Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.

United in Spirit Interfaith Retreat
2021-03-20 10:30 - 14:30 UTC | Internet – Online
Spend an enriching four hours participating in the United in Spirit virtual gathering March 20th. This year, we will continue to offer opportunities for the practice of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina and we will also join with our brothers and sisters in faith from the other Abrahamic traditions of Judaism and Islam-to learn more of their spiritual practices and join in a day of spiritual fellowship.
We will be blessed with the presence of Rabbi Zari Weiss of Seattle, together with Imam Jamal Rahman and Pastor Dave Brown of the Northwest Interfaith Amigos in a program facilitated by Jeff Renner of Contemplative Outreach of Puget Sound North. We will focus on the deep spark of divine connection, how it bridges alienation with healing and peace, and helps us develop a united vision for tomorrow. Registration is $10 to permit us to show our appreciation to Rabbi Weiss, Imam Jamal Rahman and Pastor Dave Brown for their time and wisdom.
REGISTRATION
Name:
Preferred Contact Mode (email or mailing address)
Telephone if needed/appropriate
Registration for 1 or ___
The requested registration is $10-scholarships are available
Checks should be made payable to:
COPSN (Contemplative Outreach Puget Sound North)
or…forwarded via Zelle online
Mail to:
COPSN United in Spirit 2021 Retreat
19920 N.E. 30th Court
Sammamish, WA 98074
Questions? jeffrenner3@comcast.net

The Welcoming Prayer
2021-03-20 09:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT, 6107, United States
Welcoming Prayer is a spiritual practice created by three of the founders of Contemplative Outreach; Mary Mrozowski, Fr. Thomas Keating and David Frenette. This simple but effective spiritual practice helps us to remain present and to welcome moments of physical and emotional pain that we confront in our daily lives. Instead of repeating our often-unconscious attempts to avoid or deny our afflictive emotions, we locate, sink into, and accept our physical reactions and emotional hurts. In the process, our pain becomes a portal of psychological and spiritual transformation
Presented by: Steve Standiford is a regular Centering Prayer practitioner. He leads retreats and workshops and teaches spiritual practices through Contemplative Outreach. He is also a psychotherapist in private practice in Manhattan and Westchester County.

Half Day Retreat — Centering Prayer: Revisiting the Fundamentals via Zoom
2021-03-20 08:30 - 13:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Offered by Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington DC (COMW)
Centering Prayer: Revisiting the Fundamentals
Half-day retreats to deepen awareness of God’s transforming presence in our lives.
Invitation from God: An interview with Thomas Keating—the second in this COMW retreat series
Saturday, March 20, 2021
9:00am Eastern Time to noon Eastern Time Via Zoom
“We have all we need to merge with the Divine. We’re just not using it. The purpose of Centering Prayer is to unlock this capacity and remove whatever is in the way…”
– Thomas Keating, Invitation from God
At age 83, Thomas Keating met with Danish filmmaker Marie Louise Lefèvre at Saint Benedict’s Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado, for several short interviews on Centering Prayer. The resulting video, Invitation from God (released 2007), is compelling for Keating’s shining conviction in this method and its benefit for all humankind. The filming of the monastery and surrounding mountains’ stark, winter beauty as a metaphor for Keating’s words strengthens his message.
This second, half-day retreat in the series of three delves deep into the process of Centering Prayer. Keating explains both what happens when we’re regularly “in our Inner Room,” receiving the gift of “direct, experiential knowing,” and what that sets into motion.
Click on the website link below for additional information and access to the retreat registration link.
Led by COMW Team Member
Marjorie Centofanti mcentofanti43@gmail.com

The Transformative Power of Centering Prayer in Times of Chaos, Impasse, and Growing Divisions
2021-03-19 11:00 - 2021-03-21 17:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Enter the Chaos: Engage the Differences to Make a Difference
via Zoom
March 19 – 21, 2021
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily (Eastern time zone)
This three-day Centering Prayer retreat draws on
• the transformative power of Centering Prayer
• capacity to exercise contemplative power
• understanding our role in the evolutionary process
• willingness to welcome our own ongoing personal transformation
• conscious intent of the values we want to embody
And includes
• back-to-back Centering Prayer sessions to start each day
• contextualization of our work sourced from a contemplative heart
• understanding the evolutionary development of consciousness
• learning the specifics of the integral theory of spiral dynamics
• learning the skillful means to engage in transformative change
• applying what we learn to real situations which are characterized by tension among different stages of consciousness and seemingly opposing value systems
About the Institute for Communal Contemplation and Dialogue
The Institute for Communal Contemplation and Dialogue (ICCD) of Detroit MI has designed and developed this retreat. The ICCD retreat guides will be: Nancy Sylvester, IHM; Margaret Galiardi, OP; and Vernice Solimar, Ph.D.
Please register using the link below.

