News and Events
The Jesus Prayer: From Desert Contemplatives to Modern Urban Spirituality
A lecture by The Very Rev. John A McGuckin
Thursday, April 7, 2016 at 7:30 pm
General Theological Seminary
Professor John McGuckin will give a talk on the contemplative practice Prayer of the Heart, followed by a brief Prayer of the Heart service in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd and a book signing with light refreshments. McGuckin was my professor of early church history at Union Theological Seminary and leads a wonderful prayer of the heart service at UTS every Wednesday evening during the academic year. He is an extremely engaging speaker..
The lecture is $10, free for students. General Theological Seminary is at 440 West 21st Street, New York, NY.
For more information visit the GTS website or email ccs@gts.edu.
Centering Prayer by Skype
Wednesday April 27th and May 11th at 7 pm EST
We will begin with some brief prayers and practice twenty minutes of silent prayer together followed by lectio divina. You are welcome to practice centering prayer or any other form of silent meditation with which you are comfortable during the twenty minutes of silence. The program should last about 30 - 40 minutes. To participate, email me and I will send you instructions and my Skype address.
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Quiet Day of Healing
Grace Church Brooklyn
Saturday, March 5th 10 am - 2 pm
Join us for a day of quiet reflection and meditation, concluding with a healing liturgy by the Rev. Julie Hoplamazian and Judy Burns. We will reflect on the nature of healing, practice centering prayer, lectio divina, and guided meditation, and eat lunch together in silence.
All are welcome. We ask for a suggested donation of $20 to cover the cost of lunch, but if you are unable to pay for the lunch, please come anyway!
Contact me for more information or to RSVP.
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Centering Prayer by Skype
Wednesday February 17th and March 16th at 7 pm EST
We will begin with some brief prayers and practice twenty minutes of silent prayer together followed by lectio divina. You are welcome to practice centering prayer or any other form of silent meditation with which you are comfortable during the twenty minutes of silence. The program should last about 30 - 40 minutes. To participate, email me and I will send you instructions and my Skype address.
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Contemplative Group Leadership
Saturday January 16th, 2016, 10 am - 2 pm
Grace Church Brooklyn Heights
Join us for a day of discernment and fellowship for contemplative group leaders. We will begin by reflecting on vocation, examining suggested guidelines for small prayer groups and discussing issues of group dynamics. There will be opportunities for sharing our discernment questions and our experience as group leaders, we will practice centering prayer and eat lunch together.
All are welcome. Come if you are or have been a contemplative group leader or if you would like to be. We ask for a suggested donation of $20 to cover the cost of lunch, but if you are unable to pay for the lunch, please come anyway!
Contact me for more information or to RSVP.
Grace Church Brooklyn Heights is located at 254 Hicks Street, Brooklyn NY 11201.
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Centering Prayer by Skype
Wednesday January 13th at 7 pm EST
We will begin with some brief prayers and practice twenty minutes of silent prayer together followed by lectio divina. You are welcome to practice centering prayer or any other form of silent meditation with which you are comfortable during the twenty minutes of silence. The program should last about 30 - 40 minutes. To participate, email me and I will send you instructions and my Skype address.
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Centering Prayer Refresher
Saturday November 21st, 2015, 10 am - 2 pm
Grace Church Brooklyn Heights
This centering prayer refresher will focus on the teachings of David Frenette from his book The Path of Centering Prayer. In particular we will examine how to deepen the practice of centering prayer and use the sacred breath as a sacred symbol. Beginners will find this a helpful introduction to the practice and longtime practitioners may appreciate a fresh approach. We will spend at least an hour and a half practicing centering prayer. Lunch will be provided and we will eat in silence. I helped to edit The Path of Centering Prayer and have facilitated retreats with David at the Garrison Institute in New York. Email me to sign up or for more information.
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Centering Prayer by Skype
Wednesday November 18th and December 9th at 7 pm EST
We will begin with some brief prayers and practice twenty minutes of silent prayer together followed by lectio divina. You are welcome to practice centering prayer or any other form of silent meditation with which you are comfortable during the twenty minutes of silence. The program should last about 30 - 40 minutes. To participate, email me and I will send you instructions and my Skype address.
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Introduction to Centering Prayer at The Church of Saint Luke in the Fields
There will be an introduction to centering prayer led by Richard Kigel on Saturday, October 3, 2015, 10AM – 3 PM at The Church of Saint Luke in the Fields, Laughlin Hall, 487 Hudson Street, New York, NY, with follow-up sessions on Tuesdays, October 6, 13, 20, 7 – 8:30 PM. Whether you are a beginner who would like to learn more about centering prayer or a longtime practitioner who would like to refresh and strengthen your practice, this would be a great way to start off the centering prayer season. For more information visit the CONY website or contact Richard Kigel at 718- 698 - 7514 or interiorsilence@gmail.com.
