Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.

The Cloud of Unknowing 5-day Retreat
2021-10-25 17:00 - 2021-10-30 17:00 UTC | Bethany Retreat Center, 1031 Germania Rd, Frenchville, PA, 16836, United States
Join us for a deep contemplative journey into The Cloud of Unknowing. This 14th-century work is the basis for the method and practice of Centering Prayer. During this 5-day retreat, with the writings of The Cloud of Unknowing as our guide, Doug Laplante will lead an exploration into five key elements of the spiritual journey: spiritual growth, humility, dealing with thoughts, intention, and unity. This retreat is designed for participants with a well-established Centering Prayer practice. Through a combination of prayer and contemplative dialogue we will delve deeply into the teachings of “The Cloud…” that have changed countless lives and lead directly to a deepening relationship with God.
Please see the link below for more information and to register.

Human Condition - Via Zoom
2021-10-26 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | Internet – Online
This six-week course will begin introducing you to Fr. Keating’s core material of the Spiritual Journey Series and the process of healing our human condition. In these videotaped lectures, he offers an evolutionary model for human development, describes the pre-rational energy centers, and introduces us to the concept of the false self with its afflictive emotions. You will learn how, through the practice of Centering Prayer, the Divine Therapist begins the process of dismantling our false self, thereby healing our emotional wounds of a lifetime.
Course I, Basic Centering Prayer, is a prerequisite.
Times listed are Mountain Time and two different time options are available for this six-week course. Please register using the link below.

Divine Therapy Workshop - via Zoom
2021-10-26 18:30 - 20:30 UTC | Internet – Online
Divine Therapy is a six-week course that takes a more advanced look at the process of spiritual transformation. Fr. Keating integrates into his teachings St. John of the Cross’s Dark Night of the Soul, also called the Night of Sense, which describes a feeling of God’s absence in our lives or the “Biblical desert.” From there, Fr. Keating moves into the Night of Spirit, drawing on St. Theresa of Avila’s paradigm for spiritual transformation. He also shares his unique take on the Beatitudes, explaining how they speak to the potential for dismantling the false-self system and healing our emotional programs for happiness.
This course is based on talks given by Fr. Thomas Keating on issues that surface after Centering Prayer has been practiced over an extended period of time. Topics include Night of Sense, Night of Spirit, What Contemplation is Not, and Contemplation and Action. The class includes a twenty-minute period of centering prayer, viewing the videotape and time for discussion.
Courses 1 Basic Centering Prayer and 2 Human Condition are prerequisites.
Times listed are Mountain Time. Please register using the link below. Two different time options are available for the six-week course.

At the Edge of Waiting: Centering Prayer and Celtic Spirituality - Online
2021-10-30 | Internet – Online
Presented by Carl McColman
Join us for an online retreat day where we will explore the connections between Celtic wisdom and contemplative spirituality! Celtic Christianity — the poetic and earth-positive spirituality of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales — has long been appreciated as one of the most beautiful expressions of faith in the western world. The Celts had a mystical sense of God’s abiding presence that was expressed through the venerations of holy wells and other sacred sites, stories of remarkable saints who lived in deep harmony with nature, and profound spirituality with roots in the ancient wisdom of the desert mothers and fathers. Our time together will celebrate Celtic spirituality in the light of the practice of Centering Prayer — which also has roots in the desert and remains a profound doorway into the ordinary mystical life. We will pay special attention to the Irish understanding of contemplation, which will bring us to a deeper appreciation of the silent beauty of Centering Prayer.
Carl McColman is the author of numerous contemplative books, including “An Invitation to Celtic Wisdom,” “The Big Book of Christian Mysticism,” and “Eternal Heart.” Carl co-facilitates a Centering Prayer group in Decatur, Georgia, and is a commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer Introductory Workshops.

