By Lilly Lewin and Cindi Slaughter
One of the things I love about our Sunday night community practice of Lectio Divina is the wonderful things God shows people from the scripture passages we listen to each week.
If there are 10 people, there are 10 different sermons preached through the Holy Spirit highlighting exactly what each person needs to hear as he/she listens to the passage read three times.
We listen to the gospel passage read in three different voices and two different Bible translations. Usually the NIV (New International Version) and The Message Bible. We follow the Church Year Calendar and tend to follow the lectionary.
Last week’s gospel passage was on Jesus and the Sabbath Day. Mark 2-23-3:6 (see below)
After listening to the passage, everyone has half an hour to journal from the passage. I give them a few questions to consider and journal from, and then we gather back together and those who want to share what God showed them.
Here’s what my friend Cindi Slaughter wrote about Sabbath during her journaling time. Cindi is a song writer, an artist, and always has great insight that inspires our group. It’s a beautiful reminder of why we need to give ourselves permission to practice Sabbath. As you begin your weekend, take the time to read Cindi’s thoughts and ask Jesus to show you how you might take a “mini sabbath” this week.
We Need Sabbath by Cindi Slaughter
Mark 2:27 (MSG)
The Sabbath was made to serve us; we weren’t made to serve the Sabbath.
We need Sabbath – that’s why it was given.
It’s not about following the rules and changing my daily routine to fit within rules. That’s not it. It’s about creating space and place for God.
It’s about remembering what God has done for me.
It’s about stopping what I’m doing and seeing what God’s doing.
It’s about letting my body and soul rest so that I can be replenished.
It’s about giving myself what is needed so that I can continue on with the work that I am doing.
It’s counter cultural.
It doesn’t feel productive – even though it is.
It’s leaving the shoulds and oughts and taking a break from that mindset.
It’s about believing it is enough for God to just be and do nothing productive.
It’s about opening myself, listening, receiving, breathing, not being in control, not changing the world, not having a plan, not implementing anything, not managing….
Stop…ask God to be with me.
Wait.
Take what comes – if anything.
And the next day, get back to doing it all again.
We need Sabbath – that’s why it was given.
Mark 2:23-3:6 The Message (MSG)
23-24 One Sabbath day he was walking through a field of ripe grain. As his disciples made a path, they pulled off heads of grain. The Pharisees told on them to Jesus: “Look, your disciples are breaking Sabbath rules!”
25-28 Jesus said, “Really? Haven’t you ever read what David did when he was hungry, along with those who were with him? How he entered the sanctuary and ate fresh bread off the altar, with the Chief Priest Abiathar right there watching—holy bread that no one but priests were allowed to eat—and handed it out to his companions?” Then Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made to serve us; we weren’t made to serve the Sabbath. The Son of Man is no lackey to the Sabbath. He’s in charge!”
Doing Good on the Sabbath
3 1-3 Then he went back in the meeting place where he found a man with a crippled hand. The Pharisees had their eyes on Jesus to see if he would heal him, hoping to catch him in a Sabbath infraction. He said to the man with the crippled hand, “Stand here where we can see you.”
4 Then he spoke to the people: “What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?” No one said a word.
5-6 He looked them in the eye, one after another, angry now, furious at their hard-nosed religion. He said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” He held it out—it was as good as new! The Pharisees got out as fast as they could, sputtering about how they would join forces with Herod’s followers and ruin him.
As you read Cindi’s thoughts on Sabbath and the Gospel passage. What things do you notice? What are your feelings about Sabbath? About rest? About actually taking the time to stop and let God be in control for awhile? Talk to Jesus about this.
By John Birch —
I believe my busy hands can fix the world—or at the very least my world. When I begin to feel anxious about the events of life, I take out my knitting. The yarn, warm and soft, glides through my hands, rhythmically making one loop after another. I may not be able to solve my daughter’s health puzzle or take away a friend’s tragedy, but I can make loop after loop after loop. As I do, my shoulders relax, my breathing slows, my mind slows down. My love and prayers flow from my heart, down my arms, out my knitting needles and into the fabric. Sometimes I need this process over and over and over.
