Worship Unplugged # 17 Labyrinth

Last Sunday I was invited to lead Spirited Worship at Charlestown [a home town gig] and having done some work with the young adults responsible we prepared and led a worship using a labyrinth. I was reminded of their potential by colleagues choosing that as their contribution to worship at a recent national network gathering.
The following Introduction was handed out at the beginning and a few instructions given:

INTRODUCTION
 The Labyrinth
A labyrinth is a simple path that you walk around. In Christian worship context its a path you walk as an aid to contemplation and reflection on your relationship with God. They are found in various religious traditions dating back to 2500 BCE.

A labyrinth is not a maze. It has one path in and out without dead ends or tricks. There are some narrow paths and some wider sections.

There are many ways to approach the labyrinth. In the past people might walk it before a significant occasion such as the eve of their baptism or the lead up to Easter. It can be seen as a centering exercise to help you focus on God or as an allegory [or story] of your life. As you walk you sometimes find yourself close to God only to then move away closer to the edge.

You can use your journey to:
«          Walk with God. Just relax, quieten your mind and listen to God as you walk.
«          Read & participate in the activity suggested at points along the way.
«          Pray
«          Think about the central theme of tonights worship: attitude
«          When you get to share food and drinks after your walk you are invited to discuss the
            central Biblical theme or to share about your experience of the journey.

Please start and go at your own pace. Dont overcrowd the labyrinth.
Its designed to take less than an hour.
You might want to take off your shoes but its not compulsory.
Quietly pass others and dont feel you have to speed up if others pass you.

We come together to worship God.
Be aware of Gods place in the scheme of things.
Seek a spirituality of justice and a life giving hope.
Accept an invitation to take a small detour on your journey by entering the labyrinth.
This is a reflective and yet an active worship journey encouraging you to think about: attitudes.
Take the time you need and see where God might lead Gods people.

Heres a Bible passage to reflect on while you wait to begin:

A Translation of Colossians 1: 15-29 [Rob H]
Jesus is the image of the invisible God. All of creation is interdependent with him and he is the head of the body. [a great metaphor for the people of God, the church]
Through the cross we are reconciled with God. No longer needing to be estranged, hostile or distant from God, we can keep the faith and hold onto the hope which Jesus represents.
The Apostle Paul would fully agree and energetically served the truth that Jesus unlocks the mystery of God and offers new life in us and through us to all others.

Give this form of worship a chance and be encouraged to discuss your experience or reflections with others over food and drinks at the end.
 
The labyrinth was painted onto two purple king size sheets and involved stations along the journey rather than just a 'walk'. We used the July 18 lectionary and hence the story of Mary and Martha to focus on our "Attitudes".

Stations involved:
1. Writing prayers, hopes or thanks for the journey on a cut out footprint and placing that in the first lane of the labyrinth as you started walking
2. Candle lighting to reflect on God with us
3. Time to stop and just "be" watching footage from the local beach on a televideo just at the side of the pathway
4. Reflection on the reading and some questions
5. Giving an offering and taking a coloured stone as a reflection of our uniqueness and value to God
6. Big screen rear projected powerpoint images inspired prayers for others... carried out by either signing an amnesty postcard, reading and praying about a news clipping or tracing your prayers in a bowl of water representing the tears of God
7. Lastly take a chocolate as a reward for being willing to walk and one for someone else for a reason of your choosing
8. Supper was set up and hearty finger food provided with good coffee as people were encouraged to share about their experience or their reflections on the story

It went pretty well after some inhibited response and could have used two more activities as originally envisaged. The labyrinth was tight and narrow in spots but will be improved by a larger canvass base once a set of consistent activities are developed for use with it.

I was too busy or distracted to take pictures unfortunately!!