Contemplative Outreach of Kansas City is one among hundreds of local chapters of Contemplative Outreach around the world.  The volunteer Circle of Service Advisory Board works together to provide information and local events to further the mission of Contemplative Outreach and help people in their practice of Centering Prayer.

The intent of Contemplative Outreach is to foster the process of transformation in Christ in one another through the practice of Centering Prayer. Fr. Thomas Keating and other monks of St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts founded Contemplative Outreach out of the desire to develop a method of Christian contemplative prayer that was appealing and accessible to laypeople.

Today Contemplative Outreach is a spiritual community of individuals and small faith groups committed to renewing the contemplative dimension of the Gospel in everyday life. Our purpose is to present the method of Centering Prayer and its immediate conceptual background and to support individuals in divine transformation through the practice of Centering Prayer.

The Circle of Service is the servant leadership team of the local Kansas City chapter of Contemplative Outreach. The mission of this team is to find ways to support individuals and groups in their commitment to Centering Prayer. Such support is provided by organizing the following:

• Resources (CD’s, DVD’s, books).
• Provide mini-retreat opportunities.
• Informative and educational workshops.
• Training for facilitators and presenters.
• Enhance ongoing communication among facilitators of current centering prayer groups.

Through such organization and support we attempt to establish cohesion and mutual encouragement for each other as we all continue our efforts along the spiritual journey.