9 Day Intensive I and II Retreat
2021-03-18 17:00 - 2021-03-26 13:00 (America/Denver) | Internet – Online
Pre-requisite: A daily practice of Centering Prayer for 6 months or longer.
This retreat will be offered online, using Zoom. Everyone will participate in prayer, videos, and group sessions on Zoom. You may reside at the Mercy Center as an individual retreatant or
in your own home or other lodging.
This retreat offers two tracks simultaneously: Intensive I and Intensive II. For both tracks, there will be three sets of three 20 minute periods of Centering Prayer daily and two sessions of viewing recorded talks from The Spiritual Journey, a 5-part series of talks by Thomas Keating. Intensive I views selected talks mostly from Part 2. Intensive II views talks mostly from Parts 3 and 4.
Lectio Divina and a contemplative service will be offered daily, as well as optional individual meetings with the staff. Throughout the retreat, we will be in silence.
The retreat will be facilitated by Susan Turpin, Marty Badgett, and Fr. Bill Sheehan, OMI. Susan, Marty, and Fr. Bill have served within the Contemplative Outreach community for many years and led many Centering Prayer retreats and workshops.
Retreat begins Thursday, March 18th with check-in starting at 5:00pm; orientation at 7:00pm; ends Friday, March 26th after lunch.
For more information, contact Susan Turpin at 541-324-1207 or slturpin@me.com or Marty Badgett at 650-862-5451 or mbadgettexas@gmail.com.

The Process of Forgiveness: A Workshop via Zoom
2021-03-13 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
9am – noon Central Time.
Offered online via Zoom.
Forgiveness is at the heart of the Christian tradition. Jesus called us to forgive—not only our friends but our enemies as well. Most of us are aware of this dimension of the gospel but are forced to acknowledge that we do not forgive: We have festering wounds in our psyches and in our relationships.
In this workshop we will consider different dimensions of the call to forgive—from a consideration of classic texts to the psychic dynamics of forgiveness. Most importantly, we will learn a practice that opens us to the reality of forgiveness.
This practice comes through Contemplative Outreach, a spiritual organism founded by Thomas Keating.
The Rev. Tom Ward is the retired university chaplain at the University of the South and now spends his days focusing on the contemplative dimension of the gospel, teaching Centering Prayer, and leading retreats.
Please register using the link below.

Entering the Bridal Chamber of the Heart: The Luminous Gospels
2021-03-06 09:00 - 16:30 UTC | Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT, 6107, United States
This retreat will explore the Christian Wisdom tradition, focusing on the extracanonical Gospels of Thomas and Mary Magdalene. These so-called Luminous Gospels came to light in the mid-20th century and provide new insight into the development of early Christianity, the foundations of Jesus’ teaching, and the authority of Mary Magdalene as an Apostle. Come join us on the journey as we spend time within a contemplative framework of silent prayer, teaching, chanting, lectio divina, and heart-centered, whole-body practice.
Presented by: The Reverend Matthew Wright is an Episcopal priest, retreat leader, and long-time student of Cynthia Bourgeault. He serves as priest-in-charge at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Woodstock, NY and as a teacher for Northeast Wisdom and the Contemplative Society, non-profits dedicated to the renewal of the Christian Wisdom tradition.

