Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again

by Ruth Haley Barton, Ronald Rolheiser (Foreword)

In our frenzied culture, the possibility of living in balanced rhythms of work and rest often feels elusive. This rings especially true for pastors and leaders who carry the weight of nonstop responsibility. Most know they need rest but might be surprised to find within themselves a deep resistance to letting go and resting in God one day a week, let alone for longer seasons of sabbatical.

The journey to a meaningful sabbath practice is slow and gradual, and it is a journey we need to take in community. Sharing her own story of practicing sabbath for the past twenty years, Ruth Haley Barton offers hard-won wisdom regarding the rhythms of sabbath, exploring both weekly sabbath keeping as well as extended periods of sabbatical time.

Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest grounds us in God's intentions in giving us the gift of sabbath, providing practical steps for embedding sabbath rhythms in churches and organizations. Each chapter concludes with "What Your Soul Wants to Say to God," an opportunity to reflect and engage God around your own journey with the material. Sabbath is more than a practice—it is a way of life ordered around God’s invitation to regular rhythms of work, rest, and replenishment that will sustain us for the long haul of life in leadership.

Includes a conversation guide for small groups and communities.

Genres: Faith, Christian, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Christian Living, Discipleship, Christianity

247 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 11, 2022

About the author

Ruth Haley Barton (Doctor of Divinity, Northern Seminary) is founding president/CEO of the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to strengthening the souls of pastors and Christian leaders, and the congregations and organizations they serve. For over twenty years, she has ministered to the soul care needs of pastors and leaders based upon her conviction that the best thing we bring to leadership is our own transforming selves. Trained at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation and the Institute for Pastoral Studies Loyola University Chicago, Ruth is a seasoned retreat leader and spiritual director. A sought-after speaker and preacher, she has served on the pastoral staff of several churches and teaches frequently at seminaries and graduate schools. Ruth is the author of numerous books and resources on the spiritual life, including Invitation to Solitude and Silence, Sacred Rhythms, Longing for More, Pursuing God's Will Together, and Life Together in Christ. She continues to share her thoughts and perspectives on soulful leadership through an online resource called eReflections as well as a podcast entitled Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership.

Reviews

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contained a lot of 5-star material, but the drawbacks were enough to drop a couple stars for me.

+Great introduction about the purpose of sabbath rest, how it is a gift from God for us (everyone) to receive renewal and not live out of depletion.
+Every chapter includes a set of questions at the end to think more about the ideas presented and apply them practically.
+Really helpful ways to think about what “ceasing” means for each individual, as well as cultivating sabbath observance in the context of community.
+Addresses many of the common obstacles to observing sabbath (cultural norms about striving, economic status, seasons of caregiving, intrusive technology, etc.).
+Great planning questions for establishing sabbatical intentions and boundaries.

I found the first half of the book about sabbath really great and applicable to many individuals in different situations, but the second half about sabbatical frustrated me. Not because of the material and questions for consideration (these were super helpful as I plan my own sabbatical), but because of the suddenly narrowed target audience. The author mainly addressed everyone when talking about sabbath (except for the specific chapter aimed at church leaders fostering communal sabbath). But the second half is pretty much exclusively targeted at people who work in overt Christian ministry.

Why? If sabbath is a period of ceasing to acknowledge reliance on God for provision and to receive renewing rest for all humans, and sabbatical is an extended period of that, why the sudden focus on ministry leaders only?

-Ministry leaders are presented as having a unique burden that merits taking a sabbatical in the biblical sense. I would argue many others have similar responsibilities, such as a doctor leading an emergency room department.
-But also, why the hyper focus on leaders? This again implies that the author thinks only workaholic overachiever personality types are subject to the need for an extended period of renewal. I don’t see any biblical basis for that exclusion in her earlier presentation of sabbath.
-There is no discussion at all about how to plan for a sabbatical for individuals in various stages of life. Only the viewpoint of “ceasing work” to do X is presented. What if you have children still at home and can’t just potter about in your library for hours each day for months at a time? This privileged stance is a big practical oversight.
-The author took her sabbatical during the COVID-19 lockdown and therefore a lot of her examples draw from that background. As of my reading, that was really recent and I found some things touched a nerve- maybe just a personal thing for me.

