Week 1 Day 3: Sabbath
Question: What will you call Sabbath?
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Transcript of Video:
In the Creation account, the Book of Genesis, we hear how time is holy, a sacred creation of God, and yet I think for so many of us time is a tyranny; there’s not enough of it, it’s the enemy and we’re pulled in a multitude of directions because of how we’re presumed to be multi-tasking and being virtually present all over the world – and yet probably not really present where life is happening, which is right now.
We have a video series for the next five weeks where we’re going to invite you to listen and ponder and pray your life and make peace with this provision called time, which is part of how God has given us life.
-Br. Curtis Almquist
I’m not sure what I will call, Sabbath. The idea of time being a provision from God for life is a really transforming one for me.
I remember Sabbath clearly as a child. Every Sunday we woke up, cleaned up, put on our best “Sunday Clothes” went to church, then the bakery (had to get there before noon), went home and had a great breakfast together. Then my mother pulled out the weekly bulletin and lead a discussion about its topics with me and my 3 sisters. We talked about the week. Sometimes she had things to tell us or talk about and put everything we said in the context of love and the Gospels stories. It was also the time of “Blue Laws” when nothing was opened on Sundays either (or only for a few hours). It seemed all of society was geared toward respecting the Sabbath.
Most of my career was in retail and as you might suspect, there is no more of this respect for Sabbath. You can get a dispensation to not work Sundays, must prove that your church offers you no other options. So I thought my honoring and observing Sabbath (in the way that I had understood it) was gone.
This discussion is interesting because I never equated “Time” as Sabbath. Re-framing this for myself is easy once I got what we were talking about. For me, I do set aside time to meditate in the morning, to be silent. I also found a church recently that I like and in whose choir I sing. (Music is what has always brought me and keeps me going to church.) But enen without these gestures I “talk to God” throughout the day simply by recognizing “presence” or feeling some energy. I say “hello” or “namaste” or “thank you” or “help me” and it brings me together with God as I go about the day without stopping whatever it is I’m involved in. I find this brings me into a recognition of God’s constant presence more than any kind of prayer or meditation. But like all relationships, it too needs nurturing and listening to one another, so I do take time to do that.
Now I have a name for all that.
I find it hard to practice a rigid sabbath. I remember living at Jesus People USA was closest time I had in experience a restful relational sabbath in a social setting. I attend Church to meet Jesus in Message and Eucharist. Afterward I go home to start working at 4pm. Sometimes I lose site of what the sabbath is for to deepen and develop my relationship with God and others.
Anytime I can be quiet and still and commit to being open to God and his teachings. Be it through readings, music, or discussions, Just blocking out that time
A day of rest… For many years it was the day to go to church, as a child sometimes reluctantly with my grandmother, later with my own children…. now … I do not regularly worship on a Sunday in a church. Although, I set the day apart. I spend the time with meditation, prayer, reading, relaxing, meeting friends, before Corona, of course, going for a walk… It is still a special day. Here in Germany, shops are usually closed on Sunday, with a few exemptions once in a while. I like that.
Interesting question. Many thanks to the person that looked up the actual meaning which is to stop.I stop and light a candle every morning even if only briefly to center myself, to give thanks and to be more intentional before I rush out the door.It has been and remains helpful, but the thoughts generated are often overwhelmed by society. I stray. Lack of focus. Weaknesses to the external world. Sundays are similar but I also will be preparing for the week. Sabboth – interesting thought. Looking forward to hearing more.
Sabbath is time to steal away from the hustle and bustle to be still, quiet or read books of spirituality and peace.
My Sabbath is on Sunday morning when I pray more deeply, calm more readily, and share more fully. I really must resist the temptation to accelerate that afternoon!
I will call Sabbath every day of my life; a life where I am constantly conscious of, and praying to, God…abiding in Him….resting as I go about my daily tasks. I don’t think that Sabbath is just one day a week. It should be constant. We are a Sabbath people. Every Sunday, as we take the Cup, we renew our “yes” to God’s marriage proposal to us. I need to keep my answer in the forefront of my mind so that I can keep Sunday as the example of how I should live for the rest of the week.
Sabbath for me is “Time Set Aside”.
I practice Sabbath on Sunday’s and make it a point to go to church, to spend time with my partner and to be intentional to rest, sing, pray and give All Glory to God.
My morning routine is also “time set aside”.
It is, in this context, “Sabbath” as well I suppose.
I start by lighting a candle… Listen to this song to center me…”SLOW DOWN and know that he is God” by Chuck Girard:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6JgB6WfOsRs
I read from a book called “The Book of Awakening” by Mark Nepo. I meditate while doing a breathing exercise I learned to the count of four.
I open my journal Asking these four things:
1. What will I do that Services my Physical Body?
2. How will I nourish my spirit?
Meditation/Gratitude/prayer
3. What can I do to serve another human being today?
4. How will I deepen the most important relationships in my life?
Nancy/my Sponsor/_________?
Then I pray on it and write the days action steps to complete these goals/my mission.
I review my goals and write actions and tasks steps to achieve them for the day/week.
So—this “practice” is a Sabbath! Taking care of my soul. Honoring God, my life, the people in my life/those in my charge.
I just looked up the word Sabbath and it means to “stop”. I guess I “stop” by setting my compass north and intentionally planning my day so I am “acting” in accordance with my mission rather than reacting to the world.
The Sabboth, for me, is Sunday. I go to two churches. My normal church in the morning. There I hear thought provoking sermons, and see an excellent model of diversity where people society deems as different, get along and truly accept one other the way Jesus taught us to do. I then go to another church in the evening to hear a fabulous choir sing those wonderful thought-provoking and meaningful hymns.
I need this on Sunday so I can pause, reflect, pray, and find my still centre; something that’s needed to heal the deep wounds within me.
