Be Still and Know That I Am God:
An Introduction to Centering Prayer
Plymouth Church
February 20, 2010 from 8:30AM to 1:00PM
Do you feel drawn to deepen your relationship with God? Are you distressed by life’s seemingly endless demands upon your time and energy? Do you long for peace within? A time during the day to simply rest? Do you desire guidance and support in exploring and developing a practice of meditation? Centering Prayer addresses all of these….and more.
This workshop offers an introduction to Centering Prayer, an updated method of praying that has been practiced by ordinary Christians for centuries. It is drawn from the ancient prayer practices of the Christian contemplative heritage, notably the Fathers and Mothers of the Desert, Lectio Divina (praying the scriptures), The Cloud of Unknowing, and the writings of St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila.
It is a way to open ourselves in silence to God’s presence and loving action within us. Centering Prayer encourages a growing intimacy with God and can have a profound effect on how we feel about ourselves and how we relate to others. Centering Prayer facilitates the movement from more active modes of prayer into a receptive prayer of resting in God and a discipline to deepen our relationship with God.
In addition to learning about the basic elements of Centering Prayer, there will be time for discussion and the practice of this contemplative prayer form.
Registration fee of $35 includes the cost of the book. Registration begins at 8:30AM with refreshments and the retreat begins at 9:00AM. For more information please contact Marta Hawkins at Plymouth Congregational Church, 255-3149 or at mhawkins@plymouthchurch.com.
Presenters:
Kathy Reardon, RN, MS, is a commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer and a founding member of Contemplative Outreach of Central Iowa, a network of individuals and small faith communities that support the teaching and practice of Centering Prayer in the Ames/Des Moines area. Kathy is a spiritual director at the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center.
Deb Habr is a spiritual director and presenter-in-training in Centering Prayer introductory workshops. She serves on the steering committee of Contemplative Outreach of Central Iowa.
PICTORIAL DIRECTORY INFORMATION: We will be sending the roster to Olan Mills and all pictures for the activity pages very soon. We will not be publishing e-mails in the roster but will publish home telephone numbers unless you request not to have yours published. (Please contact the office, 243-7691, if you do not wish it published in the directory.) Names, addresses and home phone numbers will be in a roster in the back of the directory. Members of our congregation will receive a free directory if you have had your picture taken and selected a pose for the directory. There will be some extra directories for those who wish to purchase one if you did not have your picture taken. If you have moved recently, changed phone numbers, etc. please contact the church office, 243-7691 with new information so it will be as accurate as possible. Thank you for updating our information!
