MAY NEWSLETTER

CONTEMPLATION

“When the presence of God emerges from our inmost being into our faculties, whether we walk down the street or drink a cup of soup, divine life is pouring into the world.”

― Thomas Keating,

Open Mind, Open Heart:

The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel

UPCOMING EVENT

Pentecost Morning of Silence

"When We Breathe Together"

Each holy breath we take is a gift from God.

Join us as we celebrate God's Holy Breath, surrounding and uniting us in community. There is no charge for this event. Donations are graciously accepted.

Image: Tongues as of Fire

CONSIDER

ARE YOU A MYSTIC?

Are you a mystic? What does it mean to be mystical? Before I became a mystic, I had no idea what mysticism was.

According to Father Thomas Keating, mysticism is a synonym for contemplation. The word, contemplation, has both secular and religious connotations. Although I have found many quotes to help me understand the meaning of the word, “contemplation,” the most succinct and meaningful to me originates from Thomas Merton: Contemplation is, above all, an awareness of the reality of an invisible, transcendent and infinitely abundant Source (my paraphrase from his book “New Seeds of Contemplation”).

Mysticism is believing what is hard to know and knowing what is hard to believe. Believing happens in the rational part of the brain. Knowing occurs within our whole being. Knowing can occur without believing. In fact, knowing may precede believing. Believing begins with doubting what the body or the spirit or the whole already knows. As the truth contained in our unconscious being gains mass, its gravity slowly brings the conscious mind into its orbit.

LIBRARY CORNER

Joy Grace is the facilitator of the centering prayer group that meets each Monday at Community Life Church in Gulf Breeze. Her group has read and enjoyed the following books:

Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation, by Parker Palmer

This book is about finding what we “can’t not do,” a Quaker phrase meaning living life as a witness to our deepest truths. Palmer explains that our journeys may be unique but the path is universal.

Although the Centering Prayer Library does not have this particular title, we have "Hidden Wholeness" and "40 Day Journey" by Parker Palmer.

Twelve Little Ways to Transform Your Heart: Lessons in Holiness and Evangelization

from St. Thérèse of Lisieux and The Triple Way to Transformation. by Susan Muto

Muto, Director of the Epiphany Association, explores the transformative “little ways” of St. Thérèse, including the Ministry of the Smile.

Although we don’t have these titles by Susan Muto, we do have her book, Late Have I Loved Thee: The Recovery of Intimacy.

If you are interested in learning more about St. Therese of Lisieux, the Centering Library has copies of

The Autobiography of Saint Therese of Lisieux by John Beevers and Walking the Little Way of Therese

of Lisieux by Joseph Schmidt. We also have a CD by Richard Rohr entitled, The Little Way: A Spirituality

of Imperfection.

These and other amazing books may be borrowed from the Carol D. Lewis Library housed in the Centering Prayer Room on the second floor of Christ Church's Education Building. The collection is listed by author, title, and subject in the library catalog:

https://CenteringPrayerLibrary.librarika.com.

There are no due dates or fines charged to use the collection. If you have any comments, questions, suggestions or would like to donate materials, please contact the librarian (Caroline Thompson, cthompson57@gmail.comthompson57@gmail.com).

COMMUNITY

Contemplative Outreach of Pensacola

PRAYER GROUPS

We welcome all those new to Centering Prayer as well as established practitioners to our Pensacola area prayer groups. Check with each group's facilitator to learn the current meeting status. Please contact Jenni Arnold if you need to make a change to a prayer group - copns44@gmail.com or 850-712-1634.

CLICK HERE for updated information

12 Step Outreach- Contemplative Outreach

For those interested in or currently practicing Centering Prayer as the 11th step, discover new opportunities to participate in monthly on-line Introductory workshops and countless other offerings.

CLICK HERE

Center for Sacred Space

Leads contemplative retreats and workshops that provide safe, sacred space for people to deepen their relationship with God and bring healing and wholeness to themselves and their community.

CLICK HERE

The Meditation Chapel

Find the Meditation Chapel schedule with instructions to register for access to the calendar of daily listings for opportunities to pray with others globally throughout the day and night. These groups have grown and matured since the early days of the pandemic. If you are looking for new connections for practicing centering prayer in community, give the Meditation Chapel a try.

CLICK HERE

St. Mary's Sewanee, TN

Calendar Events — St. Mary's Sewanee

Benedictine Sisters of Cullman, AL

Events | Benedictine Sisters of Cullman, AL

Websites of FL, AL, GA, LA, TN

Check out the websites of these regional Contemplative Outreach chapters to learn about their events, which include many free Zoom & in-person meetings.

CLICK HERE for a specific chapter's events.

Contemplative Outreach of Colorado

Website of events:

CLICK HERE

Closer Than Breath~ Founder Keith Kristich offers a weekly newsletter, monthly contemplative days, and events and resources to deepen contemplative practices.

CLICK HERE

Lindsay Boyer: Spirituality for Questioning Minds including teachings, contemplative practices, prayer groups, special Quiet Days:

CLICK HERE

Fr. Richard Rohr: Center for Action and Contemplation offerings for daily meditations, podcasts, subscriptions and other resources:

CLICK HERE

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Pentecost Morning of Silence

Saturday, May 23

10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

St. Christopher's Episcopal Church

3200 N. 12th Avenue

Pensacola, FL

Eight Day Centering Prayer Retreat

June 5 - June 12

St. Mary's Sewanee, TN

CONTINUING

You are invited to enjoy the monthly Contemplative Outreach, Ltd E-Bulletin for beautiful offerings and E-bulletin.

CLICK HERE to read the mid-April E-Bulletin.

Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. website: CLICK HERE

The Contemplative Outreach YouTube Channel offers a treasure of free videos of

shorter and longer lengths:

Contemplative Outreach - YouTube

Theological Principle #1 - Contemplative Outreach is a network of communities and individuals seeking the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit and to contribute to the renewal of the Christian contemplative tradition through the practice of Centering Prayer.

Commentary - The fundamental purpose of Centering Prayer and of Contemplative Outreach is to further the knowledge and experience of God’s love in the consciousness of the human family. Contemplative Outreach provides basic instruction in Centering Prayer and additional programs to sustain the development in contemplation and the process of transformation.

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