Sabbath Sunday.

Every fifth Sunday (and sometimes other Sundays), we rest as a community and don’t hold any Sunday worship services.

 

Why Sabbath Sunday?

We know for many of us, it feels a little peculiar to have a Sabbath Sunday, where we don’t hold a Sunday worship service. After all, isn’t every Sunday supposed to be a Sabbath anyways?

In theory, yes. In fact, in the Christian tradition, Sundays (or the Lord’s Day), have been deemed as the Christian Sabbath; a day of reverent rest and worship.

However, we acknowledge that for many, Sunday is not a day of rest. And in particular, for our pastors, staff, leaders and volunteers who serve regularly on Sundays — Sundays can actually feel a lot like work, and in some cases, is work.

That’s why every fifth Sunday (and sometimes other Sundays), we take an intentional pause even from the work of putting on a Sunday service, so that everyone in our community can Sabbath.

Rest. Reflect. Resist.

So what should you do then on Sabbath Sunday? Even though we don’t gather for a Sunday worship service, we encourage you to find creative ways to rest, worship and engage with God on your own or with friends and family.

Ultimately, we believe that Sabbath-keeping at its core is a profession of faith and an act of worship in it of itself. In observing it, we confess:

  • I am not what I do.

  • The world will not stop if I cease from my work.

  • Christ is holding all things together.

So whatever you decide to do on Sabbath Sunday (or any Sunday or Sabbath day for that matter), we invite you to find ways to incorporate the following practices into your day:

  1. Rest. Like, really rest. Rest from work and rest from thinking about work. Rest from the hustle, the grind, the stress and the pressures of everyday life. And replace it with something fun, creative, life giving, joyful and meaningful.

  2. Reflect. Reflect on God and reflect with God. Reflect on how you have seen and experienced the goodness and grace of God in your life. Reflect on how you can be more fully present with God, with yourself, and with others.

  3. Resist. Resist the temptation to strive. Resist being enslaved to checklists, tasks, and to-do-lists. Instead of doing, practice being— being with God and just being you; apart from your work, your performance, and your productivity.

 

“The Sabbath was created for humans; humans weren’t created for the Sabbath.”

— Jesus (Mark 2:27)