Introduction to Centering Prayer as an 11th-Step Practice for those in 12-Step Programs
2021-10-30 10:00 - 14:00 UTC | Internet – Online
The primary purpose of the 12-Step outreach team of Contemplative Outreach Northwest is to deepen our practice of the 11th step: “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.” We try to pass on the simple method of Centering Prayer to others in recovery.
Centering Prayer is a type of prayer that has been used over the centuries, but it is different from what we may think of as prayer. It is simply moving deep within ourselves, in silence, saying nothing, asking for nothing, just being and allowing our Higher Power to be with us. For those who are working a recovery program, parallels can be found between the transformation that Centering Prayer brings and the process of growth facilitated as we work the 12 Steps. We believe that, when applied as a daily supplement to the 12 Steps, Centering Prayer opens us to the deepest dimension of spirituality.
This half-day Zoom workshop will introduce people in recovery to the practice of Centering Prayer, with time to learn and practice the method, ask questions, and learn about local and national resources for continuing and deepening your practice.
On Zoom
Free of charge
Hosted by St. Placid Priory Spirituality Center, Olympia, WA.
INFORMATION –> click HERE.
REGISTER NOW –> click HERE.

Fall Triduum Wisdom Retreat - ONLINE
2021-10-31 16:30 - 2021-11-02 18:00 UTC | Internet – Online
The Mercy Center Centering Prayer Program presents:
Fall Triduum Wisdom Retreat
ONLINE 3 Evenings
Sunday October 31st, Monday November 1st and Tuesday November 2nd, 2021 4:30-6:00 pm, USA Pacific Time
“In the quiet, brown time of the year, these fall Triduum days are an invitation to do the profound inner work: to face our shadows and deep fears (death being for most people the scariest of all), to taste that in ourselves which already lies beyond death, drink at its fountain, then to move back into our lives again, both humbled and steadied in that which lies beyond both light and dark, beyond both life and death. What better tilling of the inner soil for the mystery of the Incarnation, which lies just ahead?” — Cynthia Bourgeault
We often focus on spring’s Paschal Triduum, from dusk on Holy Thursday through dusk on Easter Sunday, as a chance to move inward and journey with Christ through our own passage of death to life, the process at the heart of the Christian wisdom tradition of dying before you die. It has become a sacred three days to enter the heart of this mystery. But there is another sacred Triduum available for us to focus on this invitation and it lies in the fall between Halloween, All Saints, and All Souls.
This wisdom retreat is for anyone who desires to allow these three days in the dark and soft stillness of autumn to make space for profound inner work, enabling us to continue through winter with a renewed connection to our divine resilience. Through the practices of silence, inner listening, lectio divina, welcoming, body prayer, chant, and reflection we will explore the themes of:
• welcoming our shadows
• connecting to the mystical communion of Saints and ancestors
• mourning what has been lost
• accessing a deeper source of strength and courage to move from in our lives
For those of you who are drawn, we will come together to engage this holy work not only for ourselves but as an offering to the world.
Please register using the link below.
Retreat Leader: Heather Ruce, M.A. is a wisdom spiritual director with a background as a therapist and training in a neurophysiology based approach to trauma resolution. She loves working with individuals as well as facilitating groups and retreats focused on learning and practicing the Wisdom Tradition.

Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop
2021-11-06 08:30 - 12:30 UTC | 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.

Praying with Jesus - Online
2021-11-06 09:00 - 16:00 UTC | Internet – Online
The Mercy Center Centering Prayer Program presents:
Praying with Jesus
ONLINE Saturday November 6, 2021
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM USA Pacific Time
The prayer that is commonly known as The Lord’s Prayer is one that many of us know by heart. But there is more power and depth to this prayer when it is approached from its Aramaic roots. This day of prayer will draw upon the work of Neil Douglas-Klotz to help us experience a deeper power in the words of Jesus — words that draw us into the heart of Jesus, the heart of all creation.
Please register using the link below.
Retreat Leader: Henry Schoenfield, MDiv is a spiritual director, UCC pastor, and certified professional coach. As a spiritual seeker, he draws from different spiritual traditions while being firmly rooted in the Contemplative Christian path. He loves working with individuals and groups as they discover more deeply how God is loving them and leading them to live out God’s love in the world.

