Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
One of the most important principles in the Hebrew Scriptures is sabbath time. God rests on the seventh day after creating the world, and then commands that there be sabbath time for everyone and everything God created. People, animals and plants are all to be cherished and nurtured in a time of rest and refreshment.
Although we believe in the Ten Commandments, Christians usually think of the Sabbath as something that doesn’t apply to us. Jesus did chastise the Jewish leaders of his day for making the Sabbath more about following a law than sanctifying time. In doing this he was not negating the need for Sabbath, but reasserting the holy nature of Sabbath that is about more than what you can and cannot do on Friday evening.
Sadly, especially in modern times, the idea of Sabbath time is seen as self-indulgent and unproductive. Without Sabbath time we become like a field that is never allow to lie fallow. Our soil never is replenished with nutrients, and we do not grow.
So how can we experience Sabbath time? One way is to follow God’s admonition in Psalm 46: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Set aside regular time for yourself and your family that is not about doing but instead about being: being together, being holy, being fallow. This can involve prayer and silence, but it can also involve laughter and play and study and rest.
September 13-15 is our Shrine Mont parish weekend. For many this is an annual time of sabbath. At Shrine Mont we will hallow time by getting away from our everyday lives. Instead of a formal program, Saturday morning will give us time for meditation and to encounter God in many different ways from walking the labyrinth to holy reading to taking a nap.
Shrine Mont is for all ages, and there will be a program time for kids on Saturday morning. Games night on Saturday night is fun for everyone! Come join us for this marvelous time together!
Blessings,
Leslie+
Top 10 Reasons to go to our Shrine Mont Parish Weekend, Sept. 13-15
10. Sabbath time
9. BINGO!
8. Rocking chairs galore
7. Party at the Rectory Saturday night
6. No cell phone service (believe me, that’s a good thing!)
5. Worship in the Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration
4. You always go
3. You’ve never gone
2. Butt buns and apple butter
1. You’ll have a great time!
Open Mike 