2024 September eNews

Contemplative Outreach Pittsburgh

2024 September News

We embrace the process of transformation in Christ, both in ourselves and in others, through the practice of Centering Prayer.

From Victoria's Desk

Greetings Friends,

Transformation is a lifelong process that humans are invited by their very creation, to participate in. While Nature has transformed into Fall, the Service Team is planning a retreat for our Chapter this November 23rd. Please look out for more details to come.

It is "The Welcoming Prayer" we will focus on. "The Welcoming Prayer" or consent on the go helps us grow in our relationship with God. This method of consenting to God’s presence and action in our lives eases the strain from our physical and emotional reactions to the challenges we share this Autumn. May the peace, joy, and light of the world and Heaven shine on us all.

THE WELCOMING PRAYER
Consent on the go

The purpose of the Welcoming Prayer is to deepen our relationship with God through consenting in ordinary activities. The Welcoming Prayer helps to dismantle the emotional programs of the false-self system and to heal the wounds of a lifetime by addressing them where they are stored — in the body. It contributes to the process of transformation in Christ initiated in Centering Prayer

There are three movements of the prayer:

One...Feel and sink into what you are experiencing this moment in your body.
Two...“WELCOME” what you are experiencing this moment in your body as an opportunity to consent to the Divine Indwelling.
Three...Let go by saying “I let go of my desire for security, affection, control and embrace this moment as it is.

Mary Mrozowski, one of the founders of Contemplative Outreach, formulated the Welcoming Prayer. She based it on the 17th century French spiritual classic Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade as well as Fr. Keating’s teachings and her own lived experience of transformation with its underlying attitude of surrender. The practice was so powerful in bringing about inner change that it soon spread throughout the Contemplative Outreach network.

“To welcome and to let go is one of the most radically loving, faith-filled gestures we can make in each moment of each day. It is an open-hearted embrace of all that is in ourselves and in the world.”
MARY MROZOWSKI

Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.

40-year Anniversary Conference

September 27 - 29, 2024

Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. 40th Anniversary Conference

Join the conference virtually!

Access the streaming links here

Join us using these credentials:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88103760896?pwd=2ECYCcV6qepudzUyo8mvyuNxnJdx9I.1
or

Meeting ID: 881 0376 0896; Passcode: silence

Most speakers are those who knew, worked with, and were deeply inspired by Thomas Keating. Father Thomas gave his archives to the Candler School of Theology, and the Candler speakers in the morning speak to their research and experience working in the archive

Volunteer Opportunities

Contact: Victoria E. Graham

Coordinator Contemplative Outreach Pittsburgh

There is nothing small in the service of God.

victoriae4copcenteringprayer@gmail.com

coordinator@pghcenteringprayer.org

Facilitators' Corner

October 12: Facilitator Enrichment - via Zoom! This workshop will provide enrichment for Centering Prayer group facilitators and those who are interested in becoming facilitators. Noon-2:30pm Eastern Time .This event will be recorded for those who cannot attend live. Sign up HERE.
Our Pittsburgh Chapter, continues to request submissions for our eNewsletters from you. Submissions should arrive early in the last week of each month for inclusion in the upcoming edition. Know that you may submit and schedule publication at a later time in the upcoming year. We welcome news from your Group, perhaps Lectio Readings you have shared, and Study topics.
We hope to provide more Introductory Workshops which serve our Chapter, the Community, and the Globe. Please contact Victoria @ victoriae4copcenteringprayer@gmail.com should you wish to learn more about the Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshop Program.

Contemplative Outreach is a spiritual network of individuals and small faith communities committed to living the contemplative dimension of the Gospel. The common desire for Divine transformation, primarily expressed through a commitment to a daily Centering Prayer practice, unites our international, interdenominational community.

Link for Contemplative Outreach Ltd. Newsletter
Homily on Beauty...The Third Guideline...Finding Friends and more!

Upcoming Events and Retreats -

In Person Retreats and Conferences

Bethany Retreat Center, Frenchville, PA

Link to Bethany Retreat Center Retreats

Welcoming Forgiveness and Centering Prayer
October 17th - 22nd
Welcoming Forgiveness. This retreat will be in silence with extended periods of Centering Prayer. We will explore the dance between the Welcoming Prayer Practice and Forgiveness. Soul Friending will be available. Prior Centering Prayer experience required.

Advent Centering Prayer
December 5th - 8th
Bridges to Contemplative Living leads participants on a journey toward personal spiritual transformation and a more contemplative and peace-filled life. This retreat is designed for those with an established daily practice of centering prayer who wish to deepen the transforming love of God in the midst of silence and solitude.

CO of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky

Link to Retreat

Rest in Silence - 6-day Silent Retreat

October 8th - 13th

COGCNKY presents our annual Fall Retreat. This year we are focusing on deepening and resting in The Divine Silence Within. Three weeks before our national election is a perfect time to take a break, get off topic, go with and Rest in The Silence. Let's allow ourselves to decompress, tune out the noisy clutter, take some time with nature and reconnect with our True Selves. See you there. Sisters of Charity Motherhouse, Mt St Joseph, OH 45051 (4 hours from Pittsburgh)

Via Zoom

Link to enroll

God ‘n Me: Thomas Keating’s Lifelong Love Affair with God – via Zoom
October 19th - 22nd

A talk by Cynthia Bourgeault on her new book about Thomas Keating. Cynthia presents her study of Thomas Keating's evolving concept of God and Spiritual Journey. $60. Contemplative Outreach of Colorado.

