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 provides a new ministry opportunity for our community. 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 the church for further information.
		Walk the Labyrinth
		Experience individual, solitary prayer. The Labyrinth lays out a pathway, leading inevitably to the center. While walking it in silence, the labyrinth assists us in coming to quiet and recollection, which often enables deep prayer. We experience the labyrinth as three-fold path: Releasing - the path to the center aides us in releasing; a time of loosening our cares and concerns. Receiving - the time of prayer and meditation in the Center, where we may stay as long as we like, receiving what God offers us. Integrating - from the center outward, the path leads us back to where sd 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 built in the French cathedral Notre Dame 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.