Center for Prayer & Spirituality (CPS)
The Center's mission is to encourage and support an interest in Christian spirituality and integrate mind, body, and spirit by offering contemplative practices, classes, lectures, workshops and spiritual direction.
We hope to foster connection, understanding and compassion for self, others and the mystery that beautifully and expansively holds us all.
Note: Due to coronavirus, all gatherings are being held online. The Center's Dooly Library and the Chapel of the Transfiguration on the third floor of Cathedral House have been refreshed and are ready for your use. Feel free to check out books in the library and pause for prayer in the Chapel. Masks and social distancing are required, for the good of all.
The traditional Quiet Garden Morning format is suspended during the pandemic. Instead, the Center will post periodic offerings here, for use at home. It is hoped that they will invite a pause in the day and time for reflection and prayer.
The Theophany Project
Combining art images, poetry and prayer, this offering by The Rev. Dr. Linda Privitera traces our travel through the Epiphany season (January 6 - February 16) this year. The seven weeks are depicted in pairings of visual art with poetry or prayer. Each relates to the week's lectionary readings and offers an opportunity for your personal prayer and reflection. What do you notice? How does this speak to you? What do you think the artist is trying to say? We invite you to view the presentations over the course of Epiphany, savoring its mystery and blessings.
Preparing for the Christ Child: Telling the Story
An exploration of how “story” is so much more expansive, rich and meaningful than a mere statement, and how we might use that understanding to bring the “baby Jesus” story more fully to life for everyone we tell. Special thanks to Godly Play and Rachel Held Evans, author of Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water and Loving the Bible Again. Read More Here: Preparing for Christmas
Music for the Season
Thank heavens for St. John's Canon for Music Tim Tuller and the Cathedral Choir!
Listen again to some of your favorites.Michael Miller, who you might remember as a rather imposing Wise Man in recent Choir processionals, also serves as our Music Archivist and has assembled audio recordings by season.
The Advent collection includes organ (Bach, Brahms, Manx, Buxtehude, Near) and chorale (“There is no rose”, “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree” and over 30 more).
Light a candle, close your eyes, and be transported.
Commentary on "The Cellist of Sarajevo"
A Guide to Silence and Stillness from the Quiet Garden Movement
Grist for the Mill
Moving Prayer Flags to Paper
Prayer for Our Country
heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove
ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will.
Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning and
pure manners. Save us from violence, discord and confusion;
from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend
our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes
brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue
with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy name we entrust
the authority of government, that there may be justice and
peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we
may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth.
In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness,
and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail;
all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Weekly E-Words
These e-mailed observations by religious leaders, philosophers, authors and poets are selected to inspire,invite reflection, and encourage prayer. Sign up for the weekly email here, and choose CPS Events and Weekly e-Word.
Tuesday Yoga
Now led online: Weekday Live
Friday Contemplative Eucharist
This lunch-hour service combines silence, prayer and holy communion. The acoustics in Cummings Chapel are especially adaptable as we gather with masks and social distancing.
Cummings Chapel, 12:10 p.m.
Additional Resources
Cathedral Bookstore and Gift Shop, 221 E. Church Street...An excellent resource for books on prayer and reflection, inspirational material, Prayer Books and Bibles. Books can be ordered and mailed/delivered directly to you during the pandemic. The Bookstore also hosts “First Monday Book Group”. Get the bi-weekly bookstore newsletter "The Herald" by signing up here, and choose Cathedral Bookstore.
Contact Bookstore Manager Kathryn Bissette at (904) 632-9104, extension 152, or email [email protected] to learn more.
Pause, News and Views from the Quiet Garden Movement www.quietgarden.org
Contemplative Outreach
www.contemplativeoutreach.org
Pilgrims' Journeys with Owene Philips Weber Courtney
The Center for Prayer and Spirituality is led by the Rev. Dr. Linda Privitera and Susan Bancks with the invaluable support, energy and imagination of Owene Courtney, Joe O'Shields, Liesl Gavronsky-Howsare and Megan Cochran
.
