I’m preaching at my church on Sunday. The delightfully narrowed topic which my pastor assigned to me was “Sabbath.” When I asked him for a Scripture passage, he helpfully informed me that I got to choose which passage to preach on.
Now, I am highly J on the Myers-Briggs. I do NOT like lots of options. Just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it. If you tell me how to do it, that’s even better. Telling me to preach on Sabbath is like giving me a 500-page menu and expecting me to order dinner – for 300 other people. Aaaaaaack!
Luckily, I’ve known about this sermon since July, so I had plenty of time to read good books about Sabbath and still write a sermon that covered a hair’s breadth of the subject. And since my sermon truly will only scratch the surface of Sabbath, I feel it incumbent upon me to point people to other resources. Here, then, are some very good books on Sabbath:
Sabbath Keeping: Finding Freedom in the Rhythms of Rest by Lynne M. Baab. Lynne is a friend of mine and my writing mentor. She writes clear, lucid prose, and hers is the most practical Sabbath book I’ve read.
Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller. This book is written in the slow, restful pace of Sabbath, which is part of its appeal. It has short chapters and lovely Sabbath keeping ideas at the end of each chapter.
Rest: Living in Sabbath Simplicity by Keri Wyatt Kent. Keri spoke at a retreat here in the Northwest last May and gave up her Saturday afternoon to hang out with me, tell me bits of her story, and give me some fabulous writerly advice. She’s lived Sabbath keeping with little kids and now she’s navigating it with teenagers, so her book is especially helpful for parents.
As part of the Adult Christian Education (ACE) team at my church, I get to plan events like our upcoming weekend with Jerry Sittser. We’re trying to build grassroots support for Keri Wyatt Kent right now, so we can have a good turnout when we bring her to Seattle to speak for a weekend. As part of that effort, I have 10 copies of Rest to give away to 10 lucky blog readers. (I figure most of you go to Bethany anyway. But even if you don’t, you’re welcome to enter.)
All you have to do to enter is comment on this post. The first five commenters will get a copy. After that, I’ll have my random number generator (his name is Jack) choose five numbers between six and however many people comment.
Jack will choose the winner next Thursday evening, so be sure you comment before 6 p.m. on October 22. I’ll announce the winners in next Friday’s blog, so check back for instructions on how to claim your book.
Thanks for your blog, Kimberlee, I always enjoy it. Blessings on your sermon this Sunday, I know it will be exactly what God wants it to be!
Free book? Free book? Must be a mistake. Free book? Count me in.
love, Sarah
I’m so glad I visited your blog today! Otherwise I might not have known to go to the service on Sunday (we’ve got Godly Play and don’t typically stay for the 10:45) and I would have missed your sermon!! I’m a lucky girl. And I’m also lucky because I only write this comment to express my excitement about your preaching, and now I get a bonus free book to boot. 🙂
You did a great job this morning!
Also mark buchanan’book on sabbat is excellent
The Mark Buchanan book that Margaret is referring to is called The Rest of God. I’ve not read it, but Keri quotes it several times in her book. Here’s one excerpt (which, amazingly, ties in with my sermon yesterday quite nicely; you’d think I planned that or something):
The rest of God… is not a reward for finishing. It’s not a bonus for work well done. It’s sheer gift. It is a stop-work order in the midst of work that’s never complete, never polished. Sabbath is not the break we’re allotted at the tail end of completing all our tasks and obligations. It’s the rest we take smack-dab in the middle of them, without apology, without guilt, and for no better reason that that God told us we could.
Sounds like a good book. I’ll have to add it to my list. Thanks for the recommendation, Margaret!
Hey Kimberlee – you preached a lovely sermon yesterday and one that fell on thirsty ears. We’ve struggled with our Sabbath keeping over the years – sometimes it works and sometimes it feels like harder work than work. When the kids were younger it was a little easier to create a Sabbath space but as they have gotten older and more independent… Anyway, Brian and I really loved the idea of starting our Sabbath on Saturday evening dinner. Thanks for preaching and feel better!
I’m hungry for more on this topic — I look forward to listening to your sermon, Kimberlee. I’d also love to read Keri Wyatt Kent’s book, if the random-number-generator Jack so chooses. I’m hoping for more take-aways about what the Sabbath looks like in practice, and how it can be tailored to the needs/desires of each unique family (especially mine!).
Hey there,
I love her books! Doubt your random generator will pick my number but you never know! I miss seeing you on Weds!
Hi Kim,
So glad to see your blog here. I love Keri Wyatt Kent (were you in Mom’s Group when we did one of her books about 5 years ago?). Also love Jerry Sittser and found his book on grieving to be the best I have come across on that topic. I’ve read his book and also given to others who are dealing (as we have in our family) with staggering losses. Would love to “win” a free book, but even I’m not chosen, it’s fun to connect here with you. And I’d be interested to receive details about Keri Wyatt Kent’s upcoming visit to Seattle, as well as Jerry Sittser’s visit.
Jennifer Perrow
Hi there my friend! How can I listen to your sermon? Are you giving away free mp3’s of that too? :o) If so, count me in! Love you. I always love anything you write (or recommend).
Hi Kimberlee,
I have tons of Sabbath books, but not Keri’s, so I’d love to enter. My adviser would also be interested in taking a look, I’m sure. She has three little ones and very interested in family Sabbath ideas.
I wish I could have heard you preach. Is there a podcast?
Peace, dear friend!!
Susan
Yes, dear out-of-town friends, you can listen to my sermon: http://www.bethanypc.org/audio/sermons20091118.mp3. Thanks for asking!
Kimberlee- I truly enjoyed your sermon! I came home wishing that my husband had been to church so we could talk about it. I’m glad he can hear it online. Thank you for concrete-isms too- I need those. The ideas from your own family’s practices were wonderful.