This past month, I spoke to a number of facilitators and two concerns came up frequently. One was “how do I get new members,” and the other was “I need to know more about resources to use in my group”. I would like to address these issues.
The question about how to find new members has been a topic for years at CONSD meetings. I think when we have a facilitator meeting, this may be an area we can discuss. But for now, here are some ideas:
1. Write a few paragraphs describing centering prayer that can be included on the website of the church you attend. List the times, place, and contact information for your group.
2. Provide a recurring announcement about your group in your church’s Sunday weekly bulletin. From personal experience, it is best to ask people to call or email you first before attending their first group. You can download brochures from www.contemplativeoutreach.org and send them to people who are interested.
3. Elicit the support of the clergy in your church. You can ask them to mention Centering Prayer and the meeting time of your group at Sunday services. You may have people in your group who attend different churches. If it seems feasible, you can ask them to advertise your group in their weekly Sunday bulletin.
~Kathy
Agnew
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