As Holy Covenant continues its Year of Wellness journey, we turn this week toward the sacred rhythm of stillness.
Before every sermon is spoken, there is silence.

Before every word is written, there is listening.

Pastor Chris invites us behind the scenes of ministry to discover how silence itself can become a teacher, a healer, and a wellspring of wisdom.

Through the contemplative practice known as Centering Prayer, Pastor Chris grounds his day in quiet awareness of God’s indwelling presence—a discipline that nourishes both body and spirit, anchoring his ministry in peace.

Centering Prayer is a modern expression of the ancient Christian contemplative tradition.

It was popularized in the 1970s by Trappist monks who sought to offer a simple method of silent prayer for anyone desiring a deeper relationship with God.

In practice, one sits in silence for about 20 minutes, gently returning to a sacred word or phrase whenever the mind begins to wander.

Over time, this rhythm cultivates a habit of surrender—of opening the heart to divine presence.

“Centering Prayer cultivates awareness of God’s presence — not only around us, but within us.

It reminds me that the gift of God’s presence already dwells in us all, and that from this still center, we can respond to the world from a more Christlike place.”

— Rev. Christopher Czarnecki, Pastor

For Pastor Chris, Centering Prayer is not an escape from the world but a way of engaging it more lovingly.

In the hush before dawn or the quiet after dusk, this practice becomes a sanctuary of listening—where sermons are born, prayers take shape, and peace is restored.

In this stillness, the heart learns again that the best preparation for preaching, for living, for loving, is presence.

Stillness as Spiritual Wellness

In our fast-moving world, rest often feels like resistance.
Yet stillness restores balance to mind and body, allowing space for grace to surface.
Contemplative prayer reminds us that wellness is not only physical—it is spiritual: the quiet integration of heart, breath, and purpose.

Reflect & Respond

1. When and where do you feel most aware of God’s presence?
2. What practice might help you begin or end each day in stillness?
3. How could Holy Covenant’s Year of Wellness inspire you to nurture spiritual rest?