If you signed up to host or facilitate a Wednesday Lenten group, or were looking forward to Wednesday groups again, I must offer an apology for canceling them. The reason is simple, we are canceling a process of practicing practices to practice another practice. Instead of exploring many practices, I am inviting you to be clear about sabbath. More is not necessarily better, possibly.
Sabbath is the 7th day, the day God rested. How are you resting? Not in the sense of staying away
from the world, but resting to be connected to God. We need rest to be part of the justice struggle just as we need rest from the weariness of that struggle. Resting, not just your body, but resting from the noise and pulls and stresses of the world.
Theologian Eugene Peterson frames it this way,
"Sabbath is not primarily about us or how it benefits us; it is about God, and how God forms us. It is not, in the first place, about what we do or don't do; it is about God - completing and resting and blessing and sanctifying. But it does mean stopping and being quiet long enough to see - open-mouthed - with wonder - resurrection wonder."
I've recently been struggling with sabbath and was offered a gentle nudge by the social justice group to be intentional about it. Why? If we don't care for our souls, the work of justice and ministry and life will deplete us to the point we are unable to show up and be present for others. In light of this I've invited the staff to be very intentional about sabbath time this Lent. Every year I invite the staff into a communal Lenten practice, reading a book, learning about saints of the church. This year, I'm asking us to be attentive to our sabbath.
Which means....
Some things may need to be cancelled. Less is more holy.
Some times you may find a longer response time. Be gracious.
Some situations may call for you to ask for what you need. Specifically.
And some days are staff sabbath days. Please respect them.
Rebecca is only in the office M-F, 9-1. On Sundays, if you encounter her, attempt to honor this is her sabbath day, her day to worship God, her day to rest. She is present to help if absolutely needed and will monitor her own process, but as you are able, enjoy her company and presence as a
parishioner
and not staff.
Megan's sabbath day is Wednesday.
Eric's sabbath day is Thursday.
If you are have an immediate emergency absolutely call us. Otherwise, know we will get back to you after sabbath.
So, at least one day in seven during Lent, or every Wednesday afternoon and evening,
pull off the road
walk in the park
turn off the computer and the phone and the TV
talk to a stranger
take a nap
be in conversation with the God who created you
And remember these words from Ash Wednesday. From dust you have come and to dust you shall return, but in the meantime God does some amazing stuff with dust. And God is not done doing amazing things with you. You are precious in God's sight. You are God's beloved. And when you get anxious because there is so much to do, remember God believes you are worth more than the stresses of your work, or the busyness of life. Take a breath and rest in God's presence in order to be able to do God's work in the world.
See you Sunday,
Rev. Eric