When I was a child, raised as a Seventh-day Adventist, my Sabbath was very distinct. It began at sundown on Friday and ended at sundown on Saturday. We rushed to get housework and errands done, meals prepared, church clothes in order, etc. before sundown on Friday. And we awaited that time published in the church publications that listed sundown time for Saturday before we could change clothes, turn on the TV, begin a game of Rook, or make the popcorn. But it was definitely a SABBATH. Now in later life, when I am Episcopalian, I miss that strict Sabbath observance. While Saturday is often a day that my husband and I spend at home together, we end up doing household chores, watching TV, grading papers (we’re both English teachers), or sleeping. It doesn’t really feel like a Sabbath. And neither does Sunday. Church is work! I’m often serving or ministering in some way, and then rushing off for more errands and paper-grading to get ready for the coming week. Hmmm. It is sad. But it is something I have a strong desire to do something about. Maybe my Sabbath time will turn out to be on Friday, the one day of the week when I don’t teach. I’m glad to be thinking about this with the intention of building Sabbath time into my week.
As a child my Father made Sunday the Sabbath for our family. We went to Church followed by a 2 hour formal brunch and spent the rest of the day together as our friends were not allowed to call us on the phone or visit with us or we them. We did not do homework either. It was a truly wonderful way to get to be lovingly with my family and to get to know them. I see the Sabbath as a time of truly being inactive as the complete abstinence from creating things. Holy Being.
Sabbath for me is that weekend day that I sit and watch my boys talk to each other about that subject they have in common. Watching them converse and enjoy the beauty of communication. Quietly enjoy the life I created next to the one that helped me….my husband.
Sabbath is rest, prayer, study ……away from the world….quiet, alone with God…..being mindful of the Presence.
The Sabbath is a day to rest your mind, body and spirit. It is a time to reflect upon God in community and alone. It is also a time to spend time with God not just in worship but in communion.
Many have expressed what Sabbath is for me. It is resting in God, the “Be still and know….” time. I think taking Sabbath requires humility, the realization that my DOING is not mine, nor does the world depend on it. My being the one God created me to be in my space and time is possible only as I open myself to God’s presence, God’s doing. In order to serve others as Love calls, I must rest, refresh, and let God re-create me. Thank God for the will to pull back, say no to outside requests, and yes to receiving and praising God’s presence with myself and with others.
Sabbath is when I find myself present in the moment without the nagging sense that I should be somewhere else “doing” something different.
In this hectic, always on the go world, it is harder to define “sabbath” – our day of rest. I sometimes yearn for the long-ago time of resting on Sunday. No stores were open, only essential needs were met.
For me Sabbath is holding place in time that is set apart from everything that I do whether it is work, family, or other commitments. It is a time to truly rest one’s mind, body and soul. It is a time to reflect on the abundance of God’s grace and provisions in my life. It is a time to be thankful for all the blessings in life.
Between my 2 jobs I work 7 days a week. So for me Sabbath are those quiet, holy moments during the day I can connect with God through prayer and meditation.
Sabbath for me is a time to be present.
The dictionary gives the usual Christian Bible definition; then it gives a more general definition, “Period of rest.”
Sabbath will now be, for me, the period of rest after exertion, a time to reflect on acts accomplished and to “change gears” mentally before being present for a new activity. I shall, arbitrarily, commit to shutting my eyes, relaxing my body, and taking twelve good long breaths, in and out, as I reflect and give thanks to God for giving me the time and abilities to do what I have just done. I shall ask Him to equip me for what comes next, then do it.
[I wrote this today, being behind on this study series, before reading all of the above comments. The ones that differentiated doing from being impressed me. I’ll pay attention to those. What I think I was getting at, in part, was the necessity of telling oneself ‘job well done’ and actually feeling the satisfaction before hurtling off into some new activity. Love this series!]
If time itself is holy, then Sabbath for me is being fully present to whatever I am doing at this moment. I have undertaken the Lenten practice of reflection on time because of my disordered relationship to time and my constant feeling that, whatever I am doing, I ought to be doing something else.
To be intentional about my use of time, to have a sense of purpose in all I do, feels as though I am honouring time as holy. In the past couple of days, instead of seeing cooking as a necessary task to feed myself, I have engaged in the joy of creating meals that I have never made before.
I work fulltime in the corporate world – and as a Deacon I have a pretty full Sunday – sometimes 73:00 am to 3:30 pm. When Saturday comes around I try to keep it pretty open so I can have some “Sabbath-Time” … but of course there are chores and things I couldn’t get done during my 6:30 am to 5:30 pm week day so I have developed “Sabbath-Time” … which works well with me because there are hours spent with quiet meditation and conversation … maybe not a whole day but I find them mighty powerful hours.
Best day of the week!
Love Sunday Worship.
Love spending time with my church brothers and sisters.
Love nap time with my wife and the dogs.
Love an occasional symphony concert or opera.
Love Downton Abbey.
For me Sabbath should be a day of rest, reflection, worship and spending time with those I love. Does this happen every week? Unfortunately not. Instead I find this happens in snippets of various days throughout the week rather than in a whole chunk of time – ironically whenever there is the time.
I will call Sabbath the time I set aside with God. Time to listen and time to talk. Time to pray, meditate and journal. Time to rest and time to read. Each of these is helping me develop a deeper trust of, and love for, God.
Hmmm … over the course of these five weeks, I hope to learn how to TRULY experience Sabbath, whether it literally falls on Sunday or not. For me, it will mean stepping away from rushing from mini-crisis to mini-crisis. Shutting down my work and personal iPhones, which go everywhere with me (including to bed) for the entire day. Staying away from e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, and any other social channel to just BE. Spending quiet time with myself and with God, giving Him a chance to speak to me when I’m actually able to listen for a change. Looking forward to it, for sure!
Sabbath. Wishing it was a full day to rest, reflect, renew, focus. I’ve become so “busy” that I don’t take even a small amount of time for myself. Even though I know the benefits. I must intentionally take time to focus on myself and my relationship with God. This lenten study is a good start. It feels good.
Sabbath for me is any time I stop, listen and hear what He is saying to me for any small prayer I’ve offered up. I feel His Peace when I take these times of Sabbath. I need to take more but I’m doing better day by day.
