Silent Saturday with Lectio Divina
2025-10-11 08:30 - 11:00 (America/Chicago)
Silent Saturday with Lectio Divina

“The fruitfulness of lectio divina presupposes a certain calmness of mind when we come to it….By reading … scripture, … perhaps only a few words, we find ourselves in the presence of God, … our friend – this extraordinary person we are trying to know. We need to listen eagerly to words, applying our whole being to them. This is the reason the ancient custom was to read aloud, or at least to form the words on one’s lips, so that the body, too, entered into the process. The Holy Spirit inspired those who wrote the scriptures and is also in our hearts inspiring us and teaching us how to read and listen. When these two inspirations fuse, we really understand what scripture is saying; or at least we understand what God at this moment is saying to us through it.” (The Heart of the World by Father Thomas Keating pgs. 46-47)

Listen, that you may have life.

“Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32 NAB

Find God in the Silent Love of Self Surrender.

“The language God best hears is silent love.”

Saint John of the Cross

Contemplative Outreach St. Louis invites you to come help create a safe and quiet space where we can rest in the divine presence, bearing witness to our individual and collective need to do so. A time of prayer, scripture, sharing and support for the journey.

The facilitators for this program are Sarah Legett

Flow of the Afternoon:

Welcome! And Gathering for a half hour

Guided Lectio Divina session

Optional sharing

15 minute break

A reading of the Centering Prayer guidelines

1st Centering Prayer period

2nd Centering Prayer period.

Opportunities for Prayer requests

Saturday, October 11th, 2025Doors open and Gathering at 8:30 am, We begin at 9 am & end at 11 am

Light refreshments will be available

Silent Saturday is at: Community of Christ Church, 830 N Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122

Please register: We look forward to seeing you. Walk-ins are welcome.There is no fee for this event but if you would like to make a donation of $10 or any amount to help cover our rent, website maintenance, scholarship fund and other expenses, it will be gratefully accepted. This is purely a suggestion and not meant to be a barrier to attendance. All are welcome. Save these dates – PLEASE NOTE: The next Silent Saturdays are: August 9th, October 11, December 13, 2025

We are blessed to have videos presented by Father Thomas Keating on Lectio Divina, calling us into a deeper relationship with God. Lectio Divina draws from scriptural and/or other sacred reading, meditation, and prayer to promote communion with God and increase the knowledge of God’s Word.

Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina with Thomas Keating, Part 1: In this talk, Fr. Thomas explains that Lectio Divina is meant to be an experience of scripture in which one listens for God rather than reads for content. The words penetrate one in a dynamic process under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, gradually moving one into deeper union with God. Fr. Thomas describes the traditional four ‘moments’ of Lectio Divina in a circular format; the experience is not linear as all the ‘moments’ are interrelated. This conference was given at the Lectio Divina Institute held on January 17-21, 1997, at the Benedictine Center in Beech Grove, Indiana.

Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina with Thomas Keating, Part 2: In this talk entitled “Principles for the Practice of Lectio,” Fr. Thomas explains that Lectio is the process of assimilating the Gospel and being assimilated by it. He describes five moments in this process: 1) Beginning prayer to the Holy Spirit as your Guide, 2) Noticing how scripture is mirroring your life, 3) Experiencing the Word of God as directed to different levels of consciousness, 4) Reading your experience of grace into the scriptures, and 5) becoming the Word of God in a particular human situation. This conference was given at the Lectio Divina Institute held on January 17-21, 1997, at the Benedictine Center in Beech Grove, Indiana.

Four Steps of Lectio Divina

There is no standard way of doing lectio divina, but the following method has proven helpful to beginners.

Read (Lectio): Read a passage from Scripture. “Listen” to God’s word. Gather the facts. Does a particular word or phrase speak to you?

Reflect (Meditatio): Read the passage again. Reflect on the passage as a whole or on a particular phrase. What is God saying to you?

Respond (Oratio): Read the Scripture once again. Respond to God with your heart. What do you want to say to God?

Rest (Contemplatio*): Read the selection a final time. Rest in God’s presence for a few minutes.

