. Benedict's Episcopal Church and we thank them for their generosity. Please remove your shoes before walking. And if this form of walking prayer is especially meaningful to you and you would like to do more, we also have a labyrinth downstairs in the Social Hall that is open the 1st Friday of each month. You are invited to come and go any time that evening between 5:30 pm and 7:00 pm.

Labyrinth is an interactive installation for spiritual journeys. It's for anyone who wants a break from surfing the surface of culture to contemplate the deeper things of life.

Labyrinth reshapes a 12th-century ritual for the 21st century. Its maze-like path takes you on a symbolic journey, creates space to unwind and think - in particular about our relationships with ourselves, one another, our planet and God.

Designed for young and old alike, it provides a mixture of rituals and visuals, of contemplative words and contemporary ambient music, of symbols and media to help guide the spiritual traveller.

Labyrinths were a feature of many medieval cathedrals - one of the best remaining examples is found in Chartres Cathedral in northern France. Unlike a maze they have only one path - there are no dead ends. People walk the labyrinth slowly, as an aid to contemplative prayer and reflection, as a spiritual exercise, or as a form of pilgrimage.

This contemporary version includes music, meditations, art, media and symbolic activities at intervals along the path. Participants walk the Labyrinth with a CD player and headphones, in their own relaxing soundworld, at their own pace. Each track on the CD contains meditations, instructions and music relating to a part of the labyrinth.

The path has three stages - the 'inward' journey, the centre and the 'outward' journey. The theme of the 'inward' journey is letting go of things which hinder our wholeness and inner approach to God. The centre of the Labyrinth is a space of meditative prayer and peace. The theme of the 'outward' journey is relationship - with ourselves, with others and with the planet - seen in the light of our relationship with God. -- from http://labyrinth.org.uk/

From April 17, 2006 Your New Morning Daybook (email newsletter) "Centering"

Labyrinth Time

For several years I've been in charge of the labyrinth ministry at our church in Greenwich Village, New York. This means that every couple months, we take our canvas labyrinth out of its storage tub, spread it out in the main meeting room, and invite the community in to walk. It's a replica of the labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral in France, which was hand-painted by Veriditas, the voice of worldwide labyrinth project.

In the last decade, I've heard of labyrinths being installed in churches, retreat centers, spas, hospitals, businesses, and other community centers. This tool for walking meditation has proven to be helpful for stress reduction and creative thinking.

But, as Timberly points out in the New Morning show about "Sacred Time," a labyrinth walk is not just a walk in the park; it has for centuries been a symbol of a spiritual journey.

In the Middle Ages, when it was too dangerous for pilgrims to go to the Holy Land, they went to European cathedrals where walking the labyrinth was the final phase of their pilgrimage.

In Christian spirituality, the inner journey of the spiritual life is often described as "centering down." A labyrinth walk with its three parts is a wonderful way to do this. Each part calls for a different use of sacred time.

Moving inward is a time to discard, unwrap, forget, or step out of guilts, resentments, failures, shames, insecurities; habitual ways of being and doing; old notions about ourselves, our neighbors, and God; and the noise, demands, and distractions all around us.

Standing in the center is a time to be open, expectant, and receptive to the gifts of life and the grace of God; an inner voice; a blessing, new possibility, and sense of freedom.

Moving outward is a time to feel comforted and filled with new energy so that you can reaffirm your intentions to live a spiritual life; rest in the assurance of God's unconditional love; move away from anxiety, guilt, and despair toward peace, faith, and trust; and prepare to act upon your commitments.

Of course, you don't have to physically walk a labyrinth to go through this process. You can also do this walk in your imagination or as a guided meditation.

posted on Monday, August 22, 2005 6:45 PM by Mary Ann Brussat