Even in retirement I still find my time is taken up, but differently than when I was working. I now choose how to use my time, but not always wisely. Whether at work or in retirement my Sabbath is my Sunday. It has always been such a precious and special day. My day for a more restful, relaxed and pleasurable day, not watching the clock so much but, more specially, to attend my Church and embrace the togetherness, the being with God, the thankfulness, peacefulness, the joyfulness of singing, prayers and blessings for the coming week. Even though I have my time with God on a daily basis, my Sabbath Sunday is that extra special day and gives me a feeling in my heart and soul which I cannot actually put into words.
I struggle with finding Sabbath as a day devoted to a relationship with God.
Sabbath are those moments where the joy and inspiration are so pervasive that the body and mind are filled with wonder and spirituality, such as when on my hike I see the cathedral of sandstone rock rising at the head of the canyon in the morning mist.
I find it more helpful to think of “time” as a human construct: God game us change and we humans measure change with “time.” If “time” is some external entity we have no control over, of course we will feel helpless. But there is no such thing as time; only change. Now, I can deal with change — I can be just in the moment, listening, feeling, closing my eyes, breathing, when change has paused for me and I am only aware of God’s presence. When my consciousness moves away from change and into infinity, that is my sabbath.
I struggle with setting aside time for Sabbath. My life responsibilities are priorities are great and taking a whole day is not realistic. I do take intentional moments. Listening to recordings of sermons from our church on the web. Reading the daily SSJE message and links.
Sabbath is when I experience, and remember, the grace that surrounds and enfolds me and which abides within.
Sabbath are those times when it’s just me and God. When I can clear my mind for a few moments and breath in His grace and love.
Sabbath – For me it’s a quiet day when I have lots of time to sit, read the Bible & devotional material, meditate, pray & journal. Usually not a Sunday… The best is in warmer weather on my deck when the hummingbirds deliver “messages” to me!
Sabbath for me is taking time to recharge, to rest, to rediscover the gift of peace. It, in effect, is outside of time for me, and involves me letting things “be”. It can be any day of the week, and often (though not always) is a solitary (NOT lonely) activity. It’s refreshing, like a cool drink of water on a hot day, and life-giving.
…Sabbath is a finite time for the ‘mind’ to use memory to bring back historical time(s), a consciousness for the present, a time for aesthetics. a time for learning and a time for valuing the unity of these within our soul, which is grounded on the ‘Eternal’ Infinite that is a constant Activity…
The wise and prophetic Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel said that, “the meaning of Sabbath is to celebrate time rather than space. Six days a week we live under the tyranny of things of space; on the Sabbath, we try to become attuned to holiness in time. It’s a day on which we are called upon to share in what is eternal in time, to turn from the results of creation to the mystery of creation.”
If Sabbath is about being liberated to share in the eternal, then is has precious little to do with “doing” and much to do with “being.” I’ll admit, I don’t fully have the hang of this yet. But I will say that when I do stop to catch my breath, and look around, and pay attention, and appreciate all that is around me, I’m reminded of all the ways in which we are interconnected—each an integral part of this incredible creation. Taking the intentional time to simply “be” a part of all of it, reminds me why my actions matter when I’m back on the go!
1. Genesis 2.3 God blessed the seventh day
2. Exodus 20.8 The commandment says to remember the Sabbath day and to keep it holy
3. If you look at the calendar the seventh day is Saturday
The struggle is not what we call Sabbath but how we as man will serve the God of the Holy Bible according to scripture.
This is a good question—I don’t have a set time each week that I call Sabbath. Always, there are duties or sometimes pleasures pulling me this way and that. And then sometimes when I could be quiet, I amuse myself with TV or the internet. A time where I sit and am contemplative and rest to consider God or a higher power or where we are seated in this world, in time, on this earth? I don’t take a scheduled time for that.
I do have a goal of sitting for meditation at least 10 minutes every day—I make that most days. But a whole time of resting? Of a true Sabbath? No. Perhaps a good practice to take up, at least in part, this Lenten season.
When growing up our Sabbath was on Sundays. Stores were closed, there was really no activity. We went to Church and came home and rested. Very different today. Not a sacred day anymore. People working, kids playing sports etc. I envy my jewish friends who won’t even turn a light on from Friday eve into Saturday. They truly respect that time. I still try to do Sundays as much as I can. Would love to find more time.
This is the day to reflect on my week, to give thanks, to rest. It is often squandered, catching up on tasks not completed.
Sabbath for me is the sense of Christian solidarity I feel with my fellow worshipers as we listen to the priest “open” the readings of the day. Our gathering together to listen to God’s word makes concrete the notion of God’s people on a journey together receiving nourishment from the Word and each other.
After reading all of these comments, I realize that Sabbath does not have to be a particular day but can be any time that is spent reconnecting with God through prayer, mediation, silence, etc.
It’s hard for me to identify Sabbath. I think it comes in moments – teaching my Pilates students, enjoying a nice meal with family and friends, and relaxing in my easy chair on Sunday afternoon – even if I feel like there are many things to be doing.
I wasn’t even sure how I was supposed to answer this question because I think of how I’m behind at work and will need to catch up all weekend, including Sunday. And how church is sometimes not a Sabbath because I’m very involved in various parish activities, and I have responsibilities there as well. I think my true Sabbath is a music class that I take once a week that is just pure pleasure. My classmates and I relax and laugh and create a lovely sound together. I’d like to make more time to practice so that I can bring that feeling into my daily, overworked life.
A full day of rest? Only when I am sick. I can’t imagine what an entire day of not being able to do anything would be like. No working on your hobbies? Where we live it seems that hockey is the religion and they don’t take a sabbath, Sunday mornings are practices and tournaments. The members in our church are predominately retired, the people with kids are at the rink.
At Present Sabbath has become, to so many, just another day of the week and I find myself even getting caught up in the rush of things that need to be completed, but What will I call Sabbath, that’s probably a better question to ask? A time to lay down my cares and release the stresses of the week. A time to rest, play and spend quality time with family and God. Sabbath will be life giving.
As a full time lay professional in the Episcopal church, Saturday seems to have evolved as my Sabbath. No obligations. If I do errands, etc very often not unti mid-afternoon.
