“The ‘Spiritual Journey” is a metaphor for how our beliefs change an d develop throughout life. In the beginning, we often do not realize that we have entered upon a spiritual path as we begin to search for the hi dden gnosis (sacred knowing) of mind, heart and soul that is emerging withi n us.” Fr. Thomas Keating from ‘Reflections on the Unknowable’
Susan Komis and Jim McElroy will facilitate this hybrid retrea t by sharing their experience and insights of practicing and teaching Cente ring Prayer, The Welcoming Prayer, and the Human Condition. Susan wil l offer a reflection on Fr. Thomas’s most fundamental teaching, The Human C ondition, and then offer her thoughts on the stages of spiritual growth fro m ‘The Awakening’ to “The Sage”.
Jim will provide an in-depth teachin g of The Welcoming Prayer as the companion practice to Centering Prayer and as a method designed to facilitate the dismantling of the false self-syste m and living from present moment awareness.
The Welcoming Praye r is a method of consenting to God’s presence and action in our physical an d emotional reactions to events and situations in daily life. It deep ens our relationship with God and allows to more fully live in the eternal now. The Welcoming Prayer helps to dismantle the emotional programs a nd heal the wounds of a lifetime by addressing them where they are stored—i n the body.
Retreat begins Friday evening, April 9th at 6:00pm and ends Sunday, April 11th at noo n.
Registration Online at
Please consider being a sponsor with a donation of $80 to
further the mission of COSTL. Scholarships are available contact Bill
Schwindt, This email addres
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If you wish to register by mail please send yo ur registration to:
COSTL C/O Grace Episcopal Church
514 E. Argonne Drive
Kirkwood,
MO 63122
Susan Komis is a former Dire ctor of Chapter Programs & Services for the Contemplative Outreach, Ltd . Organization. She began as a volunteer for the St. Louis, MO Chapte r in 1990 and was appointed Coordinator for the St. Louis region in 1994 an d served in that capacity through 1999. Susan was then employed by Co ntemplative Outreach and served CO spiritual network for 20 years as a facu lty member, member of the Board of Directors, and commissioned presenter.&n bsp; Her primary role was supporting the leadership of CO chapters by devel oping and offering formations, retreats, spiritual enrichment and organizat ional support until she retired at the end of 2016.
Susan continues t o offer onsite programs on contemplative spirituality and leads Centering P rayer and themed retreats. She is a certified Pastoral Minister and h as served in Adult Faith Development, spiritual directions and inter-spirit ual dialogue.
Jim McElroy strong>has been practicing Centering Prayer since 1996 and has been a commissioned presenter since 2002.Jim has been on the lead ership team of 12-Step Outreach since its formation in 2005 and is especial ly interested in teaching contemplative practices to the recovery community . He is a former coordinator of Contemplative Outreach of St. Louis and is on the Welcoming Prayer Faculty.He is also grateful t o be a member of the Living Flame faculty team.
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