Black Contemplative Prayer Summit
February 22 - 23, 2025
Join us for a transformative experience at the First Black Contemplative Prayer Virtual Summit, where we bring together Black spiritual teachers and thought leaders to lead a powerful and enriching dialogue on prayer and practice. This summit is designed for everyone, led by Black voices, and aimed at diversifying the contemplative space.
Join Live or Watch the Recordings at Your Own Pace
Why This Summit Matters?
The Black Contemplative Prayer Summit by our host Tia Norman
In the contemplative community, diversity is essential. This summit addresses the critical question: "Where are the leaders and practitioners of color?" By providing a platform for Black contemplative speakers and teachers, we elevate the Black voice and ensure it leads the conversation on spiritual growth and practice.
Join Live or Watch the Recordings at Your Own Pace
OUR SPEAKERS
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Julian Davis Reid
NOTES OF REST
Notes of Rest® invites the weary into the rest of God practiced in the Bible and Black music. The offering interweaves various theological themes (“notes”) such as Sabbath, Sleep, and Sanctuary with the playing and history of Black American music. Braiding these notes…
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Juanita Campbell Rasmus
CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER PRACTICES FOR INNER HEALING
The soul has a powerful memory. Inner healing practices can empower us to reframe and make life-giving meaning that becomes empowering and grounded in truth. In our session together we will make amends with beliefs that no…
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Dr. Donald Bryant
CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER & UNION
Contemplative Prayer and Union is the ultimate experience of interior transformation. Characterized by stillness, quietness and resting in the presence of God, one awakens to the eternal union with God and experiential communion (common union) with ourselves and others. According to Thomas Merton, it is…
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Drew Jackson
POETRY AS CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE
Lucille Clifton said, "art and poetry are not about answers to me, they are about questions." In a time where so many of us are holding both personal and cosmic questions, engaging poetry as a contemplative practice can be a balm and a salve. This session invites us to experience poetry as a contemplative practice, to open up our heart space and us settle into Mystery.
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Felicia Murrell
CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER & THE RESTORATIVE POWER OF LOVE
Within us all is the capacity to love deeply. Love is what binds us together, moves us closer to the restoration and renewal of things. Love is the source of our authentic power. Attendees can expect to explore how contemplative prayer returns us to…
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E. Trey Clark
BECOMING PRAYER
Prayer is a way of being in the world. How might our spiritual practices and experiences contribute toward such an orientation in and through life? What particular role does contemplative prayer have in fostering this kind of existence? This reflective session creates space for us to consider potential next steps on the journey toward becoming prayer.
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Colleen Thomas
BEYOND THE BODY, BEYOND THE MIND: FROM SELF-CARE TO INTERIOR TRANSFORMATION
As we commit ourselves to the practice of self-care how can we deepen our understanding of the work of the body as preparation for the interior work of the soul. Contemplative prayer is a path of interior transformation calling for a…
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Shawn Ellison
INFUSED CONTEMPLATION: PATH TO SUPERNATURAL UNION
In Carmelite Spirituality, we affirm the Divine’s underlying substantial union with the totality of creation, including human beings. However, most people — even devout spiritual practitioners — do not perpetually…
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Leonetta Elaiho
CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER & BEAUTY
Contemplative Prayer and Beauty explores the mystical invitation of engaging and celebrating beauty. Even in difficult, painful, and seemingly ugly times, beauty can lead us into a profound form of contemplative prayer. In community, we'll explore our relationship to beauty and discuss how beauty…
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Alfonso "Trey" Campbell
LECTIO DIVINA
Lectio Divina is a traditional spiritual practice of sacred reading, meditation, and prayer intended to promote communion with God and increase the knowledge of God's word. It involves four steps: reading (lectio), meditation (meditatio), prayer (oratio), and contemplation (contemplatio), allowing practitioners to…
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Cameron Johnson
CENTERING PRAYER
Centering Prayer is a contemplative practice rooted in Christian mysticism, emphasizing silent meditation and the quieting of the mind to foster a deeper relationship with God. Practitioners sit in silence, typically for 20 minutes, focusing on a sacred word or phrase to help let go of thoughts and distractions. This form…
keynote
Cole Arthur Riley is a writer and poet. She is the author of the NYT bestsellers, This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories that Make Us and Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human. Her writing has been featured in The Atlantic, Guernica, and The Washington Post. Cole is also the creator and writer of Black Liturgies, a project that integrates spiritual practice with Black emotion, Black literature, and the Black body.
cole arthur riley
God in the Dark: Doubt in Times of Divine Silence
Join Live or Watch the Recordings at Your Own Pace
You’ll Leave With:
Wisdom from Spiritual Teachers: Gain new perspectives on prayer and practice from esteemed spiritual teachers and contemplative practitioners.
