First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ
Labyrinth...
What's a labyrinth? It's a path that leads you to a center point and then outward once again. Labyrinths have been used by Christians and non-Christians as a path of prayer, meditation and healing for centuries. They appear all over the world in the stone floors of medieval churches in Europe, cut into the turf of English village greens, in ancient villages of Peru and Egypt!
Today, people find that labyrinths still answer complex human needs. It's possible to lose our typical sense of space and time so that we are fully present in the moment as we walk. Unlike a maze, the labyrinth has a single path. There are no decisions to make about where to go! The path itself leads to the center and then out again.
Some people repeat a short prayer as they walk the labyrinth (Maybe the famous Jesus Prayer, for example: "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy"). Others name an intention and focus on that intention (something like "to live in peace", or "compassion"). Others reflect on their personal lives and journeys. Some people take time to sit at the center of the labyrinth and pray.
For generations, spiritual seekers have found that walking the labyrinth is a way of centering, focusing and finding new direction in life.
We are blessed with two labyrinths at First Congo.
You'll find our Amiens labyrinth at the entrance of our sanctuary. It's quite large and made of inlaid wood. It's an Amiens-style - patterned after the labyrinth found in the Amiens Cathedral of France, created in the 12th century. Most people find that it takes 30 to 45 minutes to walk this labyrinth.
A more public, outdoor labyrinth is located just south of the church building. You can walk it anytime, and some people find it especially meaningful to experience the labyrinth in the flow and midst of a public setting and neighborhood, with all the sounds and activity that may accompany that. This is a Chartres-style labyrinth, patterned after the labyrinth found in the stone floor of the Chartres Cathedral in France.
You can also call the church office (278-6786, ext. 3) to schedule a time to walk the labyrinth - either personally or with a group.