July 28, 2024 ~ 10th Sunday after Pentecost
Rev. Beckie Sweet
PRAYER: Loving God, we pray for those who need rest from the insecurities of the world. Help us as we worship and find spaces for guidance, renewal, and hope. We pray that our deserted places become less about feeling alone and isolated, but instead awaken the connection of an all-encompassing divine love and assurance. We pray all of this in your awesome name. Amen.
What does it mean to take a Sabbath? What does that mean to you?
Almost a year ago, I planned the vacation that I took in mid-May when I went to Myrtle Beach. Half-jokingly, and half seriously, I told people that the vacation would be my reward for surviving General Conference. You may be aware that attending General Conference as a delegate is a spiritual experience, and an intense and exhausting emotional, intellectual and physical experience. For persons like me who are unaccustomed to dealing with legislation on a regular basis, sorting through exhortations by people who passionately disagree with one another, and endeavoring to catch a glimpse of God’s vision for the UM Church of the future was a spiritual marathon. By bedtime on many nights, my brain was simply exhausted. While we shared worship together a couple of times each day, the experience at General Conference left me in need of an extended Sabbath.
Upon arriving in Myrtle Beach, I first had some time to be alone with my own thoughts, and with my need to just be in God’s presence. It took a couple of days to bring peace to my mind and focus to my prayers. The first three days, I could only read my vacation book for 15 minutes at a time. My mind could not sit still! But as I slowly exhaled stress, worry, and perceived demands, I was able to inhale God’s presence, a sense of peace, and the beauty of my surroundings. The spiritual, mental, and emotional balance I needed was again restored.
As a society, we tend to overschedule. And we don’t always have the opportunity to take ten days of vacation when we need it. So, more frequent experiences of Sabbath are critical to our health and spiritual vitality. Weekly worship is one such example.
When attending a church summer camp, in addition to daily camp worship, and devotions in the cabins, each camper is REQUIRED to observe Rest Hour or FOB (feet on bunk) time. During rest hour, the campers must be quiet and stay on their bunks. While there they may sleep, write letters, pray, read, or anything else that allows everyone in the cabin to have time without external stimulation. That requirement to take a daily rest hour comes from a couple of sources: 1) It has long been the practice of quality UM camping practices; 2) It is a requirement of the American Camping Association member camps; 3) And, it is even a part of the NYS Children’s Camp Code, enforced by the NYS Health Department. The Health Department understands the value of a bit of daily Sabbath for rest and restoration.
What is Sabbath, anyway? How do you practice Sabbath?
In Jesus’ day, Sabbath rest had become a very stringent, legalized practice. There were several hundred things a law-abiding Jew could NOT do on the Sabbath. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus has various encounters with the Pharisees concerning supposed violations of Sabbath restrictions.
Jesus did not see Sabbath as a restrictive, joyless practice; instead, it was a time to share with others, a time of healing, a time to extend love and grace. Consider ways Jesus invites people into Sabbath ~ for example: quietness, being apart, prayer, and fellowship. In his book, Wrestling with Rest, Nathan Stucky notes that Jesus only spends one Sabbath day alone (as recorded in scripture) ~ he spends the rest in various types of community. So, being with others in fellowship, particularly centered around Jesus, is one way for people to find Sabbath rest and even healing (another of Jesus’ favorite Sabbath activities).
Jesus also points to Sabbath as a holy time. Sabbath rest helps us create space to honor God, to set time apart to build a loving relationship with God. The gospels also indicate that Jesus worships on the Sabbath. At other times, he recharges by spending time in prayerful solitude. We can see that there are different ways to practice Sabbath at different times, and when we have different needs.
What is Sabbath to you? If you grew up in a church of any kind, you are likely quite familiar with the word Sabbath. But some became so accustomed to hearing it over the years, that it’s meaning was dulled, and the hearer might disregard Sabbath as an ancient practice or a boring ritual. Because our rhythms of life changed drastically during the COVID pandemic, many folks forgot the benefits of Sabbath ~ balancing work and rest; communing with God; renewing one’s spirit through fellowship; learning something new through study and conversation. I am hoping that each of us may revive the observance of a Sabbath, and keep it holy as the fourth Commandment states, in order to reclaim balance and joy in our relationship with God.
We each have the ability to take time apart with God, if we are intentional about doing so. Making time for Sabbath is at least as important as scheduling other tasks. To do so, some of the busy-ness of our current schedules will need to be surrendered for the benefit of one’s soul! So, consider for a moment, how you are going to spend some quality time with God, and rest from your labors. What do you need to let go in order to make space and time to spend time with God?
Let’s give each other permission to explore a deeper prayer life, study of the scriptures alone and in community, to teach of the wisdom gained through life’s experiences, to mentor one growing in the faith, enjoy fellowship with others on the journey of life and faith. Let’s encourage and support one another, even engaging in that traditional greeting which asks, “How is it with your soul today?” and then linger long enough to listen to the response. Let’s grow in our love of God as we practice Sabbath even today!