 A message from Marie Howard
Coordinator of Volunteers
We are more than halfway through 2021 and many of you are already well into planning for 2022, even as it becomes clear this pandemic is still active. However, our CO community continues to expand around the globe, as you will notice in this issue with increasing contributions from diverse countries. The virtual chapels, virtual retreats and online enrichment events and e-courses continue to flourish and connect us as we share this prayer and the resources to sustain us on this contemplative journey. Gratitude to each of you who have embraced this new world of technology and evolved into new ways of serving and connecting.
This September our CO International Conference will for the first time be offered as a hybrid conference with participants both joining from a small hotel just outside of Denver, Colorado, USA, and participants joining online from their homes throughout the world. These times call forth creative means. It's not too late to register so we hope you will be able to join with the global community for this enriching experience.
The Governing Board is also seeking new members to replace those who are or will be retiring in the next year. The information for serving on the board is also available in this issue. Fr. Thomas left us with his revised Vision of Contemplative Outreach which includes guidelines for service. Note guideline #5 is an important guideline for all of us everywhere who are in service for Contemplative Outreach. It encourages careful discernment of our motivation for serving, as well as how to prioritize volunteer service with our primary vocation and our personal responsibilities – a challenging and ever-changing discernment. With guideline #5 ever in the fore, we are grateful for each of you and your volunteer services which make it possible to "share this prayer as widely as possible" (see the vision and Guideline #1).
Finally, if your group or area hasn't sent in your input to the Community Conversations project, we would still welcome your feedback and experiences. You can find the guide here.
Looking forward to seeing you in September.
Blessings,
Marie
You can contact me at 973.838.3384 ext. 5. or mrhfamlife@aol.com
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You can view of archive past issues of The Voice here. Each issue is filled with news and resources for volunteers. |
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Governing Board Member Selection Process
& Call For Applications
The Governing Board of Contemplative Outreach is a volunteer group of Centering Prayer practitioners entrusted to serve the community at large, discern the call of the Holy Spirit in light of the Theological Principles and Guidelines, and provide leadership and oversight to the administration and operations of Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. (our New York non-profit corporation). Together, the whole community of Contemplative Outreach and the Board seek to embody our Vision, fostering growth and openness to the Holy Spirit through the various branches and expressions of service in our communities.
As such, Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. and the Governing Board aspire to listen, welcome and include the least and newer members in our communities, as well as the seasoned voices of wisdom and experience. Working alongside our dedicated Staff and volunteers, the Board carries out its duties and responsibilities collaboratively, emphasizing transparency and seeking consensus through prayerful decision making.
Read More >>
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Attention Coordinators and Volunteer Leaders:
You are encouraged to suggest to qualified potential Governing Board candidates to apply to become Board members. It is up to these potential candidates to discern the call through prayer and by submitting their applications if they choose to do so. Later you may have an opportunity to write a letter of recommendation and continue to offer your support if they follow through with the process.
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Ilse Reissner 1929- 2021
Extensión Contemplativa Internacional
She walked in beauty
She served in faithfulness
She departed in grace
Thank you Ilse for the offering of your life and heart.
Vaya con Dios mi vida, vaya con Dios mi amor.
🙏🏼
Read more here about Ilse's influence on the growth of Centering Prayer in Florida, USA and Extensión Contemplativa Internacional.
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Our Contemplative Practices Move to Zambia
by Fionnuala Quinn O.P., Dublin, Ireland
" ... Never did I think presenting Centering Prayer could be possible by Zoom, and as for Lectio Divina that was beyond my imagination, nor did I ever see myself reaching out beyond our Island, Ireland. However, it all came clear after one experience with PowerPoint and Zoom, I realized that I could go beyond my familiar boundaries and be in different parts of Ireland and indeed the world. ..."
Read more here>
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Living Flame Program
Is your Contemplative Outreach (CO) chapter seeking ways to build community and also to deepen your understanding and practice of Centering Prayer? Consider having a Living Flame 1 (LF1) program in the near future!
