Exploring Contemplative Prayer

A Journey to the Quiet

Available in two formats

Perhaps you've always wanted to find out more about contemplative prayer. Perhaps you are looking for a way to deepen your own prayer life over the coming program year, and want sustained encouragement. Perhaps you'd like to start a contemplative prayer group in your congregation, and would like a user-friendly resource to guide you and a copy-ready resource to share with participants.

Contemplative prayer differs from conversational prayer in that the focus is on silence. Different contemplative prayer methods use silence in various ways, in connection with scripture or simple prayer words or short phrases.

Not all of the prayer practices would be considered contemplative in the classic sense. But they are all ways to pray that take us outside the usual, more conversational approach to prayer, where we do much, if not all, of the talking.

Contemplative Prayer Overview:

  • Preparing for Prayer*
  • Breath Prayer
  • Lectio Divina
  • Release Prayer
  • The Prayer of Examen
  • Contemplative Healing Prayer
  • Praying with Icons & Images
  • Centering Prayer
  • Silent Prayer

*Includes: Prayer Autobiography, Exploring Impediments to Prayer, Finding Time & Space for Prayer, Noticing Resistance

Album:
An optional album of recordings to accompany this resource isavailable from iTunes.Go to the iTunes store and find the album "Exploring Contemplative Prayer" under "Music." (Also available in other online music venues, such as Amazon.com mp3 downloads, emusic.com, napster.com, etc.)

Written By:
Exploring Contemplative Prayer: A Journey to the Quiet is written by Tracey Marx, with Robert D. Webber. Tracey Marx is a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) minister, currently working as a writer and spiritual director. She is the creator of Scripture Echo, and the author of Lectionary Liturgy. Robert D. Webber, who contributes the historical and theological background to each practice, is the retired New Testament professor from Lancaster Theological Seminary. He is the co-author of Stretch Out Your Hand: Exploring Healing Prayer. While creating this resource, Tracey and Bob led groups in a local church and ministry training center.

Reaction to Exploring Contemplative Prayer:

In a day when people claim to be more spiritual than religious, "Exploring Contemplative Prayer" has provided our church with a way to meet the needs of our members. In a day when people are too busy to attend Sunday School, I feel like we are offering a class to them for when they choose to learn. The increased interest in prayer is leading us to consider new directions for our congregation's offerings.
Rev. Keith Sundberg
Wayside Presbyterian Church, Erie, PA

I tried Exploring Contemplative Prayer simply because I needed to deepen my prayer life. Being a pastor, many often assume that such practices as prayer come naturally. For me this has not been the case. I needed a lot of help and have deeply benefited from this program. It has broadened by prayer practices and has deepened my spiritual experience with prayer. I would strongly urge any who wish to nurture a life of prayer to enter into this nine-month experience.
Pastor David Ratcliff
Shepherd of the Sierra Presbyterian Church, Loomis, CA

The Journey has been a great asset to our congregation. A steady walk through such a broad spectrum of practices has given many members of our congregation a diversity of prayer tools for their spiritual belts! Who knew that a contemplative prayer group would be such a draw both for current members as well as others in the community who, we learned, were hungry for just this type of offering.
Pastor Carl Hilton VanOsdall
First Presbyterian Church, Barre, Vermont

I feel that this experience was one of the most significant influences in the growth of my prayer life as well as my spiritual development. The way the course was structured to allow considerable time for practice in prayer allowed for great flexibility and growth in learning all the forms of prayer that were taught.
Ezetta Walter
Spiritual Director & Group Participant

Available in two formats

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