* Strictly speaking, contemplation is a gift of grace that depends on the movement of the Holy Spirit. It is a real awareness of God, desiring and loving Him, beyond concepts, feelings, and particular acts.

Register

Please register and submit the online form below.

EmailThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Name(Required)

First

Last

Email(Required)

Address(Required)

Street Address

City

State / Province / Region

ZIP / Postal Code

Phone(Required)Please briefly share your contemplative prayer background(Required)If you are bringing guests, please list their names below. Thank youHow did you hear about this event?(Required)VolunteerVolunteers 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.

Welcoming

Set Up

Bring a Light Dish or Refreshment

Clean Up
Contribution(Required)This event is free. However If you wish, please support us with a donation of your choice, which helps cover our rent, website maintenance, scholarship fund and other expenses. This is purely a suggestion and not meant to be a barrier to attendance. All are welcome.

No donation at this time.

Yes, I would like to pay via credit card

Yes, I would like to pay via mailed check.

Yes, I will pay at the event.
Do you want to be added to our mailing list?(Required)

Yes

No

I already receive your informative posts.
Silent Saturday Donation 8/9/25(Required)

Total Donation to COSTL

Credit Card(Required)Card Details

Cardholder Name

Make it payable to COSTL and mail it to: COSTL c/o Susie Brent
489 Staines Court
St. Louis, MO 63141IMPORTANT: All information provided with your gift is strictly confidential and will never be exchanged with another organization or sold to anyone for other use. You may rest assured that we value your support and would not put you or your identity in jeopardy.

Δ

Having trouble registering or did not receive a confirmation email? Reach out to susiebrentcostl@gmail.com.

Quiet Arts
2025-10-29 17:30 - 20:30 UTC
The EnLIGHTenment Series

The Mandala Journey

A meditative drawing workshop

Presented by Heather Fricke

Download Flyer

What are the responses that sustain during periods of (increased) challenges? I describe and demonstrate a number of responses, including some quiet practices, some brought down from the Traditions, some imagined new based on traditional Sources. How to work the traditional material for guidelines to living.

Prayer, meditation, music, poesying, visualization – we will be talking about spiritual praxis, practice, and its relevance to community organization, politics, a hundred blessings a day, the daily-ness of spiritual practice as creative strategies for daily spiritual renewal. This is the level of changing the world, one person at a time.

About the Presenter

Heather Fricke

Heather is an artist who moves through the world with curiosity and an open heart. Guided by her playful inner child, she is always exploring new ways to build, create, and express herself through art. Her current passions include painting, drawing, sculpting, and jewelry-making — each offering its own rhythm of discovery and joy. Deeply inspired by nature, the mindfulness of yoga, and her love for animals, Heather’s work reflects a connection to the simple, soulful beauty that surrounds us all.

Black FireWhite FireLearn More

Espaclaria: is a mirrorSometimes Cloudy, Sometimes ClearLearn More

FountainRespect for SourcesLearn More

VigilLearn More

Flow of the Evening

🥪 Early Gathering & Light Meal 30 minutes before meeting time.Since we begin earlier than usual, we’re offering a simple shared meal of sandwiches, side dishes, and light desserts 30 minutes before the event.You’re warmly welcome to bring something to share, but please know that it’s not necessary to bring anything—your presence is truly enough.We hope this evening offers space for insight, stillness, and transformation.Please feel free to bring a friend!

Don’t Miss This Inspiring Event — In Person or on ZoomExperience this special session in the way that works best for you—be with us in person, or join live from anywhere via Zoom.Register today and you’ll receive your Zoom link immediately after completing the form below. Your registration confirmation includes details about the event.Can’t join us live? Your registration also includes access to the full recording once editing is complete, so you can watch, reflect, and revisit the session at your convenience.Please do not share the Zoom link or recording.Reserve your spot now and be part of the conversation, the learning, and the inspiration.

Location

Community of Christ Church

Address 830 N Kirkwood RdSt. Louis, MO 63122

For any questions please email: enlightenment@centeringprayerstl.com

To see all of the upcoming Enlightnment Series events, click the button below:

EnLIGHTenment Series Schedule

Registration

InstagramThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Name(Required)

First

Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)Address(Required)

Street Address

City

State / Province / Region

ZIP / Postal Code

Attendance Type(Required)I will attend the sessions (pick one please)

In-person

Zoom

Watch Recording
Background(Required)Please briefly share your contemplative prayer backgroundGuestsIf you are bringing guests, please list their names below. Thank youNetwork(Required)How did you hear about this event?MealYesNoWill you join us for the light meal?VolunteerVolunteers 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.

Welcoming

Set Up

Bring a Light Dish or Refreshment

Clean Up
DonationA donation of $15 is suggested for this event, but this is not meant to be a barrier to entrance, all are welcome!

Yes, I would like to donate via credit card.

Yes, I would like to donate via mailed check.

I will donate at the event.

No donation at this time.
Newsletter(Required)Do you want to be added to our newsletter?

Yes

No

I already receive your informative posts.
ES October Donation

Donation Total

Credit CardCard Details

Cardholder Name

Make it payable to COSTL and mail it to: COSTL c/o Susie Brent
489 Staines Court
St. Louis, MO 63141IMPORTANT: All information provided with your gift is strictly confidential and will never be exchanged with another organization or sold to anyone for other use. You may rest assured that we value your support and would not put you or your identity in jeopardy.

Δ

Having trouble registering or did not receive a confirmation email? Reach out to susiebrentcostl@gmail.com.

Forest Bathing Walk
2025-11-01 08:30 - 11:00 (America/Chicago)
Soul Trekkers

Forest Bathing Walk

A Meditative Walk Through the Woods

Presented by Colleen Baum

Contemplative Outreach “Soul Trekkers” invite you on a meditative walk through the woods.

Since we are intimately connected with nature this trek will help us identify similarities between ourselves and the woods. Our guide, for this inspiring trek, Colleen Baum is a professional arborist for over 20 years. Her instincts open us to relate to the depth of trees and how they empower us by their resilience in dealing with the winds and storms of life. Helping us to connect with our inner strength as well. While also listening to the wisdom of the forest in stillness, we will have the opportunity to be guided and participate in a centering prayer meditation.

Just as We…the Trees…

Respond to trauma

Change as we do as needed

Let go when they are powerless

Set boundaries after wounding

Turn toward their inner-selves to quiet

Live and Let Live with love

May the Forest Be with Us

Walk begins with a Welcome and an introduction by Colleen Baum at 9am and ends at 11am.After registering, a confirmation email will be sent with all of the details included.

Location

Pleasant Valley Nature Preserve

Address 6701 Twin Rivers RoadEureka, MO

8:30 Gathering and depature promptly at 9am. Registration required (limited to 25 spaces).

Notes to consider and a word of caution:

The trail is well groomed, but steep at times.

Bring sturdy walking shoes for walking.

Please dress in layers to enjoy this nurturing walk guided by Colleen.

It is the woods and we recommend bug repellent such as Deep Woods Off. However a cold spell may not necessitate this prevention step.

Please wear shoes and pants prepared for potentially “muddy conditions”.

A little history on the formation of the Soul Trekkers

In 2022 following a 7 day silent retreat in Snowmass, CO at St. Benedict’s Monastery, Jennifer Beeman, Heather Fricke and Susie Brent gathered with Jenny Adamson and Pat Johnson to discuss potential avenues for sharing the methods of centering prayer with the next generation. It was suggested to combine centering prayer with an activity such as yoga or art. It was agreed upon that contemplative prayer may enhance and be enhanced by any activity that lends itself to a stillness in mind and heart, a joy within, and being truly present in each moment. The divine dwelling within can be communed with while hiking beneath the trees, free flowing with a favorite melody, exploring and creating in a favorite artistic medium, within the deep breath taken while settling into a yoga pose, energy breath work, or while listening to the draw of classical piano music. These are just some avenues to become more comfortable with simply being.It is the Soul Trekkers intent to investigate the many branches of the Tree of Contemplative Practices combined with guided Centering Prayer meditation sessions to inspire exploration, joy, and connection in a fellowship of contemplative travelers. While centering prayer guidelines will be offered, any and all meditation disciplines are welcome. The goal is to embrace stillness and foster a relationship with the God within each of us and our true authentic selves. Come share in the beautiful intimacy that stillness in community has to offer.

