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Abstract

While excellent resources are available to teach people how to use labyrinths in personal ways, there are fewer guides available for seeking Christian community awareness using that same tool. This essay seeks to explore the value of a labyrinth as a sacred space, and it offers several novel suggestions for incorporating the labyrinth into the rhythms of the church. Although very little is known about how medieval Christians utilized the labyrinth, today’s Christians can still experience God in those same spaces. People need physical spaces in which they can gather in unexpected ways—places where they can explore their spiritual creativity in community. Churches are encouraged to consider how a labyrinth might be specifically used to foster community prayer and devotion. For example, the space could be used for commemorating life passages, allowing community prayers to be offered, remembering the liturgical calendar, practicing lectio divina, celebrating intergenerational solidarity, and exploring community discernment. Finally, churches are invited to practice hospitality by sharing their labyrinth space with guests.

Author Bio

Denice Knight-Slater has been an educator for over a decade, and she currently teaches dual-credit courses through Colorado Christian University. She graduated from the University of Alaska with a B.S. in Biology (1996) and a B.A. in Anthropology (1999). Following employment with the USDA and the University of Arizona, she placed her science career on hold when she and her husband, Todd, were blessed with a child. She later completed an M.A. in Literary Criticism at Prescott College and an M.A. in Theological Studies at Austin Graduate School of Theology (now Lipscomb University–Austin Center). She enrolled at Abilene Christian University in 2020, and she is currently pursuing her D.Min, wherein her doctoral project will address ways to blend ministry and discipleship with academic courses in literature. She is happily settled in her home in Spring Branch, Texas with her husband and their son, Colton. Denice’s primary research interests include youth ministry, feminist literary criticism, and Christian mysticism.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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