Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.

40s & Under Virtual Open House for Younger Contemplatives
2023-07-15 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Online Zoom, Select a Country:
A monthly online community gathering for Younger Contemplatives (ages 21-49)
Hosted by:
Colleen Thomas
Contemplative Outreach Diversity Outreach Coordinator
One Saturday a month we meet via Zoom for a time of getting to know one another. At about 15 or so past the hour, we practice a 20-minute sit, followed by informal connecting with time for sharing and questions.
Join us! Please register for the Zoom here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIlcu6hrTstG9GnDKsIgIkppq_0W1s8et7J
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting.

Centering Prayer Eight-Day Retreat
2023-07-16 17:00 - 2023-07-23 13:00 UTC | Holy Spirit Retreat Center, 4316 Lanai Road, Encino, CA, 91436, United States
Presenter: Fr. Bill Sheehan, on the topic of The Third Consent: Letting Go of Everything
This retreat is for those who wish to strengthen and deepen their Contemplative Practice. Reflecting on Fr. Thomas Keating’s Third consent … consenting to the gift of our mortality. How can this vulnerable time in our lives become a time of thriving rather than a time of enduring. Fr. Sheehan will use Thomas Keating’s Invitation to Love, Cynthia Bourgeault’s Wisdom Jesus, and Vincent Pizzuto Contemplating Christ: The Gospels and the Interior Life as resources. Periods of Centering Prayer will be included in our time together. We will be in silence for meals, breaks and prayer time with discussion following each of Fr. Sheehan’s presentations.
Pre-requisite: experience of a silent retreat/a desire to grow in your contemplative practice.
Fee: $700.00—all rooms private
Register online at hsrcenter.com by June 10th
A non-refundable deposit of $50 is required when registering
For more information contact Marilyn Nobori at centeringprayer@hsrcenter.com or (818) 815-4480.

Presence, Prayer and Writing from the Heart
2023-07-18 16:00 - 2023-07-20 16:00 UTC | Trinity Retreat Center, 79 Lower River Road, West Cornwall, CT, 06796, United States
All of us have myriad stories to tell. Some involve our family history, spiritual journey, experiences in Nature, or a life-changing situation. Stories can take many forms, but the most compelling are the ones written from the heart, those that move us and sometimes transform both the writer and reader. Writing from the heart demands attentiveness, honesty, courage, and a commitment to engage with a creative process that pulls us into the unknown where we are often surprised at what surfaces. It’s a journey of discovery. And presence and prayer can help us along that journey.
This writing retreat is structured for those currently working on a project, those who want to start one, or those who simply desire to spend time in beautiful surroundings playing with words. In addition to Centering Prayer sessions—silence can be a portal to the Source of creativity and truth-telling—there will be ample opportunities to write, walk, think, and just be.
Please register using the link below.

7-day Intensive/Post-Intensive Centering Prayer Retreat
2023-07-23 14:00 - 2023-07-29 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Siena Retreat Center, Racine WI, 5637 Erie St, Racine, WI 53402, Racine, WI, 53402, United States
Join Ann Koerner, CSA and Sandy Janowski for either a seven-day Intensive or Post-Intensive Centering Prayer retreat at the Siena Retreat Center on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan in Racine, Wisconsin. This retreat gives you an opportunity to deepend the practice of Centering Prayer in an atmosphere of profound silence and community support. The Intensive Retreat track has up to six 30-minute Centering Prayer periods daily. The prayer is supported with viewing a selection of the Spiritual Journey video series by Fr. Thomas Keating. Soul friending with the retreat guides can be scheduled. The Post-Intensive Retreat track has up to seven 30-minute periods of Centering Prayer daily and a practice of Lectio Divina.
The cost of the retreat including room, meals and materials is $875 for private room with private bath. Siena Retreat Center is located 83 miles north of Chicago. There is elevator access to all floors. Check-in starts at 2:00 PM (Central) on Sunday, July 23rd with the retreat beginning at 3:30 PM (Central). The retreat concludes after lunch on Saturday, July 29th, at 1 PM (Central)

