REST: Receive the gift of God’s grace, peace, and restoration
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be
troubled and do not be afraid. – John 14:2
Blessed are you, O Lord … giving rest to the weary, renewing the strength of those who are spent.
– Book of Common Prayer, 113
From the beginning of creation, God has established the sacred pattern of going and returning, labor and
rest. Especially today, God invites us to dedicate time for restoration and wholeness – within our bodies, minds, and souls, and within our communities and institutions. By resting we place our trust in God, the primary actor who brings all things to their fullness.
For Reflection and Discernment
- What practices restore your body, mind, and soul?
- How will you observe rest and renewal on a regular basis?
- With whom will you commit to create and maintain a regular practice of rest?
Additional resources for practicing Rest
Keeping Sabbath – Donna Schaper
We live in a time famine, a 24/7 culture where the line between work and personal is blurred and shrinking. This pamphlet explores the importance of Sabbath and offers concrete, practical ways to build rest and renewal into our lives.
Age: Young Adult / Adult
Pathways of Faith Coloring Book – Roger Speer
Relax and restore as you spend time coloring these original illustrations that capture the amazing stories of the Bible and God’s love for us.
Age: Children / Youth / Adult
Sabbath as Part of a Rule of Life – Charles LaFond
Charles LaFond offers a way to practice Sabbath as well as follow a Rule of Life amidst the busy-ness of our lives.
Age: All
Reclaiming the Sabbath – Jane Carol Redmont
God rests on the seventh day. If we decide to embody this as church, what will the shape of our time look like? How will we operate differently from the culture around us?
Age: All
Working on Not Working on the Sabbath – Miriam McKenney
Miriam McKenney reflects on what Sabbath means to her and her family in today’s world of always being busy with things to “do.”
Age: Families
Sabbath – Oliver Sacks
As he approached death, neurologist and author Oliver Sacks contemplated his life with and without the Sabbath.
Age: All
Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No to the Culture of Now – Walter Bruggemann
Guides readers to discover the truth: that sabbath is not about keeping rules but rather about becoming a whole person and restoring a whole society. Study guide included.
Age: All
Simpler Living, Compassionate Life – Michael Schut, editor
Schut gathers a rare collection of voices to call Christians to simpler lives that are gentle to the earth.
Age: Young Adult / Adult
Adult Christian Formation 