Contemplative Outreach of Northern Virginia
"SECOND SATURDAY" GATHERING
Next Event:
A Morning of Centering Prayer with a
(Virtual) Talk with James Finley on the
"Wisdom of the Mystics"
IN-PERSON
Saturday, May 10th
LOCATION:
St. John Neumann Catholic Church
11900 Lawyers Road
Reston, VA
TIME:
8:45-9:15am Gathering Time
Refreshments and fellowship
9:15am-12pm Retreat
12pm-12:30pm
We invite you to stay on for more refreshments and fellowship
* * * * * * *
You are warmly invited to join us for an in-person gathering of prayer and reflection. After our first sit of Centering Prayer, participants can choose between a second sit inside or a gentle, guided walking meditation along the wooded prayer loop behind the church.
Then James Finley of the Center for Action and Contemplation will join us virtually and share thoughts on how the mystics can be guides on our spiritual journeys. We will end with a short period of private journaling and music meditation.
We hope you can join us for all or part of the morning!
FREE-WILL OFFERING
Contributions to defray costs of this program will be gratefully received
(see link below)
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Are you new to Centering Prayer? Welcome!
You are invited to click here for some helpful info & guidelines. We will have extra copies of the 4 guidelines available at the retreat.
Dr. James Finley
Dr. James Finley is a contemplative practitioner and clinical psychologist. Drawing from his experience as a former monk and spiritual directee of Thomas Merton, Jim offers trustworthy guidance for the spiritual journey, speaking to how ‘connecting to our Divine Indwelling’ can transcend fear and shame and awaken us to our True Self.
His teachings are offered through the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) (https://cac.org), where he is a core faculty member, leading online courses, and occasional retreats.
He is the author of “The Contemplative Heart” (2000), “Merton’s Palace of Nowhere” (2003), and “The Healing Path: A Memoir and an Invitation” (2023), and is the host of CAC’s podcast: “Turning to the Mystics”.
Morning Plan:
8:45 – 9:15 Coffee/Snacks Socialize
9:15- 9:30 Welcome
9:30 – 9:55 First CP Sit
9:55 – 10:05 Break: Gather outside or remain inside
10:05 - 10:35
Option 1- Outside Guided Meditation/Walk
Option 2- Second CP Sit Inside
10:35- 10:45 Break, set up zoom, gather in room
10:45- 11:30 Zoom Call with James Finley
11:30 – 11:45 Q/A with James Finley
11:45 – 12:00 Music Meditation/Quiet time to journal
12:00 Final Blessing
12:00 – 12:30 We invite you to stay on & socialize!