One-day Introductory Workshop
2023-07-29 10:00 - 15:30 (Europe/London) | The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay, UK, The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay The Green Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4AF, United Kingdom
We are excited to invite you to join us for a powerful workshop on Centering Prayer. This workshop will take place on July 29th from 10am to 4pm (GMT) at The Abbey Sutton Courtenay UK, and promises to be a transformative experience.
During the workshop, you will be guided you through the process of Centering Prayer, a method of contemplative prayer that connects with the divine element within yourself, and cultivate a deeper sense of peace and stillness in your daily life. Whether you are new to Centering Prayer or have been practicing for years, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding and experience of this powerful spiritual practice.
The Abbey Sutton Courtenay is a beautiful and tranquil setting, perfect for diving into the spiritual practice of Centering Prayer. You will have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and learn from one of the most respected teachers of Centering Prayer in the country.

The Mystical Path to a Joyful Life: Centering Prayer Retreat
2023-08-04 - 2023-08-05 | Internet – Online
Carl McColman will present on our topic interspersed with periods of group Centering Prayer and a few breakout discussions for those interested. We will gather 7-8:30 pm Central Time on 8/4/23 and 9 am – 3 pm Central Time on 8/5/23. We will record the presentation sessions in case you have to miss one.
Contact us with any questions.
Eventbrite registration link for the retreat is below.

Intro to Centering Prayer Weekend Retreat
2023-08-04 08:00 - 2023-08-06 11:30 UTC | St. Clare’s Retreat House in Soquel, California, 2381 Laurel Glen Rd, Soquel, CA, Soquel, CA, 95073, United States
Whether your interest is deepening your relationship with God, relief from the stress of daily life, or learning about contemplative prayer, why not take some time this summer to learn and practice Centering Prayer? There will be plenty of time to rest and enjoy the beautiful contemplative oasis of St. Clare’s Retreat House in the Santa Cruz mountains. The intention for this weekend retreat is to refresh the spirit and deepen our commitment to a regular practice of Centering Prayer. Beginner and experienced Centering Prayer practitioners are welcome.
Cost: from $240 (commuter) to $365, depending on room type.
Please register using the link below.

Monthly Centering Prayer Day Away Retreat
2023-08-04 09:45 - 14:15 UTC | St. Francis Springs Prayer Center, 477 Grogan Rd, Stoneville, NC, 27048, United States
We meet the first Friday of the month at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center, 477 Grogan Rd., Stoneville, NC. The day begins at 9:45 am with 20 minutes Centering Prayer at 10 am led by a volunteer of our Centering Prayer group of 15 regulars. We then break and participants go in silence; they may walk the beautiful paths, walk the labyrinth, read in the library, or sit in prayer in the the chapel or any of the beautiful places at St. Francis. We gather together for lunch at noon which is prepared by volunteers at St. Francis. After lunch we go back into silence and meet together again at 1:40 pm for Centering Prayer and at 2 pm we have a sharing conversation. The day concludes around 2:15 pm. Participants are free to stay the rest of the afternoon or leave for home.
The cost is $25 for the use of the facility and the meal. We plan to meet the first Friday of every month.
If anyone would like to join us, please email Ron McKinney at rbmgboro@gmail.com. Please email at least three days before the event so staff can be notified how many will be eating lunch. More information about St. Francis Prayer Center can be found at www.stfrancissprings.com.

