Contemplative prayer gatherings are available online on Thursday afternoons at 5:00pm for an hour. Each session includes a silent prayer time at the beginning and end, and a “way of council” session in the middle to share ideas on a topic brought by members in turn.  Everyone is welcome.  Contact Seth Burgess at sethbburgess@gmail.com for details.

More about Contemplative Prayer:

Contemplative prayer is a form of Christian prayer that emphasizes silence, stillness, and openness to God’s presence rather than words or petitions. It’s less about asking God for things or reciting structured prayers, and more about being with God—resting in awareness, love, and trust.

Here are some key aspects:

• Focus on Presence: Instead of speaking, you quiet your mind and heart to simply be present with God.

• Interior Silence: Words and thoughts are gently set aside, allowing space for God’s Spirit to move within.

• Receptivity: It’s about listening more than talking—receiving rather than striving.

• Union with God: Many describe it as resting in God’s love, deepening intimacy, and experiencing a sense of oneness.

• Tradition: Rooted in early Christian practices (like the Desert Fathers and Mothers), it has parallels in lectio divina and later developments like The Cloud of Unknowing, as well as modern practices such as centering prayer.

In short, contemplative prayer is a way of moving beyond words and concepts into a deeper experience of God’s presence.