Exploring Contemplative Prayer Book Study

“Be still and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10

How do you know if this might be the right time to explore contemplative prayer?

• Are you drawn to quiet, fewer words, or yearn for simple silence and stillness?
• Have some of your faithful practices been feeling dry or stale?
• Do you notice a desire to “do” less and just “be” with God?
• Have you been struggling in your prayer time with a busy and distracted mind?

During this book study time together:

• We’ll explore “What is contemplation and how does it differ from meditation or other ways of praying?”
• We’ll ponder together “Is contemplative prayer just another prayer method, or is it an invitation and movement of God?”
• We’ll consider some of the models and movements in prayer from our Christian tradition.
• We’ll share and discuss the book chapters and your discoveries.
• Most importantly, we will not just talk about it, but practice contemplative prayer.

Class meets every two weeks on Thursdays, 7-8:30pm.
Schedule: 

Class 1 – June 8th – God Is Our Homeland/Parting the Veil: The Illusion of Separation
Class 2 – June 22^nd – The Wild Hawk of the Mind
Class 3 – July 6^th – The Body’s Call to Prayer
Class 4 – July 20^th – The Three Doorways of the Present Moment
Class 5 – Aug 3^rd – The Riddles of Distraction
Class 6 – Aug 17^th – From Victim To Witness/Practicing with Affliction

Location: Family Worship Room.

Book: Please purchase the book on your own, prior to class: Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation by Martin Laird, O.S.A. Before June 8, please read the Introduction and Chapter 1. If you are new to contemplative prayer, before class starts you might find it helpful to read the optional book Contemplative Prayer: Praying When the Well Runs Dry.

Class Fee: $25 (not including the book)

Sign up here.

“Because God is the ground of our being, the relationship between creature and Creator is such that, by sheer grace, separation is not possible. The fact that most of us experience throughout most of our lives a sense of absence or distance from God is the great illusion that we are caught up in; it is the human condition.”
– Martin Laird, Into the Silent Land