June 2025
It is hard for me to believe that we have now arrived at summer.
It is hard for me to believe that we have now arrived at summer. For some, summer is a season of rest and relaxation. Many students and teachers are out of school, numerous families take vacations during the summer, and others simply try to slow down and relax and enjoy the longer days. For many, the summer offers an opportunity to have a welcomed change of pace.
As our church moves into the summer months of 2025, I truly hope that you and your family will take some time to slow down and rest. After all, it is a biblical concept. In our recent Wednesday night study for students and adults, we focused on learning about the Sabbath. You might remember that the original Sabbath involved God resting from his work of creation on the 7th day (Genesis 2:2-3). God later makes it clear that he wanted his people to follow in his footsteps (see the 10 Commandments and Exodus 20:8-11). As we studied the Sabbath being practiced in the bible, we saw that it involved four things: Ceasing, Resting, Delighting, and Worshiping. And all four of these were intended to bring great blessing to God’s people.
So, one of my pastoral encouragements to you is to take time this summer to experience the blessing of the Sabbath principle. Take regular times (preferably once a week) to cease from your regular work and activity. This means to be intentional about stopping and removing yourself from emails, phones, work projects, and people at work. Second, truly rest. Sleep late, take naps, slow down. Next is delight. If you are practicing the Sabbath, it should be a day that includes doing some things that you enjoy, things that recharge you, things that are fun and make you enjoy being alive. And finally, make sure that you spend some time worshiping our glorious God, the one who makes it all possible.
So, Calvary, together, let’s be intentional about taking some real and genuine summer breaks. We all will be better for it in the end.
Resting in Christ!
Scott