OVERALL: A worthwhile and useful book. I am continuing to refer to it as I adopt my own sabbath practice and plan for a sabbatical this year (from corporate life, but with all the intentions of a spiritual sabbatical as presented in the book). It’s possible to extend the information to non-ministry scenarios, I was just annoyed at having to do so.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book if you are curious about or want to meditate on sabbath. It’s good for both beginners and longtime practitioners of a sabbath day. I found it helpful to meditate on many different facets of the sabbath and how it addresses all sorts of our development beyond just the need for a mental and physical break from work. It’s geared toward church leaders, but not in a way that makes it feel exclusive of the general follower of Christ. It does, however, make one long for a Church that values the sabbath in word and decisions. It stirs up questions like “what could this look like, not only in my life, but in my church?”
I also enjoyed the last third of the book which focuses on sabbatical even though it’s not as relevant to me.

[Gavin Restifo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book! The book is divided into two sections: Sabbath, which takes up the first two-thirds, and Sabbatical, for the final third. I would recommend the book solely for the Sabbath content, though her work on Sabbatical is worth considering in the right season.

Thoughts on Sabbath
This book is one of the most holistic treatments of the practice of Sabbath that I have encountered. Barton does a great job at diving into the theology of the Sabbath from God resting in Creation, to the Israelites resisting the pull to look like Egypt in the wilderness. However, the true power of this book is in how intensely practical it is in building a Sabbath practice that works with your season of life, personality type, and stage of discipleship. This book will stretch you to grow in practicing the Sabbath for the sake of your formation and maturity in Christ, not out of legalism or inward-focused, self-care.

Thoughts on Sabbatical
The final third of the book is devoted to Sabbatical, which given my season of ministry is not particularly relevant, but even still she speaks candidly and helpfully from her personal experience. The principles are valuable for all ministry organizations to consider as they think about how to care for their pastoral leadership.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Jesse Faris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took my time reading this and am glad I did. This is a great resource if you 1) want to know why taking a regular Sabbath is important or beneficial, 2) want to think through some ways of refining your Sabbath time, 3) want to explore the concept of a Sabbatical. Highly recommend both reading this book and taking regular time for living-giving rest!

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I really liked this! When I worked at a church for several years, our lead pastor referenced Ruth Haley Barton's writing often enough that she was on my radar to learn from. This was a great introduction to her with really practical and wise suggestions about practicing a regular Sabbath. I will definitely be slowly implementing these practices into my life so that I can truly enjoy a Sabbath rest to the best of my ability in this season of life. I will definitely be reading more from her.

One note is that this is written more to church leaders than your average church goer. I didn't find this was distracting at all, but I did skip through a lot of the section about a sabbatical because it was very specific to church leadership, which I am not.

[Conrade Yap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anxious. Busy. Exhausted. Fatigued. Stressed. These are typical of a modern lifestyle almost everywhere we go. In many societies, work has become less of a blessing and more of a chore. As people continue to complain about incomes not keeping up with inflation rates, the work somehow continues to pile up. Some people claim that they need more than 24 hours a day and 8 days a week just to get everything done. Sometimes, that sentiment meant turning a weekend into an extended weekday, only to compound the level of exhaustion and stress. The Bible has laid out for us a pattern of work and rest. In Genesis, we learn that God created the world in six days and intentionally rested on the seventh. He also gave Israel the Ten Commandments, with the Fourth Commandment firmly about taking a sabbatical rest one day every week. It is not a suggestion. It is a clear commandment. As we become more liberal in our interpretation of the ancient laws, we often overlook these commandments in favour of convenience. As author and retreat leader Ruth Haley Barton says, we all need a wake-up call to let the Sabbath remain an essential part of all our lives. One of the best ways is to incorporate a routine, a regular system, or as author Ruth Haly Barton puts it, a rhythm of work and rest. Right from the beginning, she highlights the challenges of modern busyness affecting our way of life using her own life as an example. Confessing that it was the sabbath that saved her sanity, she puts forth several fundamental principles of sabbath keeping before giving us an outline of how to embrace the work-rest rhythm. The three principles are:

