News and Events
Day of Centering Prayer
Grace Church Brooklyn Heights
254 Hicks Street
Brooklyn NY
Saturday November 10th, 10 am - 3 pm
This day of centering prayer will begin with a brief review of the practice, followed by a question and answer period. We will engage in five or six half hour sessions of centering prayer with a break for lunch in silence and further questions and answers in the afternoon. Recommended for those who have some experience of centering prayer who would like to spend a day in practice. A $20 donation is requested to cover the cost of a box lunch and to help us sponsor future events.
For more information or to RSVP, email me.
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Centering Prayer by Video Conference
October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, November 7, 2018 at 7 pm EST
Centering Prayer Refresher
Saturday September 29th, 10 am - 12 noon EST
Join me for six Wednesdays at 7 pm EST for Centering Prayer by Video Conference. You might be surprised by how peaceful and moving it can be to practice centering prayer with an online community!
On Saturday September 29th I will offer a Centering Prayer refresher in which we will review the basics of Centering Prayer with some suggestions for how to deepen the practice. We will practice for at least 20 minutes and there will be a question and answer period. Beginners may find this a helpful introduction to the practice and more experienced practitioners may appreciate a refresher.
I am now using Zoom, similar to Skype but easier to use on your computer or phone. It can easily be used by voice only for those who do not have a camera. You do not need a Zoom account. To participate, email me and I will send you instructions and a link.
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 centering prayer program will include a brief talk about an aspect of centering prayer. The full program should last about an hour.
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Introduction to Ignatian Spirituality, September 21 - 23, General Theological Seminary, New York, NY.
This three day workshop on Ignatian Spirituality is sure to be wonderful, taught by my friend and colleague Dr. Anne Silver, Director of the Center for Christian Spirituality. I will be taking this workshop myself.
Students will learn about and experience several approaches to prayer and spiritual growth based on the practices and teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Imaginative prayer with scripture, lectio divina, and applications to discernment, group spiritual guidance, daily life and ministry are among the topics included. From $600 for auditors.
This class meets in intensive format Friday, September 21 from 8:45 am - 3:00 pm; Saturday, September 22 from 9:30 am - 3:00 pm; and Sunday, September 23 from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm.
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Centering Prayer by Video Conference for Lent
February 21, 28, March 7, 14, 21, 28, 2018 at 7 pm EST
Centering Prayer Refresher
Saturday February 17th, 10 am - 12 noon EST
Join me for six Wednesdays in Lent at 7 pm EST for Centering Prayer by Video Conference. You might be surprised by how peaceful and moving it can be to practice centering prayer with an online community!
On Saturday February 17th I will offer a Centering Prayer refresher in which we will review the basics of Centering Prayer with some suggestions for how to deepen the practice. We will practice for at least 20 minutes and there will be a question and answer period. Beginners may find this a helpful introduction to the practice and more experienced practitioners may appreciate a refresher.
I am now using Zoom, similar to Skype but easier to use on your computer or phone. It can easily be used by voice only for those who do not have a camera. You do not need a Zoom account. To participate, email me and I will send you instructions and a link.
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 centering prayer program will be followed by a brief talk about an aspect of centering prayer. The full program should last about an hour.
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This spring 2018 I will be teaching a course at General Theological Seminary in Manhattan exploring the use of digital media in spiritual community and practices. During February and March the course will meet by digital means using video, Skype, teleconference, email, and Facebook, and in April and May we will meet more traditionally on campus. We will explore how to be present to each other through online worship and prayer and brainstorm ways to reach communities in new and creative ways. Students will prepare online prayer or worship experiences in which the class can participate using video, mp3s, Skype or webinar and they will design projects and prototypes using digital media. Examples might include evening prayer by Skype, videos for a youth ministry website, prayers for a Facebook ministry, or mp3s for guided meditations.
This course provides a laboratory environment for students to experiment with ideas about how to use digital media in imaginative ways and take risks before trying things out in their own communities. Many people are surprised by how powerful digital community can be and the innovative ways it can meet the needs of those who might not always be reached by more traditional forms of community. For example introverts or those who have physical difficulties getting to church may find themselves in the center of community in new ways in the digital universe.
Does your community offer online worship, prayer groups, Bible study or any other form of online spiritual community that GTS students might be able to visit as part of this class? I would love to hear from you about online offerings that students might attend. Email me.
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Centering Prayer by Video
Wednesday November 15th and December 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 40 minutes.
