The word “contemplative” can seem incongruous in our lightning-fast world, sounding painstakingly slow, or even archaic. For many, life is about results, and the results that count are tangible, quantifiable ones. Prayer doesn’t always produce those, and it can feel unproductive to carve out time for simple contemplation and stillness. So why would Mother Teresa, a modern-day Christian, say, “we must be contemplatives in the heart of the world”? Her exemplary life was defined by active engagement, serving people with all of her being. Yet she was also committed to contemplation and prayer. The contemplative life can seem a completely separate calling, meant for a particular kind of person. But is it?

Coracle’s retreat on April 2, Deepening Prayer: An Introduction to the Contemplative Life, led by Bill Haley and Wade Ballou, will show that contemplation and action go hand in hand. You may find that your current spiritual practices feel cold, and prayers stagnant, detracting from your ability to act and grow in your faith. Maybe you are gritting your teeth and trying hard to make the Christian life work, checking the boxes without feeling connected to the actions. What if these frustrations are an invitation from God that he desires for you to take a step toward a deeper relationship with him?  This retreat is a great place to start learning how to listen and step into that invitation. We’ll learn about the theology underneath the contemplative life and disciplines, and, together, experientially explore important spiritual disciplines such as prayer, silence, solitude, practicing the sacrament of the present moment (don’t worry, we’ll explain this!), and the Eucharist.  We’ll begin to understand what it means to be contemplative in the heart of the world—your world, right where you are in the here and now. We hope you will come away with a solid introduction to the “contemplative life,” which lots of people have heard about, but few know what it actually means.

This is a retreat we offer annually 1- because of frequent requests for retreats on prayer, and 2- because it’s so important! Prayer, as Richard Foster says, is the key to the heart of God. (And who doesn’t want to know more about that?) Of course, we’ll enjoy the renowned “Lunch by Tara” and we’ll conclude with the Eucharist. $75 Suggested Donation, and scholarships are available.