1) The Sabbath is God's intention
2) The Sabbath is important for life
3) The Sabbath is very both communal and personal

Barton identifies some hurdles with regard to the practice of the Sabbath in the lives of Christians. Some dismiss it as a mere "Jewish" thing that is not relevant to believers. Others just could not wrap around the need to take an intentional sabbath, especially in a culture of efficiency and production. Most, however, lack a deeper understanding of the meaning of Shabbat. In fact, the principle of the Sabbath can be applied right across the board of life. Using multiple spiritual writers who have raised the clarion call for sabbath keeping, Barton shares many quotable quips to help us appreciate the importance of the Sabbath. Some helpful thoughts are:

- Sabbath is a form of resistance. Resist the enslavement or violence done to our inner souls.
- Sabbath is not the same as "solitude and silence."
- Sabbath is intentional unplugging of ourselves from the world
- Sabbath is liberation to be grateful, neighbourly, and delight
- Sabbath frees us to enjoy being part of a community

Apart from the regular rest day each week, the principle can be applied to spiritual transformative pauses. Even the use of our smartphones needs to be placed under the umbrella of the sabbath rhythm. Barton then raises the bar to show us that sabbath rhythms alone are not enough. She gives us four whole chapters on the topic of sabbaticals. She writes about planning. She acknowledges the unique challenges of pastoral ministry and urges sabbaticals as a way to deal with the rising levels of exhaustion. Even those who have been board members for many years or regularly serving would need periods of rest. Thus, sabbaticals are not just for pastors or full-time staff. They are also relevant for anyone who has been serving, often non-stop.

My Thoughts
==============
We all need a break. For some, we need a long Sabbath. For most of us, we need a rhythm of work and rest to run the journey of life. We need sabbaticals. In many instances, we need extended time to be free from the regular intensity of work in our respective careers or calling. Sabbaticals are not vacation time. They are essentially spiritual spaces intentionally created to allow one to take stock of life and of one's calling. I fully concur with Barton's section on sabbaticals. I believe that is one key area of any ministry many churches lack. In fact, some leaders would even flash the virtue of God's work to justify non-sabbaticals. That really comes from a flawed understanding of what God's ministry is all about. For in the Church or any Christian community, there is no one who is indispensable. Some churches have gotten themselves into a pit when their senior pastors are no longer with them.

This book sets the stage for anyone to start taking the Sabbath more seriously and intentionally. As per Barton's confession, she states that if not for the Sabbath, she might not be alive today! The Japanese have a word for overwork: karoshi. Though that refers to physical death, it is entirely possible that without adequate rest, parts of us are in the process of dying. This sabbath is a wake-up call to help us understand the limits that we need to respect. With powerful explanations and exercises for the soul to pray and ask God, this book gives us many ideas and thoughts to enable us to plan and practice sabbath and sabbaticals. For those who are at the point of exhaustion, this book might be a form of saving grace. For those who think they have it made and that they don't need a break, perhaps, the message is to pause and reconsider our stance. Whatever it is, don't wait until our bodies and systems break down before we practice sabbath. Let the book refresh our understanding and inform our spiritual curriculum.

Ruth Haley Barton is founder of the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to strengthening the souls of pastors and Christian leaders, and the congregations and organizations they serve. A seasoned spiritual director (Shalem Institute), Ruth holds a doctor of divinity from Northern Seminary along with her studies at the Loyola University Chicago Institute for Pastoral Studies. She is a sought-after speaker and preacher, having served on the pastoral staffs of several churches and also teaching frequently at the graduate level. Ruth's books include Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership, Life Together in Christ, Sacred Rhythms, Pursuing God’s Will Together, Invitation to Retreat, and Invitation to Solitude and Silence. She shares perspectives on transforming leadership through her Beyond Words blog and her Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast.

Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of InterVarsity Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

[Michelle Inman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really really good! The first 2/3 of the book are about sabbath and have really encouraged me to *finally* take that fourth commandment seriously. In addition to encouraging me to practice a weekly sabbath, the book gave me practical ways to actually do it.

