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:

1. Celebrate and enjoy each other's company
2. Listen to the needs of chapter participants
3. Invite and enlist new volunteers, focusing on gifts and discernment
4. Inspire hope in the process of transformation

Today, I’ll focus on the second purpose: listening to the needs of chapter participants.
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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
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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:

• 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.