The Living Flame service team is ready to help you offer this program within your chapter either in-person or through Zoom technology, starting in the summer or fall of 2022. We welcome the international chapters; Iceland held LF1 this past year with great interest and appreciation.
CO Pittsburgh made these comments after experiencing the program this year: “The positive synergy among the national LF team, the CO Pittsburgh local LF team and the LF presenters gifted the participants in immeasurable ways. The Guidelines for the Living Flame program were very helpful in implementing the program. In gratitude CO Pittsburgh is looking forward to hosting LF 2 and continuing their spiritual growth in 2021-2022.”
You may read about the Living Flame Program here. Email Marilyn Webb with your questions or interest: marilynfwebb@sbcglobal.net
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From Contemplative Outreach Philippines (COP)
Since the start of the pandemic, we have been using several digital platforms such as Zoom, Messenger, Google, Facebook and YouTube for meeting and praying together as a community. Things that use to prevent us from attending COP activities face-to-face -- bad weather, bad traffic, etc. -- are no longer hindrances. Some of our regular and recent activities are the following:
- Monthly community Mass/spiritual talk on contemplative spirituality;
- Centering Prayer (CP) and Lectio Divina (LD) workshops in both English and Tagalog (vernacular), with eight workshops so far in 2021;
- Ongoing spiritual enrichment program, a webinar on following the movements of God in our life and in our soul;
- Videos on COP, CP and LD shown in different parishes and communities;
- Quarterly meeting of the 22 Centering Prayer groups, to share and update one another regarding group matters;
- Monthly meeting of the Coordinating Circle of Service leadership team, made up of nine unit heads, serving COP;
- Quarterly newsletters and website (see www.cophil.org).
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Join Together!
International Conference of Contemplative Outreach
"The Global Embrace:
Our Widening Reach, Our Deepening Connection"
September 16-19, 2021
In-person at Denver Airport Marriott, Aurora, Colorado, USA
AND live online
* Prayer * Companionship * Celebration * Learning * Collaboration *
Please visit this page HERE for more information and registration.
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Don't forget to send in Video Postcards from your area or group:
- View samples here from Dominican Republic, Iceland and Minnesota USA.
- Video length of up to one minute
- Include the title and location of your group
- Record using a smartphone or Zoom
Email the video HERE if the file size allows. If the file size is too big, you can use this same email to inquire about other sharing options.
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The central Ontario, Canada chapter held a "planning and prayerful discernment" via Zoom on June 5 and June 19, facilitated by Marie Howard (who was invited by the out-going coordinator, Marie Noelle.) A new coordinating team was formed from the members who attended (pictured above).
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Great Ideas From The Community
This is a new section of The Voice where programs, wisdom and innovations from around the world will be shared with the volunteer community. Perhaps these ideas will inspire you to try something new in your area or your prayer group.
Use the 42 Guidelines for Christian Life, Growth and Transformation found at the back of Open Mind, Open Heart as spiritual enrichment:
- One Sunday morning Centering Prayer group in Minnesota USA chooses a different spiritual enrichment theme every 6-7 weeks; a recent focus was the 42 guidelines. Format: the whole group reads three of the guidelines in the manner of Lectio Divina. Then the group uses the Zoom breakout feature to meet in groups of three to share “how these guidelines connect to my journey right now," practicing speaking from experience and nonjudgmental sacred listening without interruption. After sharing in groups of three, everyone comes back to the full group with the opportunity to continue sharing, Many people have commented how meaningful, helpful and supportive these gatherings have been—especially the individual sharing that happens in the groups of three.
- Likewise, Contemplative Outreach of Pittsburgh USA is encouraging facilitators to introduce these guidelines, lectio style, to their prayer groups to support the practice of Centering Prayer.
- Another option is for individuals and groups to use the online, self-guided e-course "Guidelines for Christian Life, Growth and Transformation", which in addition to the guidelines, offers commentary and wisdom from a contemporary perspective. You can read more about this e-course and sign-up here.
Please share your local wisdom and innovations by emailing pamela@coutreach.org or MRHfamlife@aol.com.
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