Labyrinth Ministry

Regular opportunities to walk Kirkwood’s permanent indoor labyrinth, open to the entire community, are scheduled and listed on the church calendar.

Personal prayer is private. It is a moment when we, isolated within ourselves, strive to become locked in with God. It is a moment when alone - though perhaps among others – we try to rise above the where and when of our lives; to be lifted beyond the here and now, into His presence through Jesus Christ, in us and with us. Walking the labyrinth laid into the floor tiles of Fellowship Hall is not a magic path to that moment. But it is one of many trails on the map of Christianity that may lead us to express our needs and yearnings to Him and seek, in silence, for His answer.

How does this labyrinth fit into our Christian-Presbyterian (USA) worship? There has been a sincere controversy about what relationship Christians should have with labyrinths, if any. Certainly they date back into the pagan fog of pre-history. As surely, labyrinths are a physical link to early and medieval Christian churches. The earliest was likely in the fourth-century basilica of Reparatus, Orleansville, Algeria and the most famous is in the 12th century Cathedral of Chartres. A Google will bring up more historic sites and a long list of current Congregations, U.S. and worldwide, that have labyrinths, permanent or canvas. The Presbyterian Church (USA), and our Kirkwood Session agree, the labyrinth is a tool to promote worship and prayer.

Christians don’t pray to the labyrinth or hold it holy. It is inanimate, incognizant; it is not an idol or a symbol. It is a path, a road, a pilgrim trail. It is like the trail climbers take up and down Mount Everest. Like that trail it has stops along the way. Stops to catch a breath, to rest, to see where we are – where we are going, and why, to ask for help in getting there, to pray. Also, like Everest, it has a center, a peak, before the pilgrim/climber heads home.

So, we get from the labyrinth only what we take to it. Its only use is to break out of our hectic lives a span of time for us pilgrims to focus on communication with Jesus and God the Father. If we approach it as Christians, we leave it as Christians – carrying away whatever we have received, not from the labyrinth, but from our relationship with God.

For more information about when labyrinth walks are scheduled, contact the office at 703-451-5320.