As I knit, I begin to build tangible warmth and love, embodied in fabric… a shawl for a friend grieving the loss of a child, one for a woman dying of cancer, hats to keep babies warm in Nepal, clothing for refugees from Syria, special items for celebrations and milestones. When people wear the items I create, can they feel the love and prayers? Because I think my hands believe they can heal the world.
Whatever the impact my creations have on the world, they are part of my own process, healing and connection with God. Though I have created things with my hands since I was a child, I am only beginning to recognize and have language for the potential of my knitting as a spiritual practice. I am entering a new season of life. My kids are all adults now and in college; for me the transition has been difficult. Though I thought of myself as a person who was calm, and of my kids as people who were competent with growing independence, I found myself experiencing almost daily anxiety. I journaled, I memorized verses, I talked with friends. Each of those practices would help for a bit, but seemed overused and stale to me. I longed for some new ways to engage with God.
Last fall, I decided it was time to cultivate my interests more deeply. I stumbled upon a workshop at a local yarn shop called “Knit the Sky”, based on a book by the same name. The author, Lea Redmond, expresses a desire to “draw attention to the already storied nature of knitting and explore ways to creatively engage that phenomenon in a way that deepens our humanity, both as individuals and social creatures.” My curiosity was piqued, and I signed up for the workshop. Throughout the evening, we played with knitting and story and Lea walked us through brainstorming ways to knit the stories of our lives.
Combined with my desire to experiment with my own spiritual practice and to address my anxiety, I was freshly inspired to draft a project. Throughout the course of the school year, I would knit a scarf for each of my children. This scarf would represent their life that year. I wanted to explore an appropriate role as a mother of grown children. Clearly their lives were their own, not mine. However, we will always be connected as family, so each day I could pick up their “lives”, and knit two rows. During the time it took me to do this, I could pray for their concerns, celebrate their accomplishments and pray my hopes for each of them. I even had special stitches to knit for both particularly difficult and happy days. However, when the rows were done, it was time for me to set down their lives for the day.
So, every day I did this. I prayed for them as I knit. I calmed down. I reminded myself of the truths that God cares for my children and will not leave them alone. I cannot say that I was not tempted to pick up their worries and concerns at other times of the day, but when I did, I thought of their scarves, a tangible reminder of the separateness of their lives from mine. And as time went on, the practice became easier and I could catch myself sooner.
The scarves were completed during finals week, spring of 2016. I wrote each of the kids a note, telling them about my project, affirming their growth, and my confidence that they are each growing into capable, lovely adults. I will always love and support them, but they alone have the challenge, joy and privilege of living their lives.
For me, the knitting of my prayers and concerns provided a daily tangible reminder to trust that something beautiful beyond my control is transpiring. It has left me more able to watch for God’s good work in the lives of those I love. And it has provided me with another way that God meets me right where I already love to be—hands busy making beauty.
Previously posted on the V3 Church Planting blog, by Tom Sine —
Were you one of the two billion people who viewed the Royal Wedding? If you did I bet you were among those who were impressed by not only the pomp and circumstance but by the surprising Gospel music and compelling message.
What Impressed you most about the Royal wedding?
Were you also impressed by the remarkable impact for our British neighbors of Prince Harry marrying a beautiful American bride Meghan Markle? Reportedly the marriage has humanized the monarchy for younger Brits and nearly half of Londoners who are from other cultures and countries.
The wedding service reflected an appreciation of Markle’s African heritage. A black choir from east London sang a moving gospel song. Reportedly what gathered the greatest acclaim from those at the event was the electric sermon by Michael Curry the head of the Episcopal Church in America. His high energy delivery was like that of a charismatic African American church.
How was the Royal wedding centered in change making?
Quoting Dr. Martin Luther King, Michael Curry proclaimed “We must rediscover the power of love, the redemptive power of love…and when we do it will make this old world into a new world.”
