Centering Prayer Intro Workshop

Are you looking for a way to explore or deepen your relationship with God?

Centering Prayer is based on a Christian contemplative practice first described in The Cloud of Unknowing, written in the latter half of the 14th century. 

What Is Centering Prayer?

“Centering Prayer is not so much an exercise of attention as intention. It may take a while to grasp this distinction. You do not attend to any particular thought or content. Rather, you intend to go to your inmost being, where you believe God dwells. You are opening to Him by pure faith, not by means of concepts or feelings.” —Thomas Keating, Open Mind Open Heart, p. 39

This prayer does not replace your other prayer practices. You will be given encouragement to learn how to become more comfortable with building a deeper relationship with the God of your understanding in the stillness of your “inner room.”

If you want to pray, enter your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. —Matthew 6:6

What is the inner room? This “inner room” is not a physical place. It is an interior place in our hearts, the deepest part of who we are. It is a place of quiet, where we can meet our Lord personally. 

Introduction to Centering Prayer is a sampling of the practice and its benefits. The workshop is a prerequisite to the Follow Up Course, Basic Centering Prayer, that delves more into the practice and effects of Centering Prayer. Basic Centering Prayer is the next step to a committed practice with community support and trained Presenters and Facilitators.

In our introductory workshop to Centering Prayer, you will discover a centuries-old prayer method.  Centering Prayer consists of simply sitting in silence with God – beyond thoughts, words, and emotions – and opening our mind, heart and whole being to the Ultimate Mystery. In this workshop, you will learn the basics of Centering Prayer, experience it in a guided setting, and be able to ask questions and share experiences with the presenters and your fellow participants. Please join us!

Please bring a lunch. We will have coffee, tea and water.
For more information contact:
Charlie Lawrence
charlesn.lawrence2@gmail.com
(618) 781 4538

Saturday February 22nd, 2025,
Gather at 8:45 am, Intro Workshop – 9:00 am to 2:00pm

In case of inclement weather, please check the COSTL website on February 22nd for possible meeting alternatives.

Registration