Standing on the Brink with Parker Palmer via Zoom
2021-11-13 10:00 - 12:30 UTC | Internet – Online
The 12th Annual Contemplative Conference of the School for Contemplative Living.
A livestream conversation with Parker Palmer at the intersection of contemplation, compassion, and courage, which includes a period of Centering Prayer, a period of lectio divina, and breakout room discussions.
Please register using the link below.

Deepening Spiritual Practice through Three-Centered Awareness - Online
2021-11-13 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Presented by Phileena Heuertz of the Gravity Center
Sponsored by Contemplative Outreach Chicago
Three-centered awareness is crucial for experiencing Divine Presence; mind, heart, and body coming online and cooperating together. But too often, we experience shut-down in one or more of these centers. This limits our capacity for opening to Presence and receiving the integration and wholeness for which we long.
Are you curious about the deeper, subtle, life-changing dynamics of contemplative prayer? Do you feel stuck in your practice and desire to progress? Are you wondering how to more regularly bring the gifts of your sitting practice into your daily experiences of life and relationships?
If so, join Phileena Heuertz for this 3 hour online contemplative experience. During our time together, Phileena will offer a mix of foundational teaching, guided group contemplation, and three-centered awareness practice.
Note: All times are in Central Time Zone.

The Dynamic Center of Being: Awakening to Unity through Centering Prayer with David Frenette via Zoom
2021-11-14 11:00 - 13:00 UTC | Internet – Online
11am – 1pm Pacific Time (noon Mountain; 1pm Central; 2pm Eastern; 7pm London (BST); UTC 19:00)
Free; suggested donation $35 USD
Many of us struggle these days with fear, outrage and uncertainty in the face of personal and global change, loss and collapse. All these struggles share a single root: a sense of separation — from ourselves, from one another, and from God. And yet we know in our heart of hearts, and have experienced in deep contemplative practice, that everything is unified in God, the timeless reality in which we live and move and have our being.
This online workshop will explore Centering Prayer as a way to align us and our actions with unity, according to Jesus’ teachings. David will share stories, teachings and guided meditations to renew our experience of unity, opening us to presence, connection and love, the source of contemplative service in the world. We will also have time for small group sharing, and a period of Centering Prayer.
About David Frenette:
David Frenette, author of The Path of Centering Prayer: Deepening Your Experience of God (Sounds True 2012), is a contemplative spiritual director, mentor for other spiritual directors, and spiritual writer. He co-created and co-led a contemplative retreat community where he lived as a monk for 10 years. He has an MA in transpersonal counseling psychology, has been a trustee of Contemplative Outreach (the international Centering Prayer organization), an adjunct faculty member at Naropa University, a founding member of Integral Spirituality, and a teacher at leading retreat centers across the country. From 1983 until his death in 2018, David’s spiritual father was the Trappist monk and founder of Centering Prayer, Father Thomas Keating. Read more about David here.
You may register here:

Living Flame One Day Retreat
A chance to taste the Living Flame program, register using the below form and you will receive the Zoom Meeting link now and we'll also send you a reminder by email nearer the day of the retreat which will take place *25th October 2025, 11am - 4pm Eastern Time*.

This event is free of charge; but making a joyful donation is invited - the donation link will be shown on the registration confirmation page.
"*" indicates required fields

NameThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Name*

First

Last

Location

AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzechiaCôte d'IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHoly SeeHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorth MacedoniaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestine, State ofPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussian FederationRwandaRéunionSaint BarthélemySaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwedenSwitzerlandSyria Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, the United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluTürkiyeUS Minor Outlying IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaViet NamVirgin Islands, BritishVirgin Islands, U.S.Wallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweÅland Islands
Country

