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Weekly Contemplative
Practice Circle

A shared space for stillness, prayer, awareness, and gentle exploration
 

Tuesdays at 3:30 pm

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This weekly gathering offers a shared practice of stillness, prayer, awareness, and gentle exploration. Rooted in the Christian contemplative tradition and shaped by Celtic spirituality, the circle may include silence, breath prayer, scripture, blessing, mindfulness practices, and, at times, music, meditation, or Taizé-style chant. This gathering offers practices that help us quiet the noise, become more present, and encounter the deeper self beneath distraction and strain. Together we seek to cultivate peace, presence, compassion, and deeper listening—to God, to self, to one another, and to the living world. 

 

Most gatherings will be explicitly Christian in language and form, drawing on contemplative prayer, sacred words, scripture, blessing, or silence before God. Some may use more universal language, drawing on mindfulness, breath awareness, embodiment, or simple practices of attention that are accessible to people across a range of experiences and beliefs. At times, we may also explore, in a grounded and careful way, how different practices affect our inner state: calm, focus, spaciousness, receptivity, or deep rest.

 

This circle is not about performance, expertise, or achieving unusual experiences. It is about practice: returning, noticing, listening, and becoming more awake. We do not chase altered states or make exaggerated claims. We simply make room for quiet transformation through steady attention and shared presence.

 

When we draw from traditions beyond Christianity, we do so respectfully and transparently, without claiming to teach those traditions in full. Our aim is not to blur everything together, but to learn with care, humility, and clarity.

 

The heart of this circle is simple:

to become still enough to listen,

quiet enough to receive,

and present enough to be changed.

Email Anna Haight with questions

Upcoming Circles

May 19 

Music and Movement

Meditative songs, chants, and movement l
ed by Ann McChesney-Young
 

Repeating monthly on third Tuesdays.
 

Note:

Please bring a candle from home for the altar

May 19 

Sacred Song, Chant, & Walking Meditation
Led by Ann McChesney-Young

Repeating monthly on third Tuesdays.

May 26 

Praying the Jesus Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner

Led by Anna Haight

Recommended Resource Material

Kallistos Ware, The Jesus Prayer

Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, also known as Bishop Kallistos of Diokleia, born Timothy Ware
Eastern Orthodox theologian; author of The Orthodox Church and The Orthodox Way; excellent teacher on the Jesus Prayer.

Listen on YouTube, starting at 7:27 

May 19 

June 2

Anglican prayer beads, Jesus prayer 
Led by Father Vincent

Note:

Bring your prayer beads with you. There will be an opportunity to have them blessed.

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