News and Events
• A showing of the film Jesus and Buddha: Practicing across Traditions,
presented by filmmaker John Ankele
Monday May 20, 7-9 pm
Shambhala Meditation Center of NY
118 W. 22nd St., 6th Floor, NY, NY 10011.
Another opportunity for those who missed the showing of this film last November. The film features interviews with three people who identify as both Buddhists and Christians: Robert Kennedy, who is both a Jesuit priest and a Zen priest; Chung Hyun Kyung, a Buddhist Christian theologian at Union Theological Seminary; and Paul Knitter, a Buddhist Christian theologian at Union Theological Seminary and author of the book Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian. The 44 minute film will be followed by a discussion.
For more information or to buy a ticket, visit the NY Shambhala website.
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• Change of Room for Grace Church Centering Prayer Group
During renovations to the main sanctuary, starting on April 9, 2013 the Grace Church centering prayer group will meet in the library, which is a cozy, carpeted room with good soft lighting options, a lot of serviceable wooden chairs and a few comfy upholstered chairs. To find it, enter the church through the 254 Hicks Street entrance, continue past the main sanctuary on the right and go up the stairs, making a U-turn to the left to keep climbing the stairs to the top.
We were very happy with our first meeting in this space, which is quieter than the main church, and I am grateful that we have found a cozy spot to meet while the sanctuary is renovated.
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• Contemplative Services featuring Bach’s Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello
Experience the transcendent music of Bach’s Cello Suites in simple contemplative services. For six Tuesdays in Lent, February 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26 at 7 pm, cellist Jennifer DeVore will play one of the suites alternating with intervals of silence and brief contemplative readings. Free of charge. All are welcome!
Grace Church Brooklyn Heights
254 Hicks Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
For more information contact me.
View a program for Week 1, February 19th
View a program for Week 2, February 26th
View a program for Week 3, March 5th
View a program for Week 4, March 12th
View a program for Week 5, March 19th
View a program for Week 6, March 26th
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• Join David Frenette, Steve Standiford and me on retreat at the Garrison Institute March 15- 21, 2013
How do we live contemplatively, bringing the nourishment we receive on retreat back into our lives? David Frenette is teaching a retreat that explores how to develop the fruits of Centering Prayer into a mindful life through sacred attention. This new silent, practice-oriented retreat is appropriate for both experienced practitioners and beginners.
We begin with a weekend of detailed instruction on the contemplative practice of Centering Prayer using the Sacred Breath. While the basic teaching on Centering Prayer generally focuses on the use of the sacred word, it is also possible to practice Centering Prayer with other sacred symbols, including the Sacred Breath. Centering Prayer with the Sacred Breath was introduced by David’s spiritual father, the Trappist monk Thomas Keating and is fully described in David’s new book The Path of Centering Prayer; Deepening Your Experience of God.
For those who choose the full seven day silent retreat, we will continue to practice Centering Prayer while also exploring the theme of sacred attention and contemplative living. We will examine how lectio divina, nature, ordinary life, art practices, spiritual direction and psychotherapy can be used to deepen our practice and lead us into mindful living. Co-teachers Steve Standiford and I join David in teaching this retreat.
Centered Life, Mindful Life:
A retreat with a weekend or seven day option
March 15 - 21
The Garrison Institute, Garrison NY• Option I: Centering Prayer with the Sacred Breath:
Weekend Retreat from the evening of Friday, March 15
through lunch on Sunday, March 17• Option II: Centering Prayer and Sacred Mindfulness:
Seven day retreat from the evening of Friday, March 15 through lunch on Thursday, March 21• Option III: Sacred Attention & Contemplative Living:
Free talk on Friday, March 15 at 7:30 pm
For more information or to register for the retreat
Email me for more information.
Visit David's website for more information on sacred attention.
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CBC Radio Interview
I am interviewed by Mary Hynes on the radio program Tapestry on the Canadian Broadcasting Company on an episode about the “Nones,” those who check none on forms when asked what religion they are, and the growing phenomenon of people who identify themselves as spiritual but not religious. Download the podcast here.