Email*

Enter Email

Confirm Email

Mystical Experiences: Uncommon & Common
2021-11-18 18:30 - 20:30 UTC | Center for Contemplative Living in Elm Grove WI, 890 Elm Grove Road, The Village Court, WI, 53122, United States
Thursday, Nov 18, 2021 from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
In Person at the Center for Contemplative Living, Elm Grove, WI. or VIA ZOOM
Register for $10 or for FREE and Zoom link will be emailed with your registration confirmation. Please see the link below to register.
Mystic Series: Join Debbie Harmon as she explores different facets of these mysterious divine encounters at the Center for Contemplative Living or via Zoom video-conferencing. What is Mysticism? What are the different types of mystical experiences? What purpose do mystical experiences serve? Who has mystical experiences and how do they come about? How might mystical experiences enrich the contemplative’s journey? This event is a reprise of the 2019 opening of our Mysticism series, so if you missed it the first time, here is your chance to experience it! The evening will begin with a 25-minute Centering Prayer sit, followed by the presentation and time for Q&A. Please register by November 15, 2021.
Instructor: Debbie Harmon has practiced Centering Prayer for 30 years. Since the mid-1990s, she has been significantly involved with Contemplative Outreach in the Midwest, spoken on a variety of spiritual topics, and been a commissioned presenter of the Introductory Centering Prayer Workshop. Debbie is a spiritual director and holds a Master of Divinity and Master’s in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University Chicago.

Half-Day Centering Prayer/Welcoming Prayer retreat via Zoom from Hawaiʻi
2021-11-20 09:00 - 11:30 UTC | Internet – Online
A particular blessing for busy, active people, we are invited to pause and just be in the presence of God. All are welcome to this mini silent retreat. While Centering Prayer is the basis of our teaching, all meditation paths are welcome and honored. Books on the Spiritual Journey will be available for purchase and loan. No registration required. Join us every third Saturday of every month!
Click on the following link to join the Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/92185854158?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 921 8585 4158, Password: [REDACTED]
Join by phone: +1 669 900 6833
Third Saturday of Every Month
All times are Hawaiʻi Standard times ( UTC -10)
9:00 — 9:15 Welcome and introductions
9:15 — 9:45 Centering Prayer
9:45 — 9:55 Meditation walk (break)
9: 55 — 10:25 Centering Prayer
10:25 —10:45 Guided Welcoming Prayer
10:45 —11:15 Centering Prayer
11:15 —11:30 Prayers for community Closing
Next event December 18, 2021

C.G. Jung Through a Christian Contemplative Lens
2021-11-20 09:00 - 16:30 UTC | Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT, 6107, United States
C.G. Jung is important to contemporary Christian spirituality. Building on the work of Morton Kelsey, John A. Sanford, and Robert A. Johnson, we will explore how Jungian topics can help deepen our spiritual life. The Jungian world of archetypes integrates in Christian mysticism, prayer, and practice, and understanding these helps to nurture our souls and enhance intimacy with God.
Periods of Centering Prayer will be offered in the morning and afternoon.

Centering Prayer Retreat, 5-days; Subiaco Monastery, Subiaco, Arkansas
2021-11-26 16:00 - 2021-11-30 13:00 UTC | Subiaco Monastery, 405 N. Subiaco Ave., Subiaco, AR, 72865, United States
Consider giving yourself the GIFT of a Centering Prayer Retreat at Subiaco Monastery, November 26- 30, 2021.
The retreat will have ample periods of SILENCE, three prayer/meditation periods per day, and some teaching on the TRANSFORMATION of the false self. The Monastery/Retreat Center location is a pastoral setting in the Arkansas River Valley.
COST: private room- $350.00; shared room- $250.00; a $50.00 NON-refundable deposit is required at time of registration.
REGISTRATION: call Retreat Center- (479) 934-1290 to reserve your place.
LEADER: Nick Cole, who has staffed retreats in Colorado and Arkansas since 1993. He was mentored by Thomas Keating, Patricia Johnson, Mary Ann Matheson, AND all the retreatants he has served. If you have questions for Nick, he may be reached at (970) 275-1170 and/or: ngcole42@gmail.com
A retreat is a wonderful way to strengthen a meditation practice. Retreatants will be best served by having a daily practice of Centering Prayer/meditation prior to attending.
ARRIVAL: Between 3- 5pm on Friday, November 26, 2021. Supper at 6pm. Opening Circle at 7pm.
DEPARTURE: After lunch on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.

