The Year of Sabbath

From November of 2007 to November of 2008, 14 UCC leaders of youth and young adults from across the country are joining together in mutual support to engage in Sabbath practices. Intentionally practicing Sabbath is a way to examine and truly recognize the breadth of work that has been done in youth ministry and discern the work that must continue. Even in our faith communities a culture of busyness and a preoccupation with productivity has replaced the holy rhythm of work and rest. Together we will prayerfully struggle to find the balance between work and ministry, taking time to cease our patterns of activity and to honour and engage the meaning of Sabbath in our context. We invite others into this time as we “listen, pause, pray and repeat” in order to discern the Spirit’s wisdom for youth ministry.

Initially we will focus on adopting the Sabbath practice in our own faith lives. In the first month of the year of Sabbath, we will begin by taking 1 hour per week of Sabbath, and each share in a ritual together of prayer, scripture reading, silent reflection, journaling and singing. In the second month we will take 2 hours per week. As the year progresses we will deepen and expand our commitment to practice the Sabbath, month by month, hour by hour. By the end of the year we will spend 12 hours a week in Sabbath, which may include a community meal, abstaining from financial transactions, and resting from our regular work, among many other things.

In order to make the broadest impact on our church, we will invite others to join us in our Sabbath-taking. First, each of the 14 will find a mentor who will support us as we undertake this discipline. As we journey, we will invite as many others into this practice as feel called, including our congregations, and other communities of faith of which we are a part. Together with all these Sabbath-practitioners, we will pay homage to the work of those who have gone before us, and we will discern together the spirit’s call for youth ministry in the United Church of Canada.

Every week from now until November 2008, one of the 14 leaders will post an excerpt from their reflections onto the Sabbath blog: http://yayasabbathdiscernmentteam.blogspot.com. (But you know that 'cause you're already here!) The blog page can be visited by anyone and the schedule of weekly Sabbath scripture can be found there also. So join us as we honestly engage with, and struggle to reclaim, an ancient faith tradition. We trust that through this practice, new directions, deepened discipleship, and revolutionary energy will spring forth for the work of youth ministry in our church.

Sabbath Discernment Team