Make Your Own Labyrinth for Holy Week 2021

Original drawing by Jeff Saward, final graphic by Vicki Keiser. For more information, go to: https://labyrinthsociety.org/download-a-labyrinth/

Labyrinths are an ancient tool for meditation and centering. ​ Their construction and use is older than Christianity, but, Christians adapted them to Christian practice. Here is information about two of them:

• The labyrinth in the Cathedral at Chartres: www.luc.edu/medieval/labyrinths/chartres.shtml
• The Pilgrim Lodge Labyrinth: https://www.pilgrimlodge.org/how-to-rent-pilgrim-lodge/labyrinth/v

This Holy Week, we're inviting you to make a labyrinth of your own or come use the one we're going to draw in the church parking lot. I asked the Lazure family to do a test run of these instructions for us: https://labyrinthsociety.org/make-a-labyrinth​.

Here's their tips and tricks: 
We did the labyrinth and it worked out really well. It took us about 30 minutes to draw it, and then the girls added some decorations, also with chalk. We used easter egg sidewalk chalks from Dollar General and it used 1 box of 4 (used up 2/3 of each egg). It was important to sweep the area clear ahead of time to make the chalk work best.

I annotated the instruction sheet from the website with some details on how we did it and I've attached here photos from Sunday. I think it would be easily do-able with kids/adults in the church lot if there's a clear sunny day. ​Annotated Instruction sheet can be accessed here. 

After you make your labyrinth or come to church to walk the labyrinth:
There is a pastor and scholar named Rev. Dr. Jill Geoffrion who writes about prayer and labyrinths.  I've adapted her recommendations for prayer near the Chartres labyrinth to help us pray as we walk our labyrinths. 

Pray in one of the following ways, or another that comes to you:

• Follow the path with your eyes (instead of your feet).
• Follow the path with your feet.
• Use your breath to pray. Inhale, taking the labyrinth and its beauty into you. Exhale, sharing your love with all those who will come to pray here later. Inhale beauty. Exhale love.
• Say the Lord's Prayer as you walk. 
• Write out your own prayer that is coming to your mind and heart as you walk.
• As you walk the labyrinth, consider these questions: “God what do you want to show me? What do you want me to see/notice/experience?”
• Notice if there is a certain part of the labyrinth you want to stand on. Go there and pray.
• Take your Bible (a paper one or one on your phone). Stop and read a favorite scripture as you walk.