Consenting to Divine Love: 25 Years of Contemplative Outreach

Today I presented two Lectio Divina (Praying with Scripture) enrichment sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  The afternoon session was audio taped and will be made available with the tapes of the other enrichment sessions for those who were not able to attend.  After I made brief presentation, we spent about 30 minutes experiencing this ancient way of praying scripture and then shared our experiences of God in the text.  We used 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a:

Loading mentions Retweet

Greetings! I take my place on this blog representative of ordinary time, very ordinary work. I am a retired special ed teacher from the New Orleans public schools. Now I help Ed with house and garden, take long walks, aid and assist our five adult children and six grandchildren when needed. As they are scattered across the country, I am a frequent flyer to Chicago, El Paso, Boston and Washington DC. As years are added, I have had to give more time to physical upkeep with heavy dependance on medical and dental professionals. In all this, Centering Prayer has been essential in several ways. Through it I stay in the present moment ,not concerned about the length of my days and open to the presence and action of Spirit wherever I am . It reminds me to work my way through the ordinary with an attempt at extraordinary love.
 
 I have been Coordinator for Contemplative Outreach in New Orleans since before the flood in 2005. Our structure and membership was completely changed by Katrina and we have not yet come to what will be our new normal. So we live in times of movement and change and hopefully new growth. Through these last years we have depended on Contemplative Outreach personnel to lend us a helping hand as well as keep us in their prayers and we are most grateful. I look forward to sharing with you all what I find especially helpful during the 2009 Conference. Peace. Vivien

Loading mentions Retweet

Welcome to CO2009, the weblog of the 2009 Annual Conference of Contemplative Outreach.

Last year a weblog was used for the first time to share the activities of the 2008 annual conference in Pittsburgh with those who were not in attendance and it was well-received. The 2008 weblog resides here with its reports, photos, videos and interviews.

So, we wanted to host a weblog again for our special, 25th anniversary conference. Whether you are attending the conference in Chicago or will be looking-on from a distance, we would welcome your comments including what you would like to see here on the weblog, any questions, etc.

We have a fine group of contributors this year to cover the spirit and activities of the conference with words, photos, and videos. You are invited to engage them by leaving comments under their respective posts when they appear (no registration needed). They would love to hear from you!

 In closing, I invite you to join me in thanking Marie Howard (Conference Coordinator), the Conference Planning Committee, and the local folks in the Chicago area in particular for organizing the conference. Its been a true community effort and their efforts have laid the foundation for what promises to be a time of inspiration and spiritual richness.

May Contemplative Outreach continue to be blessed in its conveyance of God's grace in the world...

Ronald Barnett

Loading mentions Retweet

CO2009 Contributors: Carl Arico, Marilu Ason, Ron Barnett, Bruce Gardener, Gail Fitzpatrick-Hopler, Maru Ladron de Guevara, Vivien Michals, Mike Potter, Carol Leach (remote).

Loading mentions Retweet

L-R last month at the Aspen, Colorado airport: CO2009 Contributor Maru Ladron de Guevara, Fr. Thomas Keating and Marie Howard (2009 Annual Conference Coordinator). Maru and Fr. Thomas were taking Centering Prayer down south way to Mexico and Marie was returning to her home.

Loading mentions Retweet

Hi! My name is Mike Potter. I'm one of the contributors to the CO2009 Blog. I'd like to tell you a little about myself and some of the activities that I'll be involved in at the 2009 Annual Conference in Chicago.
 
I currently serve on the Resource Faculty as the Team Leader of the Lectio Divina Service Team, as well as Co-Coordinator of Contemplative Outreach of West Tennessee. I'm a commissioned presenter of both Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina.
 
On Friday, I'll be participating in two panel discussions with members of the Resource Faculty and how each of the Faculty members and their Service Teams serve the Contemplative Outreach community. My presentation will include a description of the Lectio Divina Service Team and the programs we have developed to promote and support the practice of Lectio Divina (Praying with Scripture), as well as practical advice about how to introduce this practice in your local community. These sessions will give you a clear picture of the Resource Faculty and it role in providing and supporting the programs of Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.
 
On Saturday, I will be working with several of my Service Team members as we present a Spiritual Enrichment Session on the practice of Lectio Divina. This will be a mini-workshop that will give participants the actual experience of this ancient method of praying with scripture. It will be first presented at 11:30 a.m. and again at 2:00 p.m.
 
This Conference promises to be a wonderful event. I look forward to seeing many of you in Chicago!
 
Blessings,
 
Mike
 
Mike Potter, Team Leader
Lectio Divina Service Team
Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.

Loading mentions Retweet

Hi: I am Carl Arico a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ a founding member of Contemplative Outreach, practicing centering prayer since 1975 and active these 25 years in this special ministry. Looking forward to sharing with you - I am new at the BLOG stuff - it will be a miracle of God's grace if I get thru it. I am presenting - Contemplative Service and Divine Compassion. Thanks for being with us.

Loading mentions Retweet