This year Christ Kaleidoscope is learning about and leaning into the practice of Sabbath. During the Lenten season we are entering this practice by participating in a weekly Shabbat Dinner.

Shabbat dinner marks the event that transitions us between the everyday ordinary and the holy and sacred day of Sabbath. It is a meal, usually with others, that welcomes in this holy day of rest.

To follow along with this practice as designed, you’ll need a candle and a lighter/matches as well as a meal and ideally others to share it with. Either choose a host to read through this liturgy and prayers for you, or split the job up among those attending.

Finally after the meal has begun, we’ve provided some discussion questions for conversation around specific parts of Sabbath, to help you consider and plan what it means to practice the Sabbath yourself.

Shabbat Dinner Liturgy

Welcome

Host read aloud:

Today we come together to practice the act of setting aside time as sacred.  To pause and remember the goodness and provision of our Lord, and do so alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ in fellowship and community.  We eat this meal together tonight as a rehearsal of what is to come and all that we have to look forward to when the Kingdom of God is fully present.

Prayer for the time together

Light a candle and pray together:

Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Sovereign of time and space.

You hallow us with Your teachings and guidance and command us to kindle the lights of Shabbat.

Prayer of Blessing over the meal

(adapted from the Jewish prayer of Birkat HaMazon)

Host read aloud:

Sovereign God of the universe, we praise You: Your goodness sustains the world. You are the God of grace, love, and compassion, the Source of bread for all who live; for Your love is everlasting. In Your great goodness we need never lack for food; You provide food enough for all. We praise You, O God, Source of food for all who live.

As it is written: When you have eaten and are satisfied, give praise to your God who has given you this good earth. We praise You, O God, for the earth and for its sustenance.

Merciful One, be our God forever.

Merciful One, heaven and earth alike are blessed by Your presence.

Merciful One, bless this house,

this table at which we will eat.

Merciful One, send us glimpses of good to come, redemption and consolation.

Merciful One, help us to see the coming of a time when all is Shabbat.

May the Source of peace grant peace to us, to all Israel, and to all the world. Amen. May the Eternal grant strength to our people. May the Eternal bless our people with peace.

Discussion Topic: Rest

We are taking this time of Lent to learn more about Sabbath and how we can practice it. One very important part of the Sabbath is learning how to rest.  Discuss as a group the idea of rest.  Here are some prompts to help with the conversation:

• Is resting hard or easy for you?  Why do you think that is? 
• What seems restful on paper, but leaves you empty or drained instead? 
• What helps your body rest? Your mind? Your spirit?
• What things tend to keep you from good rest?
• What things help you foster good rest?