THE ACTIVE CONTEMPLATIVE
...to the praise of God's glory

The Active Contemplative Online

Winter 2011

2010 Christos Pilgrimage - Desert Spirituality
Reflections

Fifteen hopeful pilgrims met on October 16, 2010 in Santa Fe, NM, to begin a week together experiencing prayer in the desert.
The following articles are reflections from the pilgrims as
they experienced God in the desert.
(Note: see Our Programs--Pilgrimage for the
Introduction to the Desert Pilgrimage and photographs)

Surprised by Beauty
~Brad Holt

The Solace of Fierce Landscapes
~Diane Peters

Monday Reflection
~Mariann Stengland

Sufficiency: The Gift of Knowing What is Sufficient
~Judy Russell

A Visit to the Georgia O'Keefe Museum and Home
~Lavonne Lovstad

Impressions from Chanting Psalms
~Olaf Hall-Holt

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This little bush has captivated me;
so happy and contented
shining it's beautiful fall color....
it has found nourishment in harsh terrain
Tenacious seed of life
finding soil - taking root
and refusing to relinquish it's life
to the harsh surroundings.
May it be so with me O Lord,
may it be so with me.
~Mariann Stengland

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Fall 2010
Reaching the heart through God's Presence Series

Introductory Quotes
A Movement of Very Small Proportions
Quiet Prayer
"Soaking"
The Right Place for Everything
What Moves You
Sunday Lunch

Winter 2010--Stretching The Wineskin Series

My Desert Truth's Hard to Swallow Spiritual Winter Captured
Beholding the Divine Fire Finding God in Candles
Ouote by Augustine and Introduction to the following article
Introduction and Part I: Imagination Part II: Receiving
Part III: Cooperating
Part IV:Preparations
Parts V & VI: Letting Go and Colors of Life
Part VII: Culture of Community and Conclusion

Fall 2009--I Will Give You Rest Series

Restful DESCENT Bridge to the Eternal Bath of the Divine Meet With You
Soul-Weariness Whispers in the Silence Quotes Pilgrim's Progress
The Silence of Rest Planting Rest

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Our hope is that ‘the Active Contemplative’, Christos Center’s inspirational publication, will help us all to foster and nurture our love relationship with God and to realize God’s presence in the midst of our busy lives. We at Christos are people who are busy with jobs, families and other activities that are common to the average person. We also have a deep desire for solitude, silence and prayer where we can nurture our love relationship with God and where we can pay attention to who we are becoming as God transforms us day by day into the image of Christ. The Active Contemplative speaks about this active deepening process.

“Creator God, we pray that you will enlarge our understanding, that you will enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that you will go beyond our human wisdom and our fragmented, broken, self-conscious selves and speak reality and truth to our inner person. We pray we can grow up to the image of God. Let us be a manifestation of your Son to a lost and hurting world…”

Journey into Reality
~Joann Nesser

“May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.” Eph 3:17