“As the Royal Wedding Unfurled, It Seemed World Was Watching,” declared The New York Times, May 20, 2018
I imagine as a teenager the last thing Prince Harry was likely thinking about was having an impact on the lives of others. Deeply overwhelmed by the tragic death of his mother Princes Diana, Prince Harry “described his adolescence as ‘total chaos.’” As he entered his 20’s he began to turn his grief into services to make difference in the lives of others.
He started in 2009 with his brother, Prince William, to start a foundation to both empower disadvantaged adolescents from different cultures and promote environmental sustainability.
In 2011 he started Invictus Games to help empower wounded vets in the UK. Last December he took HIV testing kits to Barbados on World Aids Day.
As a successful actress Meghan Markle has become a global ambassador for World Vision in Canada for gender empowerment. She has also become an advocate for women of color. In addition, Meghan has become an World Vision advocate for a clean water campaign in Rwanda.
Now Prince Harry and Meghan Markle view themselves as “united by causes that impassion them, the couple sets a promising example of seeking out social justice and change in both the United Kingdom and abroad.”(observer.com Nov 29, 2017 – The Social Causes That United Prince Harry and Meghan Markl)
How can we all become agents of change in times like these?
This is invitation to followers of Jesus to join all those in the U.K .and the U.S .who are working for racial, economic and environmental justice.
This work has never been more urgent in the US. We are seeing growing animosities towards people of color, people from other cultures and religions. We only have to remember Ferguson, Baltimore and the recent white supremacist rallies to realize we don’t live in a post-racial America.
Dori Baker, a United Methodist leader, working with the Rutba House in Raleigh Durham, headed a “Holy Pilgrimage.” She took a racially diverse group of 14 young people on a “deep dive” in Southern states as non-violent protestors and won the Voting Rights Act 50 years ago. (p.171 Live Like You Give A Damn! Join the Changemaking Celebration)
Welcoming refugee families from the middle east with festive meals is a part of life of the Axiom church plant in Syracuse, New York. In fact they are working to help these new neighbors successfully settle in their neighborhood.
In March I spoke to leaders of the Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids. I was impressed by those are working for racial, economic and environmental justice. For example, First CRC Church is supporting the work of Martin Luther King Elementary School in their neighborhood. While there I also discovered a ministry called the Tree Tops Collective. This team of millennial innovators headed by Dana Doll started a social enterprise to offer job training for moms from Syria to become economically self-reliant.
There are many more followers of Jesus making efforts in the work for racial, economic and environmental justice in the U.S., the U.K., and around the globe. These are stories that encourage and inspire us as we work for the renewal of all things.
Send us your stories of how you are joining those who are working for racial, economic and environmental justice as followers of Jesus. We would like to share some of your stories with our readers!
By Lynne Baab —
Maybe you’ve never heard of World Environment Day, a day set aside by the United Nations to focus on care for the environment. I only learned about it recently. The theme for 2018 is “Beat Plastic Pollution – if you can’t reuse it, refuse it,” and you can find stories and videos about this year’s theme here.
Illustration by Dave Baab
For a Christian, why does beating plastic pollution matter? For a Christian, why does it matter whether or not we care for the beautiful earth God created? How can we stay motivated to look out for God’s creation when so many people are wasting resources and polluting the water, air and land?
I’ve been doing some interviews for a future book that would answer those questions. So far, I’ve heard five primary reasons why Christians today are motivated to care for the beautiful world God created. Before you read the reasons below that I heard in interviews, spend a moment thinking about your own motivations. What motivations, ideas or parts of the Bible help you feel called to care for the earth? I’d love to see your comments about what you think.
Here’s what I’ve heard in interviews so far:
- The call from Genesis. In the second creation account in Genesis 2, God set the man in the garden to till and tend it (Genesis 2:15). Various translations use different verbs, including “work it and take care of it,” and “cultivate and keep it.” God created the woman to partner with the man in doing this important work of cultivating the earth so that food might be provided for all creatures. Take a look at the variety of translations of this verse. All of the verbs used in the various translations provide motivation for caring for the earth.
