"Be Still, and know that I am God"
MEDITATIVE PRAYER -- NEW AT SALEM IN JANUARY
Encountering God in silence is a tradition with deep roots in Christianity, from the desert mothers and fathers to the monastic traditions of medieval Europe. Today, Christians among many others are turning to meditation and contemplative prayer.
Every Wednesday in January at 7 PM, we will gather at Salem for meditation in community. Our practice will begin with readings from spalms. We will then share twenty minutes of silent meditation. After that, we will hear a poem or other reading. Our gathering will conclude with an invitation to tea and cookies in the Bethany room.
If you have never experienced meditation, I invite you to explore this ancient practice. We'll offer printed instruction for those who might find it helpful. And I would be happy to talk with you about it ahead of time, to answer any questions and to share my own experience.
Why gather to share silence?
 | Many people find that their prayer like is renewed by silent meditation. |
| Some who find it difficult to encounter God in other kinds of prayer may find a door to the sacred in meditation. |
| Some who experience God as absent or silent find peace and connection with the divine through meditation. |
| Some who do not believe in God as represented in religious traditions experience the presence of a higher power through meditation. |
| Many find new self-awareness in silence. |
| Most experience meditation as deeply restful, an experience that Christians might describe as 'the peace that passes all understanding". |
If you already practice meditation, we invite you to come share that practice with others who gather in the quiet and candlelight of our sanctuary.
Persons of all religious faiths and none are warmly welcomed.
-- Pastor Barbara