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NEWSLETTER FROM EAST BAY CHAPTER
Contemplative Times
The Centering Prayer Newsletter
of Contemplative Outreach
Oakland - East Bay Chapter
To download Click here
A letter from the East Bay Co-Coordinator John Neville
We have some nice events planned for February, March, and April—a
Lenten and Easter trio. First is the Lenten Day of Prayer, hosted again
by the group at Christ the King. Incidentally, we are thinking of adding
another day of prayer, perhaps in June. If you have thoughts on this,
please pass them on. For flyer click here.
Next is a special workshop on Lection Divina, taught by Sr. Maria
Tasto. Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina are sometimes seen as
complementary parts of a balance in spiritual practice. Sr. Maria is the
principal teacher of Lectio for Contemplative Outreach. She brings
knowledge, experience, and a sensitive skill at guiding people along the
path of this traditional approach to contemplation. For flyer click here.
Then, in April, there will be the second Annual Community Building
Dinner. Chef Elka Gilmore fixed a wonderful meal for us last year, and
will be cooking again this year. Of course, the event was so special
because so many of us in this chapter of Contemplative Outreach came,
brought family members, and contributed to the warmth of the group. I
hope to see you again this year. For flyer click here.
In a recent book, Discovering the Center, Edward Gray tells of his first
meeting with Fr. Keating. Gray was relating his conversion experience,
and Keating was looking out the window. Then Thomas said, “Ed, don’t
be too attached to your conversion experience. If you do, you won’t
make any progress on the spiritual journey…And remember that the
Lord keeps the big bang experiences for the real bad guys.” I constantly
feel the tug between simple surrender to God’s presence and action
within--which I can believe in but not perceive--, and having something
meaningful to hold to, whether it is the sacred word itself or some felt
sense of God’s presence. Without surrender I am stuck. Without some
consolation, I lose heart. My image of the journey is hiking in the Sierra.
Sometimes the trail is flat, sometimes rocky and treacherous. Sometimes
one must look ahead, sometimes one must watch one’s feet. The only
constants are dedication to the journey and discernment. That, perhaps,
is how I will see the six-week mini-journey of Lent this year.
Best wishes and God’s blessings to each of you,
John Neville
