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.
Morning sunlight on Mt. Sopris, St. Benedict’s Monastery, Snowmass, CO
Retreats & Workshops for 2020 Although we are in the midst of Advent, the new year is right around the corner. Please take a look at the HoTCO website and check out all the wonderful retreats and workshops available in 2020. Mark you calendar and go ahead and pre-register!
The Centering Prayer Group at First United Church in Boerne, TX is offering Contemplative Eucharists for Advent including Taizé chants each Wednesday evening in Jones Chapel, 5:30-6:30 pm.
These evenings will continue up to Epiphany. Please contact Chaplain Jenny Russell 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@CenteredEating.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.
Celtic cross on the Isle of Iona, Scotland
Upcoming Centering Prayer Activities
- Centering Prayer Half-Day Retreat – Dec 14
- Centering Prayer One-Day Retreat – Jan 18
- Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop – Jan 18**
- Centering Prayer 5-Day Renewal Retreat – Jan 24 – 28
- Centering Prayer 1-Day Mid-week Retreat – Feb 5
1. Centering Prayer Half-Day Retreat – Dec 14
Church of Conscious Harmony
Saturday, Dec 14, 12:30 – 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 pre-register, please contact the church at 512-347-9673.
2. Centering Prayer 1-Day Retreat – Jan 18
The Church of Conscious Harmony
Saturday, Jan 18, 9am – 4pm, check-in begins at 8:30am. The day begins with 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 your lunch with a suggested love offering of $20. You may pre-register before Jan 17 by calling 512-347-9673.
3. Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop – Jan 18**
The Church of Conscious Harmony
Saturday, Jan 18, 9am – 12:30, check in begins at 8:30am. This is a 7-week course in forming a daily Centering Prayer practice. The cost is $35 and the class will meet on Saturday and then for 6 consecutive Monday evenings at 7:30-9pm starting Jan 20. Please pre-register in the church office or call 512-347-9673. This workshop will run concurrently with the above 1-day retreat on Jan 18, so participants will have the opportunity (optional) for a brown bag lunch break following the workshop and then to join in the afternoon for the experience of a Centering Prayer retreat. For more information, please visit the HoTCO website.
4. Centering Prayer 5-day Renewal Retreat – Jan 24-28
Cedarbrake Renewal Center, Belton, TX
Renew your relationship with God at this 5-day retreat. Days usually include at least 3 extended periods of Centering Prayer, the Eucharist, some instruction by video or presentation, and some time for solitude. To pre-register, please call 512-347-9673. For more information, please visit the HoTCO website.
5. Centering Prayer 1-Day Midweek Retreat – Feb 5
The Church of Conscious Harmony
Wednesday, Feb 5, 8:30am – 5:30pm, check-in begins at 8:30am. The day begins with 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. A contemplative lunch will be provided with a suggested love offering of $20. Optional 7:00am start in Theosis Chapel and ending with the 6:30pm Midweek Contemplative Communion Service. Please pre-register before Feb 4 by calling 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.
Stress-Reduction Meditation Workshop for Healthcare Providers – Jan 18
Seton Cove
Saturday, Jan 18, 9am – 3pm, Dr. Anna Vu Wallace will lead this workshop where attendees will learn and practice a simple mindfulness, evidenced based method to reduce stress based. For more information and to register, visit this link.
Eremos Women’s Weekend Retreat – Feb 7-9
Cedarbrake Renewal Center, Belton, TX
Join us for a weekend that encourages you to be silent. Whether we live alone or with others, taking time to be in silence at home can be a challenge. The Eremos Retreat supports you in experiencing the gift of silence and will be a blend of time in community and time alone. There will be opportunities for quiet, contemplation, conversation, connection and laughter. 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 Coordinator 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.