Lenten Silent Saturday with Fr. Bill Sheehan, OMI via Zoom
2021-03-06 09:00 - 12:30 UTC | Internet – Online
Lenten Silent Saturday 3.6.21 ♱ 9a m – 12:30 pm Pacific Time
Registration is limited and required. Please register online using the link below.
$15.00 donation. Questions? contact Jill Yamada 949 257-6002
The Zoom link will be emailed to all registrants prior to March 6th
Our online retreat includes; time with Fr. Bill, Q&A’s and Centering Prayer sits.
New to Centering Prayer? No experience required, simply the desire to “Be still and know that I am God” Ps 46:10
For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God! Eph. 1:7 (GNT)
In keeping with Contemplative Outreach United in Prayer Day on March 6, we remember Fr. Thomas Keating’s birthday on March 7

Introduction to Centering Prayer via Zoom
2021-02-28 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Centering Prayer is a form of Christian silent meditation where one lets go of thoughts during periods of prayer typically lasting 20 minutes. It is rooted in the self-emptying love that forms the heart of Jesus’ teaching and life. The effect on those who practice it is an ever-increasing awareness of God’s action and presence in the course of ordinary life.
Sunday, February 28th, 2021, 1:00-4:00PM Central Time, $50
Offered online via Zoom.
In this introductory workshop led by Tom Ward, participants will learn the method and principles of this prayer practice and have the opportunity to experience this ancient method in a quiet, reflective atmosphere.
The Rev. Tom Ward is the retired university chaplain at the University of the South and now spends his days focusing on the contemplative dimension of the gospel, teaching Centering Prayer, and leading retreats.
Please register using the link below.

Training the Heart: ​What Benedict and Ignatius Offer in Support of Centering Prayer - via Zoom
2021-02-27 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | Internet – Online
St. Benedict (d. 547) and St. Ignatius (d. 1556) are often contrasted for their distinct schools of spirituality and very different perspectives on discipleship. The underpinnings of their prayer forms, however, have more in common than meets the eye, and the threads binding the teachings of Benedict and Ignatius still offer encouragement and practical wisdom to contemplatives. The Minnesota chapter of Contemplative Outreach is joined by spiritual directors Sam Rahberg and Peter Watkins to explore and experience how time-tested practices, including Ignatius’ Praying with Imagination and Examen, can complement and support the practice of Centering Prayer.
1-4pm Central Time.
Event fee is voluntary – suggested offering of $20.
To register, please see the website link below.

Exploring the Wisdom of the Gospels
2021-02-27 09:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT, 6107, United States
Among the various titles given Jesus is “Wisdom Master.” An exploration of the Gospels Wisdom Parables will give us an understanding of what this title might imply. Using a Lectio Divina approach, we will unpack such parables as the Laborers in the Field, the Parable of the Talents, and others. You will end the day appreciating Jesus as “Wisdom Master” and with a method that gives the Gospels a living meaning.
A Live and Zoom option will be available.
Presented by: Rev. Bill Redfield is an Episcopal priest and licensed clinical social worker who has worked in private practice in central New York and Maine. He served for nearly 20 years as rector of Trinity Church in Fayetteville, NY, before retiring. He has had a lifelong interest in the intersection of spirituality and the inner life. He is the creative force behind the birth of Wisdom House in Fayetteville and has been a long-time student of and collaborator with Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault.

The Welcoming Prayer Practice via Zoom
2021-02-27 08:00 - 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
The Welcoming Prayer is a method for living out the teachings of Fr. Thomas Keating. Its purpose is to deepen our relationship with God through consenting in ordinary activities. Retreat Leaders will be Sue Miller and Sheila Roche. This is a Zoom online workshop, 8am-Noon Central Time.
For registration and costs contact the Benedictine Sister Retreat Center via the email below.

Facilitator Training/Enrichment – COMW
2021-02-26 19:00 - 2021-02-27 18:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington (COMW), in partnership with the international organization, Contemplative Outreach Ltd. (COL), COMW is now offering a hybrid path for facilitator training/enrichment. It combines:
COL’s new online training (February 26-27, 2021) – Organized and offered by COL and led by Bob Mischke and his COL colleagues.
A COMW mentoring period, as required in The Facilitator’s Handbook organized by COMW Team member Marjorie Centofanti.
COMW’S in-person, overnight Facilitating Workshop (Spring 2022) organized by COMW Team member Marjorie Centofanti.
Contact Marjorie Centofanti at mcentofanti@jhmi.edu with any questions about the facilitator training / enrichment programs.
Our May 2021 Facilitating Workshop is now cancelled and is being rescheduled for Spring 2022. If you are registered for the cancelled workshop and would like a refund or to transfer your registration to the rescheduled workshop, please contact Kathleen Blank Riether at kathblankriether@gmail.com.
For full details and registration, please click on the website link provided.

