by Ken Wettig | Feb 2, 2021 | Contemplative Life
In this “Space for God” devotional, Rev. Ken Wettig (Coracle Community Minister for the Shenandoah Valley) guides us through a powerful, imaginative encounter with the baptism of Jesus and how that event can serve as an anchor to us in hard times. How...
by Mary Gardner | Jan 28, 2021 | Contemplative Life
In this “Space for God” devotional, Rev. Mary Amendolia Gardner introduces us to the life of Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller, a renowned African-American artist from the turn of the 20th Century who faced many obstacles and tragedies throughout her long life, but...
by Karla Petty | Jan 27, 2021 | Contemplative Life
In the mid 1990’s, you may recall, “Magic Eye” optical illusion books swept the nation featuring graphics (autostereograms) that, if seen correctly, would reveal a 3D shape or picture. Not for lack of trying, those 3D images never appeared to me. I would sit and...
by Danny Nasry | Jan 26, 2021 | Contemplative Life
In this Simple Soundings devotional, Danny Nasry (Coracle Community Minister), leads us through an imaginative reflection on Exodus 3– the story of Moses and the unburnt bush. Drawing upon the Eastern Orthodox tradition, he shares how this iconic story invites us to...
by Rick Campanelli | Jan 25, 2021 | Contemplative Life
Luke 21: 16-19: “[S]ome of you they will even put to death… But not a hair on your head will perish.” Imagine going to a doctor and getting a diagnosis like this: “This may kill you. But you will be fine.” If you reported that diagnosis to others,...
by Coracle | Jan 19, 2021 | Contemplative Life
by Anna Holowinsky It was the summer of 2016. I stumbled upon a creative community in Charlottesville, VA, and within that space, I met a friend named Richard. Richard was a word artist. I had never heard of word art before, but I knew after rubbing...
by Kelly Gould | Jan 11, 2021 | Contemplative Life, Justice and Mercy
“Peter,” he said, “this is not the way.” Maybe like me, you’re still trying to wrap your mind around what happened this past Wednesday at our Capitol Building in Washington, DC. Images keep replaying in my mind. My emotions change from moment to moment, and I’ve...
by Amy Boucher Pye | Jan 7, 2021 | Contemplative Life
In this “Space for God” devotional, writer and Coracle Spiritual Director Amy Boucher Pye guides us through the ancient practice of “Examen” and helps us look back over the past year– its glories and its griefs– with our senses attuned to...
by Coracle | Jan 5, 2021 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
by Bill Simmons, President & CEO of American Leprosy Missions What is that nagging feeling I have? Why do I feel a heaviness in my heart? Something is clawing at my mind, clouding my eyes, preventing me from seeing the road ahead. As this year draws to a close,...
by Ken Wettig | Dec 24, 2020 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
Most Christians in America have experienced some variation of the following scene during a recent Christmas Eve. You just left a Christmas Eve service, having sung “O Holy Night” with all of your might, tears streaming down your face astounded by the...
by Coracle | Dec 21, 2020 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
In this Advent Offering– recorded on December 17, 2020– Bill Haley guides us through a worshipful experience of Advent and Christmas carols new and old, to help us encounter anew the gift of Christ’s birth and to whet our appetites for His second Advent. If...
by Bill Haley | Dec 17, 2020 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
It’s not a question of “If?” but rather “When?” and “Where?” Is it going to be in Safeway, or the Starbucks, or while wandering the hall of some shopping mall, past pilgrims lugging their gifts of Godiva, fragrances, and merino wool? It’ll probably happen after the...
by Coracle | Dec 11, 2020 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
On Dec 9th, Drew Masterson (Coracle Dir. of Communications & Development) and Rick Mastroianni (Coracle Spiritual Director) discussed the role of the imagination and creativity in the Christian life. They share Rick’s poem “Joseph Speaks” as an...
by Drew Masterson | Dec 2, 2020 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
The Advent Season presents us with the invitation to slow down, to shear away the clutter and noise of our lives enough to dwell on some of the richest themes in human existence. We can observe how these themes play out in the grand drama of Scripture, as well as in...
by Coracle | Nov 30, 2020 | Contemplative Life
In these Simple Soundings devotionals, Coracle staff and Spiritual Directors offer bite-sized reflections to be enjoyed at any time, to help keep your spirit nourished on the Journey with God. “Simple Soundings” Devotional...
by Karla Petty | Nov 24, 2020 | Contemplative Life
This week our nation will take a day or two away from its normal rhythms to focus on thankfulness. Many of you have been able to join us for our Tuesday morning “Space for God” devotionals, and this week I took a page from Ann Voskamp’s wonderful book, “One Thousand...
by Rick Mastroianni | Nov 19, 2020 | Contemplative Life
In this “Space for God” devotional, Rick Mastroianni (a Spiritual Director with Coracle) guides us through the transformative practice of praying the historic “Jesus Prayer.” He introduces us to scriptures from which the prayer is derived and...
by Bill Haley | Nov 12, 2020 | Church Unity, Contemplative Life, Justice and Mercy, Vocation
In May 2014, I had the opportunity to preach on this question, and I did something I’d never done before and haven’t done since. I wrote the sermon first as a long essay, writing it as completely as possible so I could get it all out on the page, and unsurprisingly...
by Coracle | Nov 10, 2020 | Contemplative Life
On the evening of November 5th, 2020– two days after election day and two days before the election results would be called– we gathered for what we had been calling a “Post-Election Palette Cleanser.” This was an opportunity to tune-out all of the noise...
by Coracle | Nov 9, 2020 | Contemplative Life
by Lan-Vy Ngo I walk until I reach the bench I love and sit down. Relaxing against it, I feel completely at peace. Before me is the Rhone Valley of Switzerland, a breathtaking expanse of green plains, spruce trees, and wooden chalets spread out before the...