The second 1/3 of the book is about sabbatical and I really wish I would’ve read it sooner (I’m in the first week of my sabbatical & wished I’d read it pre-sabbatical). This section does narrow its target audience to mainly church & ministry leadership but the content could be applied to those lucky enough to get a sabbatical in the secular world, too.

I would LOVE to read this book & discuss the reflection questions in a small group of committed sabbathers someday.

[Alex King · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first half of the book covers the practice of Sabbath. It covers the Biblical reason and commands for Sabbath and was such a good read to start the year. The second half covers sabbatical which isn’t relevant to my season of life but was still helpful to be able to support sabbatical for ministry leaders in my life. Highly recommend.

[Zach Barnhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book.

[Dawn Dishman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruth Haley Barton is one of the few leaders trying to show us the way back to experiencing sabbath and sabbatical as it was meant to be-a gift from God to keep us from overworking ourselves to burn out and acknowledging and accepting we are not indispensable in life and ministry.

Barton’s newest book feels like she is sitting down with us over a cup of coffee and sharing what she has learned personally in this area. She can speak into this topic because of her ministry leadership roles she’s carried over the years and presently through her ministry, The Transforming Center. She knows first-hand the temptation to over work and over function without needed rest. Her experiences compel me to begin implementing some of these principles in my own life.

Barton is writing this book primarily to those who find themselves in church and ministry leadership and I felt it was missing a needed component for most lay people who want to learn how to practice the gift of sabbath and even sabbatical in the places they work and serve. There are principles to be derived for the lay person, but the book has an intended audience.

I think the idea of sabbath, and sabbatical are so counter culture to our Western culture and sensibilities that the book can feel like pie in the sky, but Barton explains how very important this is for anyone who considers themselves a follower of Christ. Even if you do not adhere to this biblical command, it would be good to evaluate if you know how to truly unplug and rest one day a week.

I am a big fan of Ruth Haley Barton and I wholeheartedly recommend her books. I do like this book and recommend it but know that if you are not in vocational ministry, this book may make you feel a little left out.

[Jade Boyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, but I didn’t. She mostly draws on her own experience going from burnout to sabbath and sabbatical, and has lots of suggestions for pastors.

[Colton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte and I read the first half of this book aloud while practicing our own sabbath. It takes a while to get into the actual meat of the book with lots of preamble about the importance of sabbath that I have read in a multitude of other places. Overall, especially if you have little familiarity with the concept, this is a great practical primer to sabbath in both idea and practice. While some parts feel repetitive, the strength is in the practical application portions. We especially loved a lengthy reflection from Barton's daughter that explored trying to do sabbath with young kids (why are there so few books about this!).

The second half is all about sabbatical and I'm sure it would be very life-giving and practical if I were at that stage.

[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really especially enjoyed the first half of this book about the delight and beauty of learning to enjoy resting in God on the Sabbath. There’s a good balance of reflection questions and practical suggestions. Reading it helped deepen my appreciation for God’s promises and work for His people in Sabbath rest. The second half of the book goes into details about planning a sabbatical for those in ministry, which was quite thoughtful and more relevant for clergy etc. On the whole, this book is an excellent resource for growing in understanding the Sabbath and drawing nearer to the Lord. I highly recommend it!

[Cheryl Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book on rest has come at the perfect time. After experiencing the blessings of a slower pace during the pandemic, I am feeling the benefits slip away as I have re-entered “normal life.” With the conviction that I cannot complain of fatigue if I am not accepting the provision of rest offered (and commanded) by a kind, all-knowing Heavenly Father, Ruth helped me intentionally accept the gift and establish rhythms during my sabbatical and as I take sabbatical rest with me into weekly sabbath rhythms. Thank you, Ruth!

[Cory Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good and timely, as I recently stepped into sabbatical. Ruth makes you feel the words on the pages, creating excitement to begin (or continue) your sabbath practices. I also love how she encourages community sabbath, encouraging churches to step into this practice together. She also lets you in on her personal sabbath practices, the joys and the struggles ( again, I can relate and confirm her writing being on my own sabbatical). I gained practical application in how to think about sabbath and sabbatical practices as a ministry leader, a husband, and a father. She has something in here beneficial for every age. This book is l fiya (yes fiya🔥).

