Living Flame I and II
Below are some of the ways in which Centering Prayer communities have met this follow-up need:
Chicago, Illinois: This area has followed LF I and II with a video taped series using the Christian Contemplative Heritage videos on seven Saturdays during the year. They retained the same prayer format with input and discussion. The fruit of the Living Flame Program, it was named "Living Flame Plus". The same video program was used in the Tampa Bay area following the very first Living Flame I and II.
Newark, New Jersey: Using some local and some national speakers, this area kept the Living Flame format and monthly meetings, while not requiring participants to make a commitment to attend all seven sessions, but to select those in which they had an interest. There were total package and individual day payment plans. Naming their follow-up "Contemplative Enrichment Program, they covered many topics such as Balance in Life, Drumming and Taize Prayer, Tai Chi Chih and Centering Prayer, Spirituality of Money, Relationships in Our Lives, Thoughts on Humility and so forth.
Portland, Oregon: This area is in its third year of "The Journey Continues" following Living Flame I and II. Their meetings are a half day each month with a Centering Prayer sit, Lectio, video presentation, discussion, a second sit and closing intercessory prayers and the Our Father. At the end of the year, there is a closing retreat day with an overnight option. They have decided to continue this program each year as long as they have a minimum of 12 attendees.
Tampa Bay, Florida: The core team of this area has chosen to have several local speakers do workshops in the Fall, such as Forgiveness, Intention/Attention, Thoughts on Humility, based on the Living Flame format. Each is an individual event with fee varying according to costs. They usually schedule a national speaker or two after the first of the year, host United in Prayer Days with perhaps one more event before summer.