Journeying Deeper, the Contemplative Way
Begin with a Soul Pause.
Bring intention to the tasks of your day.
Make hope.


Journeying Deeper, the Contemplative Way
Begin with a Soul Pause.
Bring intention to the tasks of your day.
Make hope.
Journeying Deeper, the Contemplative Way
Begin with a Soul Pause.
Bring intention to the tasks of your day.
Make hope.
At Prayer Bench, you are invited to engage in a profound contemplative journey. Immerse yourself in a rich collection of digital resources to support and inspire you.
Pause and try a spiritual practice, ancient or modern, and get a sense for how you are already journeying in a contemplative way — and go deeper!
Explore resources for individuals and groups that encourage your spiritual journey.
Look around and then move into the rest of your day grounded and hopeful.
Discover Tranquility at Prayer Bench
Your Digital Sanctuary for Contemplative Living

I’m Janice, your host, in exploring a contemplative approach to life that embraces silence, nurtures hope, and fosters a wholehearted presence in every moment.
Dive into insightful reflections, listen to enriching spiritual memoirs, engage with transformative videos, and find solace in scripture or poetry.
Whether through ancient practices or modern explorations, Prayer Bench offers you the tools and resources to enrich your spiritual journey, all crafted from the heart of experience.
Start your contemplative quest today.
My Prayer Bench
Leaving Iona after three years, I travelled to Israel/Palestine to volunteer with the Sisters of Sion. Their daily practice of prayer deepened my time on the prayer bench.
Returning to Canada, I began a new ministry role with The United Church of Canada during a time of profound change. My position allowed me to explore innovative ideas, bridging technology and spirituality.
Today, I am living a dream born on that prayer bench years ago —a dream interwoven with my soul’s longing for community, shared learning, curiosity, prayer, and soul work. Together, we create hope in the world.

My Prayer Bench

Crafted in Scotland by the Maintenance Coordinator at the Iona Community, an ecumenical Christian community, my prayer bench had its beginning in Scotland. In the frantic pace that was life in an intentional community I learned to sit and be still.
Leaving Iona after three years, I travelled to Israel/Palestine to volunteer with the Sisters of Sion. Their daily practice of prayer deepened my time on the prayer bench.
Returning to Canada, I began a new ministry role with The United Church of Canada during a time of profound change. My position allowed me to explore innovative ideas, bridging technology and spirituality.
Today, I am living a dream born on that prayer bench years ago —a dream interwoven with my soul’s longing for community, shared learning, curiosity, prayer, and soul work. Together, we create hope in the world.
It’s hard to find good spiritual materials and yours are definitely filling a badly needed area in my life.
Prayer Bench Resources
Providing space and writing creative resources for people journeying in the world as contemplatives and wanting to go deeper.
Pause
Try out a spiritual practice, ancient or modern. Read a blog. Move into the rest of your day, grounded and hopeful.
The quiet space each Email Retreat takes me to is both wonderful, necessary, and appreciated. I can make my way through at my own pace.
Pause. It’s good for your soul. It’s good for our world.
Perhaps there’s a spiritual practice or resource here to nurture you.
Journey deeper, the contemplative way.
From the Blog
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An Oral Reading of Jesus Family Tree
Listen to a gentle and meditative reading of Jesus Family Tree. Now reflect: "And now you are part of that Great Family which has become as many as...
Advent Calendar 2023
Imagine the excitement of a 19th century child invited to make the first chalk mark on the door. With 24 more marks it would be Christmas Day. Or...
Prayer Meditation for Advent
We keep coming back to Christmas, O God, even though we’ve been here so many times. We’ve been to the manger. Year after year, we make the journey...
Palm Sunday: Quiet Hallelujahs Humming
When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” - Matthew 21:10 Palm branches waving. Loud hosannas ringing. Palm...