Growth in Your Prayer Life: Learn how to begin, grow, and expand your prayer life by integrating contemplative principles and practices into your daily routine.
Broader Understanding: Understand how nurturing one's inner life can significantly impact how people of color navigate the world's complexities.
Practical Tools for Activism: Discover practical ways to engage contemplation as a tool for social activism.
Community and Connection: Know that you are not alone in your quest for community and contemplation.
Join Live or Watch the Recordings at Your Own Pace
"Contemplation is not a privilege of the few but a vital necessity for our interconnected lives. We are called to stillness, to pause, and to listen deeply."
— dr. BARBARA HOLMES
SESSIONS
Time Zone: US Central Standard
JULIAN DAVIS REID
Notes of Rest
Notes of Rest® invites the weary into the rest of God practiced in the Bible and Black music. The offering interweaves various theological themes (“notes”) such as Sabbath, Sleep, and Sanctuary with the playing and history of Black American music. Braiding these notes encourages participants to listen for the Holy Spirit’s leading, harmonize their journey with one another, and resolve to continue practicing rest and music to unify with God, neighbor, and self. As Jesus’ restful New Creation emerges out of this restless world, Notes of Rest® provides hospitable space to discern our participation in it.
Saturday, February 22nd: 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
LEONETTA ELAIHO
Contemplative Prayer & Beauty
Saturday, February 22nd—10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Contemplative Prayer and Beauty explores the mystical invitation of engaging and celebrating beauty. Even in difficult, painful, and seemingly ugly times, beauty can lead us into a profound form of contemplative prayer. In community, we'll explore our relationship to beauty and discuss how beauty can foster a deeper connection to the Divine and nurture our Spirits in all seasons of life.
Lectio Divina
ALFONSO "TREY" CAMPBELL
Lectio Divina is a traditional spiritual practice of sacred reading, meditation, and prayer intended to promote communion with God and increase the knowledge of God's word. It involves four steps: reading (lectio), meditation (meditatio), prayer (oratio), and contemplation (contemplatio), allowing practitioners to deeply engage with the sacred texts. This contemplative practice has roots in monastic traditions and is used to foster a more profound spiritual experience and personal reflection.
Saturday, February 22nd: 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Contemplative Prayer and Union is the ultimate experience of interior transformation. Characterized by stillness, quietness and resting in the presence of God, one awakens to the eternal union with God and experiential communion (common union) with ourselves and others. According to Thomas Merton, it is the highest expression of man’s intellectual and spiritual life.
Saturday, February 22nd: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Contemplative Prayer & Union
DR. DONALD BRYANT
JUANITA CAMPBELL RASMUS
Contemplative Prayer Practices for Inner Healing
The soul has a powerful memory. Inner healing practices can empower us to reframe and make life giving meaning that becomes empowering and grounded in truth. In our session together we will make amends with beliefs that no longer serve us and install new paradigms that empower us for the next phase of our becoming!
Saturday, February 22nd: 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
Prayer is a way of being in the world. How might our spiritual practices and experiences contribute toward such an orientation in and through life? What particular role does contemplative prayer have in fostering this kind of existence? This reflective session creates space for us to consider potential next steps on the journey toward becoming prayer.
Saturday, February 22nd: 2:45 PM - 3:00 PM
Becoming Prayer
E. Trey Clark
CAMERON JOHNSON
Centering Prayer
Centering Prayer is a contemplative practice rooted in Christian mysticism, emphasizing silent meditation and the quieting of the mind to foster a deeper relationship with God. Practitioners sit in silence, typically for 20 minutes, focusing on a sacred word or phrase to help let go of thoughts and distractions. This form of prayer aims to cultivate inner stillness, allowing individuals to experience God's presence more intimately.
Sunday, February 23rd: 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
COLLEEN THOMAS
Beyond the Body, Beyond the Mind
As we commit ourselves to the practice of self-care how can we deepen our understanding of the work of the body as preparation for the interior work of the soul. Contemplative prayer is a path of interior transformation calling for a movement beyond the body, and beyond the mind.
Sunday, February 23rd: 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Poetry as Contemplative Practice
DREW JACKSON
Lucille Clifton said, "art and poetry are not about answers to me, they are about questions." In a time where so many of us are holding both personal and cosmic questions, engaging poetry as a contemplative practice can be a balm and a salve. This session invites us to experience poetry as a contemplative practice, to open up our heart space and us settle into Mystery.
