By my guess, I’ve preached about 150 sermons here at Emmanuel.  There are some I remember, and some that might be best forgotten.  This past week’s words caused more stir since last Lent when we talked about forgiving those who have hurt us.  We talked this past week about Sabbath, and thanks be to God, people continuted talking about it, wrestling with it, and living with it.  I think that’s the mark of a good sermon: God speaking challenging words through the preacher. 

But I think there were some things I could have said better.  I won’t re-preach it, but let me say this: Sabbath is not the same as “down-time”.  I heard many people say afterwards how hard it was for them to slow down and just take time for themselves, to recharge.  I think recharging is a by-product of Sabbath, but it is not the reason to do it.  The reason is because God did it, it’s a gift to us from God, and we should experience it.  Think of it like communion.  There’s not much nutritional value in the wafer; we don’t eat it for that.  We eat it to remember that Jesus gave himself as holy food for us, and Jesus asked (re: commanded) us to keep doing it.  We don’t do the Sabbath to unwind, or to save energy, but rather because God rested, and he commands us to rest as well. 

Some of you told me that on your “off-day”, you walk, or visit friends.  Again, those things are good, but they are not the Sabbath, as I understand it.  My mom and I talked about it last night, and she suggested doing a retreat on the Sabbath, so we could study it.  Again, studying the Sabbath isn’t the same as keeping it.  In fact, that’s probably 180 degree counter to what the Sabbath is for. 

So I can tell this is going to be hard work, for anyone who takes this stuff seriously (and by “this stuff”, I mean “living a Christian life”).  I know now that if I am going to be a leader worthy of this community’s trust and respect, I need to go about doing this myself.  So here’s what I’m going to do.  Allison and Sarah are out of town towards the end of March.  I’ll pick a night when the NHL schedule is light, and go from sundown to noon the following day–nothing turned on (I’ll research whether I should turn the fridge off), no reading, no work, no phone, no baking or cooking, and let you know how it goes.  And if you have ideas about keeping Sabbath, or wish to argue with what I said or have written here, please let me know.  Dialogue is helpful.