Centering Prayer at Melrose Highlands Congregational Church, Melrose, MA

Centering Prayer at Melrose Highlands Congregational Church, Melrose, MA


Pillars & Foundations documents an exploration of communities, as well as faith through religious institutions. My intent is to share experiences, and spread the positivity that I observe. 


Background of Centering Prayer

Mindfulness, being mindful, learning to be present, these popular terms/ideas have infiltrated popular culture over the past decade due to a surge in interest in meditation, largely focused on roots from eastern origins. Many meditation groups have popped up, both secular for the purposes of training the mind or destressing, as well as those with a spiritual focus, tied closely to Buddhist and Hindu origins. It is perhaps not as well known that the Christian tradition also has its own version of meditative practices. While some recognize traditional prayer itself as a type of meditation, another activity made recognizable by Thomas Merton, a Trappist Monk and author from the 20th century, and Fr. Thomas Keating who wrote about Christian Contemplative tradition extensively, is known as Centering Prayer. The origin of the name Centering Prayer is said to come from Merton's description of it being "centered on the presence of God." The website for the Center for Contemplative Outreach has some great details on the history as well various figures and practices related to Centering Prayer. Wikipedia has a brief summary of some of the modern Contemplative Movement's founders, and touches upon its links in the Contemplative tradition as far back in history as the 4th century.

Centering Prayer at Melrose Highlands

Melrose Highlands Congregational Church (see my visit details here) offers a monthly Centering Prayer meeting. Rev. Beth Horne leads an intimate group of congregants in Centering Prayer in a formal yet cozy parlor adjacent to the sanctuary of the church. The group organizes in a circle of upholstered arm chairs. Members are on a first name basis and they reconnected after the longer holiday period. Rev. Beth reviewed some of the history of Centering Prayer with some notes written on an easel pad, probably in greater detail than typical for me.  Prior to initiating the Centering Prayer session, Rev. Beth read an entry passage from Fr. Richard Rohr's book "Just This." The session of meditation was 20 minutes of quiet contemplation on a sacred word of our choice. Fr. Pennington, considered to be one of the founders of Modern Centering Prayer suggests focus on a sacred word which best represents the sincere intention to be in the presence of God. Upon conclusion of the session the congregants volunteer to share some thoughts about the experience and things are concluded with a closing prayer.

This Centering Prayer group is a great example of various ways Melrose Highlands enriches Melrose and the surrounding communities. I would invite individuals looking for alternative ways to reflect and explore spirituality to explore an offering such as this. I left the meeting refreshed, looking forward to further exploration of this practice.


Text and photographs by George Parks
Sources are embedded in links


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