The Ground of the Heart: 2016 Advent Retreat at Rock Point
The Rock Point 2016 Advent Retreat, which will be a silent retreat, will take place on Friday and Saturday, December 2 and 3, at the Bishop Booth Conference Center. The leader will be Fr. Justin Lanier, rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Bennington, Vermont. This is the last week for registration discounts, so register today!
Link to Registration Form
http://diovermont.org/PDFs/rock-point/Registration_Form_Advent_2016.pdf
“The Ground of the Heart: A Brief Immersion in Contemplative Prayer” will focus on introduction and immersion in contemplative prayer, through chanting, Centering Prayer and Open Heart Awareness practice. The pattern of the retreat will revolve around short presentation & practice sessions to introduce the practices. We will then immerse ourselves in these practices as we pray in the Daily Office, in the sitting and walking periods, as well in the simple silence of our time together and meals. On Saturday morning there will be a period of predawn Chanting, sitting and meditative walking, for those who are suited to a “Vigils” style night time prayer. There will also be time for individual spiritual direction. Previous silent prayer experience is helpful, though not a prerequisite.
Fr. Justin began his contemplative formation in St. Benedict’s Trappist Monastery in Colorado studying under the direction of Fr. Thomas Keating, O.C.S.O. He holds a Master of Divinity degree, from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific (the Episcopal Seminary of the West), Berkeley, California, and did his undergraduate work at the University of Delaware studying Philosophy and minoring in Religious Studies and East Asian Studies with a Language (Japanese). During his formation, Fr. Justin also entered monastic training at Tofuku-sodo Rinzai Zen Buddhist Monastery under Keido Fukushima Roshi in Kyoto, Japan for what you might call “contemplative cross-training”.
Fr. Justin is presently the 27th Rector of St. Peter’s Church, Bennington, Vermont. He is a longtime advocate of Centering Prayer, Plainchant and Contemplative training, serving as retreat master and teacher in intensive retreat environments. He lives in Bennington with his wife and their two daughters.