Beside Still Waters · Sabbath as Resistance – Saying No to the Culture of Now by Walter...
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BOOKS WE RECOMMEND for SABBATH KEEPING Sabbath as Resistance – Saying No to the Culture of Now by Walter Brueggemann Sabbath – Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller Keeping the Sabbath Wholly by Marva Dawn Beside Still Waters REMEMBER the SABBATH God’s Most Urgent Invitation JUNE 2015 Issue Theme: Sabbatical Rest for your Soul “ …if you call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; If you honor it, not going your own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs; then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride upon the heights.” – Isaiah 58:13-14 God created us with an innate need for rest. We long for work to cease; to cast off our cares and be free to rest and play. Yet, despite our need, we press on leading lives of relentless busyness. Under the influence of a society that values activity and productivity, we disconnect from our innate need for a rhythm of work and rest. Why do we struggle to receive what we most urgently need? In his book “Sabbath as Resistance,” Walter Brueggemann explains that practicing Sabbath goes against what society believes is most important, and counters the illusion that we’re in charge of our lives. But change is not always easy when we are caught up in a flow of life that is frenetic. Slowing down for rest, renewal, and reflection can feel foreign, even uncomfortable. Yet Brueggemann points out all that we have is a gift from God. Taking time to cease from our work is an important discipline to establish because each time we do so, we remember that our self-securing initiative is not what secures and fulfills us. It is the initiative of God to provide for all that we need. Our part is to allow for Sabbath. When we cease from human effort and striving and enter a posture of humility and openness, we can receive what God wants to pour in. Sabbath doesn’t have to be a whole day. How can we find ways to incorporate Sabbath keeping into our routines? Perhaps we build in a Sabbath walk, a Sabbath hour, or a Sabbath afternoon. What is important to remember is that when we set aside this time, it is different. The gift of Sabbath is unlike anything else we typically do in the rhythm of our week. Ask yourself, what space do you need to create in your week to allow you to cease from your regular routine, to slow down, quiet your mind and heart, and be present to the Lord and to listen in a deeper way? A Season of Sabbatical Sabbatical in Scripture means – A designated period of one year in seven years in which the Jews would let their ground be idle, release debtors, and let the poor gather from the fields (Lev. 25; Deut. 15:1-3). It was to remind the nation that all it possessed belonged to God. Today we think of a sabbatical as a leave, a retreat, a time-out, or a time for study. For many, it is not feasible to leave behind jobs or family responsibilities to simply go away. But perhaps this is a question for you to reflect on as we enter this summer: Are there some things that you can put on hold for a season in order to open up a space for some type of sabbatical in your own life? Summer Schedule for RMNW For our own soul care and spiritual practice, we are entering a sabbatical season at Renewal Ministries. Kristi will be with her family from mid-June to mid-August as her husband takes his own sabbatical from pastoral ministry. Denise and Dianna will be away from mid-July to mid-September taking some time out after 12 years of developing and engaging in ministry in order to rest, renew, and reflect on this next season of ministry for RMNW. Our offices will remain open as Bob, Paul, and Kimberly see individuals for Spiritual Direction and we will have someone available to return phone calls and email. Our prayer is that you may find a new and helpful rhythm of Sabbath rest in this season of your life so that you can be open to the gifts that God so desires to keep giving to you. Founders Rev. Dianna Kunce and Rev. Denise Easter RMNW-828 NWSLTTR 6-2015 v5.01-FINAL.indd 1 5/28/15 12:37 PM
Transcript of Beside Still Waters · Sabbath as Resistance – Saying No to the Culture of Now by Walter...
B O O K S W E R E C O M M E N D f o r S A B B A T H K E E P I N G
Sabbath as Resistance – Saying No to the Culture of Now by Walter Brueggemann
Sabbath – Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller
Keeping the Sabbath Wholly by Marva Dawn
Beside StillWaters
R E M E M B E R t he S A B B AT HG o d ’s M o s t U r g e n t I n v i t a t i o n
J U N E 2 0 1 5 I s s u e T h e m e : S a b b a t i c a l Rest for your Soul
“ …if you call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; If you honor it, not going your own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs; then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride upon the heights.” – Isaiah 58:13-14
God created us with an innate need for rest. We long for work to cease; to cast off our cares and be free to rest and play. Yet, despite our need, we press on leading lives of relentless busyness. Under the influence of a society that values activity and productivity, we disconnect from our innate need for a rhythm of work and rest.
Why do we struggle to receive what we most urgently need?
In his book “Sabbath as Resistance,” Walter Brueggemann explains that practicing Sabbath goes against what society believes is most important, and counters the illusion that we’re in charge of our lives. But change is not always easy when we are caught up in a flow of life that is frenetic.