For any questions please email: susiebrentcostl@gmail.com

Registration:

PhoneThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Name(Required)

First

Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)Address(Required)

Street Address

City

State / Province / Region

ZIP / Postal Code

Background(Required)Please briefly share your contemplative prayer backgroundIf you are bringing guests, please list their names below. Thank youHow did you hear about this event?(Required)Do you want to be added to our mailing list?(Required)

Yes

No

I already receive your informative posts.
Donation(Required)The suggested contribution is $15. All are welcome.

Yes, I would like to add a donation with credit card.

Yes, I would like to donate via mailed check.
ST – Forest Bathing Walk Nov 2025(Required)Please select a contribution amount below: $15$25$50Total Donation to COSTL

Credit Card(Required)Card Details

Cardholder Name

Make it payable to COSTL and mail it to: COSTL c/o Susie Brent
489 Staines Court
St. Louis, MO 63141IMPORTANT: All information provided with your gift is strictly confidential and will never be exchanged with another organization or sold to anyone for other use. You may rest assured that we value your support and would not put you or your identity in jeopardy.

Δ

Having trouble registering or did not receive a confirmation email? Reach out to susiebrentcostl@gmail.com.

Visioning Day: Listening Forward
2025-11-08 08:30 - 15:30 (America/Chicago)
Special Event

Visioning Day

Listening Forward

Visioning Team

Susie Brent, Wil Girresch, Susan Komis, Frank Krebs, Jim McElroyand You!

Gathering at 8:30 am, Event Starts at 9:00 am

You are invited to a special day of prayer, reflection, and discernment.Together, we will listen for where the Spirit is leading us, honor the grace we’ve received, and dream courageously about the future of Contemplative Outreach St. Louis.

Purpose– To prayerfully discern the next chapter for COSTL’s mission, programs, and community life– To invite and inspire collaboration in planning for our continuing growth– To create a shared sense of vision and hope for the futureWhy Now?We’ve traveled a long road through COVID and are regaining momentum. Our recent retreats and programs have brought new faces and fresh energy. Now is the time to gather, celebrate our progress, and open the door for others to experience and share the contemplative life.Desired Outcomes– Celebrate where we have seen God’s grace at work over the past three years– Discern and assess key priorities for COSTL in the years ahead — where is the Spirit leading us?– Strengthen community bonds through shared prayer, reflection, and action

This day is offered as a gift to our community — there is no charge. If you would like to help sustain the mission and programs of Contemplative Outreach St. Louis, free-will donations and/or a dish to be shared will be gratefully received.

Light Refreshments at 8:30AM and a Catered lunch – will be available – Bring a Dish if you would like to share. More details will follow.

Location

Community of Christ Church

Address 830 N Kirkwood RdSt. Louis, MO 63122

Registration

Register now to join us in prayer, reflection, and visioning for the future of COSTL.

EmailThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Name(Required)

First

Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)Address

Street Address

City

State / Province / Region

ZIP / Postal Code

This field is hidden when viewing the formAttendance TypeI will attend the sessions (pick one please)

In-person

Zoom

Watch Recording
BackgroundPlease briefly share your contemplative prayer backgroundGuestsIf you are bringing guests, please list their names below. Thank youNetworkHow did you hear about this event?VolunteerVolunteers 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.

Welcoming

Set Up

Bring a Light Dish or Refreshment

Clean Up
Donation

Yes, I would like to donate via credit card.

Yes, I would like to donate via mailed check.

I will donate at the event.

No donation at this time.
Newsletter(Required)Do you want to be added to our newsletter?

Yes

No

I already receive your informative posts.
Visioning Day 2025 Donation

Donation Total

Credit CardCard Details

Cardholder Name

Make it payable to COSTL and mail it to: COSTL c/o Susie Brent
489 Staines Court
St. Louis, MO 63141IMPORTANT: All information provided with your gift is strictly confidential and will never be exchanged with another organization or sold to anyone for other use. You may rest assured that we value your support and would not put you or your identity in jeopardy.