Sabbath, my time, sometimes I have a prayer and sometimes I just need to be silent and listen. You can’t do either while you multi-task. Multi-tasking splits you focus except maybe in cooking where the focus is creating a meal and you perform tasks to that focus. Sabbath is not a specific day, it is minutes or if you are fortunate hours to stop, breath and listen for God and feel his love.
I admire a Jewish family I know who bake and cook,
have their lights on timers so they don’t even need to
turn on a light and begin their Sabbath rest on Friday
evening into Saturday. They are expected to pray and go to temple, eat good food, rest, read, make love and play. What complete devotion to God to rest so completely. I would like to do this thoughtfully during Lent, a whole Sunday.
I am so happy you wrote this. I wish I could do as they do.
The “Sabbath” is Saturday.This has never been recinded.
What will I call Sabbath (going forward)? A time to lay down my cares and unhook myself from work. A time to rest, be, play, and refill the well / recharge my batteries. Sabbath will be life giving.
Sabbath has 2 definitions. The biblical Sabbath is a time set aside to worship and keep holy – to remember the saving acts of God. The second definition is simple: rest.
For me, rest allows me to set aside many things, so I can focus on God. As a Deacon in the Episcopal Church, most of the time I need to plan my times of Sabbath rest. I am getting better and better at saying ‘no’ to things that keep me from being able to rest in the Holy.
And then I think there are times that I call ‘forced Sabbath.’ When I had back surgery, the recovery time for me was a forced Sabbath. Forced because I couldn’t get away from the surgery and thus the recovery. Sabbath because it was deep rest – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. My husband has just gone through bronchitis that kept him off his feet for almost 2 weeks. Between that and the ice storm of last week, he has lived a forced Sabbath.
So I’d have to say I ‘call Sabbath’ a time of rest – deep rest – that renews and often brings me into the presence of the Holy.
Safe harbor. I day without ‘should of’, ‘could of’ , ‘would of’. A present focus on God’s gift of life.
Before I retired, I claimed Sunday as my Sabbath and would not work – took the day for church and relaxation. I have gotten away from that, and need to reclaim it.
The Sabbath is the day of the week that I go to Church and reconnect quietly with thanks to God. The Sabbath also replenishes my faith.
As an Episcopal priest serving a mission congregation, taking/making Sabbath can be a challenge! I rarely take a whole day at a time. That said, if I pay attention, I find that I am constantly bombarded with moments when I recognize God’s presence is with me. A particular flower, something silly my dog does, a story I read, recognizing God’s clearing obstacles in the midst of purchasing a new home each and all remind me of how present God is throughout each day.
When I remember that presence, I become calmer, less overwhelmed, more grounded and ready to move forward with the myriad tasks on my list. I don’t know that this daily-ness of recognizing God in the midst of my live counts as Sabbath; I doubt it replaces a day devoted strictly to God and my relationship with God. I know it makes my days a little easier.
Sabbath for me is first thing in the morning when I awake and spend time reading my Forward Day by Day and the Daily Word. It helps send me to work with renewed energy.
Sabbath is a time of rest, not something I necessarily do well even though I like around a lot — contradictory? not really. I always worry about our clergy getting Sabbath time, but I’m not sure I worry enough about myself or others (such as other vestry members) caring for ourselves enough to really take Sabbath time.
Sabbath for me is living in the NOW. Too often I get stuck in the past until I remember that I must learn from the past but I am powerless to change the past. Sometimes I try to live in the future. I find that exercise very frustrating as the future is unknown with many possibilities. I am aware that the NOW is all I have. I must trust, have faith, that God is my maker, sustainer, and Lover. God is only now. God needs no time.
Thank you Jennifer and NA for your moments of music which have given me a Sabbath in the midst of the day.
I will call Sabbath those times that I put boundaries around my work life and lay down the computer, the pen, the visits, the concerns – I will have some Sabbath time daily, if even for a very short time. I will call Sabbath time for a longer time once a week – again by making boundaries around what gets done and what will remain undone.
Sabbath for me is unstructured time when I am not driven by schedules, plans and to do lists. A time to do what seems right spontaneously.
My Sabbath starts at 4 am when I wake from a good nights sleep. I read the litergy for the day, the sermon from SSJE, the meditation from Richard Rohr – Action & Contemplation & the daily prayer and meditation from Plough. I attend church Adult Forum for a hour of study starting at 9:15 am and then church services starting at 10:30 am. The rest of the day is spend quietly and Sunday lunch and dinner. I retire at around 10 pm.
Those early morning hours during which I prepare for the day by taking care of my body, including stretching it, and trying to stretch my soul and spirit with prayer and attention to all the things for which I am thankful in the day to come.
A day of worship, reflections as well as relaxation
Sabbaths happen at different times and under different circumstances during my days. Like Allison, I now understand Sabbath to be a Kairos thing. What my Sabbath experiences have in common is that I come away from them feeling refreshed and more at peace with myself and with the world around me.
Sabbath is when I can be quiet, meditative and aware
of messages from the Holy Spirit. Often this includes journaling, which helps me know what is on my mind, thus opening up any number of congested areas of thinking, allowing me the freedom to be and to hear more clearly.
Before today’s talk and reading all the comments posted I would have said that the Sabbath is what the dictionary says: a day of religious observance and abstinence from work, kept by Jews from Friday evening to Saturday evening, and by most Christians on Sunday. But this word comes from the day of rest God took so it can also means the day he rested and made holy. But now Sabbath seems stretched for me and it includes my quiet time with God and not so much a day.
Sabbath comes after the “it was very good” of creation and perfects the wholeness. I long for that wholeness in my life, and without sabbath, it will always elude me. I see no reason to equate sabbath with a chronological 24-hour period any more than I equate the six “days” of creation with a chronological 144-hour period. I suspect it’s more of a Kairos thing, and I need to pay attention to see where it breaks through.
Sabbath for me takes different forms. On Sundays, it is public worship followed by an afternoon listening to sacred music, or reading a spiritual book. During the week, it happens in quiet contemplation.
