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.
- Celebrate and enjoy each other's company
- Listen to the needs of chapter participants
- Invite and enlist new volunteers with a focus on gifts and discernment
- Inspire hope in the process of transformation
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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