I am now using Zoom, similar to Skype but easier to use on your computer or phone. It can easily be used by voice only for those who do not have a camera. You do not need a Zoom account. To participate, email me and I will send you instructions and a link.
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Centering Prayer Refresher by Video
Saturday October 21st, 10 am - Noon EST
In this centering prayer refresher we will review the basics of Centering Prayer with some suggestions for how to deepen the practice. We will practice for at least 20 minutes and there will be a question and answer period. Beginners may find this a helpful introduction to the practice and more experienced practitioners may appreciate a refresher.
We will meet by video using Zoom, similar to Skype but easier to use on your computer or phone. Zoom can easily be used by voice only for those who do not have a camera. You do not need a Zoom account. To participate, email me and I will send you instructions and a link.
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Shalem Group Spiritual Direction Retreat
September 17 - 20, 2017
Group spiritual direction is a wonderful way to enter into spiritual community and the Shalem small group method, based on Rose Mary Dougherty's Group Spiritual Direction, is the best that I have tried. This retreat, which I did a few years ago, trains you in the method in a beautiful setting in Lexington, Virginia. Register here.
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Centering Prayer by Video
Wednesday April 19th and May 17th 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 40 minutes.
I am now using Zoom, similar to Skype but easier to use on your computer or phone. It can easily be used by voice only for those who do not have a camera. You do not need a Zoom account. To participate, email me and I will send you instructions and a link.
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Three Workshops Coming Up in March
How do we pray when words fail us or when we are filled with fear, anger, or despair? In this quiet day we will explore three practices that can help us to remain prayerful and centered as we cope with challenging emotions and situations. Centering prayer is a form of silent, wordless prayer from the Christian tradition in which we rest silently in God's presence. The lament psalms of the Bible provide beautiful, powerful prayers that can help us to express our more difficult emotions to God in prayer. We will look at ways to develop or refine a rule of life to help us to live mindfully and fruitfully, examining how we can create more time for prayerful activities and control the influence of digital media in our lives while strengthening the support we find in community. We will also explore the relationship of prayer and action.
The quiet day will be lead by Lindsay Boyer, a spiritual director, adjunct professor at General Theological Seminary and contemplative retreat leader. $25 cost includes lunch.
For more information, contact Lindsay Boyer.
To RSVP, contact Trinity Wall Street.
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Introduction to Centering Prayer
with Lindsay Boyer, Paula Hastings, and Mark Lewis
Grace Church Brooklyn Heights, 254 Hicks Street
Five hour introduction March 4th, 10 am - 3 pm
Four follow-up sessions, Saturday March 11, 25, April 1, 8, 3 pm - 4:30 pm
Join us for an introduction to centering prayer, a silent, wordless form of prayer that derives from 14th century Christian methods of prayer.
This is a great introduction for beginners and will also be helpful for those who would like to refresh and renew their practice. 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!
We will meet four additional Saturdays to practice centering prayer and to view and discuss short videos by Father Thomas Keating, one of the founders of centering prayer. These followup sessions are free and open to all.
For more information or to RSVP, contact Lindsay Boyer.
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Finding and Living from Your Center
Church of the Ascension, Parish House,
12 West 11th St, New York NY
Saturday, March 25th, 10 am - 2 pm (Bagels and hot drinks available from 9:30)
In this quiet day we will explore practices that can help us remain prayerful, centered and present - present to the pain and wonder of the world; to our own deep feelings and longings; to our beloveds and our enemies; and present to God.
We will explore centering prayer as a method of being present to God and all that is within us. We will look at ways to develop or refine a rule of life to help us to protect and live out of this sense of presence.
For more information, contact Lindsay Boyer.
To register, call the Ascension parish office: 212-254-8620.
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Finding Support for Your Spiritual Journey
Grace Church Brooklyn Heights
Saturday May 14th, 2016, 10 am - 3 pm
Spend time reflecting on ways to support yourself on your spiritual journey with community, practice, sabbath time, spiritual direction, retreats, and a rule of life. We will practice centering prayer and lectio divina, eat lunch together in silence and close with a liturgy written especially for the day as we pray for strength, discernment, and guidance on our way.
The day will be led by Lindsay Boyer, spiritual direction sessions will be offered by Vickie McDonald, and the liturgy will be written and led by Judy Burns.
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! If you are interested in a brief spiritual direction session with Vickie, please sign up early.
Contact me for more information or to RSVP.
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