Nine Month Courses
One weekend a month September through May

The Practice and Deepening of Contemplative Living

An ongoing formation enabling participants to create their own personal contemplative lifestyle in the contemporary world.  Prayer, contemplative living and the integration of contemplation and activity are cultivated in the community support, guidance, silence and solitude of the time at Bethany Spirituality Center, and then practiced in the participant’s own life.  Formation is offered in contemplative prayer, lifestyle and activity through:

• Practicing Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, the Active Prayer, Logging, the Welcoming Prayer Practice and Spiritual Reading
   
• Nurturing the contemplative dimension of one's lifestyle by exercising Contemplative Discernment, simplicity, forgiveness, integrity and commitment
     

The commitment is for one weekend a month for the nine months of September through May, and is staffed by Nine Month Course Graduates.  Each weekend includes a review of the previous month's practice(s), Centering Prayer, Soul-friending, conferences, sharing and rest.  Each month's theme is supported by a Spiritual Counsel and Prayer Practice(s). 

First Month
Awareness of God’s Presence and Action
Practices: Spiritual Reading, Logging

Second Month
Intention and Consent in relating to God
Practices: Lectio Divina, Active Prayer

Third Month
Letting Go and Receiving True Life
Practice: the “Welcoming” Prayer

Fourth Month
Resting in God and from the Activity of the False Self
Practice: Review  Dynamics of Centering Prayer

Fifth Month
Contemplative discernment
Practice: Discernment Process

Sixth Month
Detachment and Simplicity
Practice: Discernment of Attachments

Seventh Month
Forgiveness in Relationships
Practice: Prayer of Forgiveness

Eighth Month
Spiritual Commitment
Practice: Creating Individual Contemplative Lifestyle

Ninth Month
Celebration and Closure

Pre-requisite: Centering Prayer practice; on-site visit.
Offering: $2125 (deposit $625)
Application Letter

Nine Month Course #10 - September 2005 - May 2006

Click here to receive a brochure; for further information, please write, call or email
Contemplative Outreach of Orange County Coordinator
PO Box 208
Cornwall, NY 12518-0208
(845) 534-5180
Email: cmccarthy001@hvc.rr.com  

Part II: A Deepening of Contemplative Living 

Part II is a follow-up to the Nine Month Course: The Practice of Contemplative Living.  Its intention is to enable the deepening of one’s practice of contemplative living and the broadening of the areas in which we open to God’s presence and action. 

The commitment is for one weekend a month for the nine months of September through May, and is staffed by Nine Month Course Graduates.  Each weekend includes a review of prayer practices learned on the first Nine Month Course: some time for deepening our relationships with fellow- journeyers, a different topic and presenter each weekend, free afternoon and evenings for silence, solitude, rest, three hours of Centering Prayer daily, and soul-friending (if desired). 

Pre-requisite: Completion of the first Nine Month Course.
Offering: $2125 (deposit $625)

Please be aware that Part II, A Deepening of Contemplative Living is no longer available.

Nine Month Course, Part II - 2003 - 2004

For further information, please write, call or E-mail

Contemplative Outreach of Orange County Coordinator
PO Box 208
Cornwall, NY 12518-0208
(845) 534-5180
Email: cmccarthy001@hvc.rr.com