- The earth is beautiful and God made it. This is my primary motivation. When my daughter-in-law, who I love, makes me a handmade birthday card, I treasure it. When I look at the beautiful trees, flowers, mountains, water, animals, birds, clouds and sky that God made, I can’t imagine not caring for something so lovely made by someone I love. Psalm 104 is a relevant scripture here, a description of the way God cares for the earth and its creatures. John Stott calls Psalm 104 one of the earliest ecological documents we have, and C. S. Lewis referred to the writer of Psalm 104’s “gusto for nature.” If the Bible has gusto for something beautiful that God made, why would we not take care of it?
- Conservation. My father-in-law had a huge organic vegetable garden beginning in the 1950s until his death in the 1980s. He was committed to organic gardening because he viewed it as the best way to take care of the land. My grandmother and mother were shaped by years of hardship during the Depression, and they taught me not to waste anything. Reusing and recycling came second nature to them. They couldn’t fathom the throw-away habits that crowd our landfills and use precious land that could be farmland or homes. Christians are called “stewards” in three places in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 4:1-2, Titus 1:7, and 1 Peter 4:10, and stewards care for what has been entrusted to them.
- Loving our neighbor now and into the future. One of my friends is passionate about the way we dispose of our waste. Everything we throw in the garbage or put into our drains impacts other people, either now or in the future. Her key verse for creation care is “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). Our neighbor might be downstream from our town or a fisherman in Southeast Asia who can no longer harvest enough fish to live on because of plastic waste in the ocean. Our neighbor might be living now or in the future.
- Caring for creation provides a wonderful bridge to people outside the church who care for the environment. When I lived in New Zealand, I was involved in a Christian creation care group in my town. We invited a man from the Department of Conservation to come and speak to us, and he said, “You Christians would get so much credibility and build so many good relationships if you would get involved with some of the groups that care about the earth.” So many people outside the church care about clean air and water, a healthy food supply, global climate change, and the future for animals and plants. When Christians join with those concerns, strong relational bridges can be built.
What keeps you motivated to care for God’s beautiful earth?
“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it;
for he has founded it on the seas,
and established it on the rivers” (Psalm 24:1, 2).
by Christine Sine
Ever felt that there is something lacking in your spiritual expression? Ever sensed that there is creative energy within you just waiting to get out? It has certainly been like that for me over the last few years.
It all began about about five years when I started creating and using meditation gardens. I was bored with Advent wreaths and wanted something uniquely me that expressed my desires for the season, so I decided to create an Advent garden.
Advent garden 2017
My first garden looked a little like an Advent wreath with a few plants and candles, but as the years progressed I added themes, patterns, painted rocks and more candles, extending its use through the Christmas season with a blaze of lighted candles.
lenten garden
This year I decided to create a Lenten garden too. With its creation my meditation gardens have evolved. This garden began as a desert landscape with five small succulent gardens and some heart shaped rocks. focused towards the crosses of Calvary. Of course in adding those crosses I had already moved beyond the Lenten season as Lent traditionally ends with Maundy Thursday. But I have always loved messing with traditions and this garden has certainly done that.
Easter resurrection garden
At Easter I added a “He is Risen” rock and thought that would be the end of my garden’s life, but as Pentecost came and went I realized I did not want to put this garden to rest yet. Around me spring was bursting into life, a rich parade of flowers that sent my spirit soaring into the sky.
My meditation garden continues to evolve. Just added dried rose petals as a symbol of the changing seasons. Summer is on the way
Instead of creating a new garden I allowed this one to evolve. I dried an array of rose petals and sprinkled them over the sand, a symbol of the blossoming of life that emerges in our resurrection world.
This has been another lesson for me in listening to and responding to the flow of the Spirit of God. In the process I realize how easy it is for me to limit what the spirit is wanting to do, not just in creative expression but in every area of my life because I create artificial boundaries to the spirit’s movement.
Who knows what this garden will evolve into in the future? We are continually co-creating with our God. Nothing is forever. Everything is changing and rather than resist that change we can become part of the creative change of God and enter into the adventure.
What is your response?
