{"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":"2026-08-25T21:41:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T21:41:46","slug":"welcome","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/centeringprayer.com\/heartoftexas\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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>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>We offer Introduction to Centering Prayer workshops and retreats ranging from one to ten days in length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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><strong>You are invited<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul id=\"block-18d9850b-cc9d-4dc2-8fd9-5d200926352f\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>3-day Centering Prayer Men&#8217;s Retreat, Fri, Aug 28th -Sun, Aug 30th<\/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.\u00a0This retreat will be a time of renewal in the practice of Centering Prayer in community, and will also include several talks on the\u00a0<em>Way of the Householder<\/em>\u00a0in fellowship with men who wish to make God-devotion the center of their lives.\u00a0 The retreat begins with dinner at 6pm Friday and concludes by 11am Sun. Enjoy vegetarian meals and private room lodging. For more info or to register, please visit this\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/consciousharmony.org\/event\/centering-prayer-3-day-mens-retreat\/\" title=\"\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">link<\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>5-day Centering Prayer Retreat, Fri, Sep 11th -Tue, Sep 15th<\/strong> &#8211; offered by the&nbsp;<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.&nbsp;The retreat includes an extended time of Centering Prayer held in Driscoll Hall. The daily schedule is spacious, with extended free time in silence and solitude. Enjoy vegetarian meals served in the Lodge and private room lodging. The retreat begins with dinner at 6pm Friday and concludes by 11am Tues. Space is limited. For more info or to register, please visit this&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/consciousharmony.org\/event\/5-day-centering-prayer-retreat-3\/\" title=\"\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">link<\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshop<\/strong>, <strong>Sun, Sep 27th<\/strong> <strong>12pm to 2pm<\/strong> &#8211; offered by the\u00a0<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\u00a0<em>Open Mind, Open Heart.\u00a0<\/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\u00a0<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>\u00a0\u2013 offered by the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/consciousharmony.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Church of Conscious Harmony<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0You 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.\u00a0For more info or to register, please visit this\u00a0<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<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>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\"><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\"><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><\/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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