Spiritual Enrichment and Formation for Facilitators of Centering Prayer Groups
2021-02-26 18:00 - 2021-02-27 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Internet – Online
Offered via Zoom, this retreat provides a unique opportunity for current facilitators, as well as those considering becoming facilitators, to enrich and deepen their spirituality and explore the skills and attributes conducive to effective facilitation and functioning of prayer groups. Further topics include principles of facilitating centering prayer groups; faith sharing and group dynamics; establishing guidelines and agreements; practical aspects and tools of facilitating; and Zoom hosting skills. Time will also be given to resources such as the Facilitator Handbook and materials available online. This retreat is offered by the Centering Prayer Group Facilitator Support Service Team.
Daily program times subject to change:
1st DAY: Friday Evening, February 26, 2021
TIME: 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (PT); 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (MT); 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (CT); 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m (ET)
2nd DAY: Saturday, February 27, 2021
TIME: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m (PT); 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (MT); 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (CT) 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (ET)
A $30 donation is appreciated and any level of donation is welcome.
Please register using the form below.
Questions? Contact Pattye Spezia, wholenessp@icloud.com or +1-832-618-3099.

Centering Prayer Weekend Retreat via ZOOM
2021-02-26 - 2021-02-28 | Internet – Online
Fr. Bill Sheehan OMI will be presenting on Fr. Thomas Keating’s book, Consenting to God As God Is.
Retreat is from Friday evening to Sunday midday (Pacific Time Zone)
Scholarships available.
Please register using the link below and click on Featured Events to locate this offering.
For more information contact Sr. Linda Snow CSJ at: srlinda.snow@gmail.com

7th Centering Prayer and Enneagram Retreat
2021-02-20 09:30 - 15:00 UTC | Internet – Online
“Centering Prayer and Enneagram” retreat is meant for anyone who wants to advance in their contemplative prayer practice with a deeper knowledge of who we are and why we do the things we do. Knowing who we are is the first step into growing in wisdom. Enneagram personality types will show us what motivates us and why some of us can focus, learn, pray, and have a discipline of life better than others.
This online one-day retreat on zoom is a quick look into the Enneagrammic person in us. When we know what inspires us, then it will be easier for us to pray and play. When we pray well, we will play well, meaning, we will do whatever we do for living joyfully.
Set aside one day and take this program from the comfort of your home. Each session is about 45 minutes long with a 10 minutes break in between. You can interact with Fr. Jos while you are attending just like being in a classroom. You don’t need to download anything or call anyone. Just simply be home in your PJs and have a cup of coffee and relax, learn, and grow. Register now and you will be provided with a secure link for the Zoom Retreat.
09:30 am Introduction and Prayer
10: 00 am Session 1
10: 50 am break
11: 00 am Session 2
11: 50 am Centering Prayer Session
12: 10 pm Lunch break
01: 00 pm Session 3
01: 50 pm break
02: 00 pm Session 4

Exploring Desert Wisdom: A Contemplative Lenten Retreat (on Zoom)
2021-02-20 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
In the fourth and fifth centuries, hundreds of years after Christ’s birth, literally thousands of early Christians flocked to the desert to deepen their relationship with Christ. In this retreat, we will explore the power of the desert through psalms, Desert Father and Mother sayings and contemporary literature as well as Centering Prayer and lectio divina. It will be a time to quiet our minds and open our hearts to the desert’s wisdom relevant to our Lenten journeys.
9am – noon Eastern Time
Please register using the link below.

A Quiet Morning with Centering Prayer via Zoom
2021-02-20 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Welcome…Silence…Center…Receptiveness…Spaciousness…Rest…
Please join us this morning for a time together in Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina.
We will gather via Zoom for a 2 hour time of quiet and prayer in community.
Praying in silence together, experiencing our God praying in us together, allowing God
to breathe love in us together, being present in each of us and in us together.
A taste of Heaven.
Please see the website below to register. Time of retreat is in Pacific Time.

