You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you
St. Augustine
Welcome to Contemplative Outreach Pittsburgh
Silence is God's first language.
Everything else is a poor translation.
Thomas Keating
- Contemplative Outreach Pittsburgh is a chapter of Contemplative Outreach Ltd--a worldwide network of individuals and small groups committed to living the contemplative dimension of the Gospel in daily life
- Our core practice is Centering Prayer, a silent prayer practice which opens us to the gift of contemplation, a deep relationship with God, beyond words, permeating every aspect of our lives.
Saturday, November 4:
Introduction to Centering Prayer & Fall Enrichment
A one-day retreat in two parts
Join us for either or both!
1. Introduction to Centering Prayer (8:30 am - noon)
This workshop provides the basic instruction and background for our practice. You already attended an Intro Workshop? You are very much invited to join us - we find that we pick up something new every time! The workshop consists of 4 parts:
❖ Prayer as Relationship with God
❖ The Method of Centering Prayer
❖ Thoughts and Use of the Sacred Word
❖ Deepening Our Relationship with God
For more information and registration, click HERE
2. Harvest Enrichment (noon - 4 pm)
This gathering will bring us together for Centering Prayer, interactive reflection, and time to share a simple meal together. Join us for silence, community, and enriching our practice
❖ Noon Registration, Simple Lunch, and Greetings
❖ Enrichment Topic: How our Harvest Reflects our Future
❖ Centering Prayer
❖ Consent and Action through a Contemplative Attitude Interactive Dialogue
For more information and registration, click HERE
When you pray, go into your room and shut the door
Other Upcoming Retreats and Programs
In-Person Retreats:
Contemplative Outreach of Maryland and Washington:
6-day Intensive an Post-Intensive
October 29 - November 3
Location: near Frederick
For more Information: click HERE
Bethany Retreat Center:
Advent Centering Prayer Retreat
November 30 - December 3
Designed for those with an established centering prayer practice
Includes centering prayer, conferences with contemplative dialogue, personal time, meals and Sunday liturgy.
- For more information, click HERE
Online (Zoom) Retreats and Programs
Church of Conscious Harmony:
Welcoming Prayer 2-Day Online Workshop
- Fri, Oct 27th 8-9:30pm and Sat, Oct 28th 10-4pm
- Facilitated by Pamela Begeman (Contemplative Outreach, Ltd)
- More Information: Click HERE
Contemplative Outreach of South East Wisconsin:
Benedictine Spirituality - Listening and Responding to God
- Nov 2nd, 7:30 - 9:30 pm
- More information: click HERE
Contemplative Outreach of Colorado:
Guard of the Heart
Nov 18th, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
- More information: click HERE
The practice of Guard of the Heart "consists of letting go of every emotional disturbance as it arises and before we start thinking about it. This method is more sophisticated than dismantling the emotional programs for happiness because it deals with the whole of life. It expresses our ongoing intention to be with God in the present moment and sustains it." (Fr. Thomas Keating, 2017)
Online Courses from Contemplative Outreach
Contemplative Outreach offers many in-home and online opportunities to deepen one's relationship with God and support the process of transformation in Christ. Attending a workshop, a retreat, a Zoom-video Centering Prayer group or participating in an online course with a global community can all support and deepen one's relationship with God and the experience of living a contemplative life
Be still, and know that I am God
Contemplative Prayer
We may think of prayer as thoughts or feelings expressed in words. But this is only one expression. In the Christian tradition contemplative prayer is considered to be the pure gift of God. It is the opening of mind and heart - our whole being - to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond thoughts, words, or emotions. Through grace we open our awareness to God whom we know by faith is within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than choosing, and closer than consciousness itself. Contemplation is not a special state "achieved" in moments of silence, but it is the deep relationship with the "ground of our being", unfolding in each moment of our lives.
Centering Prayer
Centering Prayer is a method designed to facilitate the development of contemplative prayer by preparing our faculties to receive this gift. Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer; rather it casts a new light and depth of meaning to them. It is at the same time a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship. This method of prayer is a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with him. Practicing Centering Prayer is like gardening - we water, weed, and tend regularly, allowing for the beautiful flower of contemplation to grow, but the flower itself, its growth, its beauty, its aliveness, is a pure gift.