Bruce Blum, Alturas, California
Bruce was an academy student when I worked in San Francisco bay area; what a thrill to see him all grown up and a successful pastor! Here he tells how he made use of rare opportunity. LGS
   
"How many of you have a hard time receiving gifts?" hands and heads gestured guilt all around the room. "The Sabbath is no different than any other good gift," I continued, "we seem to have an incredibly hard time
receiving it!"

"The truth is that God commands rest from our work on the Sabbath so
we'll remember that His work is what saves us and not our work." Heads
nodded again in agreement--but this was not your usual Sabbath morning
worship service crowd. I was speaking on the Sabbath to a group of minister and church leaders of a Sunday observing denomination--at their
invitation!

I wish I could tell you how to do this. I can't. This was all grace. I had no idea this would happen. The invitation came from a ministerial colleague in my community whom I approached some time ago. I was seeking some sacred space and companionship on my spiritual journey. We have continued to meet to tune our ears to God's voice, and the trust we've built has led to many fruitful conversations--and just recently to this unusual opportunity to share at his "workers' meeting." God used something I was going to do anyway--seek to hear His voice--to give me a unique opportunity to share. (I must say, I found it much more fun preaching about the Sabbath when my hearers invited me to their meeting than when I've 'tricked' them into coming to mine.)
   
I often feel as if I'm not doing enough. There are so many things I
could be doing better or more of in my two church district. I have a hard
time cutting myself any slack, but this experience was a big lesson for
me. I could never have done enough to make this invitation happen. But
even while I was feeling guilty for not doing more, God was at work,
making things happen that I couldn't see. I guess this is confirmation of
the Sabbath principle: I'll never get enough work done, but that's okay,
God is still at work.

Thoughts on a pastor's Sabbath? Write BestPractices@ameritech.net.