Upcoming Retreats & Workshops
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Welcome to the first on-line newsletter from Contemplative Outreach of Central Pennsylvania! We are a chapter of Contemplative Outreach.
Each issue will invite you to share your thoughts, to be published in a future issue. Please take a few minutes to send them in, even if it's just a few words. It's an easy way for us to give each other encouragement and inspiration.
Each issue will also include Food for Thought and possibly other articles and news, depending on what comes our way. We plan to publish an issue every other month. If you have suggestions or comments on the newsletter, please send them! Gwen Stimely and Jet Schneider, Newsletter Co-Editors |
Food for Thought
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 From Fruits and Gifts of the Spirit, Thomas Keating, Lantern Books, 2000, pp. 1-2.
St. Teresa of Avila
wrote: "All difficulties in prayer can be traced to one cause: praying as if
God were absent." This is the conviction that we bring with us from early
childhood and apply to everyday life and to our lives in general. It gets
stronger as we grow up, unless we are touched by the Gospel and begin the
spiritual journey. This journey is a process of dismantling the monumental
illusion that God is distant or absent. When our particular petitions are not
answered, we become even more convinced that God is absent. This is an
irrational position, however, one based on the judgment of emotion, not reason.
Unfortunately, our unruly emotions do not obey reason and will; they have their
own dynamic. Whenever our reason and will decide to do something, our emotions
get into a huddle and decide whether or not they will go along with them. If
our plan contradicts their perception of what is pleasant or unpleasant, we
have a riot on our hands. Back to Top |
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Why Do I Practice Centering Prayer?
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 From J.S., State College
It has helped me greatly over the past 5 years, and has changed my life- from
the very beginning, reading about it one evening in a book by John Michael
Talbot, finding out from a church bulletin the next day that Nancy was going to
give a CP introductory course. It was clear to me then something had been
brought to my attention. Through difficult times, CP remained a constant in my
life. It helps me to be focused in my day, and stay close to the Source,
listening, open to where Spirit may lead me.
From G.S., Port Matilda
When I've tried to run my life on self will, I've run into all sorts of trouble and unhappiness. When I've tried to run my life based on God's will, no matter how imperfectly, my life is better. It feels right somehow. Centering Prayer helps remind me of this. And it helps me become willing to let God help me.
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Please Share!
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 What first attracted me to Centering Prayer?Please write a few words (or lots of words!) and send them to us. Submissions received by June 1st will appear in the June newsletter. Please include your town and note how you would like your name to appear - Anonymous, Initials, or Full Name. Suggestions?If you have suggestions for the newsletter, suggestions for "Please Share" questions for future issues, or comments of any sort, please send them to us. Back to Top |
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COCP Website
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