CONTEMPLATIVE
OUTREACH
of NORTH SAN DIEGO
Introductory Program
In
this experiential workshop you will learn the four simple steps of Centering
Prayer, then you will practice the prayer, and learn more about how Centering
Prayer affects your life. The
Introductory Program consists of seven sessions: one six hour workshop and six
weekly continuing sessions. These
six weekly meetings provide a comprehensive follow-up program to the workshop.
A $35.00 donation for the entire program is appreciated.
One
Day Workshop
The
one day workshop is divided into four conferences and two twenty minute periods
of Centering Prayer.
Conference
1 - Prayer as Relationship:
This section focuses on the fact that any form of prayer expresses our
desire to be in relationship with God and how Centering Prayer deepens that
relationship.
Conference
2 - The Method of Centering Prayer:
In this section the participants are taught the four guidelines of
Centering Prayer. The first period
of Centering Prayer occurs after this section.
Conference
3 - Thoughts and Use of the Sacred
Word: This section focuses on
the fact that thoughts will inevitably occur during Centering Prayer and how one
can effectively handle them. A
second period of Centering Prayer follows this section.
Conference
4 - Deepening Our Relationship With
God: In this section the focus
is on how the method of Centering Prayer deepens our relationship with God and
how this ever deepening relationship is manifested in our daily life.
During the day there are opportunities for questions and discussion as well a morning break, lunch break and afternoon break. The one day workshop typically begins at 9:00 am and ends at 2:30 pm.
The
Six Continuing Sessions
At
the end of the one day workshop the person who will facilitate the six
continuing sessions meets with those workshop participants who want to continue
with these sessions to discuss the day, time and place of the continuing
sessions. The continuing sessions
last one and a half hours. During
this time there is a 20 minute period
of Centering Prayer and a video tape in which Fr. Thomas Keating discusses the
purpose and method of Centering Prayer in depth.
Following the video there is a period of faith sharing. Faith sharing is
a time in which, if one wants to, one can share a thought or feeling about the
content of the video and there is no discussion about what is shared. Following
the period of faith sharing there is a period of discussion regarding the video
tape as well as questions regarding one’s experiences with and/or questions
about their daily practice of Centering Prayer.
Would you like to arrange an Introductory Program for your Church, group, or organization? If you do please contact either Susan Siciliano at 858-792-6988 or Kathy Agnew at 858-481-8754.
