First Things
Morning Centering Prayer for Peace
7:00 AM CT, DAILY Sustaining the intention of peace for the Twin Cities,
we hold prayerful silence together, in unity, in love and support for all people in our communities. Hosted by facilitators from the Minnesota Contemplative Outreach community Trauma Informed Centering Prayer
Saturday, April 5, 2025 1:00 - 3:30 PM CT Zoom Gathering Greg Sicheneder, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Centering Prayer practitioner, will present ideas on how to lead Centering Prayer groups that are less likely to re-traumatize, recognize when someone is being re-traumatized and steps to help those experiencing re-traumatization to move towards healing. Thursday Evening Centering Prayer
7:00 PM CT, Thursdays Zoom: https://meditationchapel.org/peace-chapel/ Facilitated by Laurie Erickson ![]() Illuminations of Love
Words of Thomas Keating, OCSO Illustrated by Meridith Schifsky With full color illustrations and wisdom from Fr. Thomas Keating, this beautiful booklet is meant to be a companion for Lectio and Visio Divina. “With a grateful heart for the legacy he left us, and gratitude to the members of Contemplative Outreach who continue to make his teachings available today." – Meridith Schifsky, March 2024, Duluth, Minnesota You may order your copy, here. A Lenten Practice
Minnesota Contemplative Outreach Prison Ministry
Minnesota Contemplative Outreach is blessed with an active prison ministry that brings centering prayer to people who are incarcerated. We hold a centering prayer session at the chapel at the correctional facility at Stillwater on Monday afternoons from approximately 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and at the correctional facility at Shakopee on Wednesday mornings and Thursday afternoons. Both locations can use more men and women volunteers. If you want more information about bringing this prayer to incarcerated individuals, please contact Mark Thiel. |
Sunday Gatherings
(This is the same link as is used for the 7:00 a.m.
Morning Centering Prayer for Peace) You are invited to participate in the 2025 Lenten Sunday Gathering 6-Week Series A Way Other Than Our Own: Devotions for Lent By Walter Brueggemann Those who are registered will receive an email with the reflection prior to the Sunday it will be discussed. Participants are encouraged to read the suggested materials throughout the week, considering the content prayerfully. Participants then convene as a group on Sunday mornings from 8 – 9:00 AM Central Time, to be in community with fellow participants and share how they experienced the weekly reading and their Centering Prayer and Welcoming Prayer practices.
All are welcome, no prior knowledge or practice is necessary. If you are not already registered, please register (click on the link above), so you can receive the weekly email, along with any programming updates. You do not need to register if you attended the Winter Series. There is no cost for participation. A Way Other Than Our Own by Walter Brueggemann It is available on Amazon in paperback ($8.18) or Kindle ($7.61). [Buying the book is optional.] We will be meeting Sunday mornings, from 8 - 9:00 AM CT, March 9—April 13. You are welcome to join as you are able; it is not required to attend every week. Weekly Schedule: (more details to follow) March 9 - First Sunday in Lent: Lent as Alternative to Empire p 10 March 16 - Second Sunday in Lent: Like a Thief in the Night p 24 March 23 -Third Sunday in Lent: New Song, New Reality p 38 March 30 - Fourth Sunday in Lent: Pain that Transforms p 52 April 6 - Fifth Sunday in Lent: Until p 66 April 13 - Palm Sunday: In the Wrong Temple p 80 (April 20 is Easter, no meeting) ![]() Looking for a way to strengthen your daily practice and hold silence in community? Click here to join the worldwide community that is practicing Centering Prayer online, together. |

Welcome
- We are an ecumenical group of women and men volunteers ministering together to support and nurture the practitioners of Centering Prayer in Minnesota. We do this by providing teachers, sharing resources and building community.
- Centering Prayer is an ancient form of Christian meditation that deepens a practitioner's relationship with God.
- Minnesota Contemplative Outreach is one of more than 120 chapters in 53 countries formed by National Contemplative Outreach, Ltd., a worldwide spiritual network that provides support and resources for Centering Prayer Practitioners.
- We have 21 teachers offering introductory classes, retreats and other enrichment opportunities throughout the year. We also support Centering Prayer groups throughout the state.
- Please contact us if you have submissions for our blog, Presence & Action; are forming a new group; or would like to announce an upcoming event.