Friends, 2024 is upon us, what will be an interesting year to be sure, full of graces and challenges.  Throughout the Advent and Christmas readings we all just heard, you probably noticed the angel messengers always led with “Fear not”, a timeless word that happens to be timely!  Nothing will happen in 2024 that will unseat the reigning Christ. (Jn 18.36)  Nothing will happen in 2024 that will separate you (or me) from the love of God. (Rms 8.35-39)  Nothing will happen in 2024 that changes the deepest vocation of every Christian–to incarnate the Incarnation–to be the living body of the living Christ and bear witness to the love of God that goes so far as to embrace everyone, even enemies, even when they were us! (Rms 5.6-11)

So fear not!  2024 is a timely year for Coracle’s vision to be help us all be “lights in the darkness” and for our deeper mission: to help us all go deeper into Jesus so that we can engage the brokenness around us with God’s redemptive love, aka “Spiritual Formation for Kingdom Action”.

There’s a lot coming up I hope you’ll join us for. Like we did in 2020, we’re leaning into the topics of the day as well as into the truths that never change.  Beyond all the ‘normal’ stuff we do that ends up being so powerful, I’m particularly excited about:

• The new “Justice, Mercy, and Humility” Soundings seminar series online beginning Thursday, January 11.
• Space for God, usually on Tuesdays, now beginning to be offered online also on Thursdays at 8.30am PT / 11.30am ET also starting January 11. Email Jessica if you have questions.
• In the Arlington Ministry Center, beginning to offer ESOL on February 6, and after that offering more ways of welcome to those for whom America is not their first home.  Email Chris for more information and to volunteer.  Also at the ministry center, offering the retreat “How to Fall in Love with Jesus” in March, and we hope to be offering more regular opportunities for prayer and Eucharist there.
• Going on the transforming journey of pilgrimage to Everest Base Camp in May, to Lindisfarne and Iona in the summer, to Guatemala and the US/Mexico border in the fall, and exploring the US history of slavery in Arlington, VA and Maryland.
• Starting in mid-spring, Corhaven will have even more space available for personal spiritual retreats, for leadership teams and small groups, and retreats for pastors.  Email Ken for more about all that.
• Baltimore has started an in-person “Deeper Journey” gathering and has a great new idea for the next Fellows cohort starting in September.  Email Scott for more about Baltimore, as well as the work partnering for the sake of the city there.
• Next week you’ll be hearing from Kristy about many new offerings this winter and spring from the Repentance Project.
• Save the date – June 14-16 in Washington–when we hope to offer a conference with others on three major toxicities afflicting the evangelical church in America, and how we as parishioners can be a part of her healing.
• We also hope to create space in the Arlington Ministry Center for safe, confidential conversations for pastors about how they are weathering pastoring and preaching in this most difficult time to be a pastor.  If you’re a pastor, email me for more about that.
• Then, in September and October, we’ll be offering a seminar and discussion series online about the 2024 election featuring leading Christian thinkers (and more importantly, who are also wise and godly people).  Stay tuned.

There’s more, but this is a snapshot at least of what’s top of mind for me and the Coracle team.  We really want to journey together with you this year, so please sign up, show up, and pray!  Let’s do it with each other, and with the God who loves us and all and everything.