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Resources for contemplative practice

11/26/2018

 
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The Christian Century, February 19, 2014
Read the main article on a congregation's contemplative practices.

Centering Prayer
  • A Taste of Silence: A Guide to the Fundamentals of Centering Prayer, by Carl Arico
  • Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, by Cynthia Bourgeault
  • Centering Prayer: Renewing an Ancient Christian Prayer Form, by M. Basil Pennington
  • Intimacy with God: An Introduction to Centering Prayer, by Thomas Keating
  • Into the Silent Land, by Martin Laird
  • Journey to the Heart: Centering Prayer for Children, by Frank X. Jelenek
  • Open Mind, Open Heart, by Thomas Keating
  • The Path of Centering Prayer: Deepening Your Experience of God, by David Frenette
Lectio Divina
  • Opening to God: Lectio Divina and Life as Prayer, by David G. Benner
  • Lectio Divina: Renewing the Ancient Practice of Praying the Scriptures, by M. Basil Pennington
  • Discovering Lectio Divina: Bringing Scripture into Ordinary Life, by James C. Wilhoit and Evan B. Howard
The Jesus Prayer
  • Prayer in the Cave of the Heart: The Universal Call to Contemplation, by Cyprian Consiglio
  • Prayer of the Heart, by George Maloney
  • The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer That Tunes the Heart to God, by Frederica Mathewes-Green
Contemplative Christianity
  • A Sunlit Absence: Silence, Awareness, and Contemplation, by Martin Laird
  • New Seeds of Contemplation, by Thomas Merton
  • The God Who Is Here: A Contemplative Guide to Transforming Your Relationship with God and the Church, by Peter Traben Haas
  • The Inner Experience: Notes on Contemplation, by Thomas Merton
  • The Heart of the World: An Introduction to Contemplative Christianity, by Thomas Keating
  • You Hold Us While We Grow, by Tim Cook
Spiritual Practices
  • The Practicing Congregation: Imagining a New Old Church, by Diana Butler Bass
  • Tools Matter for Practicing the Spiritual Life, by Mary Margaret Funk
Web
  • ContemplativeOutreach.org
  • ContemplativeChristians.com

Book Recommendations for November

11/5/2018

 
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Susan’s Book Recommendation 

Life Together, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
 
This month, both Fr. Nick and I, offer you books that might feed your soul.  Many of you are familiar with the important work of Pastor Bonhoeffer, a renown Christian minister who resisted the Nazi movement of terror during World War II.  Written from his experience of leading an underground seminary, Life Together is a must-read, at some point in your Christian walk. Bishop Russell is using this book as his premise for the upcoming Diocesan Convention in February 2019.  Here, Bonhoeffer, gives us practical advice on how we might life together in community to be sustained for whatever life throws at us, the good and the bad.  He demonstrates how critical community is; how life together is essential for growing in Christ and truly living.  This is a thin book – easily read - and one you might consider giving as gifts to those who are looking for a book that satiates our hunger for the fullest life in Christ.

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​Nick’s book recommendation:

Life in Christ: Practicing Christian Spirituality. Published in 2018,

Rev. Julia Gatta, shares some of the foundational wisdom she has culled from a lifetime of serving in the Anglican tradition. She does this by grounding it in the great heritage we have received from the English mystics. Applying her years of experience as pastor and spiritual director, combined with her study of the spiritual wisdom of the past, she explores common Christian practices and their underlying theology through an Episcopal lens. In the tradition of Esther de Waal, Martin Smith, and Martin Thornton, with particular reference to scripture, The Book of Common Prayer, and the wisdom of the Christian spiritual tradition, she illuminates methods readers may already be practicing and provides insight and guidance to ones that may be new to them. Mother Julia is the beloved Professor of Pastoral Theology at The School of Theology, Sewanee, TN. The corpus of her work is truly essential reading. 


The Tree of Contemplative Practices

11/1/2018

 
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 Mirabai Bush, a meditation and mindfulness teacher who leads Google’s mindfulness training, “Search Inside Yourself,” pointed us to an illustration of contemplative practices, which shows the breadth of meditation and mindfulness within traditions. Although this list isn’t comprehensive, it does open up one’s imagination about how these disciplines take root and manifest themselves in our lives.

The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society goes on to explain:
"On the Tree of Contemplative Practices, the roots symbolize the two intentions that are the foundation of all contemplative practices. The roots of the tree encompass and transcend differences in the religious traditions from which many of the practices originated, and allow room for the inclusion of new practices that are being created in secular contexts.

The branches represent different groupings of practices. For example, Stillness Practices focus on quieting the mind and body in order to develop calmness and focus. Generative Practices may come in many different forms but share the common intent of generating thoughts and feelings, such as thoughts of devotion and compassion, rather than calming and quieting the mind. (Please note that such classifications are not definitive, and many practices could be included in more than one category.)

Because this illustration cannot possibly include all contemplative practices, we offer a free download of a blank Tree that you can customize to include your own practices. Activities not included on the tree (including those which may seem mundane, such as gardening or eating) may be understood to be contemplative practices when done with the intent of cultivating awareness and wisdom
.”

Seeing these classifications, I’m left wondering what else in our experiences might be part of this tree. Here’s a blank tree for your own practices. Fill it in and, if you’re willing, share it with us and others.

BY TRENT T. GILLISS (@TRENTGILLISS), FOUNDING EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF ON BEING STUDIOS
  • Contemplative Mind website
  • On Being Studio website​

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St. Christopher's Episcopal Church
3200 N 12th Ave, Pensacola FL 32503
Phone: 850-433-0074
Office hours: 8 am - 4 pm Monday to Thursday​
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  • Home
  • Visit Us
  • About
    • Contact
    • Clergy
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    • Vestry Members
    • Map & Directions
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