CO of Tampa Bay, FL -
December 2007 was especially memorable in Sarasota, FL when Fr. Thomas Keating and Fr. Laurence Freeman shared the stage for a weekend in dialogue on Contemplative Prayer sponsored by the World Community for Christian Meditation. Well over fifty of our COTB network joined with hundreds of WCCM participants in both silence and conversation. Truly a blessed and high energy weekend! CO of Tampa Bay continues blending national and local presenters, delivering five workshops a year to interested Centering Prayer practitioners throughout the central west coast of Florida. Fr. Bill Sheehan has become an annual presenter, and the themes he develops are woven throughout the remainder of the year. Sr. Maria Tasto presented a Lectio Divina workshop, as well as a presenter’s training. Mary Dwyer returned again for the Welcoming Prayer practice, and local presenters Rickey Cotton, Bob Fasulo, Janet Gallagher, Marge Rafftery and Ed Savoy remind us of the wonderful spiritual presence we share here in Florida. Our core team meets regularly, and will be hosting Cynthia Bourgeault for a weekend retreat in February 2009. Some of our core team members are responding to whispers from the Holy Spirit: Rickey and Anna Cotton have begun both Lectio Divina and Centering Prayer groups for young people and faculty members at a Christian college in Lakeland, and Janet Gallagher was on staff for the second year at the annual Florida Intensive/Post Intensive retreat, held this year in Miami.
Kaethe Perez, coordinator

CO of Tennessee (Middle) -
Members of our steering committee organized the First Annual Gathering of Contemplative Outreach of Middle Tennessee and were stunned when about a hundred people showed up at St. George’s Episcopal Church for this event. Their shock deepened when it became evident that a number of the participants were new to the practice of Centering Prayer. With a flurry of activity, two Introductory Workshops and Follow Up Sessions were organized in response to the requests received that day. To support this growth spurt in our chapter, a facilitators’ luncheon was held on January 19th. Some of the facilitators drove three hours to eat Catherine Snell’s food and to share their experiences with other small group leaders. Planning is already underway for a Second Annual Gathering and another Facilitators' Luncheon. On March 15, our chapter will join with many others around the world in observing the Annual United Day of Prayer. These developments would give us reason enough for celebration but our cup overfloweth. This upcoming year, St. Mary’s Sewanee will host eleven Centering Prayer retreats ranging in length from 1 Day Introductions to 8 Day Post Intensives as well as retreats on The Process of Forgiveness, the Welcoming Prayer, a Presenter’s Formation Training, Lectio Divina and a special Advent Centering Prayer retreat. Presenters will include Tom Ward, Carl Arico, Cathy McCarthy, Gail Fitzpatrick-Hopler and Sr. Maria Tasto. We give thanks for these signs of God's presence within our midst. Submitted by Carolyn Goddard, Presenter and member of Middle Tennessee Steering Committee
Carol Wray @ 615 373-0613,  or Tom Ward @931 598-9063
or visit our new website at www.centeringprayermidtn.com

CO of Tennessee (West) -
In September 2007, Contemplative Outreach of West Tennessee sponsored a Seven Week Introduction to Centering Prayer Program at Church of the Holy Communion in Memphis, which presented the practice over seven weekly meetings rather than a full-day workshop with follow-up sessions. In December, we offered our second annual Centering Prayer Weekend Retreat. Most of the participants were new to Centering Prayer, so the retreat included basic instruction and extended guidance in a quiet, supportive environment. Our monthly First Saturdays at Church of the Holy Communion, featuring three 20-minute periods of Centering Prayer, a contemplative walk, and an optional labyrinth, continues to be a popular entry point and supportive gathering for many people in our area, with average attendance of about twenty-five people. We now have a chapter web site that features contact information about each of our prayer groups, as well as information about upcoming events.
Mike Potter, Coordinator @ 901-274-3488,