Mornings of Centering Prayer and Spiritual Enrichment
A Series of Half-Day Saturday Retreats: Oct. 2, Nov. 6, and Dec. 4, 2010
When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will make your spirit blossom. – Mathew 6:6
Description: Contemplative Outreach of Metropolitan Washington (COMW) invites you to a series of half-day morning retreats. The retreats are offered to those who may wish to deepen their current practice of centering prayer, experience extended prayer time with like-intentioned others in a retreat setting, reestablish their practice, and/or simply draw closer to God in silence. The retreats, offered to individuals with a regular practice of centering prayer for at least three months, consist of:
• Three 30 minute periods of centering prayer
• Viewing selections of the new DVD series from Fr. Thomas Keating: "Heartfulness: Transformation in Christ"
You are most welcome to attend one, two, or all three mornings.
Oct. 2 Retreat Location : St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 12319 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD. In the School Library of the Parish Center. Locations for the Nov. 6 and Dec. 4 Saturday morning retreats still to be determined.
Dates: Saturdays, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm, Oct. 2, Nov. 6, and Dec. 4. Registration and refreshments 8:30 am.
Facilitation: Oct. 2: LJ Milone, Director of Faith Formation at St. John the Baptist Catholic Community, Nov. 6: Ron Barnett, previous Coordinator for Contemplative Outreach of Metro Washington DC (COMW) and presently Member and Co-Convener of Contemplative Outreach’s Circle of Service, Dec. 4: Guy Semmes, present Coordinator of COMW.
Registration: Preregistration is encouraged and a donation of $10 to COMW per retreat is suggested. To preregister or to obtain additional information please contact LJ Milone at 301-622-1122 or adultdre@sjbsilverspring.org. On-site registration is available and refreshments will be served.
Directions: St. John the Baptist is “outside” the Beltway. On entering the church grounds continue to drive around to the large parking lot and park. Enter the Parish Center from the parking lot level. The school library is on your right.
Click here for a complete Eastern Region Calendar of Events
TRAINING AND FORMATION PROGRAMS
- Nine Month Course: The Practice and Deepening of Contemplative Living
One weekend a month
For dates visit website www.centeringprayernys.org
Highland Mills, NY Cathy McCarthy 845 534-5180 cmccarthy001@hvc.rr.com
- Servant-Leader Formation Training The training is open to all members whether or not they are presently in a leadership position. Leaders on the Servant Leadership Team as well as the Coordinators and Contact Persons are especially encouraged to attend. Please encourage all members to contribute/donate funds to reduce the costs to those who attend. There are a few scholarship available from Susan Komis. Please discuss this in your upcoming leadership team meetings. (It’s easier to get folks to volunteer to be coordinators when the have attended this training.)
- Locations and dates for training:
Nine Month Course: The Practice and Deepening of Contemplative Living One weekend a month
For dates visit websites:
- Highland Mills, NY Cathy McCarthy 845 534-5180 cmccarthy001@hvc.rr.com
website: www.centeringprayernys.org
- Frenchville, PA Nicole Fedder 814 263-4855 bethanyadult@pennswoods.net
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Formation Training
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Lectio Divina Workshop & Formation Training:
Melbourne, KY Micki Martin 859-441-0700 x349 violamickimartin@hotmail.com
Highland Mills, NY Cathy McCarthy 845-534-5180 cmccarthy001@hvc.rr.com
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Formation for Contemplative Outreach Service
Frenchville, PA Sr. Therese Dush -------------- bethanyadult@pennswoods.net
Highland Mills, NY Cathy McCarthy 845 534-5180 cmccarthy001@hvc.rr.com
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FORMATION FOR SERVICE TRAINING:
The purpose of this training is to provide an intensive, Christian Community experience in order to better understand and grasp the essentials of the centering prayer method and thus be able to share it appropriately with others. The staff consists of members of the National Faculty and others chosen for in-service training. This workshop/course prepares individuals to become presenters-in-training for the Introduction to Centering Prayer, as well as better facilitators and more committed practitioners. The required preparation is a daily practice of Centering Prayer and attendance at a 10 day Intensive Retreat or familiarity with the first 17 Spiritual Journey tapes. The workshop is both formative and informative. For more information contact Guy or Dana Semmes 301-983-1857.
What is Formation for Contemplative Outreach Service?
The purpose of Formation for Contemplative Outreach Service, including Presenter’s Training, is to provide an intensive Christian community experience in order to better understand and grasp the essentials of the Centering Prayer method and thus be able to share it appropriately with others.
The theory is “Good practitioners make good presenters, facilitators, and administrative helpers.” Because the group spends six days focusing on the Centering Prayer practice itself, they better understand the essentials of Centering Prayer and the many nuances of the practice. This deeper understanding helps them to better recognize that contemplative service is service freely offered without expectation of return.
Contemplative Service is not tied to roles or only those willing to function in a specific way. Rather one sees a need and fills it. Contemplative Service is God is us serving God in others.
The schedule includes:
* One and a half hours of Centering Prayer daily
* Presentations by the staff of one conference of Session one of An Introduction to Centering Prayer each morning.
* Participants present portions of the same material to a small group in the afternoons.
* Presentation by the staff of sessions 2-7 and small group discussion.
* A Silent Retreat Day
* Discussion of Issues
Criteria for Registering for Formation for Contemplative Outreach Service
* Participated in “An Introduction to Centering Prayer”
* Established Centering Prayer practice - minimum of daily two twenty-minute periods ~ for three years.
* Participated in an 8- or 10-day Centering Prayer Intensive Retreat, either before attending Formation or within one year after attending Formation, and before becoming fully commissioned. If intensive retreats are not geographically available – Participated in a 5 or 7 day Centering Prayer Intensive Retreat or – Participated in four weekend silent Centering Prayer Retreats over previous 3 years.
* Studied Open Mind, Open Heart by Thomas Keating. Preferably has also read/studied Invitation to Love, Mystery of Christ, and/or Spiritual Journey materials by Thomas Keating (Tapes, CDs, DVDs or transcripts)
* Has been recommended by a Chapter Coordinator or Contact Person, or (in an underdeveloped chapter) by a commissioned presenter who is willing to mentor and recommend him/her for full commissioning after serving a minimum of one year as a presenter-in-training.
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