The labyrinth has been called a “watering hole for the spirit” by Lauren Artress, founder and director of Veriditas, the home of the modern-day labyrinth movement. So, how did an 11-circuit Chartres style Labyrinth find its way to the Church of the Palms?

Max Klinkenborg, a Sun City transplant from Kansas City, MO is an member of the Church of the Palms since he arrived in Sun City eight years ago. When the church was planning to celebrate it’s 50th anniversary in 2019, there was a proposal that we build a labyrinth on the property. Klinkenborg had laid out four Chartres Labyrinths in the Springfield, IL area and offered to do that again on the property west of the building nearest to 103rd Avenue. 

A committee was organized and volunteers were recruited to build the labyrinth with paths defined by small rocks. A gravel base was established before the paths were said out with the rocks. Some time after the dedication of the labyrinths a peace pole designed by artist Dawn Delaney was placed in the center with blue glass that is lite at night. The French cemetery cross was placed on a mound at the edge of the labyrinth.

Klinkenborg realized people with walkers or wheelchairs could not use the large labyrinth with its narrow paths and incline, so a second three circuit labyrinth was designed and built with access from the sidewalk on level ground and wide paths. Then, in 2022, Klinkenborg added a Native American medicine wheel that is aligned on a north/south axis. The peace pole, the French cross and the three sacred circles provide a meditative sanctuary for these troubled times. 

The sacred circles were built as a gift for the Sun City community and are available 24/7.

Klinkenborg and his wife Kay were introduced to the labyrinth at a weekend walk led by Artress, the mother of the labyrinth in the United States.  Later they attended a week long class at New Harmony led by Artress to become leaders of labyrinth events. They purchased a canvas labyrinth and led monthly events at Judson Baptist Church in Chatham, IL.

The labyrinths at the Church of the Palms, 14808 N. Boswell Blvd., are open to the public and can be walked by anyone at anytime. The small three-circuit labyrinth can be walked with a walker or wheelchair.