About Us
About Centering Prayer
Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God's presence within us. The focus of Centering Prayer is the deepening of our relationship with the living Christ. Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer. Centering Prayer emphasizes prayer as a personal relationship with God and as a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Him. To learn more about Contemplative Prayer please visit the Contemplative Outreach website. contemplativeoutreach.org
About Our Chapter
Contemplative Outreach of Pensacola serves Centering Prayer practitioners and support groups of diverse denominations in the greater Pensacola area. One of the chapter’s primary goals is to offer the Centering Prayer Introductory Program. We also support Centering Prayer groups and individuals by offering other workshops, mornings of silence, retreats, and formation programs focused on the contemplative life. The chapter’s 12-Step Outreach Program offers Centering Prayer as an 11th step prayer/meditation practice to people in all 12-Step fellowships.
Chapter History
Our chapter sprung from the vision of Centering Prayer practitioners throughout Northwest Florida in 2010 who wanted to form a contemplative community to support one another in the practice. After several months of prayerful discernment and the assistance of Contemplative Outreach International’s Regional Coordinator, John Kelsey, Contemplative Outreach of Northwest Florida was formed which included prayer groups and practitioners stretching from Pensacola to Tallahassee. From 2010 to 2014, the chapter sponsored a number of events that brought nationally known contemplative speakers to our area and offered workshops and formational opportunities to grow the practice in Northwest Florida. By late 2014, Contemplative Outreach of Pensacola was formed, and the Centering Prayer community in the Tallahassee area began operating with its own contact person. Our two areas continue to work together in ways to foster the growth of Centering Prayer in this part of the world.
Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God's presence within us. The focus of Centering Prayer is the deepening of our relationship with the living Christ. Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer. Centering Prayer emphasizes prayer as a personal relationship with God and as a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Him. To learn more about Contemplative Prayer please visit the Contemplative Outreach website. contemplativeoutreach.org
About Our Chapter
Contemplative Outreach of Pensacola serves Centering Prayer practitioners and support groups of diverse denominations in the greater Pensacola area. One of the chapter’s primary goals is to offer the Centering Prayer Introductory Program. We also support Centering Prayer groups and individuals by offering other workshops, mornings of silence, retreats, and formation programs focused on the contemplative life. The chapter’s 12-Step Outreach Program offers Centering Prayer as an 11th step prayer/meditation practice to people in all 12-Step fellowships.
Chapter History
Our chapter sprung from the vision of Centering Prayer practitioners throughout Northwest Florida in 2010 who wanted to form a contemplative community to support one another in the practice. After several months of prayerful discernment and the assistance of Contemplative Outreach International’s Regional Coordinator, John Kelsey, Contemplative Outreach of Northwest Florida was formed which included prayer groups and practitioners stretching from Pensacola to Tallahassee. From 2010 to 2014, the chapter sponsored a number of events that brought nationally known contemplative speakers to our area and offered workshops and formational opportunities to grow the practice in Northwest Florida. By late 2014, Contemplative Outreach of Pensacola was formed, and the Centering Prayer community in the Tallahassee area began operating with its own contact person. Our two areas continue to work together in ways to foster the growth of Centering Prayer in this part of the world.
Chapter Founder, Carol Lewis
In 2010 Carol initiated the call to others in our contemplative community that resulted in the formation of Contemplative Outreach of Northwest Florida. She continued serving as the chapter coordinator for Contemplative Outreach of Pensacola 2014-2017.
Carol was a commissioned Presenter and Mentor for the Contemplative Outreach Centering Prayer Introductory Program and a Facilitator Mentor. She facilitated Centering Prayer Groups and Contemplative Outreach programs. She is pictured on a trip to the Holy Land, sitting in the place where Jesus asked Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” Carol showed us how to walk the contemplative path
to the top of the mountains and in the bottom of the valleys. Our dear friend entered her heavenly home on Friday, September 28, 2018. May we feel her guiding spirit with us as we who remain continue to walk each other home.
Carol was a commissioned Presenter and Mentor for the Contemplative Outreach Centering Prayer Introductory Program and a Facilitator Mentor. She facilitated Centering Prayer Groups and Contemplative Outreach programs. She is pictured on a trip to the Holy Land, sitting in the place where Jesus asked Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” Carol showed us how to walk the contemplative path
to the top of the mountains and in the bottom of the valleys. Our dear friend entered her heavenly home on Friday, September 28, 2018. May we feel her guiding spirit with us as we who remain continue to walk each other home.
Servant Leadership Circle
On November 18, 2017, the Contemplative Outreach of Pensacola community came together for a Day of Visioning and Discernment. Susan Komis led the interactive process in recognizing the chapter's fruitful past, acknowledging the chapter's strengths, and formulating priorities for the future. Additionally, through the Holy Spirit and discernment process, servant leadership evolved.
Individuals serve voluntarily on the Servant Leadership Circle. Decisions are made through collaboration and consensus. Circles of Service are formed to accomplish Chapter functions.
As servant leaders, we are meeting weekly for Centering Prayer and discussion of the book, "The Circle Way," as a means of discerning our shared roles and the needs and activities of the chapter. We will be hosting a Visioning Session on Saturday, May 10th from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. to envision our future together. All are welcome to attend. We will be inviting others to join us in this leadership circle as we transition and grow under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
If you have a passion for the mission of COPNS and want to share your time and talents in leadership, please contact Doug Heatwole at [email protected]. Candidates should have two years or more practicing Centering Prayer, and (preferably) training and/or experience as a facilitator.
Members of the Servant Leadership Circle are:
Jenni Arnold...c[email protected]
Doug Heatwole...[email protected]
Joe Mahar...[email protected]
Caroline Thompson...[email protected].
As servant leaders, we are meeting weekly for Centering Prayer and discussion of the book, "The Circle Way," as a means of discerning our shared roles and the needs and activities of the chapter. We will be hosting a Visioning Session on Saturday, May 10th from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. to envision our future together. All are welcome to attend. We will be inviting others to join us in this leadership circle as we transition and grow under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
If you have a passion for the mission of COPNS and want to share your time and talents in leadership, please contact Doug Heatwole at [email protected]. Candidates should have two years or more practicing Centering Prayer, and (preferably) training and/or experience as a facilitator.
Members of the Servant Leadership Circle are:
Jenni Arnold...c[email protected]
Doug Heatwole...[email protected]
Joe Mahar...[email protected]
Caroline Thompson...[email protected].
What is Contemplative Outreach, Ltd?
The intent of Contemplative Outreach is to foster the process of transformation in Christ in one another through the practice of Centering Prayer. Contemplative Outreach is a worldwide spiritual network of individuals and small faith communities committed to living the contemplative dimension of the Gospel in everyday life through the practice of Centering Prayer. The mission of Contemplative Outreach is to share the method of Centering Prayer, as taught by Fr. Thomas Keating, O.C.S.O., and its immediate conceptual background. Contemplative Outreach also encourages the practice of Lectio Divina, a method for contemplative reading of Holy Scripture. Read more about Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. at www.contemplativeoutreach.org