Sunday, February 23rd: 10:45 AM - 11:00 AM
FELICIA MURRELL
Contemplative Prayer & the Restorative Power of Love
Within us all is the capacity to love deeply. Love is what binds us together, moves us closer to the restoration and renewal of things. Love is the source of our authentic power. Attendees can expect to explore how contemplative prayer returns us to ourselves and more fully to a love ethos that can be embodied as a way of being in the world.
Sunday, February 23rd: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
SHAWN ELLISON
Infused Contemplation
In Carmelite Spirituality, we affirm the Divine’s underlying substantial union with the totality of creation, including human beings. However, most people — even devout spiritual practitioners — do not perpetually experience the transforming presence of this union, rather a spiritual ego that is unwittingly mistaken for the experience of union itself. In this presentation, we will explore infused contemplation as a pathway to supernatural union — a radical transformation of consciousness that actualizes our union with the Divine as an abiding experience. We shall also examine the relationship between infused contemplation and spiritual imagination as complementary processes in the evolution of mystical consciousness.
Sunday, February 23rd: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
COLE ARTHUR RILEY
God in the Dark: Doubt in Times of Divine Silence
Sunday, February 23rd: 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Cole Arthur Riley is a writer and poet. She is the author of the NYT bestsellers, This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories that Make Us and Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human. Her writing has been featured in The Atlantic, Guernica, and The Washington Post. Cole is also the creator and writer of Black Liturgies, a project that integrates spiritual practice with Black emotion, Black literature, and the Black body.
Join Live Online
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Watch the Replays
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Register Today
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Join Live Online · Watch the Replays · You Won't Miss a Thing · Register Today ·
All Presentations Are Recorded
"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
—Howard Thurman
Schedule
Time Zone: US Central Standard
Saturday, February 22nd
8:35 AM - Zoom Opens
8:45 AM - Tia Norman - Welcome
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM - Julian Davis Reid - Notes of Rest®
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM - Leonetta Elaiho - Contemplative Prayer and Beauty
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM - Alfonso "Trey" Campbell - Lectio Divina
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM - Dr. Donald Bryant - Contemplative Prayer and Union
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM - Pastor Juanita Campbell Rasmus - Contemplative Prayer Practices for Inner Healing
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM - E. Trey Clark - Becoming Prayer
Sunday, February 23rd
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM - Cameron Johnson - Centering Prayer
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM - Colleen Thomas - Beyond the Body, Beyond the Mind
10:45 AM - 11:00 AM - Drew Jackson - Poetry as Contemplative Practice
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Felicia Murrell - Contemplative Prayer And the Restorative Power of Love
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Shawn Ellison - Infused Contemplation: Path to Supernatural Union
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM - Keynote - Cole Arthur Riley
God in the Dark: Doubt in Times of Divine Silence
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM - Close Summit
Meet your host
Tia Norman is a teacher and guide specializing in spirituality and practices anchored in the mystical teachings of the Christian contemplative tradition. She leads workshops, retreats, and courses while serving as Pastor of Awakenings, Inc., a contemplative community based in Houston, Texas. She’s interested in helping communities discover ways to weave contemplative teachings into their context. Tia lives with her children, John and Kennedy, and their two adopted pups.
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This summit is designed for everyone, regardless of race, background, or experience level in contemplative practices. It aims to diversify the contemplative space by elevating black voices and perspectives.
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The virtual summit will take place on February 22nd and 23rd, 2025 via Zoom.
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You can register for the summit through this website. Registration by October 15th includes access for you and a guest for $99. The $99 early bird rate is available until December 15th.
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All sessions will be recorded and made available to registered participants after the event, so you can watch them at your convenience.
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Yes. There should be no financial barrier to attending. We are working with the Chicago chapter of Contemplative Outreach to create an accessible experience for all who desire to register. To inquire about scholarships email tia@contemplatehouston.com
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Yes, there will be space for Q&A available at the discretion of the speakers and host.
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Refunds are not available but replays are. All sessions will be recorded and made available to registered participants after the event, so you can watch them at your convenience.
FAQ
Meet The Planning Committee
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Shante Williams
THE BRAND CHICK
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TaJuana Antwine
MINDSHIFT LLC
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Quiana LaRae
SAINTWELL
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SAAJI MAHAL
MAHAL DESIGN
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Tia Norman
A CONTEMPLATIVE SPACE LLC