As a clergy candidate, Sunday is a work day for me, so I have set aside Mondays to avoid making any kind of appointments. Still I begin every day with walking the dog for quiet meditation -he and I have great conversations – then personal daily office, and read or listen to the daily SSJE message (Thank you Brothers for that!). For me the morning and evening dog walk is the most important piece of daily Sabbath time, and I feel sad when I see other dog walkers chatting away on cell phones, because they are missing the opportunity for that peaceful dog mediated communion with God. Whenever I can, I escape with the dog to a nature reserve where we can both spend a couple of hours “off leash”. That’s real “high church” worship and Sabbath for me.
I try to get up early when it is quiet to read my Bible and pray before the “rat race” begins.
The question is “what WILL you call Sabbath” – I think the comments will help me go in a new direction this Lent. Now I need to take the time to think about this.
Sabbath for me is that special time I take for creativity and play. As a theology student, I am often “in my head” with God. Play is a way to joyfully express that inward experience of God in an outward movement. It balances out the intellectual and work-related experience of God in a way that is extremely restful.
I’ve gotten to be neighbors with Orthodox Jews and Latter Day Saints who took Sabbath seriously. One by disconnecting from all technology and connecting from family, the other from disconnecting from activities to connect with family. Living in those neighborhoods makes for some quiet times around me, which almost forces a downtime, since the people you normally see are not out and about. While I don’t worship the same as they do, I love this sabbath and try to keep it by church and by having a slower paced and more intentional day on Sundays. This peace carries over into the week if I let it. 🙂
Sabbath happens when it happens — mostly! And yet, I have planned a 5 day Sabbath — a Personal Retreat — in a sacred place. Just me, the ocean, the sound, books, needlework, sketch pad, journal, a tiny chapel — I don’t even have to prepare my food. Extensive planning before I set out and yet it will surely be a Sabbath!
When I think “Sabbath” – I fall back on what I was taught – the day of rest set aside for God. But if I think about it personally – what it means to me – I stumble. I think I need to work on this one. Does it mean rest, reflection with God, shutting down the outside influences, making time for self and family?….
So many insightful things have been said. One simple (not always easy) thing I’ve been shown is the art of living in the now….not the past or future. When I am practicing this spiritual principle I find myself more in tune with God, mindful of Him, more relaxed and peaceful….connected to God and my fellows. This to me is one aspect of “Sabbath”. Wherever I am, be there.
Sabbath time for me is intentional time with God – my morning quiet times of reading and reflection and prayer with a cup of tea, Sunday’s in communal worship, and other times when I can, as others have said so well, just “be with God” – along in nature, or in conversation with a friend or friends when I sense the spirit is present. I’m not very good at letting go of my “to do” lists and having a full day that is really different – except perhaps on retreat or on vacation!
Sabbath is a day of rest – whatever rest may mean to me for that particular time and place. As with this whole “time” thing, I tend to use it as hours to pack in all the stuff I didn’t get done during the week, so I can start the new week “fresh.” I know what I should be doing to observe the sabbath, but I’m a long way from doing it….
The image of resting with God just came to mind.
I have never really put much thought into “keeping the sabbath”, other than feeling an obligation (and often guilt) to “go to church” on Sundays. I have a much deeper relationship with God now than in the past. The notion of Sundays being the main time to connect with God is no longer valid for me. I now view Sundays at Church as time to connect with my Community. Trying to make that more of a daily thing as well. I will put some thought into the Sabbath being a gift from God. He knows we need rest, so he gave us a day and actually commanded us to use it.
I am still more comfortable with the traditional Christian concept of Sunday as the Sabbath. My observant Jewish friends have greatly enriched my understanding of what the Sabbath truly is and how it should be observed. The concept of a day of rest, prayer and reflection is certainly alien to my mother’s teaching of “The better the day, the better the deed” which was used to rationalize doing as many tasks and work on Sunday as on any other day. As an adult I try to remember “This is the day the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” not only on Sunday but on every day of the week, which is a baby step toward remembering that every day is a gift from God and ideally to be viewed in the concept of a Sabbath with gratitude, reflection and recognition of God’s presence in all things and all whom with whom I interact.
Even as I watched the 1.07 minute video, my thoughts wandered. I need to slow down and find my own Sabbath.
In all honesty, I am lousy at the practice of Sabbath. When I can get those moments, I am renewed, restored, but they are few and far between. My spirit knows this too well. Somehow I am better at making sure others have a Sabbath than I am at respecting the need for my own. The pattern of my life seems to draw me into feeling the pressure that I must meet others’ needs before I am allowed to meet my own. It is not that anyone else is forcing me to do this; I am responsible, and I struggle with this. God definitely has other plans for me, since I am currently being a bit bombarded by the same message of balance, reorder, and healthy flow of life. My prayer is that I will listen well, take heed, and that the practice of the coming days will help open a door to something newer and healthier, including accepting the loving gift of the practice of Sabbath.
For me, Sabbath is not a hidebound definite period of time wherein I MUST intentionally–perhaps even begrudgingly– do no work or engage in any physical activity. Nor is a specific day of the week–Saturday or Wednesday Mass is no less significant to me than Sunday. I think, for me, Sabbath is being in the moment, with God, and being consistent with the “second” commandment of Christ: “love thy neighbor. . .
Like many others I struggle with the Sabbath. It is hard to stop planning and actually live in the moment. But the Sabbath seems to me to be a time of reflection and quietness. It is also a time for joining others who love the Lord Jesus in worship. It truly restores my soul.
Being in communal worship at church on Sunday is a Sabbath. Another is just walking outdoors and hearing the snow crunch under my feet ( it is very cold just now) and marveling at how blue the white snow is with the way the sun shines on it. So I suppose being in God’s creation is a Sabbath for me. Sometimes being very engaged in writing a poem also feels like timelessness with God.
Sabbath, when I spend time being fully present with others, listening to what is going on their lives, having an awareness of God’s presence among us. This is one of the most holy gifts we can give.
