Heart of Texas Contemplative Outreach (HoTCO) is the local chapter of Contemplative Outreach, a spiritual network of individuals and small faith communities committed to living the contemplative dimension of the Gospel, primarily expressed through a commitment to a daily Centering Prayer practice.
Centering Prayer Retreats Our next multi-day retreat will be an Advent retreat beginning Nov 30 (see listing below.) If you have never participated in a Centering Prayer retreat, this is the next step for enhancing your practice! 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. Check out the list of retreats on our website.
A message from Contemplative Outreach: Fr. Thomas Keating is resting comfortably in deeper levels of diminishment. 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.
Oxblood lilies at Cedarbrake Renewal Center
Centering Prayer Retreats Our next multi-day retreat will be an Advent retreat beginning Nov 30 (see listing below.) If you have never participated in a Centering Prayer retreat, this is the next step for enhancing your practice! 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. 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 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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
Centering Prayer Group Leaders
Did you know you can check out this amazing set of DVDs and more from our lending library?
Contact David Wallace or Linda Whiteside for more information.
Upcoming Centering Prayer Activities
1. Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop – Oct 13
2. Centering Prayer One-Day Retreat – Oct 20
3. Centering Prayer Half-Day Retreat – Nov 10
4. Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop – Nov 10
5. Centering Prayer: Prayer of Consent – Nov 17
6. Centering Prayer 7-day Advent Retreat – Nov 30 – Dec 6
7. Centering Prayer 3-day Advent Retreat – Nov 30 – Dec 2
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Centering Prayer Half-Day Retreat – Nov 10
Church of Conscious Harmony
Saturday, Nov 10, 12:30pm – 5pm. Registration begins at 12:30pm and the program begins at 1pm. The afternoon includes 2 periods of Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, a Thomas Keating DVD, and faith sharing. A $10 love offering is suggested. For more information and to register, please contact the church at 512-347-9673.
4. Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop – Nov 10
Tarrytown United Methodist Church, Austin
Saturday, Nov 10, 8:30am – 3pm. This workshop explains the gift of contemplative prayer and how it deepens our relationship with God. The method of Centering Prayer will be presented and time will be allowed for practice of the prayer. The class will meet on Saturday and then for 6 consecutive Wednesday evenings at 7pm to help establish a daily Centering Prayer practice as well as to cultivate the weekly Centering Prayer group at TUMC. The class will receive a copy of Thomas Keating’s book “Open Mind, Open Heart” and lunch will be provided. Registration is $20. Be sure to pre-register with the church so we can prepare accordingly. All are welcome! For more information and to register, please contact Kim Mosley.
5. Centering Prayer: Prayer of Consent – Nov 17
Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, TX
Saturday, Nov 17, 8:30am – 3pm. Facilitated by Barbara Cook, this workshop will present the method of Centering Prayer with opportunities to practice the prayer and to explore its impact in our lives. For more information and to pre-register, please visit this link.
6. Centering Prayer 7-day Advent Retreat – Nov 30 – Dec 6
Cedarbrake Renewal Center, Belton, TX
This advanced Advent retreat facilitated by Mary Anne Best begins on Friday, Nov 30 (check-in between 4-5pm) and ends Thursday, Dec 6 by noon. Please register in the office at The Church of Conscious Harmony or call 512-347-9673. Please visit the HoTCO website for more information.
7. Centering Prayer 3-day Advent Retreat – Nov 30 – Dec 2
Oblate Renewal Center, San Antonio, TX
During this weekend retreat, guided by Pamela Begeman, we will practice Incarnation through intentional silence, solitude, listening and community reflection. The retreat is not so much focused on learning new ideas or models, but on taking the time apart to listen, rest, and be renewed and inspired to deepen our consent to God's ever-present presence in our lives, as they are. The retreat will include periods of Centering Prayer, some presentation and group reflection, free-time and optional soul-friending. PLEASE PRE-REGISTER BY NOVEMBER 25, 2018 ($25 discount for early registration by November 11, 2018).
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.
“Make America Grateful Again with Diana Butler Bass” – Oct 18-19
Seton Cove, Austin
In this lecture and workshop, Diana Butler Bass, historian, theologian and activist will demonstrate the ways we can move beyond seeing gratitude as a feeling and begin seeing gratitude as a radical practice that is powerful enough to overcome any oppressive structure. Come and see how creating a culture of gratitude can bring more joy, productivity and resilience into your daily work life. For more information and to register, please visit this link.
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.
