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Dancing to the Heartbeat of God: Stories of Discipleship: The Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book 2026: Foreword by Sarah Mullally
Dancing to the Heartbeat of God explores many aspects of discipleship.
With a foreword and an afterword by the Archbishop of Canterbury designate, an introduction by the Archbishop of York, and chapters by around thirty authors drawn from across the globe, the volume creates a sense of excitement, dynamism and faithful witness in its gloriously diverse writers and readers alike.
Its testimonies and stories aim to encourage people in the Church of England and across the Anglican Communion to share their faith with others.
With a foreword and an afterword by the Archbishop of Canterbury designate, an introduction by the Archbishop of York, and chapters by around thirty authors drawn from across the globe, the volume creates a sense of excitement, dynamism and faithful witness in its gloriously diverse writers and readers alike.
Its testimonies and stories aim to encourage people in the Church of England and across the Anglican Communion to share their faith with others.
- GenresChristian
146 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 31, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 6, 2026
In this Lenten devotional, Bishop Anthony Poggo, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, notes that, “While most Anglicans are happy to make promises at baptism services and recite the creeds, this does not always translate into putting their faith into practice during the week.”
This Archbishop of Canterbury book for 2026 takes us around the Communion to hear from bishops in very different contexts. Sometimes the reflections converge. The Archbishop of Myanmar and the Moderator, Synod of the Church of North India each describe faith in the midst of devastation. Archbishop Stephen Than Myint Oo describes visiting a small congregation in a remote conflict-torn area following the 2021 coup in Myanmar. He writes, “They had lost everything, yet they gathered under a bamboo roof to sing hymns and share the Lord’s Supper. Their faith humbled me. One mother told me, ‘Archbishop, we have nothing left but Christ – and he is enough.’" Moderator B. K. Nayak recalls visiting a small Christian community in the wake of a Tsunami. He wrote, "Families had lost homes and crops, yet they welcomed us with songs of praise. When I asked how they could sing with such joy, one elder replied, ‘We have nothing left but Christ – and Christ is enough.’"
As with any such collection written by people in very different contexts, the style is uneven, but that is part of the charm of encountering the Communion through the eyes of those who seek to faithfully follow Jesus even as they lead. We see how this work has transformed the bishops, such as Bishop Riscylla Shaw who serves in the Anglican diocese of Toronto, Canada. See wrote of the Truth Commission working as the church separated more than 150,000 children from families and culture in Indian Residential Schools, “When I hear these stories, my heart feels like a cracked teacup that’s been glued back together: recognisable, but never the same.”
This Archbishop of Canterbury book for 2026 takes us around the Communion to hear from bishops in very different contexts. Sometimes the reflections converge. The Archbishop of Myanmar and the Moderator, Synod of the Church of North India each describe faith in the midst of devastation. Archbishop Stephen Than Myint Oo describes visiting a small congregation in a remote conflict-torn area following the 2021 coup in Myanmar. He writes, “They had lost everything, yet they gathered under a bamboo roof to sing hymns and share the Lord’s Supper. Their faith humbled me. One mother told me, ‘Archbishop, we have nothing left but Christ – and he is enough.’" Moderator B. K. Nayak recalls visiting a small Christian community in the wake of a Tsunami. He wrote, "Families had lost homes and crops, yet they welcomed us with songs of praise. When I asked how they could sing with such joy, one elder replied, ‘We have nothing left but Christ – and Christ is enough.’"
As with any such collection written by people in very different contexts, the style is uneven, but that is part of the charm of encountering the Communion through the eyes of those who seek to faithfully follow Jesus even as they lead. We see how this work has transformed the bishops, such as Bishop Riscylla Shaw who serves in the Anglican diocese of Toronto, Canada. See wrote of the Truth Commission working as the church separated more than 150,000 children from families and culture in Indian Residential Schools, “When I hear these stories, my heart feels like a cracked teacup that’s been glued back together: recognisable, but never the same.”
April 4, 2026
A wonderfully uplifting book and suitable for all occasions, not just Lent.
Just under 20 years ago I walked away from the Anglican Church, in which I had been brought up, for a number of reasons but the catalyst, perhaps, my mother's illness and death, finding it too dry, too quiet, insufficiently challenging.
I found my spiritual home with the Pentecostals and have been very happy there.
But over the past couple of years I have come into contact with elements of the Anglican Communion and have found that they have been moving with the times, seeing the needs within the community and building ways in which to meet them.
Reading this book, with contributions from Bishops and Clerics from all around the world is so encouraging, to read of the outreach work being carried out, the support being given and the church family being built.
Best of all is the message that, wherever one is in the world, whatever one's background or one's people's history, we can all find life within a relationship with Jesus which recognises our needs and embraces our differences.
A good read.
Just under 20 years ago I walked away from the Anglican Church, in which I had been brought up, for a number of reasons but the catalyst, perhaps, my mother's illness and death, finding it too dry, too quiet, insufficiently challenging.
I found my spiritual home with the Pentecostals and have been very happy there.
But over the past couple of years I have come into contact with elements of the Anglican Communion and have found that they have been moving with the times, seeing the needs within the community and building ways in which to meet them.
Reading this book, with contributions from Bishops and Clerics from all around the world is so encouraging, to read of the outreach work being carried out, the support being given and the church family being built.
Best of all is the message that, wherever one is in the world, whatever one's background or one's people's history, we can all find life within a relationship with Jesus which recognises our needs and embraces our differences.
A good read.
March 21, 2026
A nice eclectic range of writings - some deeply moving and others more operational, but interesting none the less.
March 23, 2026
brilliant
April 5, 2026
Underwhelming
March 25, 2026
Dancing to the Heartbeat of God offers a rich exploration of discipleship through the personal stories of Christians across the Anglican Communion. The book's central message is clear: discipleship is not about comfort, but about faithfulness. Jesus never promised safety, but He promised His presence, and this presence is what sustains us through life's trials.
The themes of service, hope, perseverance, and community are woven throughout, reminding readers that true discipleship is about serving others, holding onto hope despite adversity, and finding strength in fellowship. I was particularly struck by the unity within the Church of England and how it works together to reach out and support one another. The author is honest about areas of growth and change needed, making it a refreshing and balanced read.
Though some theological points could have been explored in more depth, the book is deeply encouraging and a timely reminder of the transformative power of living out our faith.
A great read for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of discipleship. I was fortunate to receive an advance review copy of this book from SPCK Publishing, and the thoughts shared here are my own.
The themes of service, hope, perseverance, and community are woven throughout, reminding readers that true discipleship is about serving others, holding onto hope despite adversity, and finding strength in fellowship. I was particularly struck by the unity within the Church of England and how it works together to reach out and support one another. The author is honest about areas of growth and change needed, making it a refreshing and balanced read.
Though some theological points could have been explored in more depth, the book is deeply encouraging and a timely reminder of the transformative power of living out our faith.
A great read for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of discipleship. I was fortunate to receive an advance review copy of this book from SPCK Publishing, and the thoughts shared here are my own.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews