Labyrinth available to local churches

The Adult Discipleship Team of the North Alabama Conference recently purchased a large canvas labyrinth to be used as a tool for spiritual development. Patterned after the labyrinth inlaid on the floor of the Chartres Cathedral in France, the labyrinth is 30 feet in diameter and for indoor use only. It is available for use free of charge by local churches and ministry groups connected with the North Alabama Conference.

The labyrinth is an ancient symbol and tool for meditation. Its use in Christian churches began in the early 13th century, when conflict in the Holy Land prevented medieval Christians from making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The labyrinth served as a substitute for the journey. Today, labyrinths are widely used by Christians as well as people of other faith traditions for spiritual formation.

Walking the labyrinth can be a contemplative practice that provides space for growing self-awareness and quieting the mind in the midst of the distractions of everyday life. In Christianity, contemplative practices such as the labyrinth are modeled by the spiritual practices of Jesus and the ancient traditions of the Church. One may also celebrate and express joy while walking the labyrinth. There is no limit to the ways it can be used to grow spiritually. The Adult Discipleship Team has created a document to assist leaders in in the many different ways a labyrinth can be used.

The canvas labyrinth is intended to be used in a large indoor space. A complete description of the labyrinth and instructions for its use will be provided when the request to use it is received and confirmed. The labyrinth belongs to the North Alabama Conference and can be reserved by completing this form. When your reservation is confirmed, you will receive a link to a document with instruction and suggested resources for its use. The document also includes a Covenant of Care to which you must agree to use the labyrinth.

The labyrinth is stored at the Methodist Center in Birmingham. Because of its weight and size, shipping is cost-prohibitive; however, the Adult Discipleship Team will assist in finding a way to make sure it gets to requesting churches.