Praying by Heart brings energy and solitude to the discipline of prayer. Using vivid imagery and dynamic rhythm, Kay Bessler Northcutt moves through the seasons of the liturgical year, covering Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time. An invaluable resource for clergy and lay leaders--in both public and private prayer--Praying by Heart echoes the poetry and spirit of the Psalms in a contemporary Christian voice. Northcutt's lyrical poetry will inspire the soul. ""These are not sentimental or jargon-ridden 'care and share' outpourings. They aim to be directly about their business of carrying on the conversation between a self-disclosing God and the people collected. The agent will be the pastor who prays off these pages, using words by an expressive author who has the grace to move herself off stage and let the prayers be those of 'us' and not 'me.' Let us pray."" --Martin E. Marty, from the Foreword Kay Bessler Nothcutt is a writer, retreat leader, spiritual formation director, and assistant conductor of the Tulsa Children's Choir. She is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).