BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Contemplative Outreach of St. Louis - ECPv6.15.11//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://centeringprayerstl.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Contemplative Outreach of St. Louis REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Chicago BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20250309T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20251102T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20260308T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20261101T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20270314T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20271107T070000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261028T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261028T170000 DTSTAMP:20261021T175207 CREATED:20261021T211641Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261021T211907Z UID:77993-1793174400-1793206800@centeringprayerstl.org SUMMARY:ES - The Welcoming Prayer October 28th 2026 DESCRIPTION:EnLIGHTenment Series \n\n\n\nThe Welcoming Prayer\n\n\n\nPresented by Jim McElroy\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis event will be available in person\, via Zoom\, and by recording. Recording will be available after editing. \n\n\n\n\n\nBringing Consent into Everyday Life\n\n\n\nWelcoming Prayer is a contemplative practice of consenting to God’s presence and action in the midst of everyday life. It complements Centering Prayer by helping us bring the same attitude of consent that we practice in silence into the circumstances\, emotions\, relationships\, and challenges of daily living. \n\n\n\nSometimes described as “Centering Prayer on the go\,” Welcoming Prayer invites us to become aware of what is happening within us—particularly our physical and emotional reactions—and to meet those experiences with openness rather than immediately resisting\, suppressing\, or reacting to them. \n\n\n\nThe practice helps us recognize our habitual desires for security and survival\, affection and esteem\, and power and control. By gently letting go of our attachment to these desires\, we become increasingly available to God’s presence and to a freer\, more loving response to life. \n\n\n\n\nAbout the Presenter\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJim McElroy has been practicing Centering Prayer since 1996 and has been a commissioned presenter since 2002. Jim has been on the leadership team of 12-Step Outreach since its formation in 2005 and is especially interested in teaching contemplative practices to the recovery community. He currently serves on the Trustee Team for Contemplative Outreach\, Ltd and is on the Welcoming Prayer Faculty. He is a former coordinator of Contemplative Outreach of St. Louis. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nOrigins of the Welcoming Prayer\n\n\n\n\n\n The Welcoming Prayer was created by Mary Mrozowski\, a founding member of Contemplative Outreach and an important figure in its early contemplative community.\n\n\n\nThe practice offers a way to bring the consent of Centering Prayer into everyday life. By becoming present to our physical and emotional reactions and letting go of the emotional programs of the false-self system\, we become increasingly available to God’s presence and action within us. \n\n\n\nIn this way\, the Welcoming Prayer supports the continuing process of transformation begun in Centering Prayer. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Options\n\n\n\n\nIn Person — $25: Includes dinner\, fellowship\, and the evening program.\n\n\n\nLive via Zoom — $10: Participate remotely in the evening program.\n\n\n\nRecording Only — $10: Receive access to the program recording after it has been edited and prepared for viewing.\n\n\n\n\nPlease note: Zoom Access: The Zoom Meeting ID and password will be emailed to registered Zoom participants on Wednesday\, October 28\, after 10:00 AM. Please check your inbox\, including your spam or junk folder. The recording will not be available immediately following the event. Editing and preparation may take some time. We appreciate your patience and will provide access once it is ready. \n\n\n\nDinner Registration Deadline — Monday\, October 26\, at 4:00 PM \n\n\n\nTo be included in our catered dinner\, please register by Monday\, October 26\, at 4:00 PM. \n\n\n\nRegistrations are welcome after this deadline as space permits. If registering after 4:00 PM on October 26\, you are welcome to bring your own dinner and join us for fellowship at 5:00 PM\, or simply arrive for the evening program beginning at 6:00 PM. \n\n\n\nFinancial Assistance Available \n\n\n\nWe never want the cost of a program to prevent anyone from participating. If you would like financial assistance or a scholarship\, please contact Susie Brent. We would be happy to help make your participation possible. \n\n\n\nFlow of the Evening5:00–5:55 PM — Dinner & Fellowship6:00–6:10 PM — Welcome & Introductions6:10–6:35 PM — Centering Prayer6:35–7:15 PM — Welcoming Prayer Program7:15–7:30 PM — Break7:30–8:30 PM — Welcoming Prayer Program \n\n\n\nThe Welcoming Prayer Practice \n\n\n\nThe practice has three simple movements: \n\n\n\n1. Feel and sink into what you are experiencing in your body.\n\n\n\nBecome aware of the feelings\, sensations\, emotions\, and thoughts arising within you. Rather than trying to change or analyze them\, allow yourself to experience what is present. \n\n\n\n2. Welcome what you are experiencing in this moment.\n\n\n\n“Welcome” does not mean that we approve of everything that happens or that harmful circumstances should be accepted without appropriate action. Rather\, we welcome the opportunity to consent to God’s presence and action within us in this moment. \n\n\n\n3. Let go.\n\n\n\nGently let go of the desire for security\, affection\, and control\, and deepen your consent to the present moment as it is. \n\n\n\nThrough repeated practice\, Welcoming Prayer can help loosen the hold of our habitual emotional reactions and create greater interior freedom—the freedom to respond to life from a deeper place of presence\, compassion\, and love. \n\n\n\nA Companion to Centering Prayer\n\n\n\nCentering Prayer and Welcoming Prayer naturally support one another. \n\n\n\nIn Centering Prayer\, we practice consenting to God’s presence and action within us during periods of silence. In Welcoming Prayer\, we carry that consent into the movement of ordinary life. \n\n\n\nA difficult conversation\, disappointment\, fear\, frustration\, uncertainty\, or even the small irritations of the day can become an invitation to pause\, become present\, and return to consent. \n\n\n\nIn this way\, contemplative prayer gradually becomes not simply something we practice\, but a way of living. \n\n\n\nThe practice reflects a fundamental movement of the spiritual journey: learning to release the patterns and attachments of the false-self system and becoming increasingly available to the transforming presence and action of God within us. \n\n\n\nFor more information: Susie Brent – susiebrentcostl@gmail.com \n\n\n\nLearn More\n\n\n\nPlease link to the official Contemplative Outreach Welcoming Prayer page: \n\n\n\nhttps://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/welcoming-prayer-method \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCommunity of Christ Church\n\n\n\nAddress 830 N Kirkwood RdSt. Louis\, MO 63122 \n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration:\n\n\n\n\n \n\n CommentsThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Name(Required)\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n Email(Required)\n \n Address(Required) \n \n \n \n Street Address\n \n \n City\n \n \n State / Province / Region\n \n \n ZIP / Postal Code\n \n \n Phone(Required)Please briefly share your contemplative prayer background(Required)How did you hear about this event?(Required)Newsletter\n \n \n Yes\, please add me.\n \n \n \n No\, thank you\n \n \n \n I already receive it.\n Please select your newsletter preference. If you already receive our newsletter\, leave the selection as shown.Registration Fee(Required)\n \n \n In Person\n \n \n \n Zoom\n \n \n \n Recording Only\n In Person: $25 per person (includes dinner) — Zoom or Recording Only: $10 per person.\nThis field is hidden when viewing the formAttendance(Required)\n \n \n In Person\n \n \n \n Zoom\n \n \n \n Recording Only\n Zoom and recording participants may use the discount code ZOOMREC10 to reduce the registration fee to $10. If you prefer to support COSTL with the full $25 registration fee\, simply do not enter the code.Number of Attendees(Required)Please enter a number from 1 to 3.Additional AttendeesIf you are registering for more than one person\, please list the name(s) of the additional attendee(s) here.Dinner(Required)\n \n \n Yes\, I will join you for dinner\n \n \n \n No\, I will not be joining you for dinner\n Dinner will be served from 5:00–5:55 PMService OpportunityVolunteers help make events like this possible\, and we deeply appreciate any support to help lighten the load! Your presence is more than enough\, but if you’d like to help\, please arrive 30 minutes early for welcoming or setup\, and/or stay 30 minutes after for cleanup.\n \n Welcoming\n \n \n Set Up\n \n \n Clean Up\n Add a DonationYour registration fee helps support this program. If you would like to offer an additional donation\, your generosity helps COSTL provide programs\, scholarships\, and other resources that support our contemplative community. Thank you for your support.YesNoDonation AmountPlease enter the amount you would like to donate.\n \n Total Payment to COSTL\n \n Payment Method(Required)\n \n \n Pay online by credit card\n \n \n \n Mail a check\n \n \n \n Pay at the door – In Person Attendees Only\n Please select your preferred payment method. Your registration reserves your place\, and we plan food\, materials\, and seating based on our registration count. If your plans change\, please let us know as soon as possible.Paying by check:\nPlease make your check payable to COSTL and mail it to:\n\nCOSTL\nc/o Mary Anne Chorney\n1437 Cave Springs Estate Dr\nSt. Peters\, MO 63376Coupon Credit Card(Required)Card Details\n \n Cardholder Name\n \n IMPORTANT: All information provided with your registration is strictly confidential and will not be sold or shared with another organization. We value your privacy and will use your information only for purposes related to your registration and our programs.FINAL STEP: Complete the “Verify you are human” step below. Once you see “Success!”\, click SUBMIT REGISTRATION to complete your registration.\n\nAfter submitting\, scroll to the bottom of the event page to confirm that your registration was successfully received. You will also receive an immediate notification email from Contemplative Outreach of St. Louis with the event details.\n\nIf you do not see the confirmation on the event page AND receive the notification email\, please check your spam or junk folder. If the email is not there\, please contact us at centeringprayercostl@gmail.com.\n\nThank you!\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Δ URL:https://centeringprayerstl.org/event/es-the-welcoming-prayer-october-28th-2026/ CATEGORIES:EnLIGHTenment Series ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://centeringprayerstl.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/oWHMO8vU5uBpa1LbHDJ32nUviFwfJBR9LB2r7XpT2RHIEOFQeKeNmSI_aFBLzrNf6D42cPOVERux3SYWNSrVXQ6eFn9meLhRoBYAgQPD-UdXldKjVmfZEOIni4o9yGulSNzaSyPklunTBMcsRc8iY8TagqaSk3NFlazXsAp0I_jov4CM5ait10Kqy7KIxF5S.jpeg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR