Taking inspiration from our siblings at Benedictus we name January and July each year a Sabbath month.
This is not just about 'taking a break', but it is an intentional laying down of some of our busy-ness so as to 'rest in the Lord', deepening our availability for prayer, listening and simple presence.
Weekly Worship and Holy Hermit Remembrance will continue as usual.
We will rest from our Seasonal Study Programs and Ministry Task-Group Workshops for 4 weeks.
Why?
Sabbath is incredibly important, both in our wider lives and our interior life together.
God instructs us to take rest, and not make life all about work, in the 4th of the 10 commandments:
8 Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9 For six days you shall labour and do all your work. 10 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—... 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it. (Exodus 20)
Jesus also invites us to to take rest from our religious habits:
28 ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matthew 11)
By taking rest, we make room for the Holy Spirit to enter, refresh and renew us, and guide us into new ways of being.
Screen/Technology Sabbath
We also encourage sabbath rest from screens and technology during this time for all our people.
There will be just one send out each week on a Friday.
Sermons will still be uploaded to the Sermon page and resources shared there from worship each weekend.
It could be life-giving to refrain from using social media or news media during this time too.