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RESCHEDULED: A showing of the film Jesus and Buddha: Practicing across Traditions,
along with a short talk, Q & A with Lindsay Boyer
Sunday November 18th, 6 pm to 7:30 pm
at Grace Church Brooklyn
254 Hicks Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
Co-sponsored by Contemplative Outreach of New York
Donations gratefully accepted
I will introduce the 44 minute film Jesus and Buddha: Practicing across Traditions, followed by a discussion. The film features interviews with three people who identify as both Buddhists and Christians: Robert Kennedy, who is both a Jesuit priest and a Zen priest; Chung Hyun Kyung, a Buddhist Christian theologian at Union Theological Seminary; and Paul Knitter, a Buddhist Christian theologian at Union Theological Seminary and author of the book Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian.
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David Frenette events will proceed, with the exception of the Thursday night talk
Three of the four New York area events featuring senior centering prayer teacher David Frenette, author of The Path of Centering Prayer, will proceed as originally planned. However the free talk at General Theological Seminary on Thursday night will have to be cancelled because David's plane had to be changed due to the heavy winds expected on Wednesday.
Thursday, November 8, 7 pm Free talk at General Seminary, NYC - CANCELLED
Friday, November 9, 1 - 5 pm Centering Prayer Workshop at General Seminary, NYC
Saturday, November 10, 9am - 1 pm Free talk at St Patrick’s, Armonk
Sunday, November 11, 2 - 4 pm Buddhist Christian Dialogue with Zen Priest Robert Gunn,
Grace Church Brooklyn
For more information and to register, see below.
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The Contemplative Spirit of Listening
On Sunday November 4th at 10:45 am I will be the guest worship leader at the Fourth Universalist Society, 160 Central Park West, giving a sermon called "The Contemplative Spirit of Listening." I will be joined by Will Hutnick of the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra, who will be playing portions of the first Bach cello suite.
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Film cancelled
I have just been told by Grace Church Brooklyn that we will need to cancel the showing of Jesus and Buddha: Practicing Across Traditions on Sunday October 28th due to the storm.
If you would like to be notified when the event is rescheduled, please email me.
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New York Area Events featuring David Frenette, author of the new book
The Path of Centering Prayer: Deepening Your Experience of God
This book, in my view, is the best, most comprehensive and most practical book on Centering Prayer.
– Father Thomas Keating
David Frenette is a gifted teacher of centering prayer who lives in Boulder, CO, but will be traveling to the New York area in November to promote his new book, The Path of Centering Prayer: Deepening Your Experience of God, called by Thomas Keating "the best, most comprehensive and most practical book on Centering Prayer." There will be a free talk on November 8th at General Seminary, a four hour centering prayer workshop on November 9th, also at General, and a talk in Armonk on November 10th. On November 11th at Grace Church Brooklyn, David will team with Zen Priest Robert Gunn to give an introduction to both Zen meditation and centering prayer, with a dialogue between the two teachers. On October 28th, also at Grace, I will be introducing the film Jesus and Buddha: Practicing across Traditions, about three people who are both Buddhists and Christians, as a kind of introduction to the dialogue on November 11th. Also, David will be giving a seven day retreat with a three day option at the Garrison Institute in Garrison New York in March. There is more detail on all these events below.
There is no RSVP required for the two events events at Grace Church Brooklyn, but if you know you will attend, an RSVP will help me to know how many people to prepare for.
Copies of The Path of Centering Prayer: Deepening Your Experience of God will be available for purchase at all events.
• Sacred Attention & Contemplative Living
An Evening of Learning & Practice with David Frenette - CANCELLED
Thursday, November 8th, 7 pm
at General Theological Seminary's Seabury Auditorium
440 West 21st Street, New York, NY 10011
Sponsored by General Seminary's Wellness Program
in Partnership with the Center for Christian Spirituality
Free and Open to the Public
We live in a world of complexity, fragmentation, noise, and haste. The sheer quantity of tasks, appointments, and commitments can be overwhelming. How can we experience God in the midst of the busyness, responsibilities, and activities of our daily lives? By practice. By living more in the present moment. By practicing the presence of God in the present moment.
We can abide in this Presence as we prepare dinner, help our children with their homework, take a phone call, go shopping in the local mall, attend a contentious business meeting, or walk down the street. The practice is surprisingly simple: Pay attention to what you are doing and do it for the love of God.
This evening presentation will help you with your practice of sacred attention.
CANCELLED
• Practicing Centering Prayer with the Sacred Breath
A Workshop with David Frenette
Friday, November 9th, 1 pm to 5 pm
at General Theological Seminary’s Seabury Auditorium
440 West 21st Street, New York, NY 10011
Co-sponsored by General Theological Seminary's Center for Christian Spirituality and Contemplative Outreach of New York
While the basic teaching on Centering Prayer generally focuses on the use of the sacred word, it is also possible to practice Centering Prayer with other sacred symbols. In this afternoon retreat-like workshop, you will explore the sacred breath as a way of deepening your own practice of Centering Prayer.