8-Day Centering Prayer Intensive/Post-intensive Retreat with Fr. Bill Sheehan- retreat is now full
2023-08-04 16:30 - 2023-08-11 13:30 (America/Chicago) | Marianist Retreat & Conference Center, 4000 Highway 109, Eureka, MO, 63025, United States
This retreat is full, Thank you for your interest.
This retreat will offer both intensive and post-Intensive tracks simultaneously. The intensive track will include selected videos from Fr. Keating’s Spiritual Journey videos with discussion in addition to periods of Centering Prayer. The post-intensive track will not include the videos but will provide for additional periods of Centering Prayer, although the video sessions will be open to everyone. All participants will observe grand silence except when participating in the video sessions. We are so pleased that Fr. Sheehan will be returning to guide this retreat for Contemplative Outreach of St. Louis. (The times listed below are the arrival and departure times. The retreat will begin with dinner in the evening of August 4 and end after lunch on August 11.)
The retreat will be held at the Marianist Retreat Center in Eureka Missouri, just 25 minutes southwest of St Louis. The retreat center includes 120 beautiful acres of land along the Meramec River with trails through woods and meadows, a labyrinth, a sculpture garden, wildlife and many spots for prayer and meditation. The center is also home to an extensive collection of the art of Br. Mel Meyer. All rooms have private baths, and the cost of the retreat includes room and all meals.
The cost is $925 if registration and nonrefundable deposit is received by May 1, and $975 after that date. Partial scholarships are available.

Eight-Day Centering Prayer Retreat
2023-08-04 17:00 - 2023-08-11 17:00 (America/Chicago) | St. Mary’s Sewanee: The Ayres Center for Spiritual Development, 770 St. Mary's Lane, TN, 37375, United States
This retreat is an opportunity for practitioners of Centering Prayer to deepen their contemplative journey in the contemporary world. It is a week-long experience of integrating contemplation and action through silence, solitude, and community.
The retreat offers two tracks. The intensive track is recommended for people who have completed the introductory workshop and who have a regular practice of Centering Prayer. The post-intensive track is for those people who have previously made an eight-day intensive retreat. The post-intensive offers increased silence and additional periods of Centering Prayer. Both the intensive and post-intensive Centering Prayer retreat provide daily experiences of silence, solitude, walking, hiking, yoga, and spiritual companionship to foster an ever-deepening level of interior silence and awareness of the presence of God in everyday life.
Scholarship Assistance is available for those with financial need. Please contact Reservations for application, Reservations@stmaryssewanee.org, 931-598-5342.

Nurturing Silence
2023-08-05 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | Westminster Presbyterian Church (Iowa), 1301 Kimball Ave, Waterloo, IA, 50702, United States
You are Invited to “A Quiet Time Away”
Looking for a “time away” from the noise, the hustle, the pressures and more that seem to pursue us? You are invited to a 4 hour event on Saturday morning, September 23, 2023, 8:00 till noon, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Waterloo. The day will include time for
– Registration and light refreshments;
– Occasions for Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading of Scripture);
– Quiet time to utilize an indoor labyrinth, journal, read, walk indoors or outdoors, pray, etc.
– Participate in an introductory seminar (for people without experience with Centering Prayer).
All participants are asked to register by sending an email to us at coneiowa@gmail.com . Please register with a simple note, including your name and a phone number, on or before Monday, September 18. In this way we can know of your intent and can plan accordingly.
More information will be shared with those people who register for the event. We suggest a free will donation to cover the costs of the day.
“In Quietness and Rest shall be your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)
Photo above by Ries Bosch on Unsplash

Introduction to Lectio Divina via Zoom (part one)
2023-08-05 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Halifax) | Internet – Online
The Lectio Divina Service Team will present an Introduction to Monastic Lectio Divina.
This two part workshop will teach you how to pray with Scripture, be open to the promptings of the Spirit and lead you to a deeper and more profound encounter with the Word of God.
Part one : Saturday, August 5, 2023 @ 1:00 pm ET
Part two : Saturday, August 12, 2023 @ 1:00pm ET
Please register for the two part workshop using this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYuduqhqT4rHdDK52056W3wz1EJgcq41L6B
Further information: lesleywaterford@gmail.com

