About
Catch your breath, try out a spiritual practice, ancient or modern, and get a sense for how you are already journeying in a contemplative way — and go deeper! Look around and then move into the rest of your day more grounded and hopeful.
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My Story
Welcome to Prayer Bench, a digital space for journeying deeper in a contemplative way of living. I’m Janice, Host of the Prayer Bench.
A Journey of Contemplation
My own spiritual journey leads me to a contemplative way of being in the world.
It’s challenging to bring your whole self to every moment, embracing silence, and seeing the world with fresh hope every day.
I value the skills, tools and spiritual practice I’ve learned on the contemplative path. I write resources for you out of my own experience.
What to Expect
So, what can you expect from a visit to Prayer Bench?
Think of it as a Soul Pause in your day, an opportunity to rest a moment with a spiritual practice, ancient or modern.
Read a thought-provoking reflection on the blog, listen to a spiritual memoir, watch a video, pray with scripture or a poem, or follow a writing prompt.
My Story
Welcome to Prayer Bench, a digital space for journeying deeper in a contemplative way of living. I’m Janice, Host of the Prayer Bench.
A Journey of Contemplation
My own spiritual journey leads me to a contemplative way of being in the world.
It’s challenging to bring your whole self to every moment, embracing silence, and seeing the world with fresh hope every day.
I value the skills, tools and spiritual practice I’ve learned on the contemplative path. I write resources for you out of my own experience.
What to Expect
So, what can you expect from a visit to Prayer Bench?
Think of it as a Soul Pause in your day, an opportunity to rest a moment with a spiritual practice, ancient or modern.
Read a thought-provoking reflection on the blog, listen to a spiritual memoir, watch a video, pray with scripture or a poem, or follow a writing prompt.
My Prayer Bench
Crafted out of rough wooden pieces 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 to volunteer with the Sisters of Sion. Their daily practice of prayer deepened my time on the prayer bench.
Then I returned to Canada beginning a new ministry position with The United Church of Canada. It was a time of deep change in the church and my position allowed me to play with new ideas and try out new ways. Technology and spirituality joined hands.
Now I am living a dream, born on that prayer bench years ago. It was braided in my soul: the longing for a community, gathered in learning, curiosity, prayer and soul work.
My Prayer Bench
Crafted out of rough wooden pieces 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 to volunteer with the Sisters of Sion. Their daily practice of prayer deepened my time on the prayer bench.
Then I returned to Canada beginning a new ministry position with The United Church of Canada. It was a time of deep change in the church and my position allowed me to play with new ideas and try out new ways. Technology and spirituality joined hands.
Now I am living a dream, born on that prayer bench years ago. It was braided in my soul: the longing for a community, gathered in learning, curiosity, prayer and soul work.
What I Offer
Are you a curious learner or a leader of people looking for good resources? I’m committed to crafting creative resources that go beyond the ordinary in supporting you on your spiritual journey.
Here’s what you’ll find in the Prayer Bench Shop:
Email Retreats
Email Retreats deliver a retreat to your inbox. Each one offers suggestions for creating your own retreat space, a reflection, prompts for journalling, and ideas for spiritual practice and creative expression.
Small Group Studies
With our Small Group Studies you receive a Leader Guide with everything you need for your sessions — a detailed process, audio recordings or short input papers, scripts, participant pages and additional resources.
Individual Spiritual Studies
Unplugged at the cottage and have space and time for reflection? Need a nourishing day off? Print and download a Prayer Bench Retreat or Individual Study Package and enrich your mystic soul.
Prayer & Worship Resources
If you are looking for a collection of prayers or reflections for your personal devotions or to use with your group or community of faith, you’ll find that.
Daily Email Programs
In collaboration with Kereru Publishing in New Zealand, we offer Stroll for Your Soul & Rambles. You get an email, inspiration, and an invitation to share with new friends on the Facebook page.
Hope Matters
At Prayer Bench, the mission is to support you on your contemplative journey. Our digital presence conveys peace, calm, joy, and hope. Hope matters.
You are invited to make a soul pause, go deeper, and make hope in the world. We look forward to sharing the contemplative journey with you and making hope a reality in the world.
Thank you for visiting the Prayer Bench. With deep contemplation and hope,
Janice MacLean, Host of the Prayer Bench
My Mission & Approach
Creating digital space for people seeking to journey in the world as contemplatives, seeking hope and learning to see with the eyes of the heart.
Publishing resources so participants can retreat at home, join a email program or gather a small group to participate in relevant studies that invite deep conversation and group spiritual practice.