Advent Retreat: Incarnation as Practice - via Zoom
2021-12-02 19:00 - 2021-12-05 11:00 UTC | Internet – Online
This online retreat is an entry into an intentional Advent where we are invited to pause, listen, reflect, and be renewed in our relationship with the Indwelling Presence through prayerful, silence, solitude and community.
During this three-day retreat, we will practice Incarnation through intentional silence, solitude, listening, resting and stillness. This retreat is about spaciousness – giving ourselves over to extended, open time just to be with God in prayer, in nature, in walking, music, reading and the silent company of others on retreat. It is an invitation to lay down our ordinary life to experience the extraordinary right-now presence of God during this sacred time of the year. The retreat will include periods of Centering Prayer, music as a vestibule to prayer, simple prayerful gestures, Lectio Divina, optional soul-friending and lots of open time offline for reflection, resting, journaling, art-making or whatever stimulates your child-like wonder.
The retreat will be facilitated by Pamela Begeman. Pamela is a commissioned presenter of both Centering Prayer and the Welcoming Prayer. She co-creates and facilitates many of the Contemplative Outreach worldwide online retreats, programs and publications. She is also one of the creators and editors of The Contemplative Life Program, a series of 40-day booklets on contemplative practices and dispositions. Her daily spiritual practices root her in the present and Presence while being an active wife, mother and professional. Pamela coordinates communications, technology and programs for the international office of Contemplative Outreach and lives in Austin, Texas. She also serves on the steering committee of The Meditation Chapel, a Zoom-enabled worldwide prayer chapel for people of all practices and spiritual traditions.
The retreat is free, with a suggested donation of $40. Please register using the link below.

The Fullness of Love: An Advent Wisdom Retreat
2021-12-03 09:00 - 2021-12-05 17:00 UTC | Mustang Island Conference Center, Port Aransas, Texas, 6981 TX-361, Port Aransas, TX, 78373, United States
Join us for a three-day in-person Advent retreat exploring Mary’s relationship to Jesus as a hidden-in-plain-sight illumination of the Christian path of engaged non-attachment.
Following the Gospel texts and the poetry of Khalil Gibran, we will discover Mary’s robust and courageous embodiment as a joy-filled teaching and invitation to shelter, germinate, release, and sow the seeds of Christ in our own lives as service to the whole.
Retreat includes co-teaching from Rev. Jonathan Steele and Fr. Benjamin Thomas, guided contemplative exercises, and a general Benedictine structure of Ora et Labora including shared silence/Centering Prayer sits-with a closing eucharist celebration on Sunday afternoon.
This retreat will take place in person from Friday, December 3, 2021 through Sunday, December 5, 2021 at Mustang Island Conference Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Please register using the link below.

Leaning Into Blessing: A Silent Advent Retreat
2021-12-03 16:00 - 2021-12-05 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Mercy Center Burlingame, 2300 Adeline Drive, Burlingame, CA, 94010, United States
The Mercy Center Centering Prayer Program presents:
Leaning Into Blessing:
An Advent Silent Retreat
December 3-5, 2021 Starts 4 pm Friday and ends 12 pm Sunday (lunch provided afterwards) on site at Mercy Center in Burlingame, CA.
Registration: $300 (includes retreat, accommodations, and meals)
“The season of Advent means there is something on the horizon the likes of which we have never seen before…So stay. Sit. Linger. Tarry. Ponder. Wait. Behold. Wonder. There will be time enough for running. For rushing. For worrying. For pushing. For now, stay. Wait. Something is on the horizon.” ―Jan L. Richardson
Advent is a season rich with anticipation as we prepare to honor the incarnation of the person of Jesus: he revealed to the world a life rooted in the heart, at the intersection of time and timelessness. Alongside Mary, pregnant with the Christ, we enter the dark and soft stillness of winter; ripening with the blessing of generating the Christ in our own embodied lives. As we lean into the blessing, cultivating our own deep “yes” parallel to Mary’s, we have the opportunity to carry forth tending to the horizontal demands of the season from a profound fullness. Slowing and staying awake to the true meaning of this season, we break the habitual excess of commercial consumerism, instead offering the fruits of our awakened hearts.
Join us as we lean into the blessing, sitting and lingering in the quiet, readying our hearts to enter Christmas with humility, compassion, and great love; that we may offer what is needed.
Retreat Leaders:
Heather Ruce, M.A. is a wisdom spiritual director with a background as a therapist and training in a neurophysiology based approach to trauma resolution. She loves working with individuals as well as facilitating groups and retreats focused on learning and practicing the Wisdom Tradition.
Joy Andrews Hayter, Ph.D. 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.
Please register at www.mercy-center.org or telephone 650-340-7474
We are planning a spacious schedule so that you will have time to walk the beautiful Mercy grounds, and to do other deeply relaxing practices that we’ll talk about. Bring a journal and pen if you like. There is a lovely craft room at Mercy Center but bring additional art supplies if you prefer.
COVID Protocol is still in place at Mercy Center, and everyone entering the building must be fully vaccinated, and wear masks in all common areas indoors except when eating. For this reason, it is important to also include the following in your packing:
1) A record of having been vaccinated
2) At least one mask
3) Hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer is provided by the Center, but it helps if you will also bring your own.
For more information about Mercy Center’s COVID protocols, please click on the link below.
Guest Protocol – Mercy Center Burlingame (mercy-center.org)

