40 Days of Prayer & Discernment | Days 27 - 33

On the seventh day—with the canvas of the cosmos completed—God paused from His labor and rested. Thus God blessed day seven and made it special—an open time for pause and restoration, a sacred zone of Sabbath-keeping, because God rested from all the work He had done in creation that day. Genesis 2:2-3 (The Voice)

Happy Labor Day! The holiday which we celebrate today has historically been one of recognition for the American worker and their contributions to the strength and prosperity of the world’s biggest economy. Labor unions, guilds, and families would gather for parades and recreational activities as communities celebrated the spirit of the American worker.

What began as a holiday birthed during the gilded age has transformed into a three-day holiday for Americans to enjoy. It’s an opportunity to get one last summer vacation in, for old-school fashionistas to put away white pieces of clothing until next year, and for friends and families to gather around the grill for one last cookout or barbecue.

This celebration of work and its simultaneous practice of rest on the first Monday in September got me thinking about the spiritual exercise of Sabbath-keeping.

For many Christians, the Sabbath Day is Sunday - a day that we pause from working, when we gather together with other believers to worship God, and a time for us to recharge and refocus our attention on spiritual matters before resuming our labors the next day.

During one of our recent Wednesday night pick up basketball games, I spoke with a young man about Sabbath and asked him this question: Do you rest from your work, or do you begin your work-week from a place of rest?

This is a question that Matthew Sleeth poses in his book, “24/6.” Are we just working for the weekend? Or are we treating the Sabbath as an opportunity to connect more strongly with God, to meet face-to-face with our sisters & brothers in Christ, and to prepare our hearts and minds for a week of labor looking for God-moments throughout the next six days?

In “24/6,” we’re reminded of the Creation story as told in Genesis 1 — the world was created including every living, breathing creature. Humankind is created at the very end of this process, and the very next day is the Sabbath.

The first thing that women & men were instructed to do after their creation according to Genesis 1 was to rest. They weren’t put to work right away, nor were they expected to labor — that would come later.

​According to Sleeth, God intended for humankind to begin their work from a place of rest which is why the Sabbath Day is the first full day that women & men experienced on earth.

So, on this Labor Day, as we gather with friends and families around the grill, enjoy one last summer trip, or simply lounge around the house enjoying a federal holiday at home, consider how you will observe the Sabbath this week and ask yourself what it looks like for a congregation to collectively keep the Sabbath together.

+Pastor Kris Roof

---

September 7 - Do you treat the weekend and Sabbath as a chance to rest from your work, or do you view it as an opportunity to begin the work week from a place of rest? What are you resting from today? How can you reframe your Sabbath as a way of re-centering and recharging your soul before taking on a new week?


​September 8 - Sabbath time causes us to reflect on our lives and possessions. Are there items that you’re holding on to which is making life more difficult or causing a distraction in your daily living? Are there items or activities that you need to prune from your life in order to create a simpler, more intentional environment for you to experience?


September 9 - What would it look like for a congregation to experience Sabbath beyond our Sunday morning worship gathering? Are there activities or items in our possession which we should prune? Are there times when it’s more appropriate to “do less” as opposed to doing more?

​
September 10 - Take some time to read this familiar passage of Scripture from Psalm 46:10a. At the end of each line, spend some time in prayer listening for God’s voice…
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am…
Be still and know…
Be still…
Be…


September 11 - Many families who observe the Sabbath will prepare meals before the Sabbath, tidy up the house and take care of chores ahead of time. If you had a full 24-hour day when you didn’t have to cook or clean (and you didn’t cause someone else to cook, clean, or perform some other task for you), how would you spend your day? Would you read, go for a walk, play a board game, watch a movie, call up family members or friends you haven’t spoken with in some time?


September 12 - As Peace Tree considers the direction that God is calling our congregation, how might we experience rest and find comfort in God? Is there any work or tasks that we should accomplish now so that we aren’t distracted later when we’re listening for God’s voice?


September 13 - Today is another Sabbath day! Will you put aside your work and tasks today in order to spend time in fellowship with God, family, and your neighbors? How will you delight in the gift that is TODAY?

This week's Coffee with Kris & Harry will be held at Donut Hutt. Feel free to drop by between 10:00am and 12:00 Noon for conversation & prayer.