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Program of the Cathedral Meditation Center The Cathedral Chapter has identified these objectives for this important cathedral ministry: (1) to introduce Christian Meditation to parish and diocesan leaders; (2) to assist parishes in establishing local groups; (3) to continue to offer “Introduction to Christian Meditation” at the Cathedral and in other parishes or deaneries; (4) to provide support/training for parish leaders to teach/mentor local groups; (5) to develop a physical space for a Christian Meditation Center at the Cathedral; (6) to continue an annual quiet day with an outside presenter to offer teaching on spirituality; (7) to provide resources for the Center’s ministry by building a lending library of books, tapes, CDs, and videos; and (8) to encourage attendance at national and international events of the World Community of Christian Meditation. Most of these programs are available at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Burlington; and many of them may be offered in your parish or deanery. Contact Dean Ken Poppe.
Christian Meditation Day was held at St. Paul’s on Saturday, April 26, from 10 am to 3 pm. The day was sponsored by the Cathedral Meditation Center, a spirituality center of the World Community for Christian Meditation whose mission is “to communicate and nurture meditation as passed on through the teaching of Dom John Main in the Christian tradition in the spirit of serving the unity of all.” The retreat day is designed for anyone who wants to explore this ancient spiritual path as well as for people who are currently practicing Christian meditation. The day-long program offers teaching on Christian Meditation, a video presentation from the World Community for Christian Meditation, two meditation sessions of practice, questions and discussion, and information about the Cathedral Meditation Center. The day is offered free of charge, but participants are asked to bring their own lunch. For further information please contact the Cathedral Meditation Center at St. Paul’s Cathedral (802.864.0471 or 800.239.0471) or email Kenneth Poppe.
Introduction to Christian Meditation is a five-week course or overnight retreat teaching the practice of meditative and contemplative prayer as taught by the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM). This course also lays out the context of Christian Meditation in 4th century Desert Christianity (John Cassian and the Jesus prayer), Benedictine monasticism (lectio divina) and The Cloud of Unknowing as well as its modern development by John Main OSB, Laurence Freeman OSB and WCCM. We teach a consistent practice of non-discursive meditation—silent, imageless, ‘pure’ prayer—using a prayer word or mantra to seek God in the silence and stillness beyond word and thought. We also teach a way to pray the scriptures through discursive methods. We encourage participants to experience contemplative prayer for themselves, to learn the origins and development of this kind of prayer in Christian tradition and to choose how they will pray.
Weekly Meditation Group is an important anchor for the practice of Christian Meditation. This form of silent, imageless prayer using a prayer word or mantra, rooted in the New Testament, was taught by John Cassian and the 4th century Desert Christians, and is found in the fourteenth century, The Cloud of Unknowing. Meditation, also known as contemplative prayer, seeks God in silence and stillness beyond word and thought. Newcomers are always welcomed to the group to discover this ancient prayer tradition for contemporary men and women. The meeting includes quiet music, a short talk on meditation, 30 minutes of silent meditation, followed by a question and answer period and ending with the short service of Compline. Participation in a weekly group is an important support for meditators and people interested in contemplative living. Tuesday evenings at 7, Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m, and Friday mornings at 7:15.
Vermont “School for Teachers” - The ‘Essential Teaching Workshop’ is a residential weekend retreat designed for a people who have been meditating according to the teaching of John Main, and who wish to deepen their understanding and commitment to this path. It is offered to give established meditators the opportunity to understand John Main’s teaching better and to see how it grows from our rich Christian tradition. It gives people, who experience its fruits, confidence to share the gift with others. It offers guidance to speak about meditation to other people and to know how better to respond to their questions.
Christian Meditation Day, November 15, 2008 at St. Peter’s Bennington. A Christian Meditation Day will be held at St. Peter's Church, 200 Pleasant
Annual Epiphany Quiet Day is led by a guest presenter to encourage various types of spiritual development, different from but complimentary to Christian Meditation. The day is structured differently depending on the presenter and topic, but usually it runs 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on a Saturday, with a catered lunch in the middle of the day, and includes times of presentation, quiet reflection, worship, and conversation. Plans are underway for a Quiet Day on icon writing, or praying with icons, to be offered January 17, 2009 with Zachary Roesmann from Brattleboro.
Two other ventures are under study and development at this time: (1) “Roots of Christian Mysticism,” that would bring guest speakers to Vermont to offer sessions on the tradition of Christian Meditation and contemplative prayer, and (2) to provide youth with an experience of religious pilgrimage. |
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The Cathedral Chapter has initiated, in response to the spiritual hunger among the members of our congregations and the wider society, a ministry of spiritual development to assist participants as they grow in God’s Spirit, to learn practices of prayer, and to develop relationships of love and trust within community. Growth in the life of the Spirit encourages people to live God’s compassion, peace, and justice in the world. The Cathedral Meditation Center teaches the practice of meditative prayer as taught by the World Community for Christian Meditation and seeks “to communicate and nurture meditation as passed on through the teaching of Dom John Main in the Christian tradition in the spirit of serving the unity of all.” |
Christian Meditation Center |
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