Centering Prayer Group

A few weeks ago I posted about a Centering Prayer retreat I attended in New York and how I came away with an encouraging spirit to talk about creating a centering prayer practice within our faith community.

Last Sunday a group of other interested parishioners joined me for a conversation on this and here is what we decided to do! If you are seeking to enrich your prayer life, or learn what Centering Prayer is, and/or explore new methods of meditation and mindfulness - then I hope you will join us!

We will meet Sundays at 9am-9:45am, starting May 14th at Good Shepherd (Rug Room)

We will learn the method of Centering Prayer by reading, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening by Cynthia Bourgeault. Bourgeault is an Episcopal priest, scholar, author and contemplative who leads retreats around the world. Click here to read more about her and The Contemplative Society which she founded.

Together, we will practice Centering Prayer for about 10min each time we meet. And hopefully this will eventually become the primary focus of our time as we grow into a prayer group; committing to a regular practice of prayer in community to deepen our internal awareness of God's presence and our ability to "see with the eyes of our heart enlightened" (Ephesians 1:18) in all the other hours of a day.

If you are growing more curious - that is great! The Contemplative Outreach organization has many resources (some of which our group will use) on Centering Prayer practice and you can read about it and watch a short video on the practice here.

Prayers for this new ministry and for the stirring of the Spirit in all of our hearts. Peace, Arianne