Wisdom School: Wisdom Rhythms & Conscious Relationships
2023-08-11 18:00 - 2023-08-16 12:00 (America/Denver) | Mercy Center Burlingame, 2300 Adeline Drive, Burlingame, CA, 94010, United States
In any moment, regardless of how significant or insignificant it may seem, we can offer ourselves as instruments, vessels, means by which worlds beyond can enter into this world, which has often been termed by several traditions ‘mixtus orbis.’ Wisdom teacher Cynthia Bourgeault often reminds us that this world’s dense conditions are not a mistake but a place where the rough material of our lives can be mixed with spiritual substances and nutrients from beyond and in so doing, something essential is created.
There is much to glean from the wisdom lineages in every tradition, including Christianity, about waking up to a different reality and orienting our lives to something more than our every day
circumstances. In the case of the Christian wisdom lineage, we can place our gaze towards the world beyond—kingdom of heaven, the imaginal realm—which is always in our midst when we
have eyes to see and ears to hear. When we can attune ourselves to this dimension, we can begin to draw from an endless wellspring and be of service to God in our day to day lives and
relationships. Drawing on the work of Cynthia Bourgeault, G.I. Gurdjieff, and others, this Wisdom School will focus on listening for the wisdom rhythms that deepen presence in our
three centers – intellectual, emotional, body – in order that we can perceive and act in accordance with the higher laws of the kingdom of heaven in cosmic servanthood and in particular in conscious relationships.
Join us in person at the Mercy Center in Burlingame. There will be an invitation to a ‘wisdom way of knowing’ through a daily rhythm with periods of silence, Centering Prayer, teaching,
conscious conversation, Gurdjieff Exercises and Movements, chanting, mindful work, lectio divina, and contemplative free time.
Required Reading (if you have not been to a wisdom school before): ‘Wisdom Way of Knowing’ by Cynthia Bourgeault
Retreat Leaders:
Heather Ruce, M.A. will be offering different teachings, Gurdjieff Movements and Seated Attention Exercises. She is a wisdom spiritual director with training in a neurophysiology based
approach to understanding the nervous system. She loves working with individuals as well as facilitating groups and retreats focused on learning and practicing the Christian Wisdom
Tradition.
Joy Andrews Hayter, Ph.D. will be supporting our wisdom school experience. She is a spiritual director, and Centering Prayer coordinator at Mercy Center. Joy is dedicated to fostering
contemplative practices such as Centering Prayer and others within the Christian Wisdom tradition that help us become aware of God’s ever-present love. As a scientist she sees in the
physical world an expression of that love.
Catherine Regan, Ph.D. will be supporting our wisdom school experience. She is a spiritual director, retired psychologist, and adjunct staff member at Mercy Center, primarily serving on the
Centering Prayer team. She has a special interest in participating in the reclamation of the Christian Wisdom tradition and fostering the contemplative practices so urgently needed at this
time in our world.
CONTACT
To register, please see the link below.
For further assistance, contact us at (650) 340-7474.
For more information visit: www.mercy-center.org
These are unprecedented times. If finances are an issue, please email us at registration@mercywmw.org for a learning grant discount code. We want to make sure our offerings are available to everyone.

Silent Saturday via Zoom: "Entering the Mystery of God"
2023-08-12 08:30 - 14:30 (Asia/Dubai) | Internet – Online
Contemplative Outreach of Columbus is offering a Virtual Silent Saturday via zoom. A Silent Saturday provides a few hours that are set aside for Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, spiritual teaching and reflection. “Come rest awhile with the Lord.”
8:30am-2:30pm Eastern Time
Fr Vinny McKiernan will discuss how Centering Prayer helps us align our hearts with the loving Presence and Mystery of God. Let us deepen our intimacy with God as God is. Fr. Vinny is a priest and member of the Paulists. He was introduced to Centering Prayer at the Cistercian monastery in Spencer, Massachusetts in the mid-70’s by the monks Basil Pennington and William Menninger. He has shared the method of Centering Prayer ever since. He has led countless Centering Prayer workshops and retreats.
There is no cost. Donations are welcome. Make your check out to Contemplative Outreach of Columbus and mail it to Tom Davis at 844 Franklin Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43205. Register by sending an email to Bob Gorman at
rbrtgorman@protonmail.com and he will send you the zoom link.

