The Hope of Sabbath Rest

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And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on. Luke 23:54 KJV

Though few of us who call ourselves Christians keep a strict Sabbath these days, we probably still think of Sunday morning as the beginning of a special day set aside for heading to church. What we forget is that in the Bibe, the drawing near of Sabbath, did not mean that it was almost dawn, but that it would soon be night. In today’s passage, as Joseph and Nicodemus carried the lifeless body of Jesus they hurried, because by law they must be done before sunset when Sabbath began. Yet the darkness at the beginning of Sabbath, was not intended by God to be a curse, but rather a sign of hope. Because as sunset drew near, it signaled the beginning of rest after the hard labor of the week. Then all twenty-four of the hours ahead belonged to God for a Sabbath rest as God’s special day and a time to be enjoyed.

In the same way, for those of us who are older, as our lives are beginning their final chapters, we need not fear the closing in of shadows and the darkening of horizons. These are all signs that the chapter that lies ahead completely belongs to God. Just as Jesus lay in the tomb on the day of rest in hope of the resurrection, we also share that same hope. There is no defeat in that darkness but rather a joyful quiet hope that believes that we will rest in our Father’s arms and rise again to walk with our Lord on the first day of a new and eternal week!

“Above all things and in all things, O my soul, rest always in God, for He is the everlasting rest of the saints.    Grant, most sweet and loving Jesus, that I may seek my repose in You…   For my heart cannot rest or be fully content until, rising above all gifts and every created thing, it rests in You. Thomas à Kempis

After the Sabbath Passed

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Mother duck slept in one day
Still and quiet without sound
Trusting God to guard her ducklings
Bedded down beside the pond

The early mists swirled on the lake
Wisps stirred up by sun’s first ray
And birds begin to seek again
Their provision for the day

Now my heart waits on my Lord
Who bedded down behind the stone
Till after Sabbath passed at dawn
He rose to fly Father’s throne


Peter Caligiuri
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What is a Real Church?

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I once had an invitation to sing at a large Veteran’s Home, when we still lived in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The chaplain there, a retired Methodist minister related to me the story of meeting one of his old congregants. Their conversation went something like this, “Hi, pastor> It’s so great to see you. what are you doing these days?’

“I am holding chapel services at the Veteran’s Home these days.” he replied

“But aren’t you working somewhere at a real church?” the congregant asked.

“And just what would a ‘real church’ look like?” the pastor asked with a grin.

I love the song, “Little Brown Church in the Vale.” because it reminds me of the little white church in the valley, we used to attend and where we served on staff for many years. But as has so often been pointed out a “real Church” is not a building, whether small or large, picturesque or in need of repairs. A “Real church” is not just in the wildwood, it is in any neighborhood, nursing home or store front chapel where God’s children meet together I do hope you will enjoy the simple rendition of this classic hymn which we sang at our “Real Church” where we met for worship this Friday at Life Care Center!