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:20260706T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260713T123000 DTSTAMP:20260513T102322 CREATED:20250805T194551Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260302T221259Z UID:76455-1783350000-1783945800@centeringprayerstl.org SUMMARY:Intensive and Post Intensive Centering Prayer 8 Day Retreat DESCRIPTION:8 Day Silent Intensive & Post Intensive Retreat\n\n\n\n\n\nat Mercy Conference and Retreat Center – St. Louis\, MO \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Now Open\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJuly 6th – 13th\, 2026\n\n\n\nSponsored by Contemplative Outreach St. Louis \n\n\n\nCome rest in silence with other contemplative companions\, away from the busyness of daily life\, and allow the mind\, body\, and spirit to surrender to God’s presence and action within. \n\n\n\nThis 8 day retreat offers a more in-depth experience of silent prayer for those who already have an established practice of Centering Prayer of 6 months or more. It is an opportunity for deeper union with God through a communal sharing of silence and stillness. For those making their first weeklong silent retreat\, the Intensive\, we will be using the video series by Thomas Keating\, The Spiritual Journey. The simultaneous Post Intensive track includes additional time in silent prayer instead of video presentations for those who have previously made an Eight Day Intensive Retreat. \n\n\n\nThis retreat offers a double track simultaneously: Intensive I and Post Intensive. If this is your first Centering Prayer retreat of this length the Spiritual Journey Videos are shown in Intensive I. They lay a necessary foundation for the practice for life and especially intensive retreats. \n\n\n\nIntensive I: There will be 3 sets of two 30-minute periods of Centering Prayer daily and 2 sessions of watching video talks from Fr. Thomas Keating’s Spiritual Journey series with optional discussion. \n\n\n\nPost-Intensive: There will be 3 sets of two 30-minute periods plus two additional 30-minute periods of Centering Prayer daily. \n\n\n\nLectio Divina and a optional contemplative Eucharist will be offered daily for everyone\, as well as optional soul-friending with staff. \n\n\n\nThe retreat will be facilitated by Contemplative Outreach staff: Father Bill Sheehan\, OMI\, Marty Badgett\, Mary Beth Rhiner\, Jim McElroy\, Kristina Frank and Susie Brent. \n\n\n\nTo Support Your Retreat Experience: A daily practice of Centering Prayer for 6 months or longer is recommended.\n\n\n\n\n\nSchedule:\n\n\n\n\nArrival: Monday\, July 6th\, 3:00pm\n\n\n\nCentering Prayer Sit (Optional) at 5:00pm\n\n\n\nDinner at 5:30 pm\n\n\n\nRetreat ends: Monday\, July 13th after lunch at 12:30pm\n\n\n\n\nFor more information:retreats@centeringprayerstl.com \n\n\n\nTraveling to Mercy Conference and Retreat Center (St. Louis\, MO):\n\n\n\nAirport transportation may be available from St. Louis Airport for participants arriving on Monday\, July 6 between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM\, and departing on the final day between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM.Travel outside these timeframes can be arranged via Uber or other ride services.On-site registration begins at 3:00 PM. \n\n\n\nRetreat Price:See retreat prices and room types below. \n\n\n\nIn the spirit of shared generosity\, limited scholarship funds are available to assist those who would otherwise be unable to attend. These funds are made possible by Contemplative Outreach Ltd.\, COSTL\, and generous donors. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin this silent retreat to deepen your understanding and practice of Centering Prayer\, reconnecting with the Divine Mystery at the heart of all religious experiences. \n\n\n\n\n\nRetreat Details – Monday\, July 6th – Monday\, July 13th\n\n\n\n\nArrival:  3:00 pm on Monday\, July 6th\n\n\n\nCentering Prayer Sit (Optional) at 5:00pm\n\n\n\nConversation and  buffet dinner at  5:30-6:30pm \n\n\n\nOptional Lectio Divina and contemplative Eucharist daily\n\n\n\nDeparture: after lunch at 12:30 pm\, Monday\, July 13th\n\n\n\n\nRetreat Location\n\n\n\n\n\nMercy Conference and Retreat Center\n\n\n\nAddress 2039 North Geyer Rd.St. Louis\, MO 63131 \n\n\n\nWebsite: mercycenterstl.org\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nRetreat Director\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\noblate Father Bill SheehanFr Bill Sheehan\, OMI\, has served in numerous leadership roles in his Oblate community. He was an integral voice in the earliest days of the centering prayer movement and the eventual founding of Contemplative Outreach by Fr. Thomas Keating\, OSCO. For over four decades he has continually offered his gifts of wisdom and presence to the Centering Prayer community\, directing retreats throughout the US. We joyfully welcome him back to Missouri to lead us as we pray together in the spacious natural beauty of Mercy Conference Retreat Center.“The ideal disposition for the divine encounter is the gathering together of one’s whole being in silent and alert attentiveness.”Fr. Thomas Keating \n\n\n\n\n\n\nAll inclusive Retreat Pricing\n\n\n\nThis is an overnight\, residential retreat experience.  \n\n\n\nAll accommodation prices below include:\n\n\n\n\nOptional Lectio Divina\, contemplative Eucharist daily\, Centering Prayer Sessions and soul friending session\n\n\n\nAccess to yoga sessions \n\n\n\n7 nights stay at this welcoming retreat center in the chosen room* See link below\n\n\n\n7 days of buffet meals (breakfast\, lunch and dinner)\n\n\n\nAccess to the natural beauty of 72 acres around Mercy Conference and Retreat Center\, including the Labyrinth\, a half mile Cosmic Walk with booklet\, Stations of the Cross\, an exercise room\, multiple lounges\, dining room and a chapel.