Labyrinth

Prayer Labyrinth at HUMC 

During Holy Week April 10th – April 15th, a Labyrinth will be at Harrisburg UMC in Room 13.  You are invited to sign up to walk and experience this spiritual tool for meditation and prayer.  Sign up.

The hours will be 1 – 7 p.m Sunday, April 10th through Thursday, April 14th and on Friday, April 15, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Enter through the side (narthex) door, up the ramp, room 13 is the first room on your left.

The picture is of the Labyrinth at Lake Junaluska, NC

What is a Labyrinth and how is it Christian prayer? 

A labyrinth is a tool to use in contemplative prayer and meditation.  It is a geometrically designed walking paths leading to and from a central point. It is not a maze; you cannot get lost. There are no dead ends or blind alleys, it has only one path leading both in and out of the center. The point is not disorientation, but orientation helping you to attend to God’s presence in your life.   

Walking the labyrinth can clear the mind and give insight into our spiritual journey.  The labyrinth does nothing on it is own.  it is simply a tool for many people in deepening their prayer lives.    

Labyrinths have been used for centuries to facilitate prayer and meditation. The most famous prayer labyrinth today is probably the one in the Chartres Cathedral. There are several typical designs: the “classical” design of seven rings, and the “medieval” design of 11 circuits in four quadrants. (from: https://www.guideposts.org/faith-and-prayer/prayer-stories/pray-effectively/4-ways-to-pray-in-a-labyrinth) 

Our Christian life can be described as a journey with God, bringing us ever closer in our relationship with God and with others. A prayer walk labyrinth provides a metaphor model of our Christian life journey as we face many turns we did not expect in our search for a quiet center.  Some gently curving sections of the prayer walk allow us to move easily and quickly; others slow us down and catch our attention as they turn us abruptly in the opposite direction. The path may begin by leading us deceptively toward the center, only to circle around it and then move away. (from: https://www.lcrchurch.org/worship/prayer-walk-labyrinth) 

Why Walk the Labyrinth? 

• Walking into a Labyrinth is a symbol of entering into something, learning what there is to learn, and then moving on with life.  
• A Labyrinth walk can represent a life journey, a pilgrimage to a sacred place, or a prayer that brings us to God.  

• It can be a way of intentionally and reflectively facing a problem or issue.  
• Sometimes you may walk the Labyrinth looking for an answer.  
• You may simply walk to be open to what comes.  
• A Labyrinth walk is a spiritual and personal journey, and therefore it is a sacred path 

(from https://bdrc.org/documents/2018/2/Walking%20the%20Labyrinth-2.pdf) 

Ways to pray using a Labyrinth 

There is no right or wrong way to walk a prayer labyrinth. The only rules are to respect the prayer walk and others who are there. Simply begin, focusing on a quiet mind and open heart that allows God to accompany you. The following are some simple instructions and suggestions and that will assist you in maximizing the experience. 

An often used process for the walk includes: 

             The Journey In: as you open your mind to spend this time in the presence of God. 

             The Center: where you can pause, pray or simply “be in the moment.” 

             The Journey Out: that allows you to reflect and gradually return to your daily world. 

What a Prayer Walk may mean to you 

• Listening for God’s voice or message to you. Quiet your mind, focusing on God and the walk.  
• Releasing Worries and Cares. As you Journey In, lay down a worry or care with each step, remembering that Christ said, “Come to me all who are heavy-laden and I will give you rest.” At the Center, receive the gift that God wants to offer you today.  As you Journey out, thank God for the peace resulting from the walk in and pray for continued peace as you return to the work of your day. 
• Confession, Repentance and Forgiveness. Ask God to be with you, Journey In with reflection and confession. At the Center, ask God for guidance and direction for the future. Journey Out listening for God’s voice and giving thanks for his presence. 
• Discovering Your Vocation or Calling. As you Journey In, listen for God’s message to you, asking for his support. At the Center, concentrate on the gifts and talents he has given you. As you Journey Out, pray for guidance and strength to equip and sustain you in His service. 

• A Walk of Thanksgiving and Gratitude. As you Journey In, with each step think of something for which you are thankful. In the Center, stop and thank God for the people and blessings you remember. On the Journey Out, experience the joy of those remembered blessings and the people of God who have been part of each blessing.
    
• A Walk of Remembrance. As you Journey In, remember the person or event you are focusing on; the joys and special times you shared. If it’s an event, feel the joy of experiencing that special time and the people who helped make it such a blessing. In the Center, thank God for this person or event that has made your life special. On the Journey Out, open your mind and heart to people and/or events that currently add meaning to your life.  

(from https://www.lcrchurch.org/worship/prayer-walk-labyrinth)