Overview

In recent decades, there has been a revival of the practice of Christian contemplative prayer in the Western church. Yet this contemplative renewal has not necessarily permeated the ethos and practice of regular worshipping communities. Though some parishes or congregations have a meditation group as one of their activities, fewer allow for a liturgy shaped and undergirded by contemplative silence in their main service; fewer still are committed to a contemplative approach suffusing the whole of their life together. What does contemplative common worship look and feel like? How might congregational leaders learn to shape and create contemplative liturgy? This book draws on the experience of Benedictus Contemplative Church, an ecumenical worshipping community based in Australia. It explores the gift and call of contemplative congregational worship and its power to connect us to what is deepest and most essential for our life in the world, and for the life of the world.

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Reviews

""Dr. Sarah Bachelard's voice is prophetic. Sharing her experience with a new contemplative church, Benedictus, she gives a profoundly theological analysis, combined with some rich practical ideas. Pools of Grace will encourage those of us who are trying to incorporate contemplative practice into already existing structures as well as those working from a blank page. Sarah invites the reader to seek where there is life. This book is a gateway to that beautiful new life of the gospel."" --Jim Caffrey, Parish Priest, Balally Parish, Dublin, Ireland ""Here finally is a guide for congregational leaders who have been dreaming about weaving together contemplation and worship! With theological insight and practical wisdom, Bachelard absorbingly describes how contemplative worship is created and practiced in her faith community. Encompassing far more than just adding silence and stillness, the goal is to cultivate in people a deep receptivity to God that empowers them to live in ways that are more courageous, loving, just, and creative."" --Todd Friesen, Lead Pastor, E. Chestnut St. Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania ""The sparkling vision expressed by Sarah Bachelard in this book does not predict the future. It is the future here and now. The question she feels so urgently is how contemplatives could connect with more in a common faith. As a contemplative priest and thinker, she shows that in the end it is experience that counts, especially the experience of genuine silence: one that becomes surprisingly and inexplicably attractive to others. This experience shines through her book in a most authentic way."" --Laurence Freeman, OSB, Director, World Community for Christian Meditation

Author Information

Sarah Bachelard is the founding Director of Benedictus Contemplative Church. Ordained in the Anglican tradition, she is a theologian and teacher with the World Community for Christian Meditation and author of several books, including A Contemplative Christianity for Our Time (2020).

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