Sabbath for me does not involve a particular day. Sabbath is every day. I try to make each day holy by being intentional about what I am doing, and taking time each day to rest and reflect. I try to live constant prayer, which makes days holy, but this is very difficult I find. I need to practice living the Sabbath.
Interesting to have this question worded in the future tense – what will you call Sabbath. It makes me think of setting an intention for keeping a holy Sabbath, which should be a time to just be. Not do, not produce … just be.
I am continually reminded by an older friend that we are called human BEings not human DOings. Still, it is hard to stop the relentless urge to produce at all times. I am praying this Lenten focus will help re-program this in me. It is good to know I am not alone in this.
My vision of sabbath is very much common to everyone’s in resting from daily work. But I also find that the sabbath isn’t complete until I have acknowledge and I’m reassured of the fact that my hands cannot do everything. Sabbath comes when I relinguish that control and give it over to a God in whose hands everything is possible. (Now, I will say that it is easier said than done, but my hope is that it becomes a little bit easier through my Lenten journey this year.)
As I understand God’s word to us, Sabbath was to be a full day of rest, worship, and celebration of our redemption. When I was in grad school back in the 1970s and first came to this understanding, I did my best to refrain from studies and errands on Sunday. That continued for a good number of years afterwards. But gradually I found the workload associated with my job cutting into my Sunday rest. Also, since I am a church organist, I do work on Sundays. I am looking forward to retirement at the end of this year and to a return to allowing a full day as a day of rest, worship and celebration of redemption.
Sabbath is when I stop the noise of my life and listen for God’s still, small voice.
Amen. In I Kings 19 is the story of a scared, depleted Elijah making his way to a cave in Horeb where God asks him what he is doing there. God then tells Elijah to go to the mouth of the cave because He is about to pass by. There follows windstorm, earthquake, and fire, but it says God was not in any of those. But, “After the fire came a gentle whisper,” and that’s where God was.
Growing up Sabbath was Sunday. It was the day for church & family. It was a day to be together and take joy in each other.
Now I have a more expanded feeling of Sabbath. It has become for me those still moments with God; a resting in His love. “Be still and know that I Am.”
I am realizing that I only experience Sabbath in very small allotments of time in which I quietly talk with my God and listen. I am longing to expand the time I allow for this and intend to find a way to commit to a regular practice.
My Sabbath comes in moments and snatches, and usually in the most unexpected and sometimes unnoticed ways
Quite agree
Sabbath happens for me early every morning. Quiet time in praise and prayer.
The early morning hours have a special reverence about them
I absolutely agree that we are tempted and encouraged to focus on everything else except what is going on right now in the present moment. The present moment is all we have. I personally need to stay grounded in the present moment enjoying it to the fullest. I like to go throughout my day thanking God for everything I am experiencing and feeling. I like to talk to God in my present moments and ask for help when I need it. I too am interested in learning more about how I can relax and just enjoy being.
Amen.
Time away from the burdens of work and responsibility, to just enjoy God. Not necessarily a separate day, though I try to make it so, but some time each day that’s just for me and God.
Just a thought. You have five concepts you are emphasizing this lent. Somewhere I picked up the idea that love inspired the other four and was not a separate concept. Like I said, I got this idea “somewhere”. Could even have been St. Benedict’s rule. Just a thought.
Sunday is my Sabbath – I so look forward to my walk alone to Church and my participation in the liturgy. I enjoy sharing breakfast with my wife, drinking tea, and maybe reading a book. Although I am rarely completely successful, I try to let go of the many cares and time-devouring activities of the week – going to the bank, wandering the internet, anything related to my professional life.
A time to slow down and enjoy being with family members including extended church family.
I used to consider Sunday my Sabbath but now I’m wondering if it really is. I serve in various ministries at our church and my husband and son sing in the choirs so Sunday mornings can take on a busyness rivaling that of a weekday. But my Fridays and most Saturdays are totally open. Perhaps one of those days should be my Sabbath, a day in which I completely rest in the Lord and revel in enjoyable time with family and friends. I will make this exploration during Lent and see what happens.
Sounds good, Stephanie.
God bless you.
How did you get your photo to show up? I’d like to add one to my comments but don’t know how! fergie
The Sabbath is a time to slow down and be open to God. Usually I have a hard time doing this on Sunday. The church service is too busy and then I get into preparing for the week ahead. So Sabbath for me happens/happened in our Benediction Way meetings during our dinners in silence. Also during small communion services where we passed the bread and wine to each other. And reading poetry, especially Mary Oliver. And being up in the mountains.
It is time to slow down, rest, listen, let go of my to do list. A time to make space for God. It is a gentle uncluttered time…..like a retreat but with no agenda…..might be good to sleep if that is what is needed or go for a walk or a swim at the beach. It is precious time to be treasured and protected.
“Multi-Tasking” is a bad joke – a horrible concept .. we get so used to trying to do many things at once its hard to just focus on ONE … (or THE ONE) Sabbath is real only when we can LET GO of the things that don’t really matter.
Time .. to stop the usual, to listen deeply to God and my own heart
How are Sabbath and time interconnected? Time plus and more full with a deeper sense of God present?…I refer to (or call) Sabbath Holy time, time set aside, time with God, down time, quiet time, change of pace time, rest time… When I stop the busyness, Sabbeth happens…sometime…
I see the Sabbath as an obtainable goal. But I’m not there yet. During the week there’s barely enough time for family and work. On Sundays there’s worship. As a postulant for the diaconate I spend most Saturdays in formation or workshops. This month alone I am away three out of four Saturdays.
Again, I see Sabbath as an obtainable goal. I’m just not there yet.
Little Sabbath is the hour I walk every morning to pray and listen for God’s voice. Annual Sabbath is the time I spend with the brothers at Emery House each year.
For my life right now, Sabbath is the few, calm, and peaceful moments I get just to myself to spend with with God and to pray. The time is fleeting, but it always is with a one year old in the house. These brief Sabbath moments just allow me to breathe and recenter on God and the present moment.
Sabbath is that day when I let life happen without directing it…
Nice way to put it.
