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In the book "Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us" by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, various Spiritual Exercises are given to help us create a Sabbath practice that reflects who we are and our needs at this time. Here are some suggestions:

1. Gather your family together to discuss how to arrange your sabbath for refreshment, renewal and relationship. Ask "How do you intentionally leave the school - and work- week behind? Let everyone tell you one thing they love to do on Sunday. Share what makes Sundays difficult for you? How can you approach sabbaths in ways that do not force, rush or demand?

2. Begin your sabbath gently on Saturday evening. 

  • light a candle and invite the presence of Christ to guide you through. your sabbath.
  • Eat with friends and family.
  • Go to bed early, speaking peace to one another.
  • Pray for Christ to give you deep, refereshing sleep. Rest in his arms. Commit your dreams to the Lord.

3. Prepare a sabbath box or basket. Each Saturday evening, gather as a family to put all the things you don't need to take with you into Sunday. Drop cell phones, credit cards and gadgets into the box. Put your work projects and homework in the box. Tell one another what you are looking forward to as you enter Sunday. Pray together to receive the gift of Sabbath.

However, it might be helpful before we start anything to consider these following questions:

Points to Ponder

Explore these questions in personal reflection, at home, or in small groups:

  • What does it mean to me to “keep the sabbath holy”?
  • How might my sabbath practice help me grow to be more like Jesus?
  • What might a life-giving sabbath look like for me?
  • How could my sabbath practices be life-giving for my neighbors also?

 How to Honor the Sabbath Day - Yahweh's Restoration Ministry

CREATING A LIFE-GIVING PERSONAL SABBATH PRACTICE

There are so many different ways to celebrate Sabbath, it's hard to know what you should try first. Before you begin any faith practice, it’s helpful to take stock of how that practice does or does not show up in your life already. Find a quiet spot to spend some time asking yourself some or all of the following questions. Invite God to speak to your heart. 

  • How am I doing?
  • What am I doing?
  • What might it look to make my sabbath more life-giving?

It then provides many ideas for celebrating sabbath. 

Two links are provided that give lots of ideas for how to keep Sabbath. They are 50 Things to do on a Sabbath and 50 More Things To Do On A Sabbath

 

FAMILY SABBATH PRACTICES

Here is a link to a short article that provides all kinds of resources for celebrating Faith Sabbath pracitices.

  • Talk with your family about how to make your sabbath day special in ways you’ll all enjoy. Create traditions and habits that invite kids to look forward to sabbath with anticipation.
  • Check out the helpful resource 5 Ways to Practice Sabbath with Kids.
  • Read the article 7 Ways to Honor the Sabbath by RJ Thesman.
  • Check out the ideas in The 30-minute Summer Sabbath.
  • If team sports are an important part of your child’s life, wrestle with what that means for your sabbath practice. It’s not easy, but it’s an important conversation to have.
  • Sabbath in the Suburbs is an easy and engaging read by MaryAnn McKibben Dana that chronicles one family’s attempt to practice Sabbath. Wherever you live, this book provides lots of good ideas for your own family sabbath practice. The author has also made a video for families.

 

IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT SOMEWHERE IN ALL THESE LINKS YOU WILL FIND WAYS TO HELP YOUR SABBATH BECOME A WELCOME DAY OF REST, RENEWAL AND RE-ALIGNMENT. 

Ministries
Faith Formation Ministry