CONTEMPLATION

Stillness

Thomas Keating

Our true nature is stillness,

The Source from which we come.

It manifests itself within us

As a rising tide of silence,

A flowing stream of peacefulness,

A limitless ocean of calm,

Or just sheer stillness.

The deep listening of pure contemplation

Is the path to stillness.

All words disappear into It,

And all creation awakens to the delight of

Just Being.

CHAPTER EVENTS

Facilitators Gathering: Drawing on the Wisdom of the Group

Saturday, Oct. 11, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Location: St. Cyprians Episcopal Church, 500 N. Reus St., Pensacola

*Registration Deadline - October 5*

We know from our own experience in our Centering Prayer group meetings and our

facilitator gatherings that there is something about sitting together in a circle that elicits

a depth of speaking and listening that does not occur in other meeting formats.

The authors of “The Circle Way” observed that this special dynamic seems to emerge from within the form itself, i.e., from the circle.

“The circle is an energetic social container capable of helping a group draw on

wellsprings of insight, information, and story that inspire collective wisdom and

action. The form itself invites spirit to participate in people's interactions.”



In this gathering we will use the Circle Way as we invite attendees to share their

insights, stories, and questions about supporting their CP group members in their daily

prayer practice.

We will discuss the following questions:

"What is it that we need to do to support the members of our groups?"

"What do you wish you could do?"

"What are you doing that has produced fruit that you could share with other facilitators?" 

Whether you are a facilitator or a regular attender of a group, everyone is invited. This

will be our only facilitators gathering this year, so I hope you will be able to join us.



CONSIDER

Close Enough to Touch

“God is closer to us than our own soul.” Julian of Norwich

Sunday morning I went to Krispy Kreme at first light, soon after it opened, and I was the only customer. It was quiet; none of the donut making machines were running. I was lost in my dull early morning thoughts while I waited at the cash register for my donuts, when a young man behind the donut display case who I had not noticed spoke to me and said, "Aren't you the guy who does the centering prayer at church?" I looked at him, taken by surprise. I didn't recognize him and hesitated, not knowing how he knew me. He said, "I was there a few weeks ago at Bright Bridge." I asked him his name and when he said it, I remembered him.



CHAPTER SPOTLIGHT

We are excited to highlight impactful ministries of Centering Prayer groups within our chapter. Contemplative Outreach of Pensacola spans from Mobile, AL to Tallahassee, FL.

We invite all Centering Prayer groups in our chapter to share how your group is fostering contemplative practice in our community.

Please email Doug Heatwole at copensacola22@gmail.com to submit your chapter spotlight.



Centering Prayer Group Spotlight: Bright Bridge Ministries, Pensacola

Most of our Centering Prayer groups meet in churches, but some groups practice Centering Prayer in other places, like prisons and shelters. We have two Centering Prayer groups that meet at Bright Bridge Ministries (BBM) in Pensacola.

Bright Bridge serves individuals who are experiencing homelessness, addiction, hunger and more. Bright Bridge provides programs and resources that offer community members an opportunity for hope, healing, and life renewal. Approximately 40 men live in the men’s shelter (called His Place) and another half dozen men live at Chadwick House, an offsite home where men are supported as they transition to full independent living.

(Learn more about Bright Bridge by visiting their website: https://brightbridgeministry.org).

LIBRARY CORNER

Joan Chittester’s prayer for World Peace seems especially appropriate right now:

Give us the strength it takes to listen rather than to judge, to trust rather than to fear, to try again and again to make peace even when peace eludes us. We ask, O God, for the grace to be our best selves.

Joan Chittester is a Benedictine nun and one of the great theologians of our age. She is an advocate for justice and peace. Chittester has authored over 50 books and those in our collection include Gift of Years, Monastery of the Heart, Rule of Benedict, and Wisdom Distilled from the Daily.

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.com).

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Saturday, October 11

*Please register by October 5*

Centering Prayer Facilitator Gathering

10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

St. Cyprians Episcopal Church

Pensacola, FL

REGISTER HERE

Saturday, November 22

Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshop

8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

St. Mary's Sewanee Retreat Center

Sewanee, TN

REGISTER HERE

Saturday, December 6

Advent Morning of Silence

10 a.m. - Noon

$10 per person

Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church

75 Fairpoint Drive, Gulf Breeze

REGISTER HERE



COMMUNITY

CONTINUING

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

CLICK HERE for the mid-September E-Bulletin.

Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. website: CLICK HERE

Theological Principle #8 - Listening to the word of God through the practice of Lectio Divina is encouraged, particularly its movement into contemplation which the daily practice of Centering Prayer facilitates.

Commentary - The classical term for reflection on scripture and other sacred texts is Lectio Divina. Practicing Lectio Divina through the exercise of the faculties – reading, reflecting, and responding that leads to resting in God – serves to balance the letting go of deliberate thinking during the periods of Centering Prayer.