Introduction to Lectio Divina (part two) – via Zoom
2023-08-12 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Halifax) | Internet – Online
The Lectio Divina Service Team will present an Introduction to Monastic Lectio Divina. This workshop will teach you how to pray with Scripture, be open to the promptings of the Spirit and lead you to a deeper and more profound encounter with the Word of God.
Saturday, Aug 12, 2023, 1:00 PM Eastern Time
Further information: lesleywaterford@gmail.com
Free will donations are gratefully received.

5-day Centering Prayer Retreat
2023-08-13 - 2023-08-18 | Bethany Retreat Center, 1031 Germania Rd, Frenchville, PA, 16836, United States
The Gift of Life – Death & Dying, Life & Living, Thomas Keating with Carl J. Arico
Rooted in the ancient Christian contemplative tradition, the goal of this form of Christian prayer is to foster a deeper intimacy with Christ through the silence and stillness of contemplative prayer.
This five-day retreat will be an in-depth retreat for those experienced in Centering Prayer. The retreat will facilitate entrance into a more profound level of spiritual practice in an atmosphere of silence, solitude, and community with an opportunity to spend extended time in deep silence in community to encourage a more intimate union with God. An existing Centering Prayer practice is a prerequisite for attending this retreat.

JOY WITHIN: Meister Eckhart’s Way of Releasement (Part II)
2023-08-19 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Cathedral of St. Matthew, 1725 Rhode Island Ave, NW, Washington, DC, 20036, United States
“Do not be afraid…joy is within you”
– Meister Eckhart
Release yourself. Relax and effortlessly allow yourself to be one with God, says Meister Eckhart. And you will know joy unbound. Come learn how to release yourself into God. In these retreats, we will reflect on Meister Eckhart’s teaching on “Gelassenheit” or releasement (meaning detachment and letting go/letting be) as the key to becoming a mystic, as the key to being happy.
Eckhart lived a gentle, detached, and active life; his life was guided by letting go and letting be. We will learn about his life in the context of his anxious, violent times – times very much like our own. Releasing the self and its attachments, releasing into the God beyond God, freeing our consciousness, and shaking loose from all the shackles of rigidity and loneliness – whether in our minds or in society and religion – will form the core of our reflections. We will even avert to Eckhart’s thoughts on changing the church.
Each retreat will include three periods of Centering Prayer, a lecture, and a discussion. Presented by L.J. Milone.
Please register using the link below.

Welcoming Forgiveness – A Centering Prayer Retreat with Mary Dwyer
2023-09-05 15:00 - 2023-09-10 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Mt. Angel, Oregon
THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL. TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST, CONTACT BENNETH, BHUSTED@EASYSTREET.NET
New information: partial scholarships available ~ contract Patricia, patricia.a.lacy@gmail.com
In this six-day retreat, Mary Dwyer will explore the dance between Welcoming Prayer and the Forgiveness Prayer practices.
There will be extended periods of Centering Prayer, silence & solitude.
Welcoming Prayer is a method of consenting to God’s presence and action in our physical and emotional reactions to events and situations in daily life. Its purpose is to deepen our relationship with God through consenting in the ordinary activities of our day — “consent-on-the-go.”
The Forgiveness Prayer is a way to open to God’s healing presence and action when you are hurt, wounded or offended. The Forgiveness Prayer is a prayer which God uses to teach us to forgive.
Prerequisite: Established Centering Prayer practice

The Universal Christ: An engaging exploration of Richard Rohr's book - via Zoom
2023-09-07 18:30 - 20:30 UTC | Internet – Online
In The Universal Christ – How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe, Richard Rohr examines what it means that Jesus was called Christ, and how this forgotten truth can restore hope and meaning to the world. During this class we will explore key ideas contained in this book using excerpts from the book, the Engagement Group Guide from the Companion Guide for Groups, DVD segments and group sharing. The hope is to help the participant grow in a deeper experience of Christ.
This is an 8-week class that meetings on Thursday evenings. This class will include a session of Centering Prayer.
Times listed are Mountain Time.
Click the link below to learn more and register.