Δ

For any questions please email: enlightenment@centeringprayerstl.com

Having trouble registering or did not receive a confirmation email? Reach out to susiebrentcostl@gmail.com.

Advent Saturday Prayer
2025-12-13 08:30 - 11:30 (America/Chicago)
Special Event

Advent Saturday – A Morning of Reflection and Centering Prayer

with Father Bob Aten

Download Flyer

A Morning of Woven PrayerThis Silent Saturday will unfold in a flowing, contemplative rhythm.Fr. Aten will offer brief reflections interwoven throughout our periods of Centering Prayer — not as a separate talk, but as part of the same living prayer of the heart.

Theme for Our Morning

Be who you are…

the living flesh of Christ.

Your cross is His cross.

Your wounds are His wounds.

Your heartbeat is His heartbeat —

for your heart is not two, but one.

“It is not my heart that lives;

it is the Heart of Christ that is beating,

and that rhythm is all that I know.”

Throughout the morning, we will rest in that interior place

where silence becomes teacher,

Christ becomes breath,

and the one Heart becomes known.

“Come Into the Heart That Beats as Your Own”

Scriptural Foundations for This Contemplative Reflection

Here are the Scripture passages that ground this reflection deeply within the Christian contemplative tradition. Each verse speaks to the mystery of indwelling, union, shared identity, and the oneness of heart between the believer and Christ — themes long affirmed by the mystics, the early Church, and our own lived experience of prayer.These verses illuminate the lines of the reflection, helping us see that this language of shared heart, shared life, shared wounds, and shared breath is not poetic exaggeration but the very heart of the Gospel.1. Galatians 2:20 — The clearest parallel“It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”This is the direct source for the line:“It is not my heart that lives; it is the Heart of Christ that is beating.”Paul is naming the union of hearts — the interior oneness you are expressing.2. 1 Corinthians 6:17 — Oneness of spirit“But whoever is united with the Lord is one spirit with him.”This is a biblical grounding for:“Your heart is not two, but one.”3. Romans 8:16–17 — Shared identity, shared suffering, shared glory“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.And if children, then heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ,if indeed we suffer with him…”This supports:“Your cross is His cross. Your wounds are His wounds.”Because Scripture says we co-suffer and co-inherit with Christ.4. 2 Corinthians 1:5 — Sharing Christ’s sufferings“For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow into our lives,so also through Christ our comfort overflows.”This echoes:“Your wounds are His wounds.”5. Colossians 1:27 — Christ in you“Christ in you, the hope of glory.”This pairs beautifully with:“Be who you are… the living flesh of Christ.”6. John 15:4 — Mutual indwelling“Abide in me, and I in you.”This supports the imagery of shared breath, shared life, shared heartbeat.7. John 17:21–23 — The prayer for oneness“That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I in you…I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one.”This is the deepest biblical grounding for:“Your heartbeat is His heartbeat.”8. Ezekiel 36:26 — A new heart within you“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.”This is a contemplative foundation for the transformation into Christ’s heart.9. Philippians 2:5 — The mind/heart of Christ in us“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.”A scriptural reason to say:“Be who you are… the living flesh of Christ.”10. 1 John 4:16 — God dwelling in us“Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”This supports the entire reflection — union, indwelling, oneness of love.

Come as You Are

Come into the silence that welcomes everything.Come into the union that has always been yours.Come into the Heart that beats as your own.

Advent Silent Saturday – A Special Event

A Morning of Woven Reflection and Centering Prayer

Theme: Be Who You Are… the Living Flesh of Christ

Contemplative Outreach St. Louis invites you into a gentle, spacious Advent morning of silence and presence with Father Robert Aten, our chapter’s first Coordinator and a beloved early shepherd of this community.

In 1989, Fr. Bob sensed deeply that the Church needed to rediscover and reclaim the contemplative way. As a diocesan priest in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, he helped establish Contemplative Outreach St. Louis as an official Archdiocesan office.

Archbishop John L. May welcomed the movement wholeheartedly, even writing a supportive article in the St. Louis Review.