In Person – Advent Silent Saturday
2021-12-04 08:00 - 12:00 UTC | Holy Spirit Retreat Center, 4316 Lanai Road, Encino, CA, 91436, United States
As the busyness of the Advent and holiday season approaches, nourish your spirit with a quiet morning of Centering Prayer and silence.
The morning provides time for communal prayer, a contemplative walk, private journaling and reflection, and ends with a period of Lectio Divina.
This event is open to beginners as well as those experienced in contemplative prayer or silent meditation. All are welcome.
For those new to Centering Prayer or wanting a review of the method,
a brief introduction will be given at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
We’re sorry, we are not accepting walk-ins at this time
Please be prepared to show current proof of Covid-19 vaccination or proof of negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of Dec 4th
REGISTER ONLINE AT www.hsrcenter.com under 1 Day Retreats by Dec. 3
For more information, email pbcurreysd@gmail.com
All donations gratefully received

Advent Silent Saturday
2021-12-04 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Holy Spirit Retreat Center, 4316 Lanai Road, Encino, CA, 91436, United States
As the season of Advent 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 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. Please register at hrscenter.com by December 3rd. A donation is gratefully appreciated.

Introduction to Lectio Divina Workshop: In Person or Zoom
2021-12-04 09:00 - 12:30 UTC | Center for Contemplative Living in Elm Grove WI, 890 Elm Grove Road, The Village Court, WI, 53122, United States
Saturday, December 4, 2021 from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
In Person at the Center for Contemplative Living, Elm Grove, WI or Via ZOOM
Register for $20 or for FREE on the website, and a Zoom link will be emailed with your registration confirmation. Please see the link below to register.
“Praying the Scriptures” or Lectio Divina (the divine word of God) is a contemplative tradition taught in the monastic vs. scholastic style of hearing the living Word of God in the sacred spaces of everyday life. This workshop, presented by Sr. Kathryn Ann Kobelinski, SSND, and Jill Nowlen, MASFD, both commissioned presenters of the prayer, will share the method of this heart-to-heart conversation with God, while reading, reflecting, responding, and resting in the words of Scripture. Even if you practice Lectio, you will find this workshop will deepen the practice and will bring the scripture texts into your every day life. This is not a scripture study. It is a way to allow God to have a conversation with you and to give you a gift of understanding. Many Centering Prayer groups find it helpful to practice Lectio Divina with the scriptures for the upcoming Sunday liturgies after their Centering Prayer time. For planning purposes, please register so that we have space for everyone. Thank you!

John of the Cross & The Song of Songs: Mysticism, Eroticism, and Centering Prayer
2021-12-04 10:00 - 14:00 UTC | Internet – Online
In these sessions, Netanel Miles-Yépez (who shares the same surname as his subject, Juan de Yépes) will discuss how the Spanish saint, better known as John of the Cross, gives instruction in contemplative prayer in terms that seem strikingly similar to Centering Prayer, and uses the erotic imagery of the Song of Songs to describe the mystical experiences which often follow such prayer. Using translations of the Song of Songs and John of the Cross from Miles-Yépez’s own book, My Love Stands Behind a Wall: A Translation of the Song of Songs and Other Poems, he will lead us through the mystical landscape of the great poet and saint, and lead Centering Prayer for us from John’s teachings in The Living Flame of Love.
Please register using the link below.

