by Coracle | May 22, 2014 | Contemplative Life
After most group retreats at Corhaven and often personal retreats, we ask a few questions about people’s experiences and ideas. And we always ask “How did you meet God?”. The following replies are just a few taken from recent retreatants. Praise God that he meets...
by Bill Haley | May 19, 2014 | Contemplative Life, For the World
Recently I was able to preach on this topic at The Falls Church Anglican. The audio version (link provided in the PDF) is half the length of what I’ve written and attached here. It was for me an opportunity to get onto the page some ideas I’ve been...
by Coracle | May 14, 2014 | Church Unity, Contemplative Life
Yes, we all strive to be doing the work of Jesus, but one guy has more eyes on him than any of us. The Pope. In case you missed this one, here is an article we found on the subject. Click the title below to read the full thing. “If Francis’s embrace of the...
by Coracle | May 7, 2014 | Contemplative Life
“In the silence of the heart God speaks. If you face God in prayer and silence, God will speak to you. Then you will know that you are nothing. It is only when you realize your nothingness, your emptiness, that God can fill you with Himself. Souls of prayer are souls...
by Coracle | Apr 30, 2014 | Contemplative Life
This post was written by Gabriel Dodd During my first semester studying at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, I have enjoyed a class called Missio Dei in Cultural Context. I have come to an understanding that if ten people were in a room, and we asked them what the Mission...
by Bill Haley | Apr 20, 2014 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
Like many of you, most mornings I’m awake before the dawn. Most mornings I get up in the darkness. And while I’m making my coffee, brushing my teeth, sitting in a quiet house reading or praying, or trying bang out as many emails as I can before the kids wake up,...
by Bill Haley | Apr 18, 2014 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
I’ve read this sermon by Jonathan Edwards on “Christ’s Agony” on Good Friday many years. It helps me reflect on what Jesus did for me, and appreciate it all the more, and appreciate his love for me all the more, and love him for it. You’ll find it here and you may...
by Coracle | Apr 16, 2014 | Contemplative Life, Creation
It’s safe to say that for me personally, a critical part of my spiritual formation earlier in life came through spending time alone with God, in nothing but nature, sleeping in a tent, with no other company except God and the wonders of creation and a constant...
by Bill Haley | Mar 24, 2014 | Contemplative Life
Recently while in China, I had the opportunity to reconnect with Chris Hickey, a good man who I’d gotten to know while at St. Brendan’s. He shared with me a hard story of the death of one of his good friends, Brad Ipema, who died too young. Chris forwarded on to me...
by Lucas Koach | Mar 21, 2014 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
From dust you come, to dust you shall return (Gen. 3:19). Inspiring words! Does the truth of our finitude provoke inspiration or despair? If you want to be first, be the last. If you want great, be the least. If you want to be rich, give what you have away. If you...
by Coracle | Mar 17, 2014 | Contemplative Life
Laura Merzig Fabrycky wrote this blog originally for The Washington Institute, and asked if we can post it on our website. These are her reflections after co-leading the retreat on “Rhythms and Vocation: An Experiential Introduction to the Rule of St....
by Coracle | Mar 14, 2014 | Contemplative Life, Spiritual Direction
Henri Nouwen describes the ministry of spiritual direction well and simply here in a short reflection titled “The Spirit of Jesus Listening in us” “Listening in the spiritual life is much more than a psychological strategy to help others discover...
by Bill Haley | Mar 11, 2014 | Contemplative Life
Yesterday, I bumped across a couple of brief writings from some great souls that were essentially saying the same thing. Basically, don’t worry too much about the big picture, but rather love the people who are actually around you with great love, and do the things...
by Coracle | Feb 28, 2014 | Contemplative Life
This last weekend, Corhaven hosted a delightful retreat with The Washington Institute about “Rhythms and Vocation: An Experiential Introduction to the Rule of St. Benedict.” At the end of the day, the group shared in Eucharist with this simple recipe. Laura Fabrycky,...
by Coracle | Feb 21, 2014 | Church Unity, Contemplative Life
Friends, I’ll be in Shanghai March 6-16 to preach at a couple of churches and to lead a couple of retreats, and looking forward to being hosted by and seeing some old friends from St. Brendan’s in the City. The major themes of the retreats and speaking are spiritual...
by Coracle | Feb 19, 2014 | Contemplative Life
With the hustle and bustle of work, school, and church, I find it hard sometimes to take a deep breath. Sometimes we carve room for that special time of rest, and other times, it falls upon us like Gods saving mercy. The image of our planet from Mars struck Bill and...
by Coracle | Feb 19, 2014 | Contemplative Life
This weekend, we’ve got a full house as so many people have signed up for the retreat exploring and experiencing the Benedictine tradition and it’s relevance for today. Even if we won’t see you this weekend, this article is inspiring, insightful,...
by Wade Ballou | Jan 31, 2014 | Contemplative Life
“God doesn’t waste a background.” This thought, planted by the Rev. Sam Ferguson during a study of the life of St. Paul began coming to fruition for me during my preparations for giving the general Father’s Blessing at the January 2014 Mother/Father’s Blessing held by...
by Chrissy Koach | Jan 25, 2014 | Contemplative Life
Like many parents, I am fretting over the summer calendar already. (Maybe these extra snow days after an already-long weekend are wearing me out!) The awesome church camp schedule is posted, but I’m still waiting on the county’s schedule. Further, we have several...
by Mary Gardner | Jan 13, 2014 | Contemplative Life
A book review of Tangible: Making God Known Through Deeds of Mercy and Words of Truth by Chris Sicks (Colorado Springs, CO; NavPress, 2013) by Mary C. Amendolia How did an atheist turn into a man of mercy? Tangible: Making God Known Through Deeds of Mercy and Words of...
