“So contemplation, then, is simple. It embraces, includes and embodies everything that is. All dimensions of reality. All points of view. All the sources of wisdom. All cultures. All faiths. God is One.”
Laurence Freeman OSB, sOURCES OF WISDOM
Contemplative Practices Across the Diocese
Looking Inward: The Role of Contemplative Practices in the Church.
Clergy and lay leaders from around the Diocese have implemented contemplative practices into the life of the church. At Convention 2021, we presented a brief overview of some ways these practices can be incorporated at your parish and explored the diverse forms these practices can take for all ages, including: contemplative photography, contemplative prayer, mindful poetry, contemplative creativity, and retreats. We experienced a brief Lectio Divina/African Bible Study, a contemplative method of engaging in a deep, personal way with scripture.
Our Presenters:
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| Dianne Andrews has been serving as rector of St. Paul’s, Port Townsend since 2013 and has served congregations in the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania and the Diocese of Pennsylvania. Her background includes degrees in Graphic Design and Pre-med. Before attending seminary, she worked as a Registered Cardiovascular Technologist and as a Training Engineer for Hewlett Packard medical products. | Berto Gándara-Perea is an Episcopal priest and lives with his husband, a psychotherapist and also a priest, with their amazing three -legged dog Ava in beautiful Orcas Island, Washington. He is currently the rector at Emmanuel church on Orcas. He is also a novice in the Communion of the Mystic Rose. Berto is passionate about contemplative practices and photography, in that order! | Malcolm McLaurin is the curate at Holy Cross Redmond and a recent graduate of The University of the South: School of Theology in Sewanee, TN. He has spent 20+ years as a lay minister in the Episcopal church in Arkansas, California, and Washington prior to seminary and his background is in children’s, youth, and young adult ministry. | Dan Oberg serves as Executive Director at St. Andrew’s House, a retreat & conference center owned by the Episcopal Church of Western Washington. Dan was previously Director of the Grünewald Guild, an art & faith community near Leavenworth, for 10 years. Prior to that experience, Dan served as a lay minister in a number of nonprofits over the past three decades, as an administrator, counselor, program coordinator, Board member and consultant. | Sylvia Sepulveda serves on the Diocesan Adult Faith Formation Team, organizing and facilitating online weekly and monthly contemplative practices – Centering and Welcoming Prayer, Contemplative Creativity, and Mindful Poetry. |
Watch the workshop video…
Resources:
- Quiet Morning with Dame Julian of Norwich Presentation by Dianne Andrews, St. Paul’s, Port Townsend.
- Sample Quiet Morning with Dame Julian of Norwich Handout from Dianne Andrews St. Paul’s, Port Townsend.
- Sample Centering Prayer Customary from Dianne Andrews, St. Paul’s, Port Townsend.
- Contemplative Photography Presentation from Berto Gándara-Perea.
- African Ubuntu Bible Study from Malcolm McLaurin.
- Lectio Divina Brochure from Contemplative Outreach.
- Saint Andrews House Video from Dan Oberg.
Diocesan Weekly and Monthly Online Contemplative Practices:
| Welcoming Prayer – a method of consenting to God’s presence and action in our physical and emotional reactions to events and situations in daily life. The purpose of the Welcoming Prayer is to deepen our relationship with God through consenting in the ordinary activities of our day — “consent-on-the-go.” |
| Centering Prayer – a receptive method of Christian silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. |
| Contemplative Creativity – meets monthly for art and companionship – to explore spirituality through mindful creativity, focusing on process or experience as opposed to product or permanence. |
| Mindful Poetry – Come and travel with us in a pursuit of poetry! Our once-monthly group practice focuses on the mindful reading of verse, concentrating on sensory experience and spiritual connection. Instead of using analysis and explanation, we approach poems with a sense of curiosity and openness, a holistic approach to appreciating the beauty and wisdom of a poem. |
Other Contemplative Offerings in the Diocese of Olympia:
| Day/Time | Online/In-Person | Church Name/City | Practice Description | Contact Name/Email |
| Sundays, 6pm | Online | St. Andrew’s, Seattle | Contemplative Evening Prayer service with Taizé – Since the start of the pandemic, these are now published on YouTube each week and available at any time. This contemplative liturgy is inspired by the worship of the eponymous, ecumenical monastic fraternity in Taizé, France. Our liturgy at St. Andrew’s includes singing, silence, and communion. Meditative repetition of simple Taizé-inspired chant-like songs helps us to breathe deeply and relax. Our dedicated music team has consists of guitar, autoharp, and hand percussion as well as singers. The music team always welcomes new members. The atmosphere is conducive to prayer in many forms. All are welcome at this peace-filled and restful service. | Br. Chris McNabb |
| Thursdays, 12:15pm | Online | Emmanuel, Orcas Island | Noon Prayer and Group Lectio Divina | Fr. Berto Gándara |
| Fridays, 12:15pm | Online | Emmanuel, Orcas Island | Centering Prayer | Fr. Berto Gándara |
| Mondays, 9-9:30am | Online | St. Paul’s, Port Townsend | Centering Prayer | Rev. Dianne Andrews |
| Mondays, 9-9:30am | Online | St. Paul’s, Port Townsend | Centering Prayer | Rev. Dianne Andrews |
| Mondays, 9-9:30am | Online | St. Paul’s, Port Townsend | Centering Prayer | Rev. Dianne Andrews |
| Daily | St. Paul’s, Port Townsend | Three things in Kairos Time – There is another kind of time that is known as “kairos time.” The classical interpretation refers to a moment of opportunity. Spiritually, I like to think about kairos time as “God’s time,” “eternity’s time,” the experience of “time-less-ness.” For me, being in kairos time means being fully present without a thought of linear time. Visit these daily offerings from Rev. Dianne Andrews. | Rev. Dianne Andrews | |
| Saturdays, 5pm | Online | St. Andrew’s, Port Angeles | Prayer for the World | Dcn. Keith Dorwick |
Do you have a contemplative offering at your church that you would like to share?
Please submit this form.
Thank you!
Resources/Links:
Find PNW in-person meetings here.
Contemplative Outreach
Contemplative Outreach Northwest
The Contemplative Society: Home
WCCM | The World Community for Christian Meditation