The Welcoming Prayer as described by Rumi in his poem “The Guesthouse” – 13th Century
Centering Prayer Retreats Our multi-day silent retreats take place at Cedarbrake Renewal Center in Belton, TX. The retreat center is located on 69 beautifully wooded acres with trails for walking, meditation spots, a labyrinth, and access to the Leon River. Multi-day retreats offer many extended periods of Centering Prayer as well as time for silence and solitude and DVD viewings or conferences on a particular topic. Please consider attending one of the many wonderful half-day, one-day and multi-day retreats that are available during the year. This month, we have a 6-day immersion retreat on the Welcoming Prayer. If you have never participated in a Centering Prayer retreat, this is the next step for enhancing your practice! Check out the list of retreats on our website.
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When you plan to attend a retreat at the Church of Conscious Harmony or at Cedarbrake Renewal Center, please pre-register by calling Lisa Genung at 512-347-9673.
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A message from Contemplative Outreach:
Fr. Thomas Keating is resting comfortably and receiving 24/7 care at the monastery in Spencer, MA. He currently is trying to walk a little every day and is still amazingly clear-minded. Please keep him in your prayers.
A New Centering Prayer Group is now meeting in northeast Austin on Tuesday evenings from
7-8:30pm. Please contact Pat Barnet (512-748-7840) for more information.
Contemplative Outreach is partnering with The Meditation Chapel to participate in and host online video prayer groups. Each hosted group practices 20-25 minutes of silent prayer and then shares reflections on Scripture or some spiritual teaching. If you are looking for support in your daily practice, or a way to expand your consciousness and connections with other contemplatives, try it! For more information and instruction on how to join, go here. Fr. Laurence Freeman calls this "a sacramental use of technology" that enables us to "be sacramentally present to each other." Please email Pamela Begeman with questions or if you are interested in facilitating a group.
Part of the HoTCO Prison Ministry Service Team
Prison Ministry A group of Centering Prayer practitioners are currently facilitating a weekly Emotions Anonymous 12-Step group at Hobby Prison in Marlin, TX. The chaplain there would like to serve more women at the prison since there is a long waiting list to be in the group. The weekly meeting includes a period of Centering Prayer which they teach to the inmates. Volunteers from Austin carpool and it is about a 6-7-hour commitment usually once a month. They are looking for people with a daily practice and a desire to serve. Please contact Kristi Michener for more information.
12-Step Outreach is led by Emily Haeussler and presenters are being trained. If you are interested, please contact Emily at emily@foodbody.com .
Welcoming Prayer workshops are now available to the HoTCO community. If you are interested in a one-day workshop or a series of evening workshops, please contact Pamela Begeman for more information.
There will be a six-day Welcoming Prayer immersion retreat September 14 – 19, 2018 in Belton, TX at the Cedarbrake Renewal Center. However, there is now a waiting list for this retreat. For more information, please call 512-347-9673. (See listing below.)
Heart of Texas Contemplative Outreach is now on Facebook and Meetup.com. Both sites will be posting upcoming Centering Prayer events in the area. If you join our group on Meetup.com, you will also receive email notices of upcoming events. Check it out!
Upcoming Centering Prayer Activities
1. Centering Prayer 6-Day Retreat on the Welcoming Prayer – Sept 14-19
2. Centering Prayer One-Day Retreat – Sept 22
3. Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop – Oct 13
4. Centering Prayer One-Day Retreat – Oct 20
1. Centering Prayer 6-Day Retreat on the Welcoming Prayer – Sept 14-19
Cedarbrake Renewal Center, Belton, TX
This spacious retreat, facilitated by Pamela Begeman, will include daily periods of Centering Prayer, conferences on the Welcoming Prayer, liturgy and Eucharist, and increased time for silence and solitude. Attendees arrive between 4-6pm on Friday and leave before noon on Wednesday. The cost is $545/single room. There is now a waiting list only for this retreat. For more information, please call The Church of Conscious Harmony office at 512-347-9673.
2. Centering Prayer One-Day Retreat – Sept 22
Church of Conscious Harmony
The day includes a light breakfast and fellowship during registration, a morning prayer session of 2 thirty-minute prayer periods, Lectio Divina, the option of either an afternoon prayer session of 2 thirty-minute prayer periods or a Fr. Keating lecture video, several periods of silence and solitude and lunch in silence on the beautiful church grounds. Please bring a dish for potluck lunch. Registration is onsite the day of the retreat with a suggested love offering of $15. Please pre-register by calling 512-347-9673.
3. Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop – Oct 13
Church of Conscious Harmony
Saturday, Oct 13, 8:30am – 3pm. This is a 7-week course in forming a daily Centering Prayer practice. The cost is $75 and lunch is included. The class will meet on Saturday and then for 6 consecutive Monday evenings at 7:30-9pm. Please pre-register in the church office or call 512-347-9673.
4. Centering Prayer One-Day Retreat – Oct 20
Church of Conscious Harmony
Saturday, Oct 20, 8:30am – 4:30pm. The day includes a light breakfast and fellowship during registration, a morning prayer session of 2 thirty-minute prayer periods, Lectio Divina, the option of either an afternoon prayer session of 2 thirty-minute prayer periods or a Father Keating lecture video, several periods of silence and solitude and lunch in silence on the beautiful church grounds. Please bring a potluck dish to share for lunch with a suggested love offering of $15. Please pre-register in the church office or call 512-347-9673.
Other Upcoming Contemplative Activities
The following events are not focused on Centering Prayer specifically but share the theme of contemplative spirituality and might serve to enrich the spiritual life of Centering Prayer practitioners.
“Introduction to Contemplation” – Sept 18
Eremos, Austin
Sharon Dunn facilitates a 4-week series that explores what it means to be contemplative and the positive impact this way of being can have on our busy, stressful lives. Learn more and register here.
“Creating Contemplative and Sacred Art” – Sept 25 – 29
Villa Vigneto, Dripping Springs, TX
Sean Kramer, accomplished artist and iconographer, will lead this week-long series where Contemplative and Sacred Art instruction, meditation, and the quiet of nature come together under the oaks in the beautiful Hill Country setting of Villa Vigneto, Texas. Learn more and register here.
“Lunch with the Mystic: Bill Wilson – Sept 26
Seton Cove, Austin
Facilitated by Sarah Hales, this presentation explores Bill Wilson and how the Twelve Step recovery method is much more than a way to escape the clutches of addictive behaviors but is about freeing yourself for wholehearted living and giving to others. Learn more and register here.
HoTCO’s Mission is to support individuals and groups in our area who want to deepen their relationship with God through the practice of Centering Prayer. This Newsletter encourages the spirit of a larger contemplative community by communicating and promoting activities that serve this mission. Visit the HoTCO website for information on contemplative services, prayer groups, introductory workshops, retreats, and events. Connect with the HoTCO Facebook page or the HoTCO MeetUp page.
Centering Prayer Resources: HoTCO has resources for prayer groups, such as the 28 DVD set of The Spiritual Journey with Fr. Thomas Keating, a collection of appropriate books to sell at workshops and retreats, and trained presenters willing to conduct a seven-week course on The Introduction to Centering Prayer. For more information, please contact Chapter Co-Coordinators, David Wallace or Linda Whiteside.
If your church or organization has information on contemplative activities that are appropriate for the newsletter, please submit information to jjllreed@sbcglobal.net. If you would like to be more involved with HoTCO, please consider attending a quarterly membership meeting.