[Christina Bohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with all of Barton's book, that was a lovely, refreshing read. I did find that it overlapped with several of her other books (Sacred Rhythms and Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership). Not my favorite book on sabbath (I think Brueggemann will always occupy that space), but I was will continue to read whatever Barton writes - she is a gift to the Church.

[Yolanda Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered this book immediately after making the decision to take a sabbatical. God’s timing is always amazing! There are many great insights and practical tips in these pages. I only wish there was more content geared toward laypeople and professionals. Nevertheless, because of this book I feel better equipped to enter this unusual season of gifted rest.

[Ali McNeely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical and thoughtful for leadership and laypeople. Laypeople like myself might find the substantial portions on leadership irrelevant since there’s not much we can do about implementing Sabbath on a large scale or being the initiators of the top-down approach, but we can lead by example. Some anecdotes could’ve been left out because Sabbath is similar and varied, personal and communal, diligent and delightful.

[Mark Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll need to read parts of this again when I step into my sabbatical in a couple of years.

[Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful book!
Barton’s chapters on Sabbath were refreshing, growing, and challenging to me. The concept of Sabbath presented in chapter 3 as freedom and resistance spoke directly into my current context.​​ The Israelites who were in bondage to Egyptians were ruled by systems of endless production. God giving the Israelites the Sabbath served as a sign of liberation and freedom. So too, as we have been liberated from the bondage of sin, we can live in freedom and rest in Christ. We do not have to live as slaves to what we “do” because we can trust in God’s providence. This is a challenge to me as well as one I would like to bring to my community. We can live in freedom, and bear witness to God’s transforming work in our lives by resisting our negative cultural construct of endless productivity. God is our deliverer from workaholism.

[Jacqueline Fish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read, perfect for my current season

[Megan Spaulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me ache to try this practice. I've never been able to stop myself from overworking myself and I'm feeling it hard the older I get. It's not sustainable. I thought there was some very valuable wisdom in her suggestions. I plan on using some of her sabbatical thoughts during my summer break as well.

[Mary Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the lessons I learned in this book, especially about Sabbath. I was surprised that the sabbatical section resonated so much also as a newly retired person in need of healing. I wish I’d read it at the start of my retirement!

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: Describes the journey to life-giving sabbath practices as well as planning for and taking sabbaticals.

Ruth Haley Barton is a gifted speaker, writer, and Christian leader. And like many such people she pushed herself hard in a high-performance church culture and later as leader of her own ministry organization. She enjoyed reading books about sabbath, but that was for other people. Until she was in a bike accident. And she realized that God had given her a harder nudge that it was time to begin a journey of sabbath practice.

This book describes that journey and a further one of taking sabbaticals–extended sabbaths allowing a longer period of rest and transformation. She discovered that sabbath began with God, who wove rest into the fabric of creation with his own rhythm of six days of work, and then rest. Sabbath is participating in the rest that is already there, that we work and rest in rhythm with God. Sabbath is also an act of resistance. It was for the Hebrew ex-slaves who always had to work for Pharaoh. It is as well in our 24/7 culture.

Sabbath was meant as a community practice, enjoyed and shared together. We often try to figure this out for ourselves, and one of the unique contributions of this book is that it casts vision for churches and other communities to share in sabbath practice. She gives practical help in leading that culture change process, beginning with oneself, other leaders, and the congregation. She speaks of ��no emergencies with God” and allowing the process of communal sabbath-keeping to take the time it needs. The book includes an appendix with a discussion guide for church leaders to use.

She addresses unplugging from our technology, acknowledging the hold it has on us, and ways we may be more present to God and each other when we include “unplugging” in our sabbath practice. She shares with us her delight in sabbath, particularly in just having time to “putz” around. It’s a time to be free to be neighborly, to allow the accumulated emotions of the week to bubble to the service, and to bring them to God without self-numbing. She speaks of sabbath in different seasons of life, as a student, with families, caring for parents. Then she pulls this together in helping us shape our sabbath practice.

