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There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit; There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different workings, but the same God who produces them in everyone.
I Corinthians 12:4-6 . MNCO has been blessed with service of many people in a variety of roles such as facilitator, treasurer, communicator, secretary, retreat leader, zoom leader and coordinator to name a few. We acknowledge in Theological principle 14 that this work is indeed the work of the Holy Spirit. We thank all who have shared their gifts with MNCO. We want to acknowledge Sister Virginia Matter who was the first coordinator of the Minnesota Chapter of Contemplative Outreach. She along with Meredith Schifsky, Carol Weber, Jim Babin, and Bob Delastrads discerned that Minnesota would be best served with its own chapter. Contemplative Outreach okayed that request and this group worked to share cantering prayer in Minnesota. Those founders had experienced learning the prayer from Father Thomas at the Snowmass Monastery. Sister Virginia facilitated and promoted the prayer via the Benedictine Center at the St Paul Monastery. There she and others conducted Introductions to Centering Prayer, Intensive and Post Intensive Retreats, Formation for becoming a Commissioned Presenter of Centering Prayer and hosted Centering Prayer groups. The Minnesota Chapter brought in Father Thomas Keating and Father Carl Arico to speak and teach in those early years. As Sister Virginia reflects on her years of service she explained, “When you join and work with good people, good things happen.” MNCO has been blessed with the service of countless people over the years and the fruit of the Spirit is evident today in the myriad opportunities available to seekers. Virginia currently holds the title of coordinator emerita, and she remains actively engaged with both the Leadership Team and Centering Prayer groups. MNCO is honoring and uplifting her gentle leadership with a paver at the St Paul Monastery. Her wisdom and guidance continue to bless us. Contemplative Outreach Theological Principle 14 The Good accomplished through Contemplative Outreach is the gift of the Holy Spirit. Dr. Christine Luna Munger's presentation from the Winter Zoom Retreat on January 31, 2026. carry the dark by Jody Reis Johnson
carry the dark across the desert night devoid of comfort devoid of life drag your body your dry bones over endless, starless dunes carry the dark for it must be borne past cruel mirages of water and rest just beyond reach still carry the dark until finally emptied out brought to your knees in the sand your dust-strangled cry breaks open the heart of the world and you are carried then gently laid at morning’s doorstep This poem was first published in the Amethyst Review Presentations by Dr. Christine Luna Munger at our 2025 Fall Retreat, Saturday September 27th, at Saint Andrew's Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi. Part OnePart TwoDownloads
 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. |
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