COMW Feb 20 Half-Day Centering Prayer Retreat Via Zoom
2021-02-20 08:30 - 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Centering Prayer:
Revisiting the Fundamentals
Invitation from God—an Overview by Thomas Keating
This is the first half day retreat in a series of three based on the video Invitation from God (2007) with Father Keating filmed in Saint Benedict’s Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado. The first half day retreat presents the video on Father Keating’s overview of the benefits of Centering Prayer and its place in healing of not just the individual person but of the whole humanity. The subsequent two retreats will show additional videos from the same interview, where Father Keating goes in more detail with the method and effects of Centering Prayer.
“Peace in the world begins with yourself” says Father Keating in Invitation from God. It starts affecting everyone else. It is not a private matter. The whole human race transforms with you. Father Keating considers that the Kingdom of God is a higher state of consciousness. By saying yes to God’s action within us, we can create a more loving and merciful world. The discussion after the video will focus on how centering prayer can be relevant in today’s world as an instrument of promoting peace and greater understanding.
The morning will include three 30 minute periods of centering prayer and an interactive discussion.
Click on the website link for details and registration information. Pre-registration is required!
Times in U.S. Eastern time zone
Sponsored by Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington (COMW) www.comwcp.org

The Cosmic Web of Love: A Centering Prayer Weekend Retreat via Zoom
2021-02-19 10:00 - 2021-02-21 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
“In any given moment we have access to a connected, powerful wisdom spanning the entire cosmos; and we can learn to participate in a more complete, even joyous exchange with it.”
—Joy Andrews Hayter
We are in desperate need of wisdom at this time. And at this very moment, we are blessed with two powerful lenses through which this wisdom is making herself available to us: contemplative practices like Centering Prayer and the exploding world of science. Wisdom is always present, within and around us, ready to respond to our seeking. In these retreat days, we will attune ourselves to the revelatory relationship between science and spirituality, between the cosmos and our hearts.
Please join us as we engage – mind, body, and emotions – in this joyous exchange. How will the virtual retreat work?
You are invited to join us from your own home as we practice integrating prayer with our daily lives, in our homes, and in our circumstances as they are. Teaching sessions will include experiential, participatory, and embodied exercises to draw us more deeply into the healing, contemplative space. Breaks will be provided to help integrate the retreat with our lives as they are.
Program Features
• Live Online Centering Prayer Sessions – Join via Zoom at scheduled times or practice on your own.
• Live Online Teaching Sessions – Join us live via Zoom or view recordings at a later time.
• Live Online Small Groups – for experiential processing (not recorded).
We hope that you will choose as much or as little of it as fits in your life, on any given day. Let the rest go. Be met, exactly where you are, trusting that God’s love surrounds all of it, all of us, exactly as we are.
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.
Catherine Regan, Ph.D. 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.
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.
Please register at www.mercy-center.org using the link below or telephone 650-340-7474. Scholarship funds available upon request.
Registration closes February 18, 2021
All times are in Pacific Standard Time (PST).

The Welcoming Prayer (Part I & Part II) via Zoom
2021-02-13 09:30 - 2021-02-20 11:30 UTC | CA
Sponsored by Contemplative Outreach of Southeast Wisconsin
Part I: February 13, 9:30-11:30 am US Central Time
Part II: February 20, 9:30-11:30 am US Central Time
To welcome and to let go is one of the most radically loving, faith-filled gestures we can make in each moment of each day. It is an open-hearted embrace of all that is in ourselves and in the world. – Mary Mrozowski
The Welcoming Prayer is an embodied practice for consenting to God’s presence and action in our physical and emotional reactions to events and situations in daily life. It welcomes the Holy Spirit into the particular pain we experience, whether physical, emotional or mental. The Welcoming Prayer, like Centering Prayer, is designed to help us allow the Divine Therapist to remove the obstacles that keep God’s all-powerful grace from flowing in and through us and out into a world in desperate need. It provides a means for moving deeper into trust and intimacy with the living God that Jesus experienced.
February 13:
Part I of the workshop will explore how The Welcoming Prayer addresses the human condition, and will introduce the prayer and offer an opportunity to experience the prayer.
February 20:
Part II will explore the Prayer in greater depth, offer a second practice session, and discuss how to bring the practice of The Welcoming Prayer into daily life.
A regular practice of Centering Prayer is recommended as a prerequisite for this workshop.
Presenter: Ten years ago, Jack Dierks began practicing Centering Prayer and the Welcoming Prayer. In 2017 he completed training and is now a commissioned presenter of the Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshop. Drawn to the Welcoming Prayer, he has completed training and is eager to share it with others. Jack is a member of the Leadership Team of the Contemplative Outreach of Southeast Wisconsin chapter, responsible for organizing and offering Introductory Workshops on Centering Prayer. Jack is a retired teacher.
Please register using the link below.

