From the earliest days of the church, many of the Church Fathers and Mothers practiced what they called contemplatio, a prayerful “gazing at God.” These practices, which today are often described as Christian mystical or meditative disciplines, are simple but profound ways of opening ourselves to God’s presence. They move us beyond the limits of body and mind into the deeper life of the spirit.

Following our recent series Thinking Theologically, we will now turn toward the complementary practice of Christian Contemplatio. If theology engages the mind, these practices engage the heart and spirit, helping us experience God in ways that surpass understanding. These disciplines have been a vital part of the Christian tradition, especially in the Eastern church, and continue to strengthen faith in every generation.

This October, we will focus on four ancient practices of the Christian life:

· October 5, 2025 – Fasting Not about weight loss, but about self-discipline. Fasting teaches us to release our grip on the material world so we may focus on the power and presence of God.

· October 12, 2025 – Contemplative Prayer God invites us into stillness not as absence but as presence. In a noisy, distracted world, contemplative prayer helps us hear God’s quiet voice.

· October 19, 2025 – The Examen The Examen invites us to prayerfully reflect on our day, noticing where God was present, where we resisted, and how we can grow in gratitude, repentance, and readiness for tomorrow.

· October 26, 2025 – Lectio Divina More than study, Scripture is an encounter with the living God. Lectio Divina teaches us to let the Word dwell within us, moving from reading to resting in God’s presence.

To complement this series, the sanctuary will open each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for a 20-minute time of Lectio Divina before worship. During this quiet period, Scripture will be read and reflected upon, preparing our hearts to enter more fully into God’s presence.