Attendees: Mary Williams, Linda Dollins, Parth Domke, Susan Wheeler, Chris Hagen, Rick Martin, Ardy Woodmansee, Jan Simpson, Joan Thompson, Kathy Mendoza, Elena Bertran.
9:34—Opening Prayer with a few minutes of silence
Updates:
Intro
Team:
1.
Workshop at Solana Beach Presbyterian: Feb. 28, 2026, from 8:30-12:30.
•
Patti Smith and Mary Williams will be the presenters. Parth will be a sub in
case of need. The church is handling online registration and hospitality. We may
need an onsite registrar. The church needs to change the building site so we
are holding off on the flier for now.
• There will be four (4) follow-up sessions on zoom with multiple facilitators. The church’s registration service will allow people to vote on which evening (Monday or Thursday) works best for them for the follow-ups.
2.
Multilingual Workshop at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church on Hilltop Drive in
Chula Vista, March 21, 2026.
•
This will be a joint COSD and CONSD venture. Brian Curry (COSD) and Mary
Williams (CONSD) to be the presenters. Pastor Karla Halvorson is “on fire” for Centering
Prayer and wants it to blossom in the southern region of SD.
•
She has translators who will translate live as the workshop proceeds. The prayer
periods will be held in the church sanctuary.
•
The church will provide hospitality. Mary will visit the church to see how the
setup could work. Mary is in touch with CO Ltd. for trifold pamphlets in Spanish (and English) to
hand out. They are working on getting a PowerPoint slide show with slides in
English and Spanish.
• Pastor Karla will co-facilitate the in-person follow-ups, using Keating videos with closed-captioning in Spanish.
3.
“Space for Grace” / Silent Saturday Events: Mary
•
Last year was held at St. Thomas More and was 2 to 2 ½ hours long. It was held in
response to those wanting more in person events
•
Mary’s hope is that CP facilitators would take turns offering these at their
church with perhaps 3 events taking place a year.
• Barbara Hamilton has expressed interest; maybe Nichola at St. Peter’s.
4.
Treasurer’s Report:
Linda
•Total
balance: $11,988
•
Deposits: $710
•
$1036 withdrawals
•
$364 scholarships
•
$500 donation to CO, Ltd
• $150 chapter costs
5.
Reading / Lectio on Guideline #1 and Theological Principle #12 of “The Vision of
Contemplative Outreach.” Sharing as follows:
• Emphasis on interconnectedness is like a contrast to current times, and so people feel even more drawn to work towards this. The prayer emphasizes relationship with God. These words remind us that we are not alone, that it is not just our individual prayer, but that we are connected to the whole. We are interdependent and interconnected to all of humanity and all of creation. This is a gift and a privilege as well as a responsibility.
•
Increasing regards for others, especially the marginalized and needy. Deepens our
awareness and compassion. A need for lifting people up in love and care. Centering
Prayer helps to develop a gentle and persistent force for love in the world.
•
CO aspires to function without a hierarchical structure. How might we do this
within our own chapters since it currently feels like we are operating within a
hierarchical structure even though it is not our intention to do so. We are an
evolving community with an expanding vision and a deepening practice; Ilio
Delio’s words remind us that we need to evolve or we will not continue.
• Centering Prayer as a powerful practice. It serves as a way to world peace because it changes us from the inside out. It is not an adopted way of being; it is growing from the inner life, from what God actually has in mind for us.
6.
Discussion: Chapter(s) Enrichment & Visioning Day: what, when, where,
how… with Visioning Team Kathy, Nichola, Parth, Mary, and possibly Ardy & Brian.
--The
group had a long and informative discussion on the suggestion put forth by
Nichola of presenting Visioning Day on zoom. There were pros and cons put out
on the various options.
•
Zoom: Positive: - CO Ltd. says it can be done practically on zoom.
Whiteboard activity done in the chat. May get greater numbers of participation.
Negative: Interpersonal experience in prayer and conversation not as
deep.
•
Hybrid: Has had both positive and negative experiences of it working depending upon
the skill of the tech person facilitating those on zoom.
• In person: Positive: Deeper interpersonal experience. Negative: harder to get everyone to come. Sometimes only a handful show up.
--Mary
suggested having an initial meeting on zoom with a follow-up meeting in person.
Mary then shared her screen with the ideas shared from CO for designing a
Visioning Day.
•
Everyone in both the Chapters would be invited. A county-wide Centering Prayer
chapter (COSDC? With the last ‘c’ being “county”)
•
Positive and affirming view for practitioners to see themselves as part of the
countywide region of CP practitioners.
•
A large region sharing resources and support
•
More discussion followed on whether to hold Visioning Day on zoom, hybrid or in
person.
•
Decision reached on holding it on zoom with a possible smaller group meeting as
a follow-up.
• The Visioning Day will probably take place in the spring or early summer. Upcoming Planning discussions will include assigning a division of labor.
7.
Other dates:
•
United in Prayer Day: March 6-7, 2026.
•
Next SLT meeting, April 11, 2026
•
April 13-17 Intensive Retreat at Prince of Peace. Brian Curry is facilitating.
• Chris Hagen Zoom presentation will be in September.
Closing
prayer: “Trust in the slow work of God.”
The meeting ended at 11:50.
Respectfully
submitted,
Parth
Domke
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