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRetreat Accommodation Options & Fees \n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration closes on June 22nd\, 2026* *(MCRC may allow retreatants after this date email retreats@centeringprayerstl.com ) \n\n\n\n\n\n\nThere is a $150 Non Refundable Deposit with registrations. \n\n\n\n\n\nDouble Occupancy per person and  Private Bath$1\,090.00\n\n\n\nSingle Room and Shared Bath (Jack and Jill Style bath)$1\,175.00\n\n\n\nTwin Single and Private Bath$1\,275.00\n\n\n\nQueen Single and Private Bath$1\,275.00\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWaitlist available when retreat fills up. Space is limited. \n\n\n\n\n\nRefund Policy \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTo View Pictures of Rooms\, Click Here\n\n\n\n\n\nFor more information please email retreats@centeringprayerstl.com Partial scholarships are available inquiries at the same link. retreats@centeringprayerstl.com Thank you! \nNOTE: If you are interested in adding one or two extra self directed days after our retreat\, please contact Kristin at Mercy  kgoldkamp@mercycenterstl.org\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Form\n\n\n\nPlease list dietary concerns or assistance needed on the registration form below.  \n\n\n\n\n Loading… URL:https://centeringprayerstl.org/event/intensive-and-post-intensive-centering-prayer-8-day-retreat/ CATEGORIES:Retreat ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://centeringprayerstl.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/labriynth-level.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260808T083000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260808T110000 DTSTAMP:20260513T102322 CREATED:20260506T235632Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260506T235633Z UID:77066-1786177800-1786186800@centeringprayerstl.org SUMMARY:Silent Saturday with Lectio Divina - 08/08/26 DESCRIPTION:Silent Saturday with Lectio Divina\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n“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) \n\n\n\n\nListen\, that you may have life. \n\n\n\n“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 \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFind God in the Silent Love of Self Surrender. \n\n\n\n“The language God best hears is silent love.” \n\n\n\n Saint John of the Cross \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nContemplative 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. \n\n\n\nThe facilitators for this program are Sarah Legett \n\n\n\n\n\nFlow of the Day:\n\n\n\n\nWelcome! And Gathering for a half hour\n\n\n\nGuided Lectio Divina session\n\n\n\nOptional sharing\n\n\n\n15 minute break\n\n\n\nA reading of the Centering Prayer guidelines\n\n\n\n1st Centering Prayer period\n\n\n\n2nd Centering Prayer period.\n\n\n\nOpportunities for Prayer requests\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSaturday\, August 8th\, 2026Doors open and Gathering at 8:30 am\, We begin at 9 am & end at 11 am \n\n\n\n Light refreshments will be available \n\n\n\nSilent Saturday is at: Community of Christ Church\, 830 N Kirkwood Road\, Kirkwood\, MO 63122\n\n\n\nPlease 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: October 10th\, and December 12th 2026 \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWe 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.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCentering 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. \n\n\n\n\n\nCentering 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. \n\n\n\n\n\nFour Steps of Lectio Divina\n\n\n\nThere is no standard way of doing lectio divina\, but the following method has proven helpful to beginners. \n\n\n\n\nRead (Lectio): Read a passage from Scripture. “Listen” to God’s word. Gather the facts. Does a particular word or phrase speak to you?\n\n\n\nReflect (Meditatio): Read the passage again. Reflect on the passage as a whole or on a particular phrase. What is God saying to you?\n\n\n\nRespond (Oratio): Read the Scripture once again. Respond to God with your heart. What do you want to say to God?\n\n\n\nRest (Contemplatio*): Read the selection a final time. Rest in God’s presence for a few minutes.\n\n\n\n\n* 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. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegister\n\n\n\nPlease register and submit the online form below. \n\n\n\n\n \n\n PhoneThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Name(Required)\n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Email(Required)\n \n Phone(Required)Address \n \n \n Street Address\n \n \n City\n \n \n State / Province / Region\n \n \n ZIP / Postal Code\n \n \n \n This field is hidden when viewing the formAttendance TypeI will attend the sessions (pick one please)\n \n \n In-person\n \n \n \n Zoom\n Background(Required)Please briefly share your contemplative prayer backgroundGuestsIf you are bringing guests\, please list their names below. Thank youConnectionHow 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.\n \n Welcoming\n \n \n Set Up\n \n \n Bring a Light Dish or Refreshment\n \n \n Clean Up\n Donation(Required)\nThis event is free\, but there is a suggested donation of $25.00. 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.\n \n \n No donation at this time.\n \n \n \n Yes\, I would like to donate via credit card.\n \n \n \n Yes\, I would like to donate via mailed check.\n \n \n \n I will donate at the event.\n Mailing List(Required)Do you want to be added to our mailing list?\n \n \n Yes\n \n \n \n No\n \n \n \n I already receive your informative posts.\n Donation for Silent Saturday 4/11/26\n \n Donation Total\n \n Credit CardCard Details\n Cardholder Name\n \n \n Make it payable to COSTL and mail it to: COSTL c/o Susie Brent \n489 Staines Court \nSt. 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.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Δ \n \n\n\n\n\nHaving trouble registering or did not receive a confirmation email? Reach out to susiebrentcostl@gmail.com. URL:https://centeringprayerstl.org/event/silent-saturday-with-lectio-divina-08-08-26/ CATEGORIES:Silent Saturday ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://centeringprayerstl.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_6991.jpeg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR