Labyrinth Ministry

Belle Chasse United Methodist Church

Extending Christ's Love to Belle Chasse, the Westbank and Beyond

Our Labyrinth Ministry

The Labyrinth of Belle Chasse United Methodist Church is a new means for ministry. The labyrinth is an ancient spiritual tool found in many cultures and religious traditions. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth is a one-path design, with no decisions, tricks or dead-ends.

We offer Labyrinth Walks periodically at the Belle Chasse Auditorium. We also offer to bring our Labyrinth to other churches and groups and help guide a Labyrinth experience for them. This Labyrinth is a gift in memory of Reverend and Mrs. M. D. Felder by Tom and Dorothy Kimball. If your church or group is interested in a Labyrinth Walk email Dorothy Kimball for futher information.

Walk the Labyrinth

Experience individual, solitary prayer. The Labyrinth is a pathway, leading inevitably to the center. While walking it in silence, an individual is assisted in coming to quiet and recollection, which might enable prayer. Experiencing the labyrinth may bee seen as three-fold path:

Releasing - the path to the center is a releasing; a time of letting go of cares and concerns.
Receiving - the time of prayer and meditation in the Center, where you may stay as long as you like. Receive what God is offering you.
Intergrating - from the center, the path leads you back to where you started, renewed and empowered to follow God's lead.

History of the Labyrinth

Early Christians labyrinths date back to the 4th century. In the Middle Ages, Christians were expected to travel to the Holy Land at least once during their lives. As travel became more dangerous during the Crusades, certain cathedrals throughout Europe were designed as "pilgrim cathedrals." Christians would travel to those cathedrals where they would walk a labyrinth laid in the cathedral's stone floor. The design of a labyrinth often varied from one cathedral to another. In modern times, labyrinth designs are named for medieval cathedral in which they were originally constructed.

The Rheims Cathedral Replica® Labyrinth

Our Rheims Cathedral Replica® labyrinth faithfully replicates the original medieval design build in the French cathedral Notre Dave de Rheims, northeast of Paris. Built sometime between 1287 and 1311 of white and black marble, the Reims labyrinth was created during the height of the medieval labyrinth build period in the 13th century. The design was based on the octagon, an eight sided figure. The rebirth symbolism of the number eight is often incorporated into baptismal fonts. building labyrinths with this powerful association must truly have resonated medieval pilgrims visiting these cathedrals.


	Belle Chasse United Methodist Church
	*Extending Christ's Love to Belle Chasse, the Westbank and Beyond*

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		Our Labyrinth Ministry
		The Labyrinth of Belle Chasse United Methodist Church is a new means for ministry. The labyrinth is an ancient spiritual tool found in many cultures and religious traditions. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth is a one-path design, with no decisions, tricks or dead-ends. We offer Labyrinth Walks periodically at the Belle Chasse Auditorium. We also offer to bring our Labyrinth to other churches and groups and help guide a Labyrinth experience for them. This Labyrinth is a gift in memory of Reverend and Mrs. M. D. Felder by Tom and Dorothy Kimball. If your church or group is interested in a Labyrinth Walk email Dorothy Kimball for futher information.

		Walk the Labyrinth
		Experience individual, solitary prayer. The Labyrinth is a pathway, leading inevitably to the center. While walking it in silence, an individual is assisted in coming to quiet and recollection, which might enable prayer. Experiencing the labyrinth may bee seen as three-fold path: Releasing - the path to the center is a releasing; a time of letting go of cares and concerns. Receiving - the time of prayer and meditation in the Center, where you may stay as long as you like. Receive what God is offering you. Intergrating - from the center, the path leads you back to where you started, renewed and empowered to follow God's lead.

		History of the Labyrinth
		Early Christians labyrinths date back to the 4th century. In the Middle Ages, Christians were expected to travel to the Holy Land at least once during their lives. As travel became more dangerous during the Crusades, certain cathedrals throughout Europe were designed as "pilgrim cathedrals." Christians would travel to those cathedrals where they would walk a labyrinth laid in the cathedral's stone floor. The design of a labyrinth often varied from one cathedral to another. In modern times, labyrinth designs are named for medieval cathedral in which they were originally constructed.

		The Rheims Cathedral Replica® Labyrinth
		Our Rheims Cathedral Replica® labyrinth faithfully replicates the original medieval design build in the French cathedral Notre Dave de Rheims, northeast of Paris. Built sometime between 1287 and 1311 of white and black marble, the Reims labyrinth was created during the height of the medieval labyrinth build period in the 13th century. The design was based on the octagon, an eight sided figure. The rebirth symbolism of the number eight is often incorporated into baptismal fonts. building labyrinths with this powerful association must truly have resonated medieval pilgrims visiting these cathedrals.