Autumn Silent Saturday
2023-09-09 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Holy Spirit Retreat Center, 4316 Lanai Road, Encino, CA, 91436, United States
As autumn approaches, join us for a quiet morning of Centering Prayer and silence. This day is open to beginners as well as those experienced in contemplative prayer or silent meditation. The day provides time for communal Centering Prayer, a contemplative walk, private journaling and reflection, and ends with a period of Lectio Divina. All are welcome. A brief introduction to Centering Prayer will be offered for those new to the practice.
For more info, please email Marilyn Nobori at centeringprayer@hsrcenter.com
Please register online at www.hsrcenter.com by September 1st.
A free will offering is gratefully appreciated.
Please arrive at 8:45am

Centering Prayer 8-day Post Intensive
2023-09-12 14:00 - 2023-09-19 13:00 (America/New_York) | Holy Cross Monastery – New York, 1615 Route 9W, West Park, NY, 12493, United States
The eight-Day Centering Prayer Post-Intensive Retreat offered from Tuesday, September 12 to Tuesday, September 19, 2023, provides an opportunity to deepen the practice of Centering Prayer in an atmosphere of profound silence and community support. This retreat follows the Contemplative Outreach guidelines for the Post-Intensive Retreat including seven 30-minute Centering Prayer periods daily. Most days are spent in grand silence, when all are asked not to speak or make eye contact. Retreat leaders are available for soul-friending. During the retreat, one will experience integrating contemplation and action through silence, solitude, community and the rhythm of this Episcopal Benedictine monastic community’s worship and prayer life including daily Holy Eucharist. An established practice of Centering Prayer of at least a year or more and past attendance at a Contemplative Outreach Intensive Retreat is highly recommended.
Check-in is from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday. Vespers begins at 5:00. Dinner then follows. The retreat concludes with lunch on Tuesday. (Daily Holy Eucharist is available at 9:00 a.m.). Cost for the retreat is $1,200. The retreat fee includes a single room and all meals. Shared single occupancy bathrooms in the hallways. Financial assistance is availabe for those who need it.
Retreat Leaders: Leslee Anne Terpay is a Contemplative Outreach commissioned presenter for Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina. She is part of the service team who defines Lectio Divina workshop teachings and retreat experiences. Leslee is a spiritual director in Lone Tree, Colorado and a graduate of The Centering for Action and Contemplation Living School.
Br. Bernard Delcourt, is the Director of Associates at Holy Cross Monastery. This service calls on his pastoral, managerial, administrative, financial and leadership skills. Bernard is a Contemplative Outreach commissioned presenter. Bernard has been a monk since 2004. Before becoming a monk, he was an investment banker and then a life and business skills coach. He is a spiritual director and regularly visits General Theological Seminary in New York to offer spiritual direction to students and staff.
Reservations may be made by e-mail or phone.
We accept payments via all major credit cards, PayPal, or personal check. We offer hospitality assistance if you’d like to visit but find the cost too burdensome. To register, please contact our Guesthouse Office by phone (845-384-6660, ext. 3002) or email (guesthouse@hcmnet.org). If you have questions on the content of the retreat please contact Leslee at co-leslee@comcast.net

Presenter Formation Training
2023-09-19 15:30 - 2023-09-22 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Sophia Center, Atchinson KS, 751 S 8th St, Atchison,KS, KS, United States
Presenter Formation Training is being offered at the Sophia Center in Atchinson, Kansas Sept 19-22. This is for those feeling called to become a commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer.
Sponsored by the CO-Kansas City
Please contact Diane Boruff dsboruff@comcast.net for more information. Or Rob Carr, robcarr924@gmail.com or phone 913-706-9469.

Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop
2023-09-23 08:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT, 6107, United States
In this introductory workshop, you will learn the ancient method and principles of Centering Prayer practice in a quiet, reflective atmosphere. We will cover the history, psychology, and theology of the practice. Two prayer sessions and a question-and-answer session are included.
This workshop is offered in person and via Zoom. Please register using the link below.

“Invitation from God” Reawakening to the Contemplative Dimension of Life
2023-09-23 09:30 - 12:00 UTC | Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 5603 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD, 21210, United States
In “Invitation from God” Thomas Keating is interviewed by Marie Louise Lefèvre, a Danish journalist, about contemplation and the spiritual journey and its implications for personal and global freedom. Thomas Keating explains how we are all connected to one another, as also suggested by modern science. Through Centering Prayer an inner peace is gradually developed, which gradually influences our lives and the way we function and relate to other people.
In this half-day retreat, we will view the video and discuss it in depth with two Centering Prayer sessions.

Centering Prayer as an 11th-Step Practice: Introductory Workshop
2023-09-23 10:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | East Side Alano Club, Madison, WI., 1017 Northport Drive, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
This workshop is composed of four conferences, which will consider how a contemplative method like Centering Prayer—as part of an 11th Step practice—can help us develop emotional sobriety and genuine happiness. The conferences will be presented by members of Contemplative Outreach of Madison who each have many years of both 12-Step recovery and Centering Prayer practice and have been trained as Introductory workshop presenters by Contemplative Outreach.
This workshop is for people in 12-Step Recovery. $25 fee includes lunch and a book by Thomas Keating.
Please see the link below to register.

Francis and Clare of Assisi and the Contemplative Franciscan Way of Peace
2023-09-30 08:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT, 6107, United States
Contemplative Enrichment Day with The Rt. Rev. Br. Mark D’Alessio
St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi were revolutionary in their time and continue to be! This day will explore how they, alongside 21st century Franciscan visionaries, Richard Rohr and Ilia Delio, invite us into the inter-spiritual sense that — at the most essential level — no single person, place, or thing exists in the universe except in relation to everything else. You will participate in the living Franciscan tradition of spiritual awareness and sacred response deeply rooted in the transformative power of the wisdom way of peace.
This program will be offered both in-person and online via Zoom. Information on how to access the program on Zoom will be sent to participants in advance.
This program will include a morning and an afternoon session of Centering Prayer.
The Rt. Rev. Br. Mark D’Alessio is a Franciscan friar, Christian bishop, and priest, ordained lay Buddhist, spiritual director, chaplain, and retreat leader, author, and past President and Executive Director of the Psychotherapy & Spirituality Institute. A long-time seeker and practitioner of spiritual wisdom, he is initiated into multiple spiritual lineages, both East (Buddhist) and West (Christian) with a teaching ministry that affirms the Christian Wisdom tradition within a wider inter-spiritual framework.
Please register using the link below.

50-hour prayer vigil in honor of 50th Anniversary of Shalem Institute
2023-10-06 - 2023-10-08 | Internet – Online
The 50-Hour Vigil of Prayer will be offered over Zoom from noon on Friday, October 6, through Sunday afternoon, October 8. Margaret Benefiel, Executive Director of Shalem, will open and close the Vigil of Prayer. In between, each hour of this Zoom gathering will be introduced by a member of the Shalem community who has been touched by the transformative offerings of Shalem. These prayer leaders represent the diversity of the Shalem community in age, gender and race, as well as in experience – from those who have supported Shalem for decades, to those who have just discovered its richness. Our prayer team hails from throughout the US, as well as Canada, Korea, Australia, South Africa, and The Netherlands. Each leader will offer an invitation into Sacred Silence that holds us all together as one. The one love held by the Holy One, life-giver, love-maker, source of justice and mercy.
You are invited to join this Fifty Hour Vigil of Prayer in any way that is right for you. There will be a Zoom link distributed to Shalem’s email list prior to the Vigil. As many people as possible are encouraged to join in the opening and closing session.
Please see the link below for more information.

