Contemplative Prayer

What is Contemplative Prayer?
If prayer, as generally practiced in worship or during devotions (prayers of confession, intercession, or thanksgiving), can be thought of as letting God know what we have on our hearts and minds, contemplative prayer, or Christian meditation, can be thought of as listening for what God may have on God’s heart and mind for us.

Generally, this done by making use of silence as well as the repetition of sacred words or phrases from Scripture to quiet the mind, thus opening us to perceive God’s often subtle nudges and promptings. Some of the classic practices of Contemplative Prayer are meditation on nature, Lectio Divina (meditation on Scripture), the Jesus Prayer, and Centering Prayer.

While Contemplative Prayer may seem rather “New Age,” it actually comes to Christianity from our Jewish roots (“Be still and know that I am God” – Psalm 46:10).  It flourished in the 4^th Century among the desert fathers and mothers.  Its practice faded in the Europe during the Enlightenment, but was preserved in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.  It was rediscovered by the Western Church roughly a century ago.

Contemplative Prayer Class
“Introduction to Contemplative Prayer” is a 4-session workshop designed for those seeking to understand the basics of contemplative prayer or Christian meditation. It explores the Biblical and theological underpinnings, and experience the classic practices of meditation on nature, Lectio Divina, the Jesus Prayer, and Centering Prayer. The next class will be in the fall of 2009.

Return of the Prodigal Workshop
The purpose of this workshop is to experience the reconciliation offered to us by God as epitomized by the parable in Luke 15:11-32. The workshop meets Thursdays from 6:00-8:00 pm, beginning October 2, for 20 sessions (with the month of December off). The basic text is The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming by Henri Nouwen. The class is in progress and closed to new participants.

Labyrinth and Taize Worship
Central’s Labyrinth is open in Parish Hall on the second Wednesday of every month from 7 am to 7 pm. A Taize Worship Service follows in the sanctuary at 7 pm. The public is invited to these events. Basic introductory materials will be available for the Labyrinth. Taize Worship centers us in God through contemplative songs, readings, silence and Holy Communion. Note: Taize Worship will not take place in January because of weather concerns. We will resume during Lent.

“If prayers of intercession, confession or thanksgiving can be thought of as letting God know what we have on our hearts and minds, contemplative prayer, or Christian meditation, can be thought of as carefully listening for what God may have on God’s heart and mind for us.”