Contemplative Practices facilitate and deepen our relationship with God. They are an opportunity to invite the Indwelling Presence into everything we do. Contemplative practices give us the eyes to see and the ears to hear God calling us to the banquet.
Centering Prayer is based on the wisdom saying of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: “When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door and pray to your Father in secret (Matthew 6:6) It is a receptive method of Christian silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, in which we experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. Read the Centering Prayer pamphlet which may be download here.
To learn the method of Centering Prayer, you may: • Read Thomas Keating’s book, Open Mind, Open Heart. • Take an Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshop (see contact info for your area). • Take an Online course • Learn from the many videos at Contemplative Outreach on You Tube.
Lectio Divina is an ancient practice of praying the Scriptures almost in conversation with God. Read the Lectio Divina pamphlet which may be downloaded here.
The Welcoming Prayer deepens our relationship with God through consenting in the ordinary activities of our day. Welcoming Prayer helps to dismantle the emotional programs of the false-self system and contributes to the process of transformation in Christ initiated in Centering Prayer. The Welcoming Prayer pamphlet may be downloaded here.
Make contact with a CO Chapter in your region
Find and attend a local Centering Prayer support group (find a contact in your area) to support your daily practice and your growing relationship with God and others along the way.
Attend the retreats, workshops and enrichment programmes offered in your area.
Practice Centering Prayer for a minimum of 20 minutes, twice each day, with the intention of deepening your relationship with God.