Covenant News

Labyrinth Serves as 'Guided Prayer Walk'

EL CAJON, CA (March 16, 2005) - Members of Community Covenant Church are being introduced this Lenten season to a new form of spiritual journey that is rapidly spreading through evangelical circles.

Sunday through Wednesday of Holy Week, congregants will be able to walk a labyrinth. "I've started thinking of it as similar to nature walks where you stop at certain marked places to stop and pay attention," says Lydia Phillips, a Community Covenant member. Youth for Christ defines a labyrinth as an "interactive, one-hour guided prayer walk." A labyrinth was set up for youth workers at the Evangelical Covenant Church's Youth Workers' Connection.

At first glance, labyrinths look like a circular maze, but actually there is only one way in and one way out, with no places where the walker has to make a decision on where to turn. The use of labyrinths began thousands of years ago and has been adopted by Christians over the centuries. In the modern versions, walkers often receive headphones that give them instructions on what to do at each of the stations.

One of the stations at Community Covenant's labyrinth includes a map with a compass. People are asked to consider what is true north in their lives, Phillips cites as one example. "And, what are the things that keep people from following Jesus?

"The labyrinth helps you to take time and slow down," Phillips continues. "For me it is a process of letting go so that I can pay attention to what God is saying." She adds that the most meaningful part of the journey for her was receiving communion at the center of the labyrinth. The path leads into the communion table and then out again from the table, she says. The path out is like preparing to re-enter the world.

Phillips cautions that people should not walk the labyrinth expecting a spiritual experience to happen. "For some people, it's very meaningful and for others it's not," she notes. Phillips acknowledges that walking a labyrinth will seem strange to some people. "Once they understand what it is, they won't feel so uncomfortable," she says. There may not be an overwhelming number of people who sign up to make the journey, but Phillips explains, "These types of things are not about quantity, but quality."

Phillips was introduced to the labyrinth at a national pastors' conference two years ago. The labyrinth at Community Covenant was designed from a kit purchased through Group Publishing.

Using a design from the kit, Phillips painted the 24-by-36-foot labyrinth on four tarps that are fitted together. The labyrinth will be placed in the church's sanctuary. Church members sign up for times to walk the labyrinth so they won't be distracted in making the journey. The walk can take between and hour and an hour and a half, Phillips says.

Walking the labyrinth is an attempt by the church to add new opportunities for spiritual growth. Last year, the church set up stations of the cross that members could walk. To learn more about the church and its ministries, visit the church website at www.communitycovenantchurch.org.

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