Weekend Advent Retreat
2021-12-09 - 2021-12-12 | Siena Retreat Center, 5637 Erie St, Racine, WI, 53402, United States
December 9-12, 2021
Advent is a season of waiting, listening, and watching for God to move in unexpected ways in our lives and world. This retreat will explore the familiar characters of the Advent story from a contemplative perspective. How can these people of old invite us into a deeper contemplative stance in our advent journey? Together we will look at the contemplative invitations of the prophets, angels, shepherds, sages, the innkeeper and Herod, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus as patterns for contemplative advent journey.
Presenter: Rev. Dr. Shawn Kafader
Please see the website link below for more information and to register.

The Patience of Mary – Advent 2021
2021-12-10 17:00 - 2021-12-12 12:00 UTC | Shalom Spirituality Center, 1001 Davis Street, Dubuque, IA, IA, 52001, United States
“Letting go of what is ,to welcome what is to come…” Join us for “The Patience of Mary” December 10-12 to welcome Advent in person at the grounds of the beautiful, contemplative Shalom Spirituality Center nestled quietly among the trees in the center of Dubuque, Iowa.
You will have the opportunity to ponder the Mystery of Christ’s coming, to go deep in the Silence and prayer opening your whole begin to God’s Word and Presence. Spacious opportunities will be available to walk in quiet wooded areas, enjoy silence in ample Centering Prayer periods alone or in group settings, ponder Scripture deeply through a newly developed multi-media Lectio Divina, experience yoga prayer movements, and relax with massage therapy available to you. Enjoy nutritious, lovingly made delicious meals and comfortable, spacious rooms for the event. Early bird rates are available.

Advent Centering Prayer Retreat
2021-12-10 17:00 - 2021-12-12 17:00 UTC | St. Mary’s Sewanee, 770 St. Mary's Lane, TN, 37375, United States
This three-day retreat will focus on how Centering prayer can heighten one’s understanding and appreciation for the season of Advent.
See the link below to register.

“No Room” Advent Silent Saturday Via Zoom
2021-12-11 09:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Saturday, December 11, 2021 9:00 am Pacific Standard Time
From Luke Chapter 2
Joseph went to Bethlehem to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged, she was with child. The time came for her to deliver. She gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was …. no room for them in the inn.
Please register using the link below. Free will offering. The Zoom link will be emailed prior to Dec. 11, 2021.
Questions? Please email Jill Yamada: jyamada@sothumc.org

Lectio Divina Introductory Workshop for Advent
2021-12-11 09:00 - 16:30 UTC | Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT, 6107, United States
This workshop introduces the method of Lectio Divina, to pray sacred scripture. Through reading, reflecting, responding and resting in the Word of God, one’s relationship with God is nourished and deepened. Scripture will be appropriate for the Advent season. Both individual and group experiences will be provided.
Please see the link below for more information and registration.

A Contemplative Advent Retreat
2021-12-11 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | St. Mary’s on the Lake Peace and Spirituality Center, 1663 Killarney Way, Bellevue, WA, 98004, United States
Contemplative Outreach of Puget Sound North is pleased to be able to offer our ninth Advent Retreat – and it will be in person! The retreat will once again be held at the beautiful Peace and Spirituality Center at Saint Mary on the Lake in Bellevue Saturday, December 11th.
The day will blend periods of Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, Musica Divina and Visio Divina-a restorative blend of silence, prayer, reflection, art and music. You’ll have opportunities to connect with other contemplatives and to deepen your personal practice.
Our host facility, in accord with state regulations and to protect our health, will require all of us to show proof of vaccination on entry and to wear a mask, except when we’re eating. In order to maintain safe spacing and to create a restful environment to access the riches of the Advent season, registrations will be limited. Prompt registration is recommended!
You can register via mail with a check, or directly online using PayPal, accessible via https:[REDACTED]
Time: 10 am to 3 pm
Saturday, December 11th
(arrival at 9:30 recommended)
Location: The Peace and Spirituality Center, St. Mary on the Lake, Bellevue.
Retreat Registration: $30 in person; including handouts, beverages and pre-retreat snacks. You will be able to pre-order a boxed lunch, or bring your own food for lunch. There will be storage space in the Center’s refrigerator. Full details will be sent upon receipt of your registration.
Register Now for the In-Person Retreat-$30
…if you choose to register by mail, simply send a check payable to COPSN,
at 19920 NE 30th Court, Sammamish WA 98074.
and supply the following information:
Name
Address
Email Address
Telephone Number
I and ___ other(s) wish to attend

