LABYRINTH

We pause at the door leading to LABYRINTH to pray.

 

And then the door is opened and LABYRINTH revealed.

We read in the LABYRINTH guide: "You are on a journey: a journey toward God. A journey toward the center of the labyrinth and out again. A journey of receiving . . . and then giving. . . . As you move towards the center of the labyrinth, confess and let go of things that hinder your relationship with God. Prepare your inner self – the you of you – to meet with God.

Still Waters
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want . . . He leads me beside still waters." Psalm 23: 1-2

"Take a stone from the pile. Imagine that all your concerns and worries are held in the stone . . . . Hold the stone over the pool of water. In your own time let it go. Watch your concerns and worries fall. Imagine them falling into God's lap. . . ."

Headlines at the Cross
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities." Isaiah 53:5

 

". . . Christ chose to come among us, to take on our wounds, and to find out first hand how hard it is to be human. In the terrible mystery of the cross, our pain became his own. . . . Find a newspaper headline that reflects our world's brokenness, or write one of your own on a slip of paper. . . . Tape it to the cross, remembering that in everything, God works for wholeness.

Candles of Care
"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" Psalm 27:1

"In the Quaker tradition, praying for a person is known as 'holding that person in the light.' . . . God's love can illuminate even the most difficult circumstances. . . . Is there a person, place, or concern that is weighing on your heart today? Light a candle . . . as you imagine God's light entering that person's life. . . ."

Footprints
"The human mind plans the way, but the LORD directs the steps." Proverbs 16:9

" . . . Take a moment to consider how your words and actions have affected others today: both your family and neighbors and unknown people you have never met. Leave a footprint in this tray of sand. . . . Pray that your presence in this world helps to reveal God's realm of peace and love.

The Feast at the Center
"While he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them." Luke 24:30

"This is holy space. God is here, and you are welcome. This is your space to be with God, and God's space to be with you. Make yourself at home. Be yourself. . . . Let God love you . . . know you . . . heal you . . . speak to you. . . . Commune with God. Feed on God."

Woven Together
"We are tied together in the single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. And whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly." Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

"All of us, from the very rich to the very poor, from the very powerful to the utterly powerless, are part of one human family. . . . We are all woven together into the single garment of humanity."

The Whole World
"The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it." Psalm 24:1

"The Children's song says the whole world is in God's hands: not only the human family, but all of nature, too. . . . Spin the globe, and stop it with your finger. . . . If you are touching land, pray for the people who live in that place. If you are touching water, pray for the animals and plants that make the ocean their home."

Journeying Outward

"As you leave this place, take your encounter with God with you. Reflect on how this experience might affect or change you. Think about taking the light you have received from God out into the world, and about what it might illuminate. Even if you are only a small spark, kindle the life and the light you received from the heart of the Son. You might blaze a trail, stand up for others, work for justice, protest on behalf of the innocent, carry a torch for the unloved, demonstrate for love. Demonstrate love itself."

Prayers for Peace

 
 
 

An invitation

This "summarization" of the LABYRINTH guide is offered for those who cannot journey through it in person. For all those who are able, we encourage you to come to Smithfield United Church of Christ, 620 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, and experience LABYRINTH for yourself.

The church will be accessible to pedestrians during the G20 summit and LABYRINTH can be traveled throughout the month of September (Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and Sundays before and after the 11:00 a.m. worship service, which you are welcome to attend.) LABYRINTH is on the first floor, straight ahead as you enter the church.

Plan also to visit our beautiful and historic sanctuary on the third floor. (Elevator access available.)

See also the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article on LABYRINTH here.

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  – through you and me!