Weekly Contemplative
Practice Circle
A shared space for stillness, prayer, awareness, and gentle exploration
Tuesdays at 3:30 pm

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 led 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-YoungRepeating 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.