Centering Prayer: Lectio Divina and the Four Senses of Scripture
2021-12-14 14:00 - 2021-12-17 14:00 UTC | Holy Cross Monastery – New York, 1615 Route 9W, West Park, NY, 12493, United States
This Praying Holy Scripture in-person retreat at Holy Cross Monastery in the Hudson Valley, NY offers Centering Prayer periods plus presentations based upon Fr. Thomas Keating’s teachings on the deepening levels of faith: the Four Senses of Scripture – literal, allegorical, behavioral/moral, and unitive senses. The presentations teach a contemplative way of listening to and reading Scripture known as the ancient monastic practice of Lectio Divina. We will experience scripture by praying different translations of Mary’s hymn of praise: the Magnificat. During the retreat, one will experience the interplay of the silence of Centering Prayer and Praying Holy Scripture combined with the rhythm of this Episcopal Benedictine monastic community’s worship and prayer life including Holy Eucharist. This contemplative retreat welcomes those comfortable with silence and yearning to learn this ancient way of praying rather than studying Holy Scripture.
Check-in is from 2:00 to 5:00 pm Tuesday, December 14. Vespers begins at 5:00. Dinner then follows. Orientation begins at 7:15pm. The retreat concludes with noon meal Friday, December 17. Suggested donation for the retreat is $385 (including a non-refundable deposit). The retreat fee includes a single room and all meals. Shared single occupancy bathrooms in the hallways. The Guest House requires all guests to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and the wearing of face masks during group gatherings.
Register with our Guesthouse Manager, Donna Mallory at 845-384-6660 ext 3002 or at guesthouse@hcmnet.org. If you have questions about the content of the retreat please contact the retreat leader: Leslee Terpay at co-leslee@comcast.net.
Our Retreat Leader — Leslee Anne Terpay: As a Contemplative Outreach Commissioned Presenter of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina, Leslee shares Fr. Thomas Keating’s teachings on the Christian Spiritual Journey to Love in workshop and retreat settings. She is part of the Service Teams that steward Fr. Thomas’s teaching for serving Intensive Retreats and Lectio Divina. She is a spiritual director in Lone Tree, CO and a graduate of The Center for Action and Contemplation Living School.

Half-Day Centering Prayer/Welcoming Prayer retreat via Zoom from Hawaiʻi
2021-12-18 09:00 - 11:30 UTC | Internet – Online
A particular blessing for busy, active people, we are invited to pause and just be in the presence of God. All are welcome to this mini-silent retreat. While Centering Prayer is the basis of our teaching, all meditation paths are welcome and honored. Books on the Spiritual Journey will be available for purchase and loan. No registration required. Join us every third Saturday of every month!
Click on the following link to join the Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/92185854158?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 921 8585 4158, Password: [REDACTED]
Join by phone: +1 669 900 6833
Third Saturday of Every Month
All times are Hawaiʻi Standard times ( UTC -10)
Morning of Prayer
9:00 — 9:15 Welcome and introductions
9:15 — 9:45 Centering Prayer
9:45 — 9:55 Meditation walk (break)
9: 55 — 10:25 Centering Prayer
10:25 —10:45 Guided Welcoming Prayer
10:45 —11:15 Centering Prayer
11:15 —11:30 Prayers for community and closing
Next event January 15, 2021
