God of Glory, we celebrate the birth of Jesus--the beginning of your coming in glory. Give us new courage and hope as we join with you in bringing further healing to a broken world in this New Year. Amen.

As you may know, the staff at Gloria Dei has encouraged you to read a book on Sabbath Keeping and if possible to join a group to discuss ways to incorporate this faith practice (commandment really!) into your lives.

To those of you currently reading and discussing, I’d love to hear how you’re doing! Please call or email me with how your Sabbath Keeping is going!

For those of you who might still be interested, you can begin at any time! Pick up a book and start today!

Here are a few examples of how people are “finding rest, renewal, and delight in their busy lives”:

“Prayer is like a portable Sabbath, when we close our eyes for just a moment and let the mind rest in the heart. Like the Muslims who stop to pray five times a day, like the Angelus, we can be stopped by a bell, a sunset, a meal, and we can pray. Traditional Sabbaths are filled with prayers. But we can begin slowly, with a simple prayer, like a pebble dropped into the middle of our day, rippling out over the surface of our life”-Wayne Muller

After reading this suggested faith practice, one man, when he feels stressed or overwhelmed, recites the 23rd Psalm silently and sometimes aloud.

“Prepare a Sabbath meal, alone or with friends or family. Shop for the ingredients, choosing those that bring the most pleasure. This food is not so much for survival as for sheer, savory delight”.-Wayne Muler

One family invites friends or family members to join them for a Sabbath meal on Sundays after worship. Sometimes it is a brunch, sometimes a Sunday Supper. Always, it is about hospitality and thanksgiving.

“Sabbath feasting-celebration-draws its meaning from fasting-the simple life- of the other six days. …honor the day by enjoying special meals prepared ahead of time. It would be good if we could restore the concept of feasting, not as something to regret, (don’t we all have to lose a few pounds after Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s season?) but as a delight.”-Marva Dawn

One Sabbath Book Group meets once a month on Sunday evenings. The first hosts decided to prepare a special meal the day before to serve on the Sabbath. The group feasted together and then discussed the “ceasing” section from Marva Dawn’s book.

Confirmation students gathered on a Wednesday evening in December to worship and experience a few faith practices geared to savor each moment, be centered in Christ and promote wholeness. The youth lead the worship service that included stopping at a variety of prayer stations throughout the sanctuary. They then walked the labyrinth, participated in YogaDevotion (a Christian based yoga) and in Mindfulness Meditation, a stress-reduction practice.

YogaDevotion winter sessions begin Saturday, January 9, 2010 at 9:00AM, and Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 6:00PM (level2) and 7:00PM (level 1). These are 10 week sessions for $60.00.

Growing Stronger winter session begins Monday, January 11, 2010 at 9:00AM. Meets Mondays and Wednesdays for 12 weeks (through March) for $40.00.