by Coracle | Dec 5, 2024 | Contemplative Life
In this “Space for God” devotional, Bethany Blankespoor (InterVarsity) introduces us to the Salesian Spirituality of Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal. She invites us to bring the core of who we are, our very hearts, to Jesus, who is gentle and humble...
by Bill Haley | Dec 5, 2024 | Contemplative Life
In this Thanksgiving-week “Space for God” devotional, Rev. Bill Haley (Coracle Executive Director) guides us into a practice of centering prayer. He focuses our attention on the many good gifts of God that we might often fail to notice in the hustle and...
by Ken Wettig | Nov 26, 2024 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
“They were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.” – Hebrews 11 “After I became a Christian, I understood why I’ve always been homesick at home.” – G.K Chesterton, Orthodoxy What child, no matter how virtuous they may be, after opening...
by Coracle | Nov 24, 2024 | Contemplative Life
In this “Space for God” devotional, Suzy Kanode (Spiritual Director) guides us into the ancient practice of Examen. She helps us prayerfully look back over the last three days of our lives, attentive to God’s presence and curious about the lessons...
by NaTasha Brown | Nov 21, 2024 | Contemplative Life
Last December I had an opportunity to share with our Coracle community through this journal article an experience I had that opened the eyes of my understanding to the difference between Justice and Mercy. I learned that mercy was something that we could achieve on...
by Coracle | Nov 20, 2024 | Contemplative Life
by Wanda Bickers One of the gifts of my role in the church and with Coracle is that I get to start preparing for Advent in October. There have been seasons when this seemed like a burden, rushing around in the Fall trying to figure out what Advent services and...
by Bill Haley | Nov 19, 2024 | Contemplative Life
Before we knew the outcome of this year’s presidential election, we knew that all of us would need a chance to pause, remember Who is truly in control, and experience refreshment from the wonderfully loving rule of King Jesus. Bach’s B-Minor Mass is a...
by Coracle | Nov 14, 2024 | Contemplative Life
In this “Space for God: BIBLE” devotional, Rev. Karen Curry guides us into 1 Chronicles 15. She unpacks how those who are most active for the Lord most need to make space for God a regular part of their lives. We pray you are blessed by her reflection!...
by Bill Haley | Nov 13, 2024 | Contemplative Life
What would happen if…”A Generation of Believers Gathered Together for One Simple Purpose: To Build Relationships Now that will Transform the Future of the Church and the Culture?” This was the original vision statement for The Vine when we gathered in 1999. ...
by Bill Haley | Nov 7, 2024 | Contemplative Life
In this “Space for God” devotional, Rev. Bill Haley (Coracle Executive Director) guides us through an earnest litany of prayers for Election Day. Wherever you are coming from politically, we hope these prayers will draw us all closer to the heart of God in the...
by Ken Wettig | Nov 6, 2024 | Contemplative Life
“Since God elected you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12 We just had an election in the U.S. The Bible talks about a different kind of election....
by Margot Eyring | Nov 3, 2024 | Contemplative Life
In this “Space for God” devotional, Margot Eyring (Coracle Spiritual Direction Coordinator) guides us into a practice and reflection on the peace of Jesus. She places before us various stories from Jesus’ life about how he embodied peace to those he encountered...
by Scott Buresh | Oct 30, 2024 | Contemplative Life
I’ll never forget meeting with Bill Haley, my spiritual director, a few weeks after my wife’s funeral eleven years ago. My adult daughters stayed with me through the Christmas holiday and then I went on a personal retreat to a friend’s farm in Western Maryland. In...
by Coracle | Oct 24, 2024 | Contemplative Life
In this “Space for God” devotional, Rev. Dan Marotta (Pastor & Author) guides us into an encounter with a handful of historic Christian saints from across the centuries and the globe. He demonstrates how getting to know these faithful Christian...
by Bill Haley | Oct 21, 2024 | Contemplative Life
It is autumn, my favorite season. The beauty of it, for those with eyes to see, threatens to undo us. This is the sentiment of Edna St. Vincent Millay in her poem, in autumn, ‘God’s World’: O world, I cannot hold thee close enough! Thy winds, thy wide grey skies! ...
by Bill Haley | Oct 18, 2024 | Contemplative Life
In this “Space for God: BIBLE” devotional, Rev. Bill Haley (Coracle Executive Director) guides us through Paul’s impassioned, free-wheeling defense of his apostolic authority in 2 Corinthians 11-12. Specifically, he highlights the deep insight Paul is granted...
by Ken Wettig | Oct 16, 2024 | Contemplative Life
“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything.” – Timothy Keller Never has the word...
by Coracle | Oct 3, 2024 | Contemplative Life
In this “Space for God” devotional, Laura Merricks (Spiritual Director) guides us into a time of visio and lectio divina focused on the famous icon by Andrei Rublev commonly called “The Trinity.” She helps us consider the far-ranging...
by Bill Haley | Oct 2, 2024 | Contemplative Life, Vocation
I’m grateful for this Saturday’s retreat on the Eucharist. You’re welcome to join. Of the12 retreats we do over the course of our Coracle Fellowship year, a full one of those is on Communion. Of all the topics we could choose in the realm of spiritual formation and...
by Coracle | Sep 27, 2024 | Contemplative Life
In this “Space for God” devotional, Ann Bodling (Coracle Spiritual Director) guides us through a series of contemplative prompts drawn from a Celtic Daily Prayer book. We are invited to bring our full selves—our senses, our hopes, our plans, and our stories—to...