In the workshop, David Frenette will teach how the practice of Centering Prayer with the sacred breath may be particularly appropriate at certain seasons of the spiritual journey. He'll also reveal how this contemplative practice may help you to realize that God, like the breath, is always within you.
The workshop, appropriate for both experienced practitioners and beginners, will include:
• new teachings on how to practice Centering Prayer with the sacred breath
• discussion of how contemplative attitudes may be brought into all aspects of life
• extended practice of Centering Prayer.
$50
Register for this workshop
• A Talk by David Frenette From His New Book
The Path of Centering Prayer; Deepening Your Experience of God
Saturday, November 10th, 9 am -1 pm
at St. Patrick’s Church, 29 Cox Avenue, Armonk, NY 10504
David’s new teachings in this book are meant to assist long time contemplative practitioners along the journey to union with God, along with providing newcomers a fresh introduction to the path of Centering Prayer, a Christian form of meditation.
Come learn, renew or deepen your Centering Prayer practice.
For more information call 914.478.7801
Sponsored by Contemplative Outreach of Westchester
Suggested donation $20
• An Introduction to Buddhist and Christian Meditation, with Dialogue,
with David Frenette and Robert Gunn
Sunday November 11th, 2 pm to 4 pm
at Grace Church Brooklyn
254 Hicks Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
Co-sponsored by Contemplative Outreach of New York
Donations gratefully accepted
Receive instruction in meditation practice from two traditions: Christian centering prayer and Zen meditation. This workshop will provide an opportunity to practice both methods of meditation, followed by a dialogue about their differences and points of intersection.
Zen meditation will be introduced by Robert Gunn, a Soto Zen priest at the Village Zendo, pastor in the United Church of Christ, psychotherapist, and Lecturer at Union Theological Seminary. Centering prayer will be introduced by David Frenette who has practiced centering prayer under the guidance of Father Thomas Keating for almost 30 years and is a spiritual director and Adjunct Professor at Naropa University.
Copies of Robert Gunn’s book Journeys into Emptiness: Dogen, Merton and Jung and the Quest for Transformation and David Frenette’s The Path of Centering Prayer; Deepening Your Experience of God will be available for purchase.
• A showing of the film Jesus and Buddha: Practicing across Traditions,
along with a short talk, Q & A with Lindsay Boyer
Sunday October 28th, 6 pm to 7:30 pm
at Grace Church Brooklyn
254 Hicks Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
Co-sponsored by Contemplative Outreach of New York
Donations gratefully accepted
Lindsay Boyer introduces the 44 minute film Jesus and Buddha: Practicing across Traditions, followed by a discussion. The film features interviews with three people who identify as both Buddhists and Christians: Robert Kennedy, who is both a Jesuit priest and a Zen priest; Chung Hyun Kyung, a Buddhist Christian theologian at Union Theological Seminary; and Paul Knitter, a Buddhist Christian theologian at Union Theological Seminary and author of the book Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian. Lindsay is a Christian spiritual director who has practiced meditation in the Christian, Buddhist, and Hindu traditions and facilitates the Grace Church Brooklyn centering prayer group. This event would provide a good introduction for those who plan to attend the Buddhist Christian dialogue on November 11th.
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David Frenette has just published his new book The Path of Centering Prayer: Deepening Your Experience of God.
Father Thomas Keating, one of the founders of centering prayer says, "This book in my view is the best, most comprehensive and most practical book on centering prayer . . . David Frenette is one of God’s greatest gifts to the work of centering prayer, and to me.”
I have read this book and agree that it is the best book available on centering prayer. I have attended four long retreats based on the material in this book and know from my own experience and the experience of fellow retreatants how transformational its teachings are. The book is available on Amazon, where you will find a review I have written.
Listen to a podcast interview with David talking about the book.
David Frenette has taught centering prayer under Father Thomas Keating’s guidance since 1984. He cofounded and co-led a centering prayer retreat community for ten years. He now teaches and gives spiritual direction at the Center for Contemplative Living in Denver, is an Adjunct Faculty in the Religious Studies Department at Naropa University, and has an M.A. in Counseling Psychology.
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