This summer at St. Paul’s, we are inviting one another into what we are calling a “Summer of Sabbath” – a season of rest, renewal, delight, and holy attention.
In his remarkable book The Sabbath, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel describes the Sabbath as a “sanctification of time.” Much of our lives are spent shaping and managing building, producing, purchasing, scheduling, fixing, scrolling, and striving. Our culture teaches us to measure our worth by our productivity and our busyness. Instead, Sabbath invites us to something radically different. It calls us to step back from the endless work of manipulating the world around us so that we might become present to the holiness already within it.
Sabbath is not simply about stopping work for the sake of stopping. Heschel writes, “The Sabbath is not a day of rest for the sake of rest, but a day of rest for the sake of man.” In other words, Sabbath exists because God desires wholeness, joy, and renewal for human beings. Sabbath reminds us that we are more than what we produce. We are beloved children of God.
Throughout the summer, we hope to practice Sabbath together in simple and meaningful ways: shared meals, time outdoors, prayer, worship, laughter, music, conversation, and moments of quiet. We hope this season becomes an invitation to recover the gift of time – not hurried time, not anxious time, instead holy time.
In a weary, distracted world, Sabbath may be one of the most countercultural practices we can embrace. It teaches us to slow down enough to notice grace. To reconnect with God, with one another, and even with ourselves.
My prayer is that this Summer of Sabbath will not just help us rest, but help us remember what truly gives life.
Peace,
The Reverend Noah H. Evans, Rector
P.S.
As we explore the Sabbath, this summer will also be a summer of construction in St. Paul’s building. During this summer, we will have our new Columbarium installed, the Chapel will be painted, and we will have new carpet installed. This means for several weeks the 8 AM service will move into the sanctuary. We will have waterproofing installed around parts of the building’s exterior foundation in June. Our Elevator will also have a complete refurbishment, taking it out of service for several weeks. And construction will begin on St. Margaret’s Garden, which, when it commences, will move our 6PM service inside into the sanctuary. Please check our emails and website throughout the summer for notices about when and where construction is happening, and where services and activities might be temporarily moved.