by Kate Harris | Dec 20, 2019 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.” Luke 2:6 (NIV) In an unknown town, a week’s distance from the womanly wisdom of mother, sisters, aunts, it began. Plodding heavily beside...
by Rick Mastroianni | Dec 16, 2019 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
She insisted on seeing me face-to-face, unveiled, defying all custom for the betrothed to remain apart until the wedding feast. I watched her eyes rain when she saw doubt and pain in mine. They said it was a good match: me from David’s royal line, she connected to...
by Drew Masterson | Dec 10, 2019 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
Advent, when we allow it, transports us back in time to a relatively small and unheralded province of the Roman Empire where a people waited. This people had enjoyed millennia of imperfect but close communion with their God; He had walked with them, spoken to them,...
by Bill Haley | Dec 5, 2019 | Church Unity, Liturgical Seasons
I love my parents, they did a great job with us four kids. They didn’t do it perfectly of course (what parent does?), but they loved us as best they knew how, and loved Jesus as best they knew how, and those two things cover a multitude of, well, things I’m sure they...
by Coracle | Nov 18, 2019 | Liturgical Seasons
Here’s a list of Advent resources, curated with love, that we hope will help you prepare well for Christmas this year. An innovative and beautiful online Advent Calendar utilizing Visio Divina, Biola University’s Advent Project, leads you through visual...
by Bill Haley | Apr 17, 2019 | Liturgical Seasons
(I offered these reflections today at The Falls Church Anglican) This Good Friday, we remember the seven last words of Jesus from the cross. Seven last gasps. The Apostle John said of Jesus that if a person tried to write down all the things he did and said, the...
by Wade Ballou | Mar 20, 2019 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
Friends, we are well into our season of Lent. I have come to see this season as an invitation by Christ to lean in to be in him and with him in union with the Father, through the strength of the Holy Spirit. The idea of Lent and its practices have developed over many...
by Bill Haley | Feb 21, 2019 | For the World, Justice and Mercy, Liturgical Seasons
Brothers and sisters, we are ALL pained by the ongoing and exacerbated tensions around race in our moment. And I know if you’re reading this, you want to be part of the healing and part of the reconciliation. To help us do this, me and quite a few dear friends are now...
by Coracle | Jan 6, 2019 | Liturgical Seasons
O God, who am I now? Once, I was secure in familiar territory in my sense of belonging unquestioning of the norms of my culture the assumptions built into my language the values shared by my society. But now you have called me out and away from home and I do not know...
by Bill Haley | Jan 4, 2019 | Contemplative Life, Creation, Liturgical Seasons
Almost 10 years ago, we moved from the inner-city of Washington to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. There are at least two things I haven’t gotten used to yet, and hope I never will be. Both are arresting. Both can stop you in your tracks with a sense of awe,...
by Bill Haley | Dec 5, 2018 | Liturgical Seasons
Advent–always a wonderful, and strange, season. It’s wonderful because it gives the opportunity once again to recall the long wait of the people of God for their Savior, and the promises punctuating centuries of waiting throughout the Old Testament that would find...
by Coracle | Nov 28, 2018 | Liturgical Seasons
“In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all.” Isaiah 11:6 By: Margot Eyring, Spiritual Director with Coracle When Jesus...
by Scott Buresh | Nov 15, 2018 | Liturgical Seasons
As I look out my window at the multi-colored display of foliage, I find myself thanking God again for the gift of seasons, each with its own distinctive mood and beauty. Each leaf is a declaration of the mind and heart of God who envisioned creating a world full of...
by Coracle | Apr 27, 2018 | Church Unity, Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
By: Kate Kennedy, Coracle Fellow ’18 In talking matters of faith, I’m inevitably asked the question, “so what’s your denomination?” My reaction is always the same. I grin and say, “well, the easiest way to describe myself is with two words –...
by Coracle | Apr 6, 2018 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
By: John Gardner The role of Pilate has always been among the most confusing aspects for me in the story of the Passion of Christ. Why does this figure play such an important role in the story? Why was it necessary to narrate Pilate’s conversations with Jesus and...
by Coracle | Mar 17, 2018 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
Printable PDF of this prayer can be found here: St. Patrick’s Breastplate I bind unto myself today The strong name of the Trinity: By invocation of the same, The Three in One and One in Three. I bind this day to me for ever By...
by Wade Ballou | Mar 15, 2018 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
The season of Lent often coincides with tax season and these days we can find ourselves sorting through receipts and bank statements taking stock of our year financially, as well as taking stock of our interior lives. Any examination connected to federal income taxes...
by Bill Haley | Feb 9, 2018 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Abide in my love. – John 15:9 As we move into Lent next Wednesday, here are some thoughts that are helpful to keep firmly in mind and heart. When you’re going to truly consider and climb down into the depth of...
by Coracle | Feb 7, 2018 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
As we approach the season of Lent one week from today, please see this printable PDF that we put together of some resources we really like. We want to particularly point you toward An American Lent, an online tool which we helped develop to dive into this season of...
by Karla Petty | Feb 2, 2018 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
With Lent beginning on Valentine’s day, and Easter falling on April 1 (April Fool’s day) it’s already a struggle to enter in to an important liturgical season, even before it has started. Even without competing with greeting card holidays, it’s...
