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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.
 
Labyrinth at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
 
Save the Date for United in Prayer Day!   Join us and others around the world on March 16 as we gather for the 27th annual day of prayer on the beautiful campus of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.  The day will include periods of Centering Prayer, a DVD from Contemplative Outreach, Lectio Divina, lunch, and most of all, an inspiring opportunity to be in community with Centering Prayer practitioners from all over central Texas.  Don’t miss this special day!
 
 
Meet David Wallace and Anna Vu Wallace  David, the co-coordinator of our HoTCO chapter, and his wife Anna are pioneers in the Centering Method which they have been presenting at Mindfulness Meditation Clinics at Seton Cove and some area hospitals.  As David explains, “Anna and I present a Mindfulness Meditation Clinic at The Seton Cove and have for quite some time.  Anna offers a more comprehensive one to healthcare professionals quarterly.  I present a 3-hour workshop bi-monthly for anyone interested in learning this life-changing practice, but without the "God" language associated with Centering Prayer.  We call it the ‘Centering Method’ and received Father Thomas Keating's blessing in 2013 as he told us to ‘call it what you have to in order to get people to sit down and adopt silence in their lives. God will take it from there!’”
 
David continues, “As we all know, God is doing the healing, but this is a way for non-spiritual or religiously-wounded people to learn to appreciate the healing touch of silence.  We believe wholeheartedly in Centering Prayer and know that this is our personal, intimate relationship with God in our ‘inner rooms.’ But we offer these as a way to help people adopt interior silence in their lives.  As you'd all agree, the whole world needs this.”
 
This Mindfulness Meditation Clinics will be listed in this newsletter throughout the year.  If you think this may be a good fit for someone you know, please pass on the information.  Anna’s next workshop for healthcare providers is Jan 26.  
 
 
 

Centering Prayer Multi-Day Retreats   
Our next multi-day retreat is the 5-Day Renewal retreat Jan 18-22 (see details 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 for 2019 on our website.
  
 
When you plan to attend a retreat at the Church of Conscious Harmony or at Cedarbrake Renewal Center, please pre-register by Friday
by calling Lisa Genung at 512-347-9673.

 

Centering Prayer One-Day and Half-Day Retreats
These are held on Saturdays once a month throughout the year at The Church of Conscious Harmony in Austin.  These Saturday retreats offer a wonderful opportunity for silence and solitude without going out of town.  December’s retreat had over 50 attendees!  They are growing in popularity, so make sure to pre-register with the church office by Friday (see box above).  The next one-day retreat is Jan 26 (see listing below).
 
 
 
 


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.
 
 
Murchison Chapel at First United Methodist Church
 
Contemplative service is back at First United Methodist Church!   Please join us for a contemplative worship service at First United Methodist Church of Austin (1201 Lavaca Street) in the Murchison Chapel at 9am on the fourth Sunday of each month.  The simple lay-led service will include a brief liturgy and contemplative silence.  For more information, please contact Denise Fischer at denisefischer@gmail.com or Lauren Hendrix-Cook at laurenhendrixcook@gmail.com.  All are welcome!
 
To learn about other contemplative services in the Austin area, please visit our website.
 
The Centering Prayer Group in Boerne, TX meets at First United Methodist Church in Jones Chapel every Wednesday evening, 5:30-6:30pm (Fall-Winter) and 6-7pm (Spring-Summer).  Please contact Chaplain Jenny Russell for more information. 
 
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@CenteredEating.com.
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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.
 

Upcoming Centering Prayer Activities
 
1.  Centering Prayer 5-day Renewal Retreat – Jan 18-22
2.  Centering Prayer One-Day Retreat – Jan 26
3.  Centering Prayer One-Day Retreat – Feb 16
4.  Save the Date:  United in Prayer Day – March 16
 
 
1.  Centering Prayer 5-day Renewal Retreat – Jan 18-22
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.

2.  Centering Prayer One-day Retreat – Jan 26
Church of Conscious Harmony
Saturday, Jan 26, 8:30am to 4:30pm.  The day includes a light breakfast and fellowship during registration, a morning prayer session of 2 thirty-minute 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.  Bring a brown bag lunch.  A love offering of $20 is suggested. For more information and to pre-register, please contact the church at 512-347-9673.
 
3.  Centering Prayer One-Day Retreat – Feb 16
Church of Conscious Harmony
Saturday, Feb 16, 8:30am to 4:30pm.  The day includes a light breakfast and fellowship during registration, a morning prayer session of 2 thirty-minute 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.  Bring a brown bag lunch.  A love offering of $20 is suggested. For more information and to pre-register, please contact the church at 512-347-9673.
 
4.  Save the Date:  United in Prayer Day – March 16
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Saturday, March 16, 9am – 3pm.  Join us and others around the world as we gather for the 27th annual day of prayer on the beautiful campus of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.  The day will include periods of Centering Prayer, a DVD from Contemplative Outreach, Lectio Divina, lunch, and most of all, an inspiring opportunity to be in community with Centering Prayer practitioners from all over central Texas.  Don’t miss this special day!
 
 
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.
 
 “God and Violence” with Dr. John Dominic Crossan – Jan 11-12
First Baptist Church, Austin, TX
This retreat will be held on Friday, Jan 11, 7-9pm and Saturday, Jan 12, 8:30am – 1pm.  The theme is a consideration of whether God is violent and the appropriate Christian response to the violence in the
world today.  Part of Crossan’s talk will come from the book Resurrecting Easter:  How the West Lost and the East Kept the Original Easter Vision.  A donation of $10 will be appreciated.  For more information, please visit this link or contact Renee Mauzy, 512-470-3556.
 
Stress-Reduction Meditation Workshop for Healthcare Providers – Jan 26
Seton Cove
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.
 
Save the Date: Contemplation Retreat – Feb 15-17
Ebert Ranch, Harper, TX
This weekend creates space for quiet prayer in community and solitude.  The format is structured after the Christian Liturgy of the Hours and a Zen Sesshin (intensive practice period).  This retreat is designed both for people who identify as Christian and those who do not, and is also welcoming to both beginners and experienced practitioners.  The deadline for registration is Jan 31.  For more information and to pre-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.
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Heart of Texas Chapter - Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.
7406 Newhall Lane
Austin, Texas 78746

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