Contemplative Outreach of Central Pennsylvania Newsletter
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Welcome to the September 2011 issue of the Contemplative Outreach of Central Pennsylvania newsletter. We are a chapter of Contemplative Outreach. Please consider sending us a few words on this month's question for the next issue. We'd love to hear from you, whether it's for the first time or you've contributed in the past. Please note the workshops and retreats listed in the left margin. There is still room if you would like to sign up! Plus some additional workshops . . . "Art and Spirituality Series" with Sr. Tina Geiger, Wednesday Mornings Sept. 21- October 26 "Walking the Sacred Path" , beginning Monday, Sept. 19th, 6:30 pm- 8 pm and continuing for 6 weeks. All are welcome!
"Prayer, Caring and Nurturing Retreat" , based on the writings of Dr. Robert Wicks Oct. 28-29 As always, if you have suggestions or comments on the newsletter, please send them! Gwen Stimely and Jet Schneider p.s. The lovely rainbow photograph comes compliments of Bert Helleman, from the Netherlands. The rest of the photographs in this newsletter, except for the photo of Nancy and Roberta, are from the Jesuit Retreat Center in Wernersville, PA. |
Food for Thought
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Fruits and Gifts of the Spirit, by Thomas Keating, Lantern Books, 2000, pp. 71-72
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Thursday Evening Prayer Group in State College
| | The Centering Prayer group that meets Thursday evening at 7 pm in the chapel of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in State College each week has finished reading "Open Mind, Open Heart" by Fr. Thomas Keating this past year. It was a wonderful experience to read the book together, and discuss what we read. Starting next week, after centering together, we will begin reading "Invitation to Love" by Fr. Keating. Please feel free to drop in any time and join our group, everyone is welcome for a Taste of Silence! Back to Top |
Reader Submissions |
| In our last issue we asked the question: If you have attended a silent Centering Prayer retreat, please share your thoughts about the silence. For example, was it difficult to be silent? Easy? What benefits did you see from the silence? Here are the responses...
from H.Z.
In Psalm 46 it says: "Be still and know that I am God", and the silence at a silent retreat helps me to be still and deeply listen for God. In the beginning it was a little difficult to be silent all the time, but after a few experiences of being at a silent retreat it is something I really look forward to. I remember being at the Bethany Retreat Center for a silent retreat one time, and walking the labyrinth, and the only sound I could hear was the sound my sneakers made, touching the ground; even this small sound felt like it was too much. The deep silence can be a very healing experience, helping us to listen to the Source of all Being. The benefits of a silent retreat are many - an opportunity for deep healing of our inner most self, our "wounds of a lifetime" as Fr. Thomas Keating calls it, an experience of deep Peace that will carry over in our daily life, and a deep willingness to trust in God. from G.S. My first retreat was a silent retreat at Bethany. I was so excited to be there, but also nervous because I didn't know what to expect, or even if I belonged there. I have a vivid memory of Sr. Therese, at the initial welcome meeting, explaining the idea of silence to us: We'll talk at our conferences, and the Sunday meal before we leave. But the rest of the time, we won't talk, even in whispers. We don't need to make eye contact with each other. At meals, of course it is fine if you would like to read. But I suggest you try eating with your full attention. Taste every bite. Although we won't have spent much time talking with each other, we will still form a deep bond because we will have prayed together all weekend.
It felt strange at first. But it was also nice for me, because I'm somewhat shy, not to have to make the usual small talk that happens with strangers. The silence allowed me to experience every moment of that weekend. It allowed me to feel a deep connection with God, the world, and myself.
Here are a couple of quotes about silence that I really like. From Contemplative Outreach News, June 2011, "Consenting to the Divine Presence," by Thomas Keating, p. 2: "External silence leads to interior silence and interior silence into the letting go of interior dialogue. Then follows a sense of stillness, even though there is always present some attentiveness to God's presence."
In The Dharma Bums, Jack Kerouac wrote, "The mysterious roar of silence itself, which is a great Shhhh reminding you of something you've seemed to have forgotten in the stress of your days since birth." Back to Top
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Paintings by Artist Will Espey Are Available at the Bethany Retreat Center
| | Beautiful watercolor paintings by local Native American Artist Will Espey are available at the Bethany Retreat Center Bookstore. Will Espey, who designed the cover of the Meditation Timer CD Contemplative Outreach of Central PA published recently, graciously donated some beautiful art pieces to the Bethany Retreat Center. 100% of the proceeds will benefit Marian House, their women's shelter. Besides the wonderful collection of books and CD's the Bookstore has to offer, now there is another, very good reason to visit! Back to Top |
Recent Welcoming Prayer and Contemplative Dimension of the 12 Steps Retreats
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| Nancy Cord-Baran and Roberta Oster |
from Nancy Cord-Baran Our local chapter recently sponsored two retreats with Roberta Oster from Contemplative Outreach. We had people come from Michigan, New York, New Jersey, and Ohio as well as Pa. I attended the Welcoming Prayer weekend retreat and was very inspired to use this powerful prayer practice in my daily life. It is a tremendous companion to Centering Prayer.
Fr. Thomas Keating says, "Welcoming Prayer is the practice that actively lets go of thoughts and feelings that support the false-self system...It is the full acceptance of the content of the present moment. In giving the experience over to the Holy Spirit, the false-self system is gradually undermined and the true self liberated."
The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault speaks of the Welcoming Prayer as a "powerful path for connecting the inner consent of Centering Prayer with the outer requirement of unconditional presence in daily life."
In the second retreat, The Contemplative Dimension of The 12 Steps, we taught Centering Prayer as an 11th-Step practice (the 11th Step of 12-Step programs is "Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out"). There was a Second Track available to those who had been on the Introductory Retreat before in which Roberta taught The Welcoming Prayer.
Evaluations were overwhelmingly positive and Roberta will be back again next year. The Contemplative Dimension of the 12 Steps will be offered August 17-19, 2012 and The Welcoming Prayer will be on August 24-26, 2012. It is not too early to make your reservations. We especially appreciate being able to offer these retreats in such a beautiful and quiet space at Bethany Retreat Center.
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Please Share!
| | Have you experienced moments of peace in your daily life, even during times of difficulty? If so, could you describe the experience?
Please write a few words (or lots of words!) and send them to us. Selected submissions will appear in the next newsletter. Please include your town and note how you would like your name to appear - Anonymous, Initials, or Full Name. Back to Top |
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