Centering Prayer intros and retreat
Cherry Haisten
Hello all you faithful centering pray-ers!
Hope you have had a summer of Sabbath and re-creation.
And hope you are ready for autumn. It will be here before we know it.
Several centering prayer opportunities coming up soon, and more in the works which I will email you about as soon as I have details.
On Saturday, September 12, there will be TWO centering prayer introductory workshops at different locations and in different formats.
The all-day format, 9am-3pm, will be held at The Priory Spirituality Center in Lacey. Veteran presenters Kay Kukowski and Mary Solberg will be leading this full introductory day. The Priory is a wonderful gathering place for people from around our region. Those attending this workshop might go back to their own parishes or communities with new knowledge to share and encouragement for others to try centering prayer.
A shorter format, 9am-1pm, will be held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Tacoma. Newly formed presenter and longtime practitioner Michele Jankanish will be presenting this condensed format along with me. This brief intro will serve as the first session of the full Contemplative Outreach introductory program. St. Andrew’s Tacoma will host this six-week follow-up course on Monday evenings beginning September 21.
For those who have been doing centering prayer and looking for a weekend retreat to practice with others, The Priory in Lacey is also hosting a silent centering prayer retreat the weekend of October 16-18. And for those of you who really plan ahead, there will be a second weekend retreat just like this one March 18-20. Kay Kukowski and Mary Solberg, who have been leading these retreats for many years, will facilitate. These weekends are a wonderful way to get your toes wet and try a little more intensive silence. They are a good preparation for those feeling called to a longer intensive retreat at Snowmass, Colorado, where Fr. Keating lives, or at other retreat facilities around the country that offer five-, six-, seven-, ten-, or fourteen-day retreats in a Contemplative Outreach format. They are also a good refresher between longer retreats.
Please remember that Contemplative Outreach is an ecumenical network. That means that all are welcome to all of our offerings regardless of religious affiliation. Often the gathering of people from diverse backgrounds enriches our centering prayer groups. When longtime practitioners come back for intros and retreats, that also enriches the experience for everyone. So please consider yourself coming to one of these offerings and please pass on word to any you know who might be interested. A gentle word from you might be just the nudge your friends or family members need.
I am attaching flyers for all of these events. You will find contact information on the flyers with registration or sign-up details. Feel free also to contact me with questions.
Peaceful blessings,
cherry
Cherry Haisten
Coordinator, Contemplative Outreach Northwest
415 16th Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98112
206-726-3074 home
206-909-1736 cell
or che...@saintandrewsseattle.org