If you mean getting the “I” out of the way–“a consummation devoutly to be desired”–I agree.
This whole series is about time, and Sabbath, in the creation story, is a break in the usual routine. To honor someone we pay attention to them, we attend to them, we listen to them. For me, then, Sabbath should be attending to time, listening to it if you will. I am going to try to turn off all those things I do that help me dis-attend to time. I am going to try to attend to time by listening to the rhythms of the day and perhaps praying the office through the day. Focusing on the gift and honoring it by being attentive.
As a person who has formally left the working world (retired) I could say that every day is Sabbath. However I choose to think of my time in my “prayer spots” (on my knees at night next to my bed and in my rocking chair first thing in the morning with my devotional reading) are my Sabbath. I can’t honestly say that I take a day to rest, reflect and rejuvenate – but rather I take time each morning and evening.
I think the taking time is the key, setting it as a non-negotiable appointment.
I will call Sabbath the mornings that I am not traveling for work. When I’m home I spend the morning reading, praying, meditating and stretching.
a day of rest and reflection over the past week.
Sabbath is a time set aside for love of the Lord in whatever form that takes. Sabbath is a time to “be still and know that I am God,” then to reach out with God’s love into the world.
Thank you for this insightful contribution to the discussion, Dav Cranmer
This response feels good to me.
After listening to this mornings reflection, I didn’t have an answer for what the sabbath is to me. However, after reading many comments, I think that the walk I take every morning with my dog is my sabbath. I have a conversation with God about my sleep, my day, I pray for people, for myself. I give thanks, and I ask God to guide me through the day. Without this ‘sabbath’ time, I do not feel right, kind of lost.
I have no answer as to what a Sabbath is for me either … I think I know what I want it to be!!
I started thinking about my Sabbath being
very much like yours. I walk my dog early in the morning. It is quiet and peaceful. I can admire nature and use much of the time praying and reflecting on
the wonders of God and his creation.
Sabbath is intentional, guiltless, slowing down to be fully present to God. Being intentional is hard and not having guilt.
I particularly like the “guiltless” part of your comment.
often empty
Sabbath is being totally filled with God, so that
nothing else matters. It a time in which we are
completely filled with God and He is fulfilled with us.
II like the idea of Sabbath Time. One of my favorites is when I sit and rest with God.
Sabbath is any time I can set aside for God. It is mainly when I am in church but also when in prayer or stillness. A time to listen and to be.
Sabbath to me is traditionally a day set aside for rest and re-creation. A day to rejuvenate, re-charge my batteries. A day for fun, relaxation, good conversations, intentional happiness. The reality of my Sabbathis usually on Sundays with church involving worship, visiting the sick and infirm and no office work. This Lent Sabbath will be Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with no office work and time set aside for rest and rejuvenation. Sabbath is every morning when I pray morning prayer and throughout the day as I catches glimpses of our Lord in others. Sabbath during Lent will be reflection, sel-examination, taking inventory of my interior life and my outward and visible sign in the world, warts and all.
For years, in the parish and as a bishop, I took Wednesdays out of the office as a “sabbath day” to stay home, rest, read, pray more leisurely, take a walk in the woods or by the sea. I did this in addition to taking a “day off” (usually Saturdays) when I did what most people do– mow the lawn, take the kids to Little League, shop for groceries, etc. It was a life-saver and I encouraged my clergy to take two days out of the office instead a just one. (Not sure how many did!)
Now that I am retired, my life is “sabbath!”
The 5pm service at church. It’s the 4th and last service on Sundays, the others being in the morning. The 5pm service is less formal with guitar and piano music, etc. It’s always beautiful – no matter what season – how the sun sets through the 150 plus year old stained glass. I find the whole worship experience during this hour and time of day to be centering and calming. I look forward to it each week, knowing it will be a time to come and rest in God’s Holy place, worshiping and sharing with others, ending a day and beginning a new week. It is a true blessing.
I think, for the moment, Sabbath is in the morning when I drink a cup of coffee with this blog. When Lent is over I’ll have to try to keep that space at the beginning of the day. Sundays have moments, especially communal moments, but I teach Sunday School and have other church responsibilities and there’s always that tension. I am realizing that quiet alone time is important.
Ideally, for me a day of Sabbath includes corporate worship. But I also think of as a Sabbath, those shorter, solitary periods of time when I can “drop in” (like a surfer on a wave) to reading and meditating on the Word. This might include devotional reading, journaling, prayer, and music–but scripture is the most direct route. Those moments feel timeless and they seem to echo through the rest of my day, helping me to “redeem” my other time.
This beautiful hymn — “Still Still Still” (actually a Christmas Eve lullaby) seems so appropriate for the theme of this first week of our Lenten reflection–“STOP”–I hope the link works–if not, copy and paste into your browser:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0csGr_krOX8
I love that song. It is one of my favorite Christmas time songs. Thank you for sharing that. In return, I gift you with this one that is also a Be Still favorite of mine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snGEoVfUGuQ
Jennifer, that was just gorgeous. It has brought me a lovely peaceful interval during my study in this great Lenten series. Thank you!
I have friends who are always in “perpetual motion”. They sell and buy a new house every couple of years and can’t wait until their next vacation. They seem almost afraid to be still. It is very hard to have more than a superficial conversation with them. Our rector says, “We must learn to work from our rest, not rest from our work.” Sabbath to me is the stillness where I am quiet and listen for God to tell me how I can help Him further His kingdom. He is always there if I will just slow down.
I think I have always taken the Sabbath literally as Sunday. I have always tried, not always successfully, to take that day as one in which no work is done and it is a day of peace; one that I have protected from the busy pace of the week and I guard it as His’.
Sabbath is a holy “time out” for me, time for rest and quiet, time for refreshment. Since I work in a church, this does not happen for me (usually) on Sundays. Making my day off on Fridays truly a day off is when I find Sabbath.
Sabbath is the day to revel in the fact that I am a beloved child of God.
Very lovely Pam….thanks for sharing!
