Hamline Church offers contemplative prayer weekly prior to Sunday services. Centering prayer is a time of silence and openness to the presence of God; our prayer is inspired by the example of Thomas Merton and the monks of St. John’s Abbey in Massachusetts and work they began in the ’70’s; that example in turn was in large part inspired by desert Christians and mystics of the early Christian age.  We will pray every Sunday from 8:15 – 8:35 am in the Chapel on the northeast side of the building just inside the front doors and to the left. There will be a sign on the door and all are welcome.  This year we will try to find two additional times during our week when pray-ers can connect via text and pray at home in virtual community; this will be discussed in September and hopefully begun in October.  If anyone would like to learn more about contemplative prayer or it’s practice at Hamline Church, please contact Julie Dahlke at jlddvm@usfamily.net.