Are there places where you peeled bored by traditional expressions of faith but have not given yourself permission to step outside the box of convention?
Sit in prayerful silence for a few moments. Take some deep breaths in and out allowing the spirit of God to flow into your lungs and spread throughout your body. Listen to what the spirit is saying.
How is the Spirit wanting to lead you today?
What artificial boundaries have you established that limit its flow?
How could you become a better listener and provide avenues for the Spirit to flow freely in your life?
By Lilly Lewin
Happy June! I’m not sure how it happened, but the calendar has changed again! Summer has begun here in Nashville and people are already heading off on trips and holidays and getting ready for the pace of summer rather than that of the school year. I know that in other places, you are not yet in the summer mode, but I’m finding that we need to plan ahead, rather than wait, in order to have time to water our souls. Too often when the seasons change, we get busier rather than less busy. My calendar for this month is already filled with work appointments, deadlines and a big family wedding. I’m realizing that I need to prioritize my time with God this month and actually plan for sabbath and silence in order to feel the refreshment of the Spirit and not just be a dried out dish rag by summer’s end.
I want to share with you the practice of the Sabbath Box.
I learned about the practice from Wayne Muller’s Book
Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives.
The Sabbath Box holds all the things that will distract you from actually spending time with Jesus. The Sabbath Box allows you to let God be God and hold the things that you try to control or the things that burden you, bog you down, and keep you busy.
You can create a Sabbath Box or purchase and actual box or a basket with a lid to use in this practice.
You can do this on your own or as a family or with your housemates.
The Sabbath Box enables you to create space so you can rest and hear from God. It’s a tangible way, a visible reminder, that will help you “Let Go and Let God,” and help you rest in Jesus.
First things first! We need to get rid of distractions! Put away your list and let God hold it in the Sabbath Box.
Getting Rid of Distractions…putting away your list!. We all have one. A to do list, a mental list, actual lists of stuff churning around in our minds that prevent us from resting and being refreshed. So….
Make a List…
Write it all down and then place it in an envelope…
and
when you are ready, place the envelope in the Sabbath Box…
You might consider these things as you make your list….
What are things that scare you right now…about your life, about the world, about your job, family, etc.
What are you worrying about?
What is bugging you right now?
Who’s bugging you?
What relationships are causing you stress or pain?
What are you frustrated about today?
What are the things that have frustrated you this week?
What things are distracting you?
What things back at work, at the office, or in your family are causing you anxiety, or stress?
What is in your head that is distracting?
What stuff is filling your head?
WRITE IT ALL DOWN and Give it God…allow God to hold this list, these things for you.
This practice can be done any time and any day. It could be done before you start your day if you are feeling overwhelmed and anxious. It might be something you do at night before bed, allowing Jesus to hold The List for you while you sleep.
As a true Sabbath practice, you’d make your list on Friday night before dinner and place it in the box and let Jesus have it for 24 hours.
Your job is to let Jesus carry all the things on your list.
And if you have more things come up in that 24 hour period, make another list and put it in the box.
To add to the Sabbath Box practice, you might put your lap top and/or your cell phone in the box. Start with a couple of hours. Allow God to have your undivided attention, no phone, no computer. Just you! Then work on this practice so you can actually put your phone, laptop, tv remote, etc away for longer. Could you do it for an entire 24 hours or even the entire weekend? I’m not there yet! I need to practice this practice! I’m starting with putting my phone away before bed and using a clock by my bed rather than my phone to know the time.
Here’s one of my favorite prayers to use as you entire a time of Sabbath rest and as you start your Sabbath Box practice.
Lord,
There is nothing more important that what we are attending to.
There is nothing more urgent that we must hurry away to.
We Wait on you Lord God.
Your time is the right time.
We wait for You to make Your word clear to us.
We know that in time
and in the spirit of deep listening
and in quiet stillness
Your way will be clear. AMEN
( based on a prayer by Thomas Merton)
I’d love to hear how you use this practice and see your Sabbath Boxes too!
And here’s to a peaceful, restful, less busy June!
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