Click Here to view the many: Live and Online Programs

Word of the Week

A free program offered by Contemplative Outreach. A short message is sent each Sunday, which includes an image, Scripture, reflections and suggested practices followed by two weekly prayer groups for practice in community.

Online Courses from Contemplative Outreach

Contemplative Outreach offers many online programs. Attending a workshop, a retreat, an online Centering Prayer group or participating in an online course with a global community is a great way of deepening one’s relationship with God and the experience of living a contemplative life.

Contemplative Outreach Pittsburgh's

Susy Robison has published a delightful book!
"Haley and the Mystery of the Lost Girls" might make a fine present for the upcoming Season of Celebrations.

Fifteen-year-old Halley Pederson is still reeling from her mother's unexpected death when she and her father move from New York City to India in 1951. Determined to make the most of this adventure, Halley quickly makes new friends. But when Halley's kidnapped while on a hunting expedition with her father, she uncovers a trafficking ring selling girls into slavery. What's worse, she thinks she knows the person heading it up. Halley will have to dig deep to find her courage to rescue both herself and the innocent girls she meets along the way.

COP Resources: Books & Lending Library

Special Price on Books: Each for only $10 plus postage

Invitation to Love by Father Keating
The Loving Search of God by William A. Menninger

Lending Library

Click COP RESOURCES for a complete list of resources that can be borrowed from the COP library.

Please call or text your requests to Chris Volz at 412-779-8269 (you may leave a voice message) or send an email at chrisvolzu@gmail.com.

Contemplative Outreach of PITTSBURGH

(Resources donated from Nana’s Collection)

DVDS:
THE FUTURE OF CHRISTIANITY - INTEGRAL LIFE PRODUCTION
• PAINTING THE STARS SCIENCE - RELIGION AND AN EVOLVING FAITH www.livingthequestion.com
• CENTERING PRAYER: A WAY OF LIFE - CARL J. ARICO
• THE PRACTICES THAT BRING THE FRUITS OF CENTERING PRAYER INTO DAILYLIFE - FATHER CARL, GAIL F. HOPLER, DAVID FRENETTE AND SISTER BERNADTEASDALE
• A TASTE OF BEAUTY, TRUTH AND GOODNESS - FATHER THOMAS KEATING ANDRICH ROHR
• SPIRITUAL JOURNEY SERIES - THOMAS KEATING
• THE HUMAN CONDITION - THOMAS KEATING
• THE NIGHT OF SENSE - THOMAS KEATING
• THE SPIRITUAL SENSES - THOMAS KEATING
• INVITATION FROM GOD - THOMAS KEATING

CDS:
THRUGH THE OPEN DOOR - ECKHART TOLLE
• THE POWER OF NOW: A NEW EARTH - ECKHART TOLLE
• THE ART OF PRESENCE - ECKHART TOLLE
• STILLNESS SPEAKS - ECKHART TOLLE
• A RETREAT WITH TEILHARD DE CHARDIN - FATHER DONALD GOEGEN
• ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS - SUSAN MUTO
• LIVING WELL AND DYING WELL - SOGYAL RINOCHE
• PRACTICING PEACDE IN TIMES OF WAR - PEMA CHODRON
• ENCOUNTERING THE WISDOM OF JESUS (6-CDS) - CYNTHIA BOURGEAULT
• CENTERING PRAYER MEDITATIONS- DAVID FRENETTE
• THE CONTEMPLATIVE DIMENSIONS OF THE 12 STEPS - FATHER THOMASKEATING
• HEARTFULNESS: TRANSFORMATION IN CHRIST - FATHER THOMAS KEATINGAND BETTY S. FLOWERS
• OPEN MIND, OPEN HEART AND READING FROM THE FIRST LETTER OF JOHN (7-CDS) - FATHER THOMAS KEATING
• THE TWO MAJOR TASKS OF SPIRITUAL LIFE - RICH ROHR
• CIRCLE OF FRIENDS: FATHER THOMAS KEATING TO HIS FRIENDS- READING FROM THE FIRIST LETTER OF JOHN AND COMMENTARY FOR THE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS- THE FOUR YOU’S: 2ND ANNUAL GATHERING- THE 6TH ANNUAL GATHERING OF THE GATHERING- THE 7TH ANNUAL GATHERING OF THE GATHERINGCDS CONTINUED- THE 8TH ANNUAL GATHERING OF THE GATHERING
- DEATH AND DYING & THE UNKNOWABLE GOD
SAMPLE REEL FOR THECIRCLE OF FRIENDS
• 2004 ANNUAL CONFERENCE PART 1 & PART 2: LIVING ORDINARY WITH EXTRAORDINARY LOVE - FATHER THOMAS KEATING
• THE CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE PROGRAM / THE WELCOMING PRAYER (5/9/2006)

If interested, contact Chris Volz at 412-779-8269 or or send an email at chrisvolzu@gmail.com.

For a complete list of the CO Theological Principles and Guidelines for Service, https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/vision/.

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1620 Beechwood Blvd #8
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
15217
United States of America