Centering Prayer Pre-Lenten Morning: "I Will Lead Her Into the Desert" - Via Zoom
2021-02-13 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Therefore, I will now allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. From there I will give her vineyards, and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she shall respond as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.
―Hosea 2:14
Lent offers us one of those rare times to let go and make a space for God. Our common participation in this ritual can open us more deeply to the sacredness of the moment, ourselves, and our world. Our prayer morning is an opportunity to cease all activities and ponder our personal aim for this Lenten season. We will have two sessions of Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, and time for community sharing. Please come join us for contemplative fellowship, as we open ourselves together to be a chalice for God’s love.
Marty Badgett has co-led extended Centering Prayer retreats for many years, and hosted many one-day contemplative prayer days in Berkeley California and in Austin Texas. Marty is a commissioned Centering Prayer presenter, and is the coordinator for the Northwest San Francisco Bay Area.
Prayer Mornings are a new part of the ongoing Centering Prayer program at Mercy Center Burlingame, in hopes of deepening our community relationships and our Centering Prayer practice.
A $20 donation is suggested to support the program; however, any donation you are able to contribute is gratefully accepted. Your presence is most important.
Please register at mercy-center.org using the link below.
Times for the morning retreat are Pacific Standard Time (PST).

Transfiguration Centering Prayer Retreat via Zoom
2021-02-13 06:30 - 17:30 UTC | Internet – Online
Saturday, February 13th, 6:30AM-5:00PM Central Time, $90
Offered online via Zoom.
Centering Prayer is a form of Christian silent mediation where one lets go of thoughts during periods of prayer typically lasting 20 minutes. It is rooted in the self-emptying love that forms the heart of Jesus’ teaching and life. The effect on those who practice it is an ever-increasing awareness of God’s action and presence in the course of ordinary life.
The Rev. Tom Ward is the retired university chaplain at the University of the South and now spends his days focusing on the contemplative dimension of the gospel, teaching Centering Prayer, and leading retreats.
Please register using the link below.

Centering Prayer: Weekend Immersion via Zoom
2021-02-12 19:00 - 2021-02-14 12:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Deepening the Contemplative Dimension of Life
Contemplative Outreach Chicago is sponsoring this online 2021 Winter Weekend Retreat, with Alan Krema as retreat guide.
This retreat will immerse us into three days of Centering Prayer with attentiveness to our activities between the meditation sessions. We will explore awareness of our being and openness to the presence resident in our bodies. We will listen to the calling of living into abundance and liberation. This comes with responsibility to remove the obstacles we have in us arising from the addictive and reactive structures that restrict our growth.
We will meet for Centering Prayer sessions with small presentations in each session. Between meditation sessions we will be invited to carry the awareness of our Divine indwelling source into the tasks of our day. In addition to reflection and prayer, you will be invited to have simple tasks like meal preparation available for you to practice attention. Couples are encouraged to participate together. We assume that participants have a regular practice of Centering Prayer.
The schedule will include five sessions (US Central time):
Friday Evening 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Saturday Morning 9:00 – 11:00 am
Saturday Afternoon 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Saturday Evening 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Sunday Morning 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Alan Krema is a presenter of Centering Prayer and Welcoming Prayer for Contemplative Outreach. Alan is a Wisdom student of Cynthia Bourgeault and has completed the Living School program at the Center for Action and Contemplation. He is a long time practitioner of Centering Prayer as well as facilitator of several Centering Prayer groups. Alan currently serves as chapter coordinator for Contemplative Outreach Chicago and is a member of the Shalem Institute program for Group Spiritual Leadership.
Registration
There is no charge for this retreat. Upon registering, you will receive a confirmation email and be given an opportunity to make a freewill donation. To register, click on the website listed below on the left.
Registration will close on Friday February 12 @ 10:00 AM (US Central Time).
Zoom link
The Zoom link will be emailed on Friday February 12 @ 12:00 PM (US Central Time).
Questions?
Please email registrar@centeringprayerchicago.org for a Zoom link resend or for any questions.

