 Guest post by Carl McColman
I’m writing this blog post the morning after returning home from a lovely weekend where I was the guest presenter at Minnesota Contemplative Outreach’s fall retreat. We spent our time together reflecting on my book Eternal Heart: the Mystical Path to a Joyful Life. So many retreats that I lead are structured around the writings of one of the great mystics of the past, such as Julian of Norwich, Thomas Merton, or the anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing. It’s a bit humbling when I’m asked to speak about my own writing. But it’s also an honor, so when I’m asked to talk about one of my books, I’m glad to do so. In one of this past weekend's retreat conferences, I spoke a little about my creative process. I suppose you would call me a “right brained” writer, which means I approach my work intuitively rather than systematically. I don’t write in a linear fashion; rather, I develop a concept (in this case, a book about the spiritual gifts of the heart), and then sketch out the key themes and main ideas that I want to cover, before finally getting down to the task of writing (and revising) the book. Eternal Heart has ten chapters. The first chapter is actually “Chapter 0” and the final chapter is “Chapter ∞” so the numbering is a bit unconventional, to say the least. But this unusual sequence actually fits some of the ideas about emptiness, eternity, and infinity that inform the key ideas of this book. A slight digression: writing about mysticism is challenging! By its definition, mysticism concerns the mystery of God, in relationship with the mystery of being human, and such “mysteries” can best be expressed by silence, not by words. So writing about mysticism is a fools’ errand. Nevertheless, following the New Testament idea that we are called to be fools for Christ’s sake, I’ve learned to embrace my own inner harlequin and so I love to write about this impossible topic. Anyway, back to the weekend retreat: in describing the writing process, I shared with the group the ten original themes or ideas that I structured the chapters around. I mentioned how, in the writing process, sometimes themes like this can evolve or even be subtly hidden in the final work. Nevertheless, these were the ideas that guided me as I wrote Eternal Heart. After the retreat, the leaders of Minnesota Contemplative Outreach asked me if I could share these themes with their community, and so that’s the purpose of this post. Here, then, are the themes of each chapter of Eternal Heart: 0 Infinity Do you want a happier, more joyful life? Within your heart you have been given all that you need. 1 Passage The path to joy is in your heart. So what are you waiting for — get on the path! 2 Silence Silence is the matrix of possibility. Imagine the possibilities... 3 Discernment The very Mind of God is encoded in your heart. Celebrate what this means for you. 4 Renewal No one (and no heart) is perfect. Yours will make mistakes. Acknowledge when you need renewal, and accept the gift of new life. 5 Wisdom Be patient with your own imperfections and your slow process of growth and healing. Let yourself be transformed. 6 Love Calibrate your life to the Divine Love that has already been poured into you. Receive it and give it. 7 Eternity You have all the time in the world. So take your time. This is the initiation into joy. 8 Joy Know that you are always and already one with God. This is the fullness of joy. ∞ Courage Now what? The future is yours to imagine — and create. Hope, trust, and be courageous. So when you read the book, look for these themes. Some of them are easier to spot than others. Think of this like an Easter Egg Hunt, or even “Find Waldo Now” — only the “Waldos” are ideas that I hope can bless you as you continue to respond to the amazing gift of Divine Presence and Love: in your heart, and in your life. Cross-posted on Carl's website, Anamchara.  Photo by Priscilla Du Preez □□ on Unsplash John Keller, MNCO co-coordinator
On Saturday, September 21, Minnesota Contemplative Outreach will host its Second Annual Gathering at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Apple Valley. This blog post is part of a series highlighting the four key purposes of the event:
As contemplatives, we deeply value the practice of listening. Each day, we spend twenty minutes twice a day in silence with God, consenting to God’s presence and action within us. This simple act of listening, free from expectations, allows us to understand what it means to be beloved children of God. To honor this commitment, our gathering will include two Centering Prayer sessions. Our contemplative practice doesn’t end with prayer; it extends into our daily lives and interactions. We strive to listen with open minds and hearts, truly hearing the needs, joys, and sorrows of those we encounter. At our annual gathering, we will have extended conversations in both small and large groups, discussing how our Centering Prayer groups are serving the needs and dreams of their participants. Our chapter hosts over 35 groups, each with unique formats and schedules, ranging from daily or weekly Zoom meetings to in-person gatherings in churches or homes. Some groups meet for a single twenty-minute session, while others include faith sharing, Lectio Divina, or book discussions. All are united in the goal of embracing transformation in Christ through Centering Prayer. The Leadership Team hopes these conversations will not only support personal transformation but also strengthen our Centering Prayer groups. All group facilitators, or a representative, are strongly encouraged to attend and share insights on their group's progress and needs. Together we can discover and plan future events and materials to strengthen our Centering Prayer groups You can register for the Annual Gathering here Minnesota Contemplative Outreach holds an Annual Gathering every fall. This year, we will meet on Saturday, September 21, at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Apple Valley. The Gathering has four key purposes:
In upcoming blog posts, I’ll explore each of these components. Today, let's focus on community celebration. As practitioners of Centering Prayer, we cherish silence. In our contemplative practice, we find peace in God’s presence, gradually learning to release the noisy thoughts and feelings that crowd our minds. In the stillness, we discover a deep, abiding connection to the great mystery of love. This silence not only connects us to the Spirit but also to each other, bringing us joy in our shared connection. God has joined us together so that the joy of the Lord may be our strength. We are not alone in our journey of transformation into Christ’s image; we sit, move, and walk with Christ together. And together, we rejoice. While most of our chapter’s retreats and events focus on silence and solitude—essential aspects of the contemplative journey—the Annual Gathering offers something different. It is a time for celebration and conversation. Joyful celebration complements the values of silence and solitude, allowing us to witness the power of silent prayer and rest in God. Through deep listening, we share in each other’s joys and sorrows, becoming a supportive community of brothers and sisters in Christ. Our Annual Gathering on Saturday, September 21, is designed to celebrate our shared love of the Divine Mystery and our practice of Centering Prayer. While there will be time for silence, there will also be opportunities for conversation in both small and large groups—to speak, listen, laugh, and embrace. It’s a chance to see the face of Christ in one another. Join us on Saturday, September 21. For more information and to register, click here.  Year of Transitions
