Sabbath. Shalom. A Season of Creation.
One of the oldest, but perhaps also most misunderstood concepts in the Bible is sabbath. The roots for our understanding of sabbath come from first the chapters of Genesis, where Scripture teaches that after creating sun and stars, animals and humans, God created rest. From the beginning, God planned for creation to experience rhythms of work and rest, productivity and delight.
This summer, we want to ask our own “sabbath questions.” How do I and my family honor the sabbath and keep it holy? What does rest and restoration look like in my life? Do I more fully participate in the holy sabbath-keeping of Scripture, or the “addicted to hurry” model of our culture? Jesus seemed to reject the way that the Pharisees and others observed sabbath…should we ignore this Old Testament concept?
We will ask these and other related questions together in worship. Rhythms of Sabbath and Rest, in our church and in our lives.
From 6/21–7/5, the Rev. Dr. Steve Jones bring us the message of The Gospel of Shalom. Shalom is a very old word, perhaps the most common word used by Jews, ancient and modern, as a form of greeting. Christians typically do not use the word, even though the English word, “peace,” is a translation of Shalom. In fact, peace is a very poor translation of shalom. Shalom expresses the essence of Jesus as well as the trajectory of his life. The Shalom of God captures the same prophetic message that better communicates the core of Jesus’ message.
Shalom has to do with the well-being of self, of family, of friends, of nation, of strangers, of enemies, and of God’s created world. Anything less is a distortion of the Gospel. Anything less is “un-shalom-like.”
We each likely know persons who embody shalom. Persons of Shalom are Beatitudes people, embodying the wisdom of the Beatitudes. Shalom is not easy discipleship. It is costly. Shalom persons are not static, but expansive in the practice of discipleship. Our call is to invite others to shalom. The Judgmental Church is unfortunately well-known. The Shalom Church is the opposite: non-judgmental, inclusive, accepting, broad-minded, prophetic, leaning into God’s future, proclaiming the Shalom of God. Shalom Persons walk God’s broadening path.
From 8/16–9/6, we’ll join along with churches worldwide in celebrating Living Waters: A Season of Creation 2026, exploring in worship together Ezekiel 47:9 and 12—a biblical vision of hope and ecological restoration.
“In Ezekiel 47, water flows from God’s sanctuary, healing and renewing land, waters, and human responsibility toward creation. The prophet’s vision unfolds amid exile and loss. Water flows from the temple—at first a tiny stream that deepens, bringing life to dead areas and restoring ecosystems. To receive this new life, we must step into the waters ourselves—becoming part of God’s river, joining creation’s healing.” (Source: the World Council of Churches website.)
Begin praying now to hear God’s call for us to be a sabbath community, and a community of shalom, and a community of creation care, in these coming weeks and months!
Rhythms of Sabbath and Rest (5/31–6/14)
May 31: Sabbath as Communal Trust (Exodus 20.1–17)
June 7: Jesus and Sabbath: A Failed Experiment or Misunderstood Concept? (Luke 5.36–6.11)
June 14: Reframe Your Thinking (Joe Karnes, guest preacher)
The Gospel of Shalom (6/21–7/5)
June 21: A New and Very Old Word (John 14:27a; 20:19–21; Rev. Steve Jones, guest preacher)
June 28: Jesus is Our Shalom (Ephesians 2:13–14; Rev. Steve Jones, guest preacher)
July 5: The Gospel of Shalom: The Story of Mary Magdalene, Person of Shalom (Luke 8:1–3; Mark 15:40–42; John 20:1–3, 20:11–18; Rev. Steve Jones, guest preacher)
Rhythms of Sabbath and Rest (7/12–8/16)
(Note: 8/16 will bridge both this and the next topic, Living Waters: Season of Creation 2026.)
July 12: Rest in the Lord (Psalm 37:1-11, CEB version, Pastor Cristina preaches)
July 19: The Easy Yoke (Matthew 11.28–30; Rev. Beth Ludlum, guest preacher)
July 26: Made for You (Mark 2.23–28; Rev. John Williams, guest preacher)
August 2: Songs & Poetry Sunday (poetry readings and lots of music! A wonderful way to rest.)
August 9: The Work of Rest (John 5.18; Morgan Aspinwall, guest preacher)
August 16: A Bridge from Sabbath to Creation (Kickoff Sunday; children leading worship with Pastor Cristina)
Living Waters: Season of Creation 2026 (8/16–9/6)
August 16: A Bridge from Sabbath to Creation Kickoff Sunday; children leading worship with Pastor Cristina)
August 23: (Rev. Angie Barker Jackson, guest preacher)
August 30: (Rev. Angie Barker Jackson, guest preacher)
September 6: Living Water (Ezekiel 47:1-12; FBC Team Blue’s worship video filmed in Breckenridge will be the sermon)
Rhythms of Sabbath and Rest (9/13–9/20)
Worship sermon titles and scripture forthcoming.