{"id":873,"date":"2025-09-29T19:21:19","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T19:21:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/centeringprayer.com\/heartoftexas\/?page_id=873"},"modified":"2026-09-15T23:37:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T23:37:14","slug":"welcome","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/centeringprayer.com\/heartoftexas\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Welcome to the Heart of Texas chapter of Contemplative Outreach (HoTCO). We are an ecumenical group of women and men serving together to support those who want to deepen their relationship with God through the practice of Centering Prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Centering Prayer is an ancient method of Christian prayer which prepares us to receive the gift of God&#8217;s presence, traditionally called contemplative prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HoTCO is one of more than 90 active chapters in 39 countries formed by&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/contemplativeoutreach.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Contemplative Outreach<\/a>, Ltd., a worldwide spiritual network that provides support and resources for Centering Prayer practitioners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We offer Introduction to Centering Prayer workshops and retreats ranging from one to ten days in length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We support Centering Prayer groups that meet daily, weekly and monthly in various churches, homes and institutions, as well as contemplative church services throughout the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-75ebec9f\">\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Latest News<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>You are invited<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul id=\"block-18d9850b-cc9d-4dc2-8fd9-5d200926352f\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshop<\/strong>, <strong>Sun, Sep 27th<\/strong> <strong>12pm to 2pm<\/strong> &#8211; offered by the&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/consciousharmony.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Church of Conscious Harmony<\/strong><\/a>. This workgroup is open to anyone wanting to learn the practice of Centering Prayer. It is designed by Contemplative Outreach, based on Fr. Thomas Keatings book&nbsp;<em>Open Mind, Open Heart.&nbsp;<\/em>The class will be held after Sunday Service at CCH. A light lunch will be provided. In addition to the initial class, there will be four follow-up, online meetings Tuesdays, 9\/29 to 10\/20 from 7-8pm. For more info or to register, please visit this&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/consciousharmony.org\/event\/introduction-to-centering-prayer-class-4\/\" title=\"\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">link<\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><strong>Half-day Centering Prayer Retreat<\/strong><\/strong>, <strong>Sun, Sep 27th<\/strong> <strong>12pm to 3pm<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 offered by the&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/consciousharmony.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Church of Conscious Harmony<\/strong><\/a>.&nbsp;You are encouraged and invited to extend your Sunday devotions with an afternoon of Centering Prayer and solitude following the Sunday Service. The retreat will be held in the Sanctuary and led by Barbara Cook. Check in will be in the Fellowship Hall. Please bring a brown bag lunch. Light refreshments will be available.&nbsp;For more info or to register, please visit this&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/consciousharmony.org\/event\/centering-prayer-1-2-day-retreat-4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" title=\"\">link<\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>7-day Centering Prayer Advent Retreat, Fri, Dec 4th &#8211; Thur, Dec 10th<\/strong> &#8211; offered by the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/consciousharmony.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Church of Conscious Harmony<\/strong><\/a> at <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/austindiocese.org\/cedarbrake\" title=\"\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Cedarbrake Renewal Center<\/a><\/strong> in Belton, TX.\u00a0The retreat includes periods of Centering Prayer,\u00a0daily opportunities for prayerful movement\/yoga,\u00a0and each evening there will be a Vespers Lux Divina service with Lectio Divina and celebration of the Eucharist.\u00a0There will be times for spiritual companioning, if desired,\u00a0and expansive spaces for time on one\u2019s own.\u00a0Retreat\u00a0begins with dinner at 6:00 pm, Friday and concludes at 11:00 am Thursday. Registration includes a single occupancy room, bedding,\u00a0and vegetarian meals. Space is limited. For more info or to register, please visit this\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/consciousharmony.org\/event\/advent-centering-prayer-retreat\/\" title=\"\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">link<\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For retreats and introduction to Centering Prayer workshops in the year of&nbsp;<strong>2026<\/strong>, please see&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/centeringprayer.com\/heartoftexas\/retreats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"retreats&nbsp;\">retreats&nbsp;<\/a><\/strong>and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/centeringprayer.com\/heartoftexas\/introductory-workshops\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"introductory workshops\">introductory workshops<\/a><\/strong>. Retreats and workshops for <strong>2026<\/strong> will be updated as they become available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pray in Community: Our list of local&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/centeringprayer.com\/heartoftexas\/prayer-groups\" title=\"\">Prayer Groups<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;will be continually updated in 2026. There are also several contemplative church services around town that we&#8217;re aware of. Information on these can be found on the&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/centeringprayer.com\/heartoftexas\/contemplative-worship\/\" title=\"\">Contemplative Worship<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;page and will be updated as we receive new information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/meditationchapel.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Meditation Chapel<\/a> currently offers many online opportunities each week to join others in Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina. These are a wonderful way to pray with others in community, while remaining at home. When looking at their calendar, note that the Centering Prayer groups meet in the &#8216;Thomas Keating Chapel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consider supporting our Centering Prayer community by joining one of our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/centeringprayer.com\/heartoftexas\/chapter-contacts\" title=\"\">Service Teams<\/a>. We would love to hear from you regarding&nbsp;your interest in serving&nbsp;our chapter by mailing  <a href=\"mailto:mistyblahuta@gmail.com?subject=HoTCO\">Misty Blahuta<\/a>. Your involvement in our Centering Prayer community is vital!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u2026when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.<\/em><br>~ Matthew 6:6<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Contemplative Prayer is the opening of mind and heart \u2013 our whole being \u2013 to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond thoughts, words and emotions, whom we know by faith is within us, closer than breathing, thinking, feeling and choosing; even closer than consciousness itself.<\/em><br>~ Fr. Thomas Keating, Open Mind, Open Heart<\/p>\n\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"39\" src=\"https:\/\/centeringprayer.com\/heartoftexas\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2025\/09\/Jesuit-cross-e1581815341119.jpg\" alt=\"Jesuit cross e1581815341119\" class=\"wp-image-892\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to the Heart of Texas chapter of Contemplative Outreach (HoTCO). We are an ecumenical group of women and men serving together to support those who want to deepen their relationship with God through the practice of Centering Prayer. Centering Prayer is an ancient method of Christian prayer which prepares us to receive the gift &#8230; <a title=\"Welcome\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/centeringprayer.com\/heartoftexas\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Welcome\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":900,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"slim_seo":{"title":"Heart of Texas Contemplative Outreach","description":"Welcome to the Heart of Texas chapter of Contemplative Outreach (HoTCO). 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