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Reviewed by: Muriel Bechtel

Every act of ministry, whether pastoral care, preaching, administration, or social action, is an opportunity for deepening both one’s own spiritual vitality and also that of the congregation. (p. 62) The basic premise of this book is that effective ministry depends on having regular spiritual practices, and yet most pastors find it as difficult to make time to nurture a lively and growing spiritual life as congregants do. The authors offer solid rationale and practical suggestions for ways to transform all encounters, even board meetings and budget sessions, into holy encounters by pausing, noticing, and being open to God’s presence in our own and our congregants’ experiences, questions and longings.

We often get so caught up in doing things right that we forget how essential it is to do the right things, in this case to rediscover and tend to the holy in our midst. With an awareness of the holy, we grow less weary with our own efforts and more aware of the Spirit’s breath inspiring and enlivening all we are and do.

This book would be ideal for a group of pastors, pastoral caregivers, parish nurses, or a ministerial cluster to read, reflect on and resolve to practice together.  While the authors address pastors and others who are in active ministry, I believe the principles and practical suggestions in this book would be inspiring and helpful to all who seek to integrate the awareness and practice of the presence of God into their daily life and vocation.

Muriel Bechtel

Meet the Reviewer:

Muriel is the Conference Minister at MCEC.