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Inspiration for January

Contemplative Outreach Atlanta is a network of communities in northern Georgia seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in renewing the practice of Centering Prayer and the Christian contemplative tradition. We hope you'll join us at these upcoming meetings, workshops and events.

( Header Photo by Andrew Ridley on Unsplash)
 

Losing to Win

By Maggie Winfrey

When I was six, I joined our swim team in the Panama Canal Zone because I wanted to win a trophy. In my first race a few weeks later, after wildly thrashing far behind all the other girls, I stopped, choking, a few yards from the deep-end finish line. Faced with going down, living became more important than winning trophies.

I couldn’t find pure air. I was inhaling water instead of air. I couldn’t get rid of the water choking me. I splashed around trying to keep afloat in the deep water. I felt lost and incapable. Parents’ cheering voices echoed around the bleachers. All the other girls were already getting out of the pool, wrapping in towels, hugged by their parents. I was the only one left in the pool. I felt all alone.

Two lifeguards jumped in. They encircled me...


Begin Again in 2023


 
Click Here To Register

 

Howard Thurman: An Active Contemplative

Sat, Feb 4th 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM ET On Zoom
Workshop registration fee: $30.00  Scholarships available here.

Contemplative Outreach Atlanta is pleased to host Dr. Lerita Coleman Brown sharing her insights on Howard Thurman for a brief workshop punctuated with Centering Prayer. We will bask in the wisdom of contemplative, spiritual leader, and mystic-activist Howard Thurman. In part one, we will examine his growth and development as a young contemplative and his attitudes about the healing power of silence. Part two will focus on his use of the contemplative life to stir resistance to social injustice and help restore God’s Beloved Creation. Howard Thurman models for us the words of one of his mystic mentors, Meister Eckhart, “You can only spend in good works what you have earned in contemplation.” Vitality and radical trust as essential tools for social change emerge from “Centering Down.” Dr. Coleman Brown’s newest book about him What Makes You Come Alive will be released February 7, 2023.

Workshop registration is $30.00. Scholarships are available. Please email us here for more information.

This event is co-sponsored by Contemplative Outreach Chicago, Contemplative Outreach Colorado, and Contemplative Outreach Maryland & Washington.

 

Lerita Coleman Brown, PhD,  Professor Emerita of Psychology, Agnes Scott College, is a spiritual director/companion, writer, retreat leader, and speaker.  She earned her BA from UC Santa Cruz and PhD from Harvard University. Lerita completed the Spiritual Guidance Program at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation and promotes contemplative spirituality, the living wisdom of Howard Thurman, and uncovering the peace and joy in one’s heart on her website, leritacolemanbrown.com and other social media platforms. She appears in the documentaries, Back Against the Wall: The Howard Thurman Story, and The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song. Her book, When the Heart Speaks, Listen—Discovering Inner Wisdom was published in 2019. Her newest book, What Makes You Come Alive: A Spiritual Walk with Howard Thurman will be published in February. Lerita is a most grateful heart (28 years) and kidney (17 years) transplant recipient and survivor of several other medical ordeals.

Click Here To Register

We need volunteers to help Contemplative Outreach Atlanta grow! We welcome your involvement on a one-time activity (such as helping plan or participate in a Big Sit) or on an ongoing basis (for things like Zoom/website support, event coordinators, or helping post on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram). Please contact us here if you would like to explore options or for more information.


Save The Date!


 

Watch for details on these upcoming 2023 COA events:

February 11th 10AM - Noon ET on Zoom We Gather Together Big Sit on Love.

Apr 1st   Big Sit on Zoom

May 13th & 20th Michael Battle Ubuntu Workshops on Zoom.

June 10th Big Sit on Zoom

Aug 12th Big Sit on Zoom

Oct 11-15th Five-Day Intensive/Post-Intensive Retreat on Zoom

Nov 11th  Big Sit on Zoom

March 17-19th on Zoom  Centering Prayer Retreat hosted by Maggie Winfrey and Vernon Dixon.


Watch for details on our website and in next month's newsletter.


New to Centering Prayer?
Begin here.


Looking for inspiration?
Find resources here.


Need a Centering Prayer group?
Find one here.


Other Events


 
 

Jan 21st  11:00 AM - 1:00 PM ET Simple Presence Prayer Experience with Alan Krema on Zoom

Jan 21-22 Closer Than Breath Summit Register here.

Feb 23, Mar 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Tutu Lenten Series on Zoom. Hosted by Desmond Tutu's Centre for Christian Spirituality in South Africa. Details TBA.

Feb 24th Noon-6:00PM  ET CO Colorado Spring Conference with Adam Bucko and Rory McEntee

Feb 25th 9:00AM -3:00PM  ET In Person at Grace Episcopal Church in Gainesville, GA.  Sound of the Genuine with Lerita Coleman Brown, Bobbi Patterson, Barbara Brown Taylor, Rebecca Parker, Stuart Higginbotham, and River Guerguerian. 

Mar 4th    COLtd International United Day of Prayer on Zoom.

We’d love to hear what you think -

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