Centering Prayer

Welcome to Centering Prayer

Centering Prayer, a form of meditative prayer called the “prayer of the heart”, is rooted in the teachings of Jesus and of the Desert Fathers and Mothers of the early church. Through the practice of Centering Prayer we learn how to surrender to love, to abide in divine love, and to enjoy the numerous fruits of the practice: appreciation of silence and solitude, less susceptibility to stress, deeper reverence for the divine in and through nature, willingness and commitment to a life of reconciliation and peace, and longing for and realization of our full union with God, with humanity, and with all life forms on our planet. The practice of Centering Prayer encourages us to cultivate an open mind, heart, and will as we seek spiritual transformation in Christ.

Hearts of Centering Prayer All Saints' Church Carmel California

What's Happening Now?

We are currently reading and practicing the book ‘Attention/Intention’ part of a series in the Contemplative Life Program. In this daily practice, we put our attention on the presence of God in and around us at all times and our intention on doing everything each day, from the smallest of tasks, for the love of God. This practice helps us to stay in God’s presence and separates us from the constant flow of thoughts that can distract us from God’s presence.

Each week at our Centering Prayer meeting, we discuss the readings from the week and share our experiences.  You can click on the link HERE to order the book (this will take you to the Contemplative Outreach website). Please join us with or without the book as an introduction to Centering Prayer and to meet our members.  We welcome everyone.

Join us

When: Thursdays at 5:30 pm
Where: Currently meeting on in-person and on Zoom
What: Meditation, contemplative reading, and discussion facilitated by Rev. Amber.

For more information or to request the Zoom link for our meeting, please email centeringprayer@allsaintscarmel.org.

We appreciate your support for our Contemplative Ministry.
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Retreats & Workshops

Retreats

Please join us July 26th-28th for our next event; Centering Prayer and Three-Centered Knowing: A Silent Centering Prayer Wisdom Retreat led by Wisdom Spiritual Director, Heather Ruce. REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.

Workshops

Throughout the year various workshops are offered to deepen our spiritual practice.  We offer Centering Prayer Workshops to introduce the practice, method, and theology of Centering Prayer.  Enneagram Workshops explore the nine personality Enneatypes and help us to see our fixations and passions that prevent us from moving towards wholeness.  Other workshops explore the historical evolvement of consciousness in the world and help us to understand the evolution of humanity in its path toward God.  Dates to be announced.

Centering Prayer rock sculpture at Pebble Beach, CA

What is Centering Prayer?

Centering Prayer is a form of meditation which when practiced daily can lead us on a transformative path to realizing full union with the divine. Over time, this meditation practice opens our minds and hearts to non-dual awareness, that is to perceive reality as it truly is, not as we have been conditioned to see it nor as we wish it to be. In seeing reality, we begin to see ourselves more clearly — the parts we like and the parts we don’t like. Eventually, we learn how to embrace all the parts of ourselves with love, compassion, and acceptance which leads us to unity within ourselves. When we learn how to love and accept ourselves we find that it is easier to love and accept others just as they are.

The daily practice and experience of Centering Prayer also transforms our inner operating system to be in the moment, to live in the moment–understanding that the journey is the path. We are not trying to get some place else nor are we striving to make a better version of ourselves. We are simply learning to be with what is, knowing that opening to the Spirit of God in each moment connects us to our higher self, to others and opens us to inner transformation by the spirit.

What is the method of Centering Prayer?

The method of Centering Prayer meditation is quite simple. After setting an intention to be present to God we sit in silence for twenty minutes. During the meditation period if we find ourselves engaged with a thought we let the thought go; we simply let go and return to our intention to be with God in the present moment via a Sacred Word which is a symbol of our intention. Unlike discursive prayer where we pray aloud or are speaking to God in our mind, Centering Prayer lets go of thinking and rests in the silence and stillness allowing the spirit to pray within us.

In our group we open with a spoken prayer and reading and then sit for twenty minutes. Afterwards we read a spiritual writing or watch a video and discuss and process together.

Redwood tree new growth
Group of people indoors posing for a photo at Mercy Center Centering Prayer Retreat 2018

Group support for Centering Prayer Meditation

When starting a meditation practice it helps to have spiritual companions with whom we can discuss our experience. Our Centering Prayer group meets weekly to sit together in meditation, to learn about the contemplative practice and mystical path, and to have meaningful discussion. Although we are grounded in the contemplative Christian tradition, the members of our group come from various religious backgrounds and spiritual bents and enjoy discovering the universal principles that flow through all religions from Eastern spirituality to Christian mysticism.

Deepening Our Practice

Bibliography of Resources to Support Your Practice:  includes books on Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, Enneagram, Spiritual Literature, and Spiritual Biographies.

Testimonials