At one time, more than thirty Centering Prayer groups met regularly in parishes across the region. Interfaith connections blossomed as communities from many traditions asked for the Introductory Workshop for Centering Prayer. We are grateful to welcome Fr. Bob’s presence again during this holy season of waiting.

The facilitator for this program is Sarah Legett.

The Morning Flow Will Include:

Welcome! And Gathering for a half hour

Entering silence together

Reflections from Fr. Aten woven throughout

Centering Prayer

Opportunities for deep stillness

Closing prayer and optional sharing

Saturday, December 13th, 2025Doors open and Gathering at 8:30 am, We begin at 9 am & end at 11 am

Light refreshments will be available

Silent Saturday is at: Community of Christ Church, 830 N Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122

Download Flyer

Location

Community of Christ Church

Address 830 N Kirkwood RdSt. Louis, MO 63122

We recommend registering so we can prepare the continental breakfast and seating. Walk-ins are welcome.There is no fee for this event but if you would like to make a donation of any amount to help cover our rent, website maintenance, scholarship fund and other expenses, it will be gratefully accepted. This is purely a suggestion and not meant to be a barrier to attendance. All are welcome. Save these dates – PLEASE NOTE: The next Silent Saturdays are the second Saturday: February, April, June, August, October, December

Register

Please register and submit the online form below.

LinkedInThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Name(Required)

First

Last

Email(Required)

Address(Required)

Street Address

City

State / Province / Region

ZIP / Postal Code

Phone(Required)Please briefly share your contemplative prayer background(Required)If you are bringing guests, please list their names below. Thank youHow did you hear about this event?(Required)VolunteerVolunteers 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.

Welcoming

Set Up

Bring a Light Dish or Refreshment

Clean Up
Contribution(Required)This event is free. However If you wish, please support us with a donation of your choice, which helps cover our rent, website maintenance, scholarship fund and other expenses. This is purely a suggestion and not meant to be a barrier to attendance. All are welcome.

Yes, I would like to pay via credit card

Yes, I would like to pay via mailed check.

Yes, I will pay at the event.

No donation at this time.
Do you want to be added to our mailing list?(Required)

Yes

No

I already receive your informative posts.
Silent Saturday Donation 12/13/25(Required)

Total Donation to COSTL

Credit Card(Required)Card Details

Cardholder Name

Make it payable to COSTL and mail it to: COSTL c/o Susie Brent
489 Staines Court
St. Louis, MO 63141IMPORTANT: All information provided with your gift is strictly confidential and will never be exchanged with another organization or sold to anyone for other use. You may rest assured that we value your support and would not put you or your identity in jeopardy.

Δ

Having trouble registering or did not receive a confirmation email? Reach out to susiebrentcostl@gmail.com.

Poetry, Centering Prayer, and Journaling
2026-01-03 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)
Soul Trekkers

Poetry, Centering Prayer, and Journaling

Presented by Dwight Bitikofer

Gathering at 1:30pmSnacks, coffee and tea will be available.

Contemplative Outreach “Soul Trekkers” invite you to a time of creative expression and Centering Prayer

As we embark on this New Year, we invite you to join us for an enriching event where Dwight will share his inspiring poetry, encouraging all participants to tap into their own creative expression. This gathering will also include a session of Centering Prayer, a practice that deepens our connection to spirituality and fosters personal exploration. Additionally, we will engage in the meditative practices of journaling and poetry, offering an opportunity for reflections. We warmly welcome individuals at all levels of experience, from beginners to seasoned practitioners, to come together in this supportive community as we collectively explore our journeys.

Dwight will open with a few remarks about poetry and centering prayer. We will explore a couple of poems that may enhance our sit.

Then the four guidelines of Centering Prayer will be reviewed and lead into a 20 minute sit.

Following the meditation, we will free-write for a bit. Please bring a notebook and pen. Next, we will use an idea or two from our individual writing to create poems. There will be an optional sharing time for our creations.

We follow that with a poetry writing exercise, stimulated by something from within the free write or perhaps some direction emanating from one’s sacred word.

Then there will be an opportunity for participants to share what they have created. And conclude with any questions or comments about your experience.

Please bring a pen and notebook.

