Setting Up a Centering Prayer Group
A centering prayer group, no matter how small, can be extremely helpful to its participants. It can provide a supportive community, strengthen the resolve of the participants to continue in the prayer and help them go deeper into the prayer.
To start a group, all you need is a room where you can sit comfortably and quietly without being interrupted. The Weekly Centering Prayer Group Program on this website provides one model of an agenda that could be adapted for your group. While sitting together in silence during centering prayer can be a profound experience, it can also be helpful to have a part of the group devoted to an activity in which the group has an opportunity to hear each other’s voices. The model provided incorporates lectio divina, which gives the group an opportunity to listen and respond to scripture passages together. Instead of lectio divina, other groups sometimes read passages from books about centering prayer such as Open Mind Open Heart and offer responses to the reading. It’s best to avoid intellectual discussions because they tend to lead us out of a prayerful state. Our group is held in a chapel area in our church where we are able to arrange chairs around a circular altar. However, I’ve also attended wonderful groups where we have been crowded into tiny church offices and choir rooms. A sacred space can be created by the prayer itself anywhere there is room.
Don’t worry if your group is very small. Centering prayer is simple but difficult, and many people may try the group but not stay. The group will be very valuable for those who do come, even those who don’t come regularly, and sometimes even for those who only come one time. On this website are provided a list of Group Guidelines for our weekly group. You could use these as a starting point and discuss with your group what you would like your guidelines to be in order to create an environment that will be comfortable, safe, and prayerful for all the participants. It’s helpful to have these guidelines spelled out and agreed upon at the beginning so that everyone knows what will be happening and newcomers can be given a copy of the guidelines to help them feel more comfortable.
Suggestions for Home Practice | The Welcoming Prayer | Mindful Living
Centering Prayer Reading List | Setting Up a Centering Prayer Group
Weekly Centering Prayer Group