One Book One Parish: The Heartbeat of God, Part Four

What gifts are starting to stir in your life?
That's one of the questions we'll explore on Sunday, September 22 as we continue our study of the book, "The Heartbeat of God: Finding the Sacred in the Middle of Everything" by Katharine Jefferts Schori. Jefferts Schori was the presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church from 2006-2015 and will be our guest speaker at our Annual Parish Retreat to Kanuga: Living with Compassion on October 4-6, as well as at our Compassionate Leadership for the City worship service and dialogue on the evening of October 6.
Members of our clergy alternate leading an in-person book discussion on Sundays at 10:20 a.m. in room P307. Anyone is welcome to drop-in at any time, even if you're not able to attend every session.
This week, The Rev. Sarah Stewart offers this reflection from a fountain in Midtown:
Nothing is more essential than water: over 70% of the Earth is covered by it and even the human heart is 73% water. Few of us could last four days without hydration.
My own heart started beating faster as I read of the recent boil advisory in DeKalb County. Our shared dependence on this precious and precarious resource ties us together like nothing else.
In the fourth section of "The Heartbeat of God," Katharine Jefferts Schori explores vital connections we share with others all around the globe. Individuals with names and stories and questions. People of faith who thirst for God. Folks sent to awaken gifts in us still awaiting discovery, like the Ethiopian diplomat studying Scripture who draws Philip into a conversation about belonging. That encounter leads to baptism, as Philip awakens to his own gift for sharing the Good News of God’s love, right there on the roadside, drawing another into communion with Christ.
I wonder what gifts are starting to stir in your life?
With whom have you recently become acquainted,
perhaps someone with a gift for awakening God’s wonder in you?
This week, let’s immerse ourselves in the flow of grace,
opening our hearts to the baptismal joy God promises to awaken in every one of us. You never know who will be that unexpected someone sent by God to renew your faith in these fundamental connections we all share.