Sabbath is a time out for my soul to rest and to be refreshed. Over the years, with varying degrees of success, I’ve tried to protect some time and space for intentional sabbath. I realized a few weeks ago how I’ve moved away from doing this, and so for Lent I’m preparing for a 24-hr period each week that I will call sabbath. Intentionality is key here, and although each one will be different, I’ll open them all with the lighting of a candle and prayer. Some weeks I may enjoy spending time with friends and family; others I may need quieter, more reflective time alone. The question each week for me to ponder in preparation for my sabbath is what is needed at that time for me to draw near and to rest spiritually in God.
Sabbath is anytime that I am able to be still and listen to God.
What a wonderful thought! I struggle with keeping a whole day of Sabbath due to my employment, but I can find time to be still and listen to God.
“The tyranny of time” is a phrase that described my relationship to time when I was working because my schedule was in control of my employer. The Sabbath, Sunday, was a work day. I read that our satisfaction in work is often tied to performance. I must say that unfortunately I usually felt that I had fallen short in performing my work and obtained little satisfaction from it in spite of compliments I received. That could have been due to perfectionism which I am prone to.
When I was able to reflect in what was going on and offer what I did to God, I didn’t worry so much about performance and tried to stick to basic Christian discipline such as listening, opening myself to others, respecting their work. In retirement, I still struggle with the how I use time and whether my time volunteering is effecting God’s will. Usually, I don’t know. But, as Thomas Merton said, I hope God is pleased that I want to do His will. To be close to God in Christ is Sabbath for me.
I think God is much more relationship oriented than performance oriented. Your shift to listening, opening, and respecting is a good way to put it.
Your comments about the struggle with time and work and rest while you were still working sound very similar to my experience. I am in my last year of full-time work and am looking forward to retirement when I can have more leisure time to enjoy life and meet with my God.
I try to get up early each morning to spend at least 30 minutes, preferably an hour, with God. I awaken slowly with a warm cup of coffee in my hand and try to focus my thoughts on His word. I read and pray and gear up for the day. Without this time I don’t feel prepared for the day ahead.
You meet your friend for coffee and a chat each morning. I like that. 🙂
When I hear Sabbath, I think of Sunday, the day the Lord called us to rest and rejuvenate. My own Sabbath, which I don’t practice too often, would be filled with walking, reading, praying, and a friend activity.
For me, Sabbath is any time that I intentionally step out of my usual busyness to spend time with God. It does not necessarily involve attending church.
Your answer feels right to me–at least at first blush.
Add another one to that. I intend it to be a day but it often just hits a few hours.
Sabbath is, ideally, a day set apart for worship, family and relaxation. As an ordinand I am increasingly viewing it as a day that will change in some ways and yet, in others will become more intensely set apart, holy …. I also sense and know that I will need a personal day set aside – as we are encouraged to do at college.
Sabbath – i try to arrange my week so that I rest on Saturday. On Sunday I rise and the first thing I do is worship, then I am ready to work. Saturdays are free from laundry or groceries, they are for resting and reconnecting.
Intentional time to reflect, read and pray, and play in creation!
For me Sabbath is down time – a time for rest, reflection and renewal. I might still be doing a task but I don’t feel the pressure as I do during the week.
I think the pressure element in that is a key. To be able to Do but within an easy flow seems to make any job more pleasant and less taxing.
Sabbath…a restful pause in the melody of The Holy…
Beautiful…
Wonderfully said!
Any time I take to ponder the wonder of creation, the sacrifices he made for us and how I can do better in his eyes
The Sabbath is a day that I do not work and I join with others in worship.
I see the Sabbath as a day of rest and reflection. For me most of the time this falls on a weekend and most of the time it is Saturday not Sunday. On Saturday, I take the time to sit down and read, reflect on life and how God is part of my life and to write in my journal. Sunday is a time for church but unfortunately after that it is time to get ready for the coming work week and I find that I run out of time to just sit and think.
I think I struggle with idea of ‘sabbath’, it starts tying me in knots. Thoughts of ‘ought to’ and ‘should’ or ‘shouldn’t’ creep in. I think right now I only manage to keep ‘sabbath’ by putting aside occasional days to go to a retreat house….one where you can’t get a mobile signal! But I think part of the challenge of this series for me will be to consider how I introduce ‘sabbath’ into every week.
I struggle with it, too.
Sabbath is time to stop and refrain from tasks which might draw us away from what is Holy. Time to rest and wherein we can clear away the noise.
The Sabbath to me is a day set aside for rest and worship
Sabbath, those moments in which I am aware of the Holy.
Sabbath is a time always from my usual church tasks. Like many clergy, I take my Sabbath day during the week.
Sabbath for me is a time for resting, being still and being fully present with God. This can be in private prayer, study and reflection; or can be a gathering to worship God with others. It brings me peace.
On a basic level Sabbath is rest and any rest is sabbath. Ah! how simple and how theologically/spiritually complex a concept. Taking our lead from Genesis 1 Sabbath is something God does when God’s work of creation is done. When is that? How do we anticipate that End of Creation? “You will find rest for your souls.”
Agricultural lifestyle lends itself the seven day/ seven year rhythm of Exodus and Deuteronomy, but how you make it work in today’s hyper complex society is another matter.
Beside making sure I get enough rest,I target Sunday as worship, rest and family (I am retired.)
Sabbath for me is being present to receive the gifts of God every moment of my life.
My sabbath day is just me and God . I schedule no activities or events that day . The day is spent with God only and a Eucharist or worship service where I have no responsibilities except in letting God bless me.
I am a Realtor. I see my job as a ministry to the people of God, all of them. I find Holy time when I am interacting with my folks and assisting them in the very best way that I can. I keep on top of the information that is important to my clients, I answer them when they call, and do all in my power to give them the best information that I can so that they can make informed decisions; I support their decisions as best as I can.
I do need quiet time. It seems that even in quiet time there are so many things to do and ways to fill it. I do love Sunday Morning worship but that is not quiet.
I love hearing from all of you so that I can be mindful of prayer and a different part of who I am. That part get’s cheated out of quality time. This is a wake up call for me. Thank you.