Contemplative Practices Program
Welcome!
We are so happy for your interest in the Contemplative Practices Program!
The Contemplative Practices Program is an invitation to ground the rhythms of your congregational life in contemplative awareness of self, others, and God. In congregation-based small groups, participants are introduced to a variety of contemplative practices by trained spiritual directors. The breadth of experience allows participants to discern which contemplative practices help them and their communities move closer to God.
In the sacred space created through contemplative practices, participants can hear, more clearly, the voice of God, calling all of us to work for healing in the world. From this place of greater concentration and grounding in being, congregations engage in more grounded, sustainable outreach beyond the congregation.
What is the Contemplative Practices Program?
What this program looks like in congregations:
Congregations recruit a group of participants made up of both congregational leaders and other congregants. This group will meet once a month for two hours, with each session focused on a particular contemplative practice. The first two-year programming cycle ran from September 2021-May 2022 and from September 2022-May 2023. The next two-year cycle will begin September 2023.
In addition to these monthly gatherings, some congregations have hosted an annual gathering for congregants interested in learning more about contemplative practices. This gives program participants the chance to share their knowledge about and excitement for contemplative practices with the broader community. Other means of spreading the benefits of the program are possible.
Leaders for the monthly practice sessions:
A diverse group of professionally trained and practicing spiritual directors from around the Twin Cities serve as contemplative practice session leaders.
Cost of the program to you:
Nothing! This program is generously supported by a grant to the St. Catherine University graduate program in theology from the Lilly Endowment as part of their Thriving Congregations initiative. This includes funds for instruction, administration refreshments and other costs associated with the program.
The aim of the Contemplative Practices program:
The program’s most specific aim is to support congregations as a center for profound contemplation. We hope to help ground the rhythms of individual and communal lives in contemplative awareness of self, others, and God. From this place of greater concentration and grounding in being (instead of doing), we believe congregations will be able to engage in more sustainable outreach beyond their own members.
The number of congregations involved in this program:
Up to eight congregations from the ecumenical Christian Church in the Twin Cities area will participate in the second upcoming two-year cycle of the Contemplative Practices program.
Each January and June, a number of participants from each participating congregation will gather for a retreat. Participants from our other program, Discipleship in Practice and Theory, will also attend. These gatherings will be a great chance for us to build a community dedicated to contemplative discipleship here in the Twin Cities.