Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Tuesday Night Lenten Series - The Practices That Transform Us

Here are the details for this year's Tuesday Night Lenten Series

Topic: The Practices That Transform Us
Book: Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun
Schedule: 6:45 - 8:30; includes simple supper

Dates, locations and themes

February 19 - Malverne - The Practice of Worship
February 26 - Freeport - The Practice of Opening One's Self To God
March 5 - Massapequa - The Practice of Avoiding False Gods
March 12 - Baldwin - The Practice of Sharing One's Life
March 19 - Garden City - The Practice of Making Present the Love of Christ

Spiritual Practice 1 - Breath Prayer

During Lent 2013 we're going to be focusing on simple spiritual practices that have the potential to transform our lives and our relationship with God.  Each week we'll be introducing a simple spiritual practice in worship and posting it to the blog.

Breath Prayer
Prayer is the most basic of spiritual practices and breath prayer is one of the oldest tools for prayer.  Breath prayers can be powerful centering devices as well as a way to feel the calming reassurance of God in difficult and stressful situations.

The prayer is very simple.  Slow down your breathing.  As you breathe in, say to yourself a name of God.  As you breathe out, say to your self a need or request you want God to address.  The graphic below has some ancient breath prayers, but you are free to identify your own names for God and add your own requests.


Its Souper Bowl Time!

Once again CPC has accepted the challenge from Middle Island Presbyterian Church as to who can collect the most canned goods for the Long Island Council of Churches Food Pantry during the month of February.  This year seven other churches joined us.  Already the combined churches have collected almost 5,000 food items, and the month isn't over.

Below is a chart as to how CPC is doing.  We won last year, but we're currently in fifth place!  Invite your neighbors, your friends, your family, even colleagues at work, to join in helping Long Island's hungry families.