In the midst of many transitions, The Minnesota Chapter of Contemplative Outreach continues to embody the vision of Contemplative Outreach International: embracing the transformative process in Christ through the practice of Centering Prayer. Post-Pandemic Transition Several Centering Prayer (CP) groups have returned to in-person gatherings, while others continue to meet online. We have over 55 groups listed on our webpage across the state. The daily 7:00 a.m. CP Zoom gathering, initiated during the pandemic, thrives with forty or more participants, including many from beyond our state's borders. Changes in Leadership and Structure In January 2023, Laurie Erickson gracefully stepped down from her role as Co-coordinator after more than six years of dedicated service. John Keller assumed the interim role alongside Adam Gordon as chapter coordinators, leading an evolving team of approximately 12 volunteers. The 2024 leadership team has established four standing committees, inviting regular Centering Prayer practitioners to contribute:
To foster fellowship and service, the chapter held two gatherings in October: an in-person event at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi on October 7 and a Zoom meeting on October 23. These meetings are planned to be held annually. Online and Hybrid Meetings Zoom meetings became the norm during the pandemic, and the increased opportunities for connection and the convenience of online interactions remains a draw. Many CP groups, the leadership team, and United in Prayer Day now meet online. The annual fall retreat has adopted a hybrid format, balancing the complexities of both in-person and online elements. Several of our members have organized meetings on the Meditation Chapel, including Laurie Erickson (Peace Chapel, Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.) and Mary Lapham (Thomas Keating Chapel, Thursdays at 11:00 a.m.). And the Sunday Gathering group convenes by Zoom at 8:00 a.m. each week to more deeply consider contemplative authors and practices. Striking the right balance between online, in-person, and hybrid events remains a priority. Communication Needs Efforts are underway to enhance communication within and beyond the chapter. The website, diligently maintained by Adam Gordon and volunteers, serves as a valuable resource. As we transition into the new leadership structure, the chapter seeks a volunteer editor/communication director to organize a regular email newsletter and facilitate ongoing communication. Financial Report While coordinators, facilitators, and presenters serve as volunteers, the chapter incurs expenses for Zoom hosting, web services, printing, administrative costs, and speaker honorariums. Generous donations totaling over $3,000 contributed to the budget last year, keeping the chapter financially healthy. Continued support is welcomed in 2024, with contributions accepted through our Donations page. Minnesota Contemplative Outreach is incorporated as a non-profit in the state of Minnesota, but is not 501(c)(3) tax-exempt. Gifts over $250 intended for tax deductions are suggested to be made directly to the national organization, Contemplative Outreach. Gratitude The Leadership Team is thankful for all who served to strengthen the chapter: group facilitators, presenters, retreat speakers, and so many others. Together we are the stewards of this beautiful practice of consenting to God’s presence and action within. Together, we trust in the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen our chapter in 2024. Minnesota Contemplative Outreach Leadership Team Adam Gordon and John Keller Co-coordinators  Carol Ann (Jaremba) Weber was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 3, 1946, the fourth of five children of Frank Jaremba and Sally (Szymczak) Jaremba. After a few college dates with Rick, Carol put a note on his ‘63 Chevy convertible. “To love another in the highest sense of the word is to wish that person the eternal possession of God and lead them to it.” With that wish they wed on April 6, 1968. Carol graduated from Marquette University with a BS in Nursing. Later she added a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry from St. Mary’s University. Carol and Rick celebrated 55 years of life and marriage together. For more than 40 years they made their home on the Crow Wing River north of Staples, where they raised four children. They enjoyed wonderful friendships, family camping, travel and small town hospitality. Carol embraced a lifelong passion for the spiritual - and practical - which she shared through leading maternity and birthing classes, Public Health nursing, individual spiritual direction, leading and serving group contemplative retreats and being a reliable friend. Maya Angelo said, “Your legacy is every life that touched yours.” Thus you are Carol’s legacy. May you carry it on by being a friend and spiritual seeker. Thomas Keating said “Silence is God’s first language.” Carol took silence seriously. Carol is survived by her husband, Rick; son, Erik Weber and his wife, Kristina, of Jamestown, North Dakota; daughter, Marlo Turcotte and her husband, William, of Excelsior; son, Luke Weber of New Brighton and daughter, Monica Weber and her husband, Jesse Wondra, of South St. Paul. Her beloved grandchildren are: Henrik, Oscar, Nathan, Jack, Mark, Axl and Delilah. Her sister, Christine Centner, lives in Manitowoc, WI. In lieu of flowers please give a gift to Our Lady of Peace Hospice in St. Paul, Minnesota Contemplative Outreach, or the charity of your choice. by Jody Reis Johnson
Let today be today not tomorrow or the weekend with its gypsy promises of something more or last week when you did something you couldn’t undo and wished it was already this week because by now you would have forgotten or forgiven. Let today be itself; there is warm soup and a crisp apple and the leaves’ first flare of gold. Be still let it come to you as an embrace merciful and plentiful enough to carry you until tomorrow. (Published in the September 2023 Contemplative Outreach e-bulletin) |
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