St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Parish invite all denominations to a Centering Prayer workshop on Feb. 20 from 10 am to 2:30 p.m. at the Good Shepherd parish center at 55 School street in Oak Bluffs.

Trappist monks at St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer (not far from the Barre Buddhist center, Insight Meditation Society) founded the meditative practice now called Centering Prayer in the 1970s. One of the monks, Father Thomas Keaton, told of meeting many young people, some lapsed Catholics, who had turned to Eastern practices for their contemplative work. The idea was to present ancient Christian practices in an accessible form.

Father (Chip) Seadale, newly installed pastor of St. Andrew’s Church in Edgartown, explains in a statement that “Centering Prayer is an effort to renew the ancient Christian tradition of contemplation, which is an opening of mind and heart to God, the Ultimate Mystery. Centering prayer brings a method and order to facilitate access to contemplation.”

“Our program coincides with Lent, a season when people are looking to deepen their relationship with God,” Father Michael Nagle, of Good Shepherd parish said in the statement. “I am excited that this is an ecumenical endeavor, sponsored by two Christian churches but open to all.”

The Saturday introductory workshop will be followed by six weekly sessions which include DVDs, discussion and periods of prayer. Date and time will be determined by participant availability.

Call 508-627-5330 to register or for more information. Bring a brown bag lunch; refreshments and desserts will be served. You can learn more about the Centering Prayer online at contemplativeoutreach.org.