When I think back on my childhood, there are a lot of wonderful memories. Some of the best, however, were from Sabbath afternoons. Sabbaths were filled with family, nature, and friends. I was reminded of this during our summer camping trip to the Upper Peninsula. Sabbaths were the highlight of our trip as we would plan out a special location, meals, and a worship plan. It truly was a delight. 

Isaiah 58:13 tells us that when we spend time with God rather than pursuing our own agenda, the Sabbath is a delight. Although this is a verse that is often quoted, sometimes to our kids, the Sabbath does not feel like a delight; often, children are confronted with a list of don’ts rather than opportunities for delight. 

For parents, it can also feel difficult to come up with activities week after week when Sabbath is our only break from work. Therefore, here at Pioneer, we are doing two things for this upcoming school year. The first thing we are doing is issuing a challenge: Let us make the Sabbath a delight this year. Let us be intentional and create opportunities to experience the Sabbath in a whole new way. The second thing that Pioneer’s Children and Family Discipleship is doing is that we are committing to creating at least one activity per month for you and your family to be a part of. These will be activities that are not limited to families with kids, but rather, these will be activities that are for the entire church family. 

These opportunities for delight do not have to be elaborate; they could be as simple as getting together with friends or family to eat, going on a hike on one of the many trails in this area, or putting together a puzzle on one of our colder Sabbaths. 

And perhaps it is not only our kids that need to remember the Sabbath as a delight, but adults also, all too often, lose sight of what God has for us as we keep our eyes on the clock instead of Him. So, I challenge you, let us be intentional, let us make the Sabbath a delight, and let us do it together.