The Heartbeat of the Year: The Epistles of the Act of Consecration

Gathers the epistles of The Act of Consecration together for the first time, allowing members of The Christian Community to study these special prayers.

The epistles of the Act of Consecration are special prayers that are heard at the beginning and end of the communion service of The Christian Community. They follow the path of the Christian year and, through subtle changes in mood and tone, reflect the changing seasons and the accompanying festivals.

Retired Christian Community priest Günther Dellbrügger gathers these prayers together for the first time. Dellbrügger uses a range of sources - from the Bible and poetry to examples taken from real life - to bring fresh perspectives to the epistles that help readers become more alert to the delicate changes of these prayers as they progress throughout the year. Contemplations by Rudolf Frieling, a founder of The Christian Community, provide important context to the epistles’ origins, including when and how they were first given.

Gunther Dellbrugger was a Christian Community priest and became co-director of the priest training seminary in Stuttgart in 1990. Now retired, he lives in Wesselburen, Germany. Mary Graham is a professional translator with a specialism in anthroposophy. She lives in Den Haag, Netherlands.