Slowing down for rest, renewal, and reflection can feel foreign, even uncomfortable. Yet Brueggemann points out all that we have is a gift from God. Taking time to cease from our work is an important discipline to establish because each time we do so, we
remember that our self-securing initiative is not what secures and fulfills us. It is the initiative of God to provide for all that we need. Our part is to allow for Sabbath. When we cease from human effort and striving and enter a posture of humility and openness, we can receive what God wants to pour in.
Sabbath doesn’t have to be a whole day.How can we find ways to incorporate Sabbath keeping into our routines? Perhaps we build in a Sabbath walk, a Sabbath hour, or a Sabbath afternoon. What is important to remember is that when we set aside this time, it is different. The gift of Sabbath is unlike anything else we typically do in the rhythm of our week. Ask yourself, what space do you need to create in your week to allow you to cease from your regular routine, to slow down, quiet your mind and heart, and be present to the Lord and to listen in a deeper way?
A Season of SabbaticalSabbatical in Scripture means – A designated period of one year in seven years in which the Jews would let their ground be idle, release debtors, and let the poor gather from the fields (Lev. 25; Deut. 15:1-3). It was to remind the nation that all it possessed belonged to God.Today we think of a sabbatical as a leave,
a retreat, a time-out, or a time for study. For many, it is not feasible to leave behind jobs or family responsibilities to simply go away. But perhaps this is a question for you to reflect on as we enter this summer:Are there some things that you can put on hold for a season in order to open up a space for some type of sabbatical in your own life?
Summer Schedule for RMNWFor our own soul care and spiritual practice, we are entering a sabbatical season at Renewal Ministries. Kristi will be with her family from mid-June to mid-August as her husband takes his own sabbatical from pastoral ministry. Denise and Dianna will be away from mid-July to mid-September taking some time out after 12 years of developing and engaging in ministry in order to rest, renew, and reflect on this next season of ministry for RMNW.
Our offices will remain open as Bob, Paul, and Kimberly see individuals for Spiritual Direction and we will have someone available to return phone calls and email.
Our prayer is that you may find a new and helpful rhythm of Sabbath rest in this season of your life so that you can be open to the gifts that God so desires to keep giving to you.
Founders Rev. Dianna Kunce and Rev. Denise Easter
RMNW-828 NWSLTTR 6-2015 v5.01-FINAL.indd 1 5/28/15 12:37 PM
We give God thanks for 35 people who participated in our Ignatian retreat (January-May). It was truly a blessing to witness the way in which they deepened in relationship with God. They learned much about prayer practices that assist them in continuing to be faithful followers of Jesus. We also give thank for the pastors and church leaders who participated in our all-day Sabbath Retreat. Rev. Dr. Paul Strawn and musician JeffJohnson led them into spiritual renewal through teaching, worship and prayer.
Retreat Registration and Information www.renewalminnw.org
W O R K S H O P F O R C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R SPractical Steps to Spiritual Discernment in Community
November 13, 2015 9AM – NoonRev. Denise Easter & Rev. Dianna KunceNorth Creek Presbyterian Church $35 early | $50 general
R M N W A N N U A L F A L L B E N E F I T
F A L L T E A C H I N G R E T R E A T
S O U L C A R E
Renewal Ministries NorthwestPO BOX 12243Mill Creek, WA [email protected]
Newsletter design by SaraLarsonDesign.com 425-361-7953 • [email protected] • www.renewalminnw.org
F R E D M E Y E R R E W A R D SYou can now help RMNW earn donations just by shopping with your Fred Meyer Rewards Card!
Sign up for the Community Rewards program by linking your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to Renewal Ministries Northwest at www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards. Search for us by our name or by our non- profit number 81900. Then, every time you shop and use your Rewards Card, you are helping RMNW earn a donation! You still earn your Rewards Points, Fuel Points, and Rebates, just as you do today. If you do not have a Rewards Card, they are available at the Customer Service desk of any Fred Meyer store.
Many developed an annual soul-care plan to sustain them for life and ministry. We are grateful for the privilege of coming alongside the leadership of five churches to equip and encourage them discerning God’s will together.
Please join us in praying for our staff as they travel far and wide during this summer for rest and renewal. Our prayer for you is that God would grant you the grace of rest and replenishment during the summer months!
A M A Z O N S M I L EAmazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Renewal Ministries Northwest whenever you shop on AmazonSmile. Simply go to www.smile.amazon.com and enter “Renewal Ministries Northwest”.
Renewal M inistr ies P R A Y E R P O I N T S
S A V E T H E D A T E - Lo o k i n g a h e a d t o Fa l l
F A L L T E A C H I N G R E T R E A TR M N W P r e s e n t s :
Jeff & Margie VanDuzer
A special evening of celebration at the Mill Creek Country Club with musical guests Acoustic Cadence. October 4, 2015 5:30PM
Spiritual practices to empower Christian Professionals to be God’s people in today’s market place.October 31, 2015 9AM - 4PM
NOTE: New Mailing Address
RMNW-828 NWSLTTR 6-2015 v5.01-FINAL.indd 2 5/28/15 12:37 PM
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