Gathering at 1:30pm to 2:00pm – Bring a snack or refreshment to be enjoyed before or during the break of this event if able. Snacks, coffee and tea will be available.

Community of Christ Church

Address 830 N Kirkwood RdSt. Louis, MO 63122

About the Presenter

Dwight Bitikofer has been active in St. Louis poetry circles for two decades. For a number of years he frequented open mic circles and curated several monthly poetry events. He has taken poetry classes at the University of Iowa Summer Writing Festival. Dwight has published two chapbooks of his own poetry. He enjoys giving readings. With a jazz musician friend, they have performed “pojazz” together. He is also a board member and past president of St. Louis Poetry Center.

Dwight is a long-time member of Al-Anon. His centering prayer practice began just over five years ago. He is still practicing.

A little history on the formation of the Soul Trekkers

In 2022 following a 7 day silent retreat in Snowmass, CO at St. Benedict’s Monastery, Jennifer Beeman, Heather Fricke and Susie Brent gathered with Jenny Adamson and Pat Johnson to discuss potential avenues for sharing the methods of centering prayer with the next generation. It was suggested to combine centering prayer with an activity such as yoga or art. It was agreed upon that contemplative prayer may enhance and be enhanced by any activity that lends itself to a stillness in mind and heart, a joy within, and being truly present in each moment. The divine dwelling within can be communed with while hiking beneath the trees, free flowing with a favorite melody, exploring and creating in a favorite artistic medium, within the deep breath taken while settling into a yoga pose, energy breath work, or while listening to the draw of classical piano music. These are just some avenues to become more comfortable with simply being.It is the Soul Trekkers intent to investigate the many branches of the Tree of Contemplative Practices combined with guided Centering Prayer meditation sessions to inspire exploration, joy, and connection in a fellowship of contemplative travelers. While centering prayer guidelines will be offered, any and all meditation disciplines are welcome. The goal is to embrace stillness and foster a relationship with the God within each of us and our true authentic selves. Come share in the beautiful intimacy that stillness in community has to offer.

For more information: Dwight Bitikofer – 314-229-9537 or cpsoultrekkers@gmail.com

For any questions please email: susiebrentcostl@gmail.com

Registration:

CompanyThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Name(Required)

First

Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)Address(Required)

Street Address

City

State / Province / Region

ZIP / Postal Code

Background(Required)Please briefly share your contemplative prayer backgroundGuestsIf you are bringing guests, please list their names below. Thank youNetwork(Required)How did you hear about this event?VolunteerVolunteers 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.

Welcoming

Set Up

Bring a Light Dish or Refreshment

Clean Up
Donation(Required)Please select a contribution amount below:

Yes, I would like to add a donation with credit card.

Yes, I would like to donate at the event.
Do you want to be added to our mailing list?(Required)

Yes

No

I already receive your informative posts.
ST – Poetry, Centering Prayer, and Journaling Jan 2026 Donation(Required)Please select a contribution amount below: $15$25$50$100Total Donation to COSTL

Credit Card(Required)Card Details

Cardholder Name

IMPORTANT: All information provided with your gift is strictly confidential and will never be exchanged with another organization or sold to anyone for other use. You may rest assured that we value your support and would not put you or your identity in jeopardy.

Δ

Having trouble registering or did not receive a confirmation email? Reach out to susiebrentcostl@gmail.com.

The Mandala Journey
2026-02-07 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
Soul Trekkers

The Mandala Journey

A Meditative Drawing Workshop

Presented by Heather Fricke

Gathering at 9:30amSnacks, coffee and tea will be available.

Contemplative Outreach “Soul Trekkers” invite you to a time of creative expression and Centering Prayer

A mandala is more than a design—it’s a spiritual map, a sacred mirror, and a pathway to the divine. Whether drawn, visualized, or meditated upon, mandalas invite us to explore the infinite within and around us.Mandalas are ancient, symbolic designs rooted in spirituality, healing, and cosmic order. From sacred diagrams in Indian and Tibetan religions to modern psychological tools, mandalas have evolved while preserving their core message: wholeness, unity, and the journey inward.Across cultures and traditions, mandalas serve as symbolic representations of the universe, the self, and the path to spiritual awakening.

