Discover a practice
Hear a simple introduction: where the practice comes from, what it invites, and how to begin. No contemplative experience is required.
FOR CHURCHES & CHRISTIAN GROUPS
A new experience of prayer.
For the group you already have.
Homeward helps your people get a taste of contemplative prayer: slowing down, making room for God, and discovering ways to pray that they can carry into ordinary life. We introduce each practice gently, guide the experience, and leave space for honest questions.
GET A TASTE
You can describe an orange.
Or you can taste it.
You can talk about its color, texture, and sweetness. Tasting the fruit brings a kind of understanding that description alone cannot give. Prayer has an experiential dimension, too. Homeward’s goal is to help your group get a taste of contemplative prayer, with guidance that makes unfamiliar practices approachable.
Experience it together
Your group can experiment with new forms of prayer in short, guided introductions. You can participate at your own pace or sit out a practice.
Reflect and carry it home
Notice what happened, ask questions, and choose something to try in daily life. There is no particular feeling you have to produce.
APPROACHABLE WAYS TO PRAY
Ancient Christian practices.
A gentle place to begin.
We choose practices with your group’s background and hopes in mind. These are some of the forms of prayer we may introduce.
Centering Prayer
A form of silent Christian prayer that invites us to consent to God’s presence and action. A sacred word serves as a gentle reminder of that intention when we notice ourselves caught up in thoughts.
Father Thomas Keating helped develop and share this approach. Contemplative Outreach supports its teaching and practice.
Learn about Centering PrayerThe Examen
A prayerful way to look back over the day with God. Notice gifts, give thanks, bring difficult moments honestly into prayer, and consider how to respond with love tomorrow.
We guide a simple reflection so people can experience it together and try it at home.
Scripture & guided imagination
Use imagination to enter a Gospel scene: picture the setting, notice Jesus, and listen prayerfully to the passage. Guided visualizations stay grounded in Scripture and the life of Jesus.
People can also choose to listen quietly or reflect on the text without forming an image.
We also introduce simple breath prayer and ways of listening with care. The aim is a deeper relationship with God and a growing capacity to love.
TWO WAYS TO BEGIN
Choose what would serve your group.
FOUR GUIDED GATHERINGS · ABOUT 90 MINUTES EACH
Homeward Group Experience
A four-week experience of contemplative prayer, presence, Sacred Listening, and practices for ordinary life. Each gathering includes brief teaching, guided practice, and honest reflection.
Explore the Group ExperienceTHREE SESSIONS · ABOUT 90 MINUTES EACH
Sacred Listening
A focused workshop for small groups, care teams, and ministry leaders. Practice becoming present, listening with compassion, and responding with love.
Explore Sacred ListeningBoth experiences are offered at no charge. Your group is free to stop at any time, and each person can choose how to participate.
DESIGNED TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY
Your group stays your group.
Your leader, relationships, church connection, and identity remain yours. We begin with a conversation about your tradition, your people, and what you hope to deepen.
Simple to host
Agree on a time and place or an online format. Homeward prepares and facilitates the experience and provides the materials.
Room to receive
Leaders can participate alongside their people. There is no curriculum to master or extra lesson to prepare.
Keep what helps
When the guided experience ends, we step back. Your group decides which practices to carry forward.
QUESTIONS FROM CHURCH LEADERS
A clear beginning. Room for questions.
Is Homeward Christian?
Yes. Jesus is at the center. The experiences draw from Scripture and Christian contemplative practice, with prayer and love of God and neighbor shaping our purpose.
What if contemplative prayer is new to our group?
We explain each practice and introduce it gently. No prior experience is needed. Questions are welcome, and people may sit out a practice or choose how much to share.
Will we need to adopt a new program or train leaders?
No. Homeward facilitates a short experience within your existing community. There is no requirement to start another group, pursue leader training, or continue afterward.
Is there a charge or a commitment to finish?
No charge and no obligation to complete every session. Four gatherings, or three for Sacred Listening, is the intended rhythm. Your group can stop at any time.
Who is this for?
Existing Christian small groups, care teams, staff teams, and ministry leaders who want to explore prayer and listening together. A first conversation helps us discern whether the experience fits your group.
BEGIN WITH EXPERIENCE
Tell us about the group you already have.
Share a little about your community and what you hope to deepen. We’ll explore which experience might serve your people.
No charge. No pressure. Begin with a conversation. Your group decides whether to try an experience.
Prefer to talk first? Talk with Shaun