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I begin my day with Richard Rohr's short, free, daily email reflections on contemplative spirituality. A Franciscan monk, Richard Rohr is one of the most eloquent teachers in the Christian tradition. His meditations this year explore his "Wisdom Lineage," the teachers, texts, and traditions that have most influenced his spirituality. He has a deep appreciation of the spirituality of other religions and is very good at discussing with sensitivity and balance the ways in which Christians have gone off course and suggesting how Christian scripture and theology can be interpreted with intelligence, tolerance, simplicity, and love.
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Course on Spiritual Companionship and Digital Media
Join me on July 13-16 and 20-23, 2015 at General Theological Seminary for a two credit course that will explore the use of digital media in spiritual community and practice. During the first week of the course we will meet solely by digital means using video, Skype, teleconference, email, and Facebook, while the second week we will meet on campus. We will explore how we are present to each other through spiritual practices such as lectio divina, centering prayer, group spiritual direction, intercessory prayer, pastoral care, and worship in traditional formats, and experience such practices via digital means. We will examine how digital media enable us to create community in new and creative ways for the populations in our specific ministries.
This class will be of interest not only to those who are interested in using digital media in ministry but also to those who are not particularly attracted to digital media but would like to learn more about the nature of spirituality using digital media as investigative tools. We will also explore the more troubling uses of digital media in our culture and the ways in which we may be called upon to lead and guide others in their use of digital media.
Register here. This course is also open to auditors at a cost of $500.
Email me for more information.
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Centering Prayer Webinar
Attend a centering prayer group via webinar on Thursday May 28th at 7 pm EST. We will begin with some brief prayers and practice twenty minutes of silent prayer together followed by lectio divina. You are welcome to practice centering prayer or any other form of silent meditation with which you are comfortable during the twenty minutes of silence. The program should last about 30 - 40 minutes. To participate, email me and I will send you a link to join the webinar.
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Smells and bells! Antiphonal chanting! Join us for five Tuesdays in Lent for chanted liturgy and twenty minutes of silent meditation at Grace Church Brooklyn Heights, 254 Montague Street, Brooklyn NY 11201.
Email me for more information.
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This silent weekend retreat offers immersion in two contemplative practices from the Christian tradition: Centering Prayer, a form of silent meditation, and Lectio Divina, a way of listening to sacred texts with the ear of the heart. As long-time meditators know, the best way to integrate contemplative prayer into our daily lives is through practice and silence. This retreat, suitable for beginners or experienced practitioners, will emphasize time spent in practice. We will experience Lectio Divina as individuals and in groups.
Watch a brief introduction to Lectio Divina by my colleague Steve Standiford
Changed from a five day to a weekend retreat.
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• Like the Centering Prayer for Seekers Facebook Page to learn more about news and events or email me.
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I'm quoted in an article in America: The National Catholic Review called Centering Prayer: Contemplative Practice for the 21st Century.
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In this silent weekend retreat those of all faiths are invited to explore this form of contemplative prayer that derives from the Christian tradition. I have designed this retreat to support newcomers to meditation and contemplative prayer, those who have practiced meditation in other faith traditions, and those who have an established centering prayer practice and would like to practice in an ecumenical community. The retreat will include instruction in the practice, regular periods of silent prayer, and discernment work to help retreatants explore their evolving roles in spiritual community.
Centering Prayer for Seekers Facebook Page
Read an article about centering prayer and my faith journey
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• Centering Prayer Meditations: Effortless Contemplation to Deepen Your Experience of God, by David Frenette
David Frenette has just released a series of guided meditations for Centering Prayer practitioners, available on CD or audio download from Sounds True, Amazon or Audible. David has taught Centering Prayer under Fr. Thomas Keating’s guidance since 1984 and is my own beloved teacher. David's guided meditations are one of my favorite parts of being on retreat with him and these meditations focus on the eight contemplative attitudes described in his wonderful book The Path of Centering Prayer. The meditations can be used to introduce a period of Centering Prayer, then paused for a period of silent prayer, then turned on again to end the session. It's a lovely way to frame a session if you have a little extra time, like being on a mini retreat with David.
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• Entering the Heart of Lectio Divina
Grace Church Brooklyn
Saturday, November 8, 2014 from 10 am to 12 pm
This two hour workshop will offer an introduction to Lectio Divina, an ancient practice of listening to sacred texts with the ear of the heart which can be used by individuals or groups. We will explore the history and basic movements of this contemplative listening practice and experience a session of the practice.
The workshop will be led by myself and Steve Standiford, a psychotherapist and long time teacher with Contemplative Outreach and my colleague leading retreats at the Garrison Institute.
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