by Coracle | May 22, 2018 | Contemplative Life, Spiritual Direction
Heather Strube, Coracle Spiritual Director in Baltimore, MD, on what spiritual direction means and why it’s important. As I have discerned whether or not to walk forward with formalized training [in spiritual direction], I have had to answer this question...
by Bill Haley | May 7, 2018 | For the World, Justice and Mercy
What follows is Bill Haley’s reflection on the Life of Martin Luther King, given at the Trinity Forum Community Conversation on April 30, 2018 in Washington, DC. This event was co-hosted by Coracle and featured David Bailey of Arrabon and Rev. Dr. Cheryl...
by Karla Petty | May 4, 2018 | Contemplative Life, Creation
“A cold spring: the violet was flawed on the lawn. For two weeks or more the trees hesitated; the little leaves waited, carefully indicating their characteristics. Finally a grave green dust settled over your big and aimless hills… The infant oak-leaves swung through...
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 Scott Buresh | Apr 17, 2018 | Contemplative Life
I am eternally grateful to Dallas Willard for gently and patiently opening my eyes to the reality of the kingdom of God in and around me right here, right now. Like many Christians I had come to experience relating to God as someone who loved me dearly, dearly enough...
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 Karla Petty | Apr 2, 2018 | Contemplative Life, For the World
One of the primary features of living Christianity as Christ has called us to live it is being a part of community. Whatever Myers-Briggs personality type you are, or where you fall on the introvert-extrovert spectrum, there is no getting around the fact that Christ...
by Scott Buresh | Mar 31, 2018 | Contemplative Life, For the World
What a sweet and tender Lenten season for many of us here in Baltimore who have been journeying together with George Hopkins and the Repentance Project. We have encountered great darkness and brokenness in our past with tentacles that reach into the present. We opened...
by Bill Haley | Mar 30, 2018 | Contemplative Life, Spiritual Direction
The power of God was shown most clearly at the resurrection of Jesus. God defeated death. The love of God was shown most clearly on the cross of Christ. God poured out his life for us. And Jesus said, “Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John...
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 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...
by Bill Haley | Jan 29, 2018 | For the World, Justice and Mercy, Liturgical Seasons
In every way Jesus was the Great Reconciler, bridging the gap between God and us, and also bringing together disparate and divided people into community and even family. To follow this man is to sign up to be a reconciler and peacemaker, especially in places and times...
by Karla Petty | Jan 16, 2018 | Contemplative Life
For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. ~ Proverbs 2:6 Time and again, the bible instructs us to seek wisdom. In Proverbs 8, wisdom is personified as a woman who calls out to the “children of man”. For many of us, seeking wisdom...
by Bill Haley | Jan 4, 2018 | Contemplative Life
Happy New Year, friends! As 2018 begins to unfold, no doubt it will be an interesting year for each one of us, full of challenges and joys. Some of those joys and challenges maybe we can anticipate, and many we have no idea are coming! But we can be assured that...
by Coracle | Dec 30, 2017 | Contemplative Life
John Rogers wrote this poem two years ago regarding his experiences sailing his own boat as well as angst over US politics. He found our website while studying the story from John 21 about Peter and the other disciples fishing. Thank you for sharing this beautiful...
by Bill Haley | Dec 26, 2017 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
In the very early hours of December 24, 2017, my mom –JoAnn Neburka Haley– passed on from this life to the next, having lived 83 years on this earth and forever in the world to come. It was not a surprise to us, we’d known it was coming these past two years and these...
by Wade Ballou | Dec 22, 2017 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
The year was 1933, deep into the Great Depression. In Murphy, NC, a small Appalachian town, a group of evangelicals seeking to raise funds had been ordered out of town. At one point before leaving: “A girl had stepped out to the edge of the little platform...
by Coracle | Dec 14, 2017 | Contemplative Life
By: Nate Herndon I have had the privilege of performing the Gospel through Program over the past 3 years for The Falls Church Anglican’s youth Breakaway Weekends. In case you don’t know what I mean by “Program”, it is an ongoing skit that happens throughout any...
by Kate Harris | Nov 16, 2017 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the...
