Welcome to COMW

Contemplative Outreach
Metropolitan Washington

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Hello and welcome to the Website of the Contemplative Outreach of Metro Washington (COMW). We are a chapter of Contemplative Outreach International. It is our mission to actively support and up hold the Vision Statement and Theological principles of Contemplative Outreach Ltd.

Our purpose is to Implement programs that support and encourage the practice of Centering Prayer, foster the formation of new Centering prayer groups,provide support and training for Group Facilitators and Presenters of the Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshop, and support and encourage new leadership in the COMW community.

We hope you will find this site helpful and encourage you to visit our new and interactive "Servant-Leadership & Centering Prayer Community" Wiki-Website. Just hit the Servant Leadership tab.

May God bless you and keep you.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Guy H. Semmes
gsemmes@hopkinsandporter.com

Chapter Coordinators
Guy Semmes, 301.983.1857, gsemmes@hopkinsandporter.com

DC Contact
Suzanne Kindervatter, 202.686.6816, skindervatter@INTERACTION.ORG

Suburban MD Contacts
Dana Semmes, 301.983.1857, thesemmes@verizon.net

Annapolis Contact
Carol Leach, 410.263.1752, carollleach@aol.com

On Twitter: Centering Prayer is now tweeting on Twitter http://twitter.com/CenteringPrayer

Contemplative Outreach is a spiritual network of individuals and small faith communities committed to the practice of Centering Prayer and to renewing the contemplative dimension of the Gospel. While it is ecumenical in composition and outlook, the individuals who affiliate with it are united in their common search for God (Vision Statement). Contemplative Outreach Metropolitan Washington (COMW) is a chapter of Contemplative Outreach that serves D.C., suburban Maryland, northern Virginia, and Annapolis.

COMW supports introductory workshops, small groups, group facilitator enrichment, retreats and days of contemplative enrichment. If you or your faith community wish to draw upon any of its resources, please contact COMW.

What is Contemplative Prayer?

We may think of prayer as thoughts or feelings expressed in words. But this is only one expression. Contemplative prayer is the opening of mind and heart — our whole being — to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond thoughts, words, and emotions. We open our awareness to the God whom we know by faith is within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than choosing - closer than consciousness itself.

Centering Prayer is a method designed to facilitate contemplative prayer by preparing one to receive the gift of contemplative prayer. It presents an ancient Christian teaching (e.g., "The Cloud of Unknowing") in a contemporary form. It is not meant to replace other types of prayer; it simply puts them into a new and fuller perspective.