ENNEAGRAM AND CENTERING PRAYER ONE-DAY WORKSHOP
2023-10-06 10:00 - 15:00 UTC | Christ United Methodist Church Greensboro, NC, 410 Holden Rd, Greensboro, NC, 27410, United States
The Enneagram is a powerful framework for self-discovery and inner awakening. It refers to a sacred symbol with the interlocking geometric shapes of a circle, a triangle and a hexad; and nine points around the circle. Most people first learn about the nine points and the personality typologies connected with each point. There is wisdom to be learned in the psychological insight of type as well as the wisdom embedded in the symbol itself. When engaged as an invitation into Presence, with spiritual practices, the Enneagram is a rich map which guides us to see who we are beyond personality.
In this workshop we will be engaging our minds, bodies, and hearts, all three centers of intelligence, as we explore how the Enneagram can reveal the ways we fall asleep to being present. How do we go on automatic and how might this map invite us to ‘self-remember’ and awaken to our aliveness here and now?
Cynthia Bourgeault recommended Jeanine Siler Jones to Nexus Journey as a gifted presenter on the Enneagram. Jeanine has been instrumental in establishing Wisdom Schools in the Southeast over the last decade and currently serves as Chair of the Board of Wisdom Waypoints whose mission is to support the work of Cynthia Bourgeault and transmit the Wisdom Christian tradition internationally.
She and her husband Russell Siler Jones live in Asheville, NC and have a counseling ministry, Siler Jones Counseling. Jeanine primarily works as a Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapist and Spiritual Director. She weaves together the practice of Centering Prayer with the guidance from the Enneagram and the Wisdom Tradition in all her work. The teachings and the practices offer daily opportunities to engage a ‘surrendered attention’ in which the grist for the mill of personal and spiritual transformation is endless.
Please register using the link below.

Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop
2023-10-07 09:00 - 12:30 UTC | Holy Spirit Retreat Center, 4316 Lanai Road, Encino, CA, 91436, United States
Contemplative prayer is God’s personal and unique gift to each of us. If we open to this gift, it will profoundly affect our lives and relationship to God, others, and the world. Centering Prayer is a form of contemplative prayer. It is a method of prayer that opens us to interior transformation and deeper intimacy with God and others. The workshop includes four presentations and the practice of Centering Prayer.
Cost: $40
For more info, please email Marilyn Nobori at centeringprayer@hsrcenter.com
Register online at www.hsrcenter.com by September 25th with a non-refundable deposit of $10.00
Arrive at 8:45am

Brian McLaren: Faith, Doubt and Contemplation: Being Contemplatives in a Dangerous Time - via Zoom
2023-10-07 09:00 - 15:00 UTC | Internet – Online
This is a hybrid presentation being conducted both in person at The Center for Contemplative Living in Denver, CO and online via Zoom videoconference.
Description of Talk: Institutional religion, much like many of our other institutions, is under stress, and that will seem like an understatement to many. Contemplative spirituality has provided a way for many of us to continue in faith even though our relationship to organized religion is troubled. How can those of us rooted in the contemplative tradition contribute constructively in this tense moment? How can we, from a position of personal centeredness, be salt and light in these times? How can we draw deep roots from our own Christian tradition while welcoming insights and seeking collaboration among traditions?
This conference presentation will include at least one 20-minutes Centering Prayer session.
About Brian McLaren
Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity” – just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. He is a core faculty member of The Living School and podcaster with Learning How to See, which are part of the Center for Action and Contemplation. He is also an Auburn Senior Fellow and is a co-host of Southern Lights. His newest books are Faith After Doubt (January 2021), and Do I Stay Christian? (May 2022).
Times listed are Mountain Time.
Click the link below to learn more and register.