“The patterns we create become mirrors for the soul. A mandala shows us the shape of our own inner wholeness.”

– Richard Rohr

Flow of Event:

20 min: Intro & brief history of mandala

45 min: Drawing

10 min: Short break

30 min: Centering Prayer

Graph paper and colored markers are provided. You are welcome to bring your own markers.

Gathering at 9:30am to 12:00pm – Bring a snack or refreshment to be enjoyed before or during the break of this event if able. Snacks, coffee and tea will be available.

Community of Christ Church

Address 830 N Kirkwood RdSt. Louis, MO 63122

About the Presenter

Heather is an artist who moves through the world with curiosity and an open heart. Guided by her playful inner child, she is always exploring new ways to build, create, and express herself through art. Her current passions include painting, drawing, sculpting, and jewelry-making — each offering its own rhythm of discovery and joy. Deeply inspired by nature, the mindfulness of yoga, and her love for animals, Heather’s work reflects a connection to the simple, soulful beauty that surrounds us all.

A little history on the formation of the Soul Trekkers

In 2022 following a 7 day silent retreat in Snowmass, CO at St. Benedict’s Monastery, Jennifer Beeman, Heather Fricke and Susie Brent gathered with Jenny Adamson and Pat Johnson to discuss potential avenues for sharing the methods of centering prayer with the next generation. It was suggested to combine centering prayer with an activity such as yoga or art. It was agreed upon that contemplative prayer may enhance and be enhanced by any activity that lends itself to a stillness in mind and heart, a joy within, and being truly present in each moment. The divine dwelling within can be communed with while hiking beneath the trees, free flowing with a favorite melody, exploring and creating in a favorite artistic medium, within the deep breath taken while settling into a yoga pose, energy breath work, or while listening to the draw of classical piano music. These are just some avenues to become more comfortable with simply being.It is the Soul Trekkers intent to investigate the many branches of the Tree of Contemplative Practices combined with guided Centering Prayer meditation sessions to inspire exploration, joy, and connection in a fellowship of contemplative travelers. While centering prayer guidelines will be offered, any and all meditation disciplines are welcome. The goal is to embrace stillness and foster a relationship with the God within each of us and our true authentic selves. Come share in the beautiful intimacy that stillness in community has to offer.

For any questions please email: cpsoultrekkers@gmail.com

Registration:

FacebookThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Name(Required)

First

Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)Address(Required)

Street Address

City

State / Province / Region

ZIP / Postal Code

Background(Required)Please briefly share your contemplative prayer backgroundGuestsIf you are bringing guests, please list their names below. Thank youNetwork(Required)How did you hear about this event?VolunteerVolunteers 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.

Welcoming

Set Up

Bring a Light Dish or Refreshment

Clean Up
Do you want to be added to our mailing list?(Required)

Yes

No

I already receive your informative posts.
This field is hidden when viewing the formDonation(Required)Please select a contribution amount below:

Yes, I would like to add a donation with credit card.

Yes, I would like to donate at the event.
ST – The Mandala Journey Feb 2026 Contribution(Required)Please select a contribution amount below: $15$25$50$100Total Contribution to COSTL

Credit Card(Required)Card Details

Cardholder Name

IMPORTANT: All information provided with your gift is strictly confidential and will never be exchanged with another organization or sold to anyone for other use. You may rest assured that we value your support and would not put you or your identity in jeopardy.

Δ

Having trouble registering or did not receive a confirmation email? Reach out to susiebrentcostl@gmail.com.

Intensive and Post Intensive Centering Prayer 8 Day Retreat
2026-07-06 00:00 - 2026-07-13 23:59 (America/Chicago)
Intensive and Post Intensive Centering Prayer 8 Day Retreat

More information on this coming October 2025!

Location: Mercy Conference and Retreat Center – 2039 North Geyer Road – St. Louis, MO 63131

Save the dates:

Sign up below to stay informed about this event:

InstagramThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Name(Required)

First

Last

Email(Required)

PhoneAddress

City

State / Province / Region

BackgroundTells us about yourself.Comments

Δ
