The First Congregational Church in Alexandria, Minnesota, has inaugurated a permanent labyrinth in its basement, a space designed for meditation and spiritual reflection. This initiative stems from a heartfelt community response to the legacy of Dr. Mike Mosleth, a beloved member of the church who passed away unexpectedly during a pilgrimage in Ireland.
The labyrinth serves as both a symbol of connection and a tool for contemplation. Marcie Watson, a retired Lutheran spiritual director, emphasizes that a labyrinth is distinct from a maze. “A labyrinth is not a maze,” Watson stated. “It’s designed to be a walking meditation, allowing individuals to focus on their thoughts as they move along a singular path.”
The unique design of the labyrinth facilitates what Watson describes as “embodied prayer.” As participants walk the circuitous path, they find themselves at the center, a space that symbolizes a union with the divine. “It’s about letting go of worries as you walk in, experiencing God’s presence at the center, and feeling connected to the universe as you walk out,” she explained.
Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders, who has been pivotal in introducing the labyrinth to the church community, noted that this practice of walking prayer is steeped in history. “This goes back to the Middle Ages when people would create labyrinths as a symbolic journey to the Holy Land,” she said. The new labyrinth takes inspiration from the famous labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral in France and aims to help individuals focus on their spiritual journeys.
The journey to establishing this permanent labyrinth began approximately four years ago when the church borrowed a canvas labyrinth for an Ash Wednesday service. After the service, the labyrinth was opened to the community, leading to a pivotal moment when Mosleth, a retired physician with a keen interest in holistic healing, connected with Sanders.
On a trip to Ireland, while visiting a retreat center that featured a labyrinth, tragedy struck when Mosleth suffered a fatal medical emergency. Following his death, Mosleth’s children, Amanda Choudary and Tim Mosleth, approached Sanders with a desire to honor their father’s legacy. “They wanted to create a permanent labyrinth that would be accessible to the entire community,” Sanders recalled.
The project, funded entirely by Mosleth’s children, was brought to life with the help of Lisa Moriarty, an artist affiliated with The Labyrinth Society. She completed the intricate painting of the labyrinth in October 2023, following necessary renovations to the church’s basement.
Sanders expressed her gratitude for the culmination of this vision, highlighting how the labyrinth resonates with Mosleth’s values of holistic healing. “I cannot imagine how pleased Mike would be if he knew what his children had done,” she remarked. “This labyrinth represents a space of healing and connection, precisely what he envisioned.”
As the labyrinth opens its doors to the community, the First Congregational Church invites all to engage with this ancient practice of prayer and reflection, ensuring that the spirit of connection and healing continues to thrive within the church and the wider community.