Quaker Mystics and Methods
2021-01-30 08:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Road, West Hartford, CT, 6107, United States
Quaker practice is grounded in the understanding that each person has direct and immediate access and connection to the Divine. Together we will explore Quaker history and mystics, allowing us a peak into the past in order to fully live in the present. Through experiential activities individually, in pairs, and small groups, we will explore discernment and faithfulness through a lens of Quaker spirituality and practice. By listening to the “still, small voice” together, we will practice hearing God’s call.
Both live and Zoom options will be available.
Presented by: Hilary Burgin is the Executive Director of Quaker Voluntary Service, a year-long program for young adults excited by the intersection of justice and spirituality. Her dedication to journeying with others in their spiritual lives has been a foundation of her work. Hilary previously served as the Young Adult Engagement Coordinator for the regional body of Friends in New England and has led experiential workshops, retreats, and programs for Seekers across the country.

Recovery Welcoming Prayer Workshop: Welcoming Prayer and Emotional Sobriety
2021-01-27 19:00 - 20:30 UTC | Internet – Online
This workshop introduces participants to the Welcoming Prayer practice, a method of consenting to the Higher Power’s presence in our physical and emotional reactions to events and situations of daily life.
Welcoming Prayer is a companion practice to Centering Prayer. Those in recovery have found both these practices to be great tools to deepen their spirituality and live in the present moment. It is similar to “pausing when we are upset” and detaching from the committee that drives our addictions and co-dependency.
This program will be offered online via the Zoom platform.
Information on how to access the program will be provided to participants in their registration confirmation email.
Please register using the link provided below.

Thomas Keatings’ “Guidelines for Christian Life, Growth, and Transformation” Workshop via Zoom
2021-01-24 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | Internet – Online
Offered online via Zoom, 1-4pm Central Time.
The title of this workshop, “Guidelines for Christian Life, Growth, and Transformation” is also the title of the 12th and final chapter of Thomas Keatings’ classic primer of Centering Prayer, Open Mind, Open Heart. In these guidelines, Thomas offers a conceptual spiritual and theological framework for this simple practice which has led and continues to lead many modern pilgrims to contemplative prayer. In this workshop we will listen to and discuss these guidelines. They might provide a conceptual introduction to Centering Prayer for those who are curious, a support for those who are in the middle of the journey, and reminder for long-time practitioners. They are complementary to the practice of Centering Prayer, which is the heart of the matter.
The Rev. Tom Ward is the retired university chaplain at the University of the South and now spends his days focusing on the contemplative dimension of the gospel, teaching Centering Prayer and leading retreats.

Introduction to Centering Prayer via Zoom
2021-01-23 10:00 - 12:30 UTC | Internet – Online
Discover the meaning of Psalm 46: “Be Still and know that I am God.”
In this workshop we will explore the indwelling presence of God within each of us through the practice of a method of Christian meditation – Centering Prayer.
Experienced practitioners, commissioned through Contemplative Outreach Ltd., will lead a discussion about the benefits of Centering Prayer in ordinary life and together we will experience two periods of practice.
Attend this via Zoom from your home or office — 10am – 12:30pm Eastern time zone.
To register, please contact Chris Grostic via email grostic@gmail.com or phone (734)-904-1806. Chris will send you the Zoom link a few days before the event.

Introduction to the Centering Prayer Silent Retreat
2021-01-22 08:00 - 2021-01-25 17:00 UTC | Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center, 916 Convent Road, AL, 35055, United States
Centering Prayer is a form of Christian prayer rooted in the ancient Christian contemplative tradition. Its purpose is to foster a deeper intimacy with Christ through the silence and stillness of contemplative prayer. This workshop/retreat is designed for those new to Centering Prayer. Private rooms and the ability to maintain silence are required. Retreat Directors: Contemplative Outreach Birmingham Staff. For registration and cost of the retreat, contact the Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center.

Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshop via Zoom
2021-01-20 17:00 - 2021-03-10 18:30 UTC | Internet – Online
A weekly, evening meeting program to provide the basics for people seeking a path to contemplative prayer. Centering Prayer is a receptive method of silent prayer to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, in which we experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than consciousness itself. This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship.
The first 2 meetings offer a presentation of 1. Prayer as Relationship, 2. The Method of Centering Prayer, 3. Thoughts and Use the Sacred Word, and 4. Deepening Our Relationship with God.
The remaining 5 meetings feature videos of Father Thomas Keating on Centering Prayer followed by discussion.
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants are encouraged to find a group in the Meditation Chapel to join to continue their journey.
Register by sending an email to cthompson427@comcast.net. The Zoom link information will be sent to registered participants prior to January 20, 2021.
Meeting times are Pacific Standard Time.
Maximum registration will be 30 people.