There are times when sabbath is not enough. But the good news is that sabbath prepares us for sabbatical, for extended periods of rest. She addresses the temptation to be “productive” during sabbaticals and encourages beginning to plan a sabbatical by listening to what one’s soul is trying to say to God and ourselves about our longings for this time. She shares her own sabbatical journey–during a pandemic–and offers practical helps on how to plan a sabbatical and an appendix on re-entry from one. One of the basic insights that everyone I know affirms is that you don’t know how tired you are until the first weeks of a sabbatical and the importance of making allowance for this.

It is obvious that Ruth Haley Barton has “put her own mask on first” before trying to help us. Her delight in sabbath and rich experience of sabbath invite the reader to consider these for oneself. Sabbath and sabbatical are shared as gifts rather than obligations and burdens, practices that keep us even more than we keep them. Perhaps more, the language of embrace suggests sabbath as a welcome friend, or even a reminder that as we rest and trust, that the Lover of our Soul will embrace and hold and refresh us.

____________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

funny how it took me getting chickenpox and covid literally back-to-back, and as a result, being quarantined for one excruciatingly long month, separated from family and friends, and forced to cancel 90% of my plans and dial back severely on serving in my church's young adult group ministry, to finally get round to reading this book, which was gifted to me for christmas last year by my lovely church mentors who could see—even then!—that i needed to hear its truths. badly.

barton shares her experience grappling with extreme burnout and finding the answer in the God-instituted pattern of regular work and rest. not only is it filled with compelling theological reasons to align our lives to this rhythm, it also contains many practical tips for cultivating the habit in ourselves and in our communities, acknowledging the challenging realities of intentionally making room in our busy lives for scheduled rest. it's written in a highly personable tone and contains many anecdotes which help to contextualise what rest could look like for different people in different positions of church leadership.

i thoroughly enjoyed this book. it challenged me to think about how i may have fallen into the trap of feeling indispensable, and therefore allowed pride and ego to creep into my ministry work. the sabbath is a good gift from God, not a suffocating rule, and choosing to rest will give me the time i need to nourish my soul while trusting in God to keep the world turning in my absence. it won't be easy - it will take discipline to pack my work into six days to keep the seventh day untouched - but it will be worth it. i feel excited to try this out in my own life!

a scatter of learning points below, for future reference:

- the sabbath is instituted by God, who never tires, because rest is just inherently good.
- work gives meaning to rest, and rest gives meaning to work
- the sabbath was given to israel because God delivered them from slavery in egypt - deliberately counter-cultural
- it is meant to be practised in community, and leaders are responsible for creating that culture and living by example
- creating space by intentionally unplugging - arranging your schedule and work load and informing the necessary people - is possible! and it takes effort! but it might make a lot of difference to your quality of rest
- putting aside our distractions frees us to practise gratitude and neighbourliness, but also to confront negative emotions we've been bottling up in our busyness and express hope in God's deliverance
- practising the sabbath can be HARD. especially as a caregiver - need to decide whether family in need of care is "work" or "rest" and it can change from week to week!
- the sabbath reminds us that we are not God: we are finite, limited, and dispensable
- there are no hard rules on what is considered "work" - just discern and decide what is soul-nourishing and truly restful
- this book doesn't shy away from the scheduling issues that a sabbath practice would create, especially when it comes to decisions on expanding church ministry and the workload that would entail. trust in the lord, and he will act.
- setting goals for sabbatical rest will help with intentionality
- rest can look very different for every individual based on what recharges our personality type. most importantly, find delight :)
- consider resting from consumerism
- seek God prayerfully and trust him to provide

[MARIANNE · Rating 5 out of 5]

I looked forward to a new book by Ruth Haley Barton because her writings helped activate my transformation in Christ. And when I kept setting aside Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest because I was too busy, I laughed. My avoidance was a signal that I suspected she’d take me by the hand down another life-changing path with Jesus.
Within the first few pages, Ruth outlined how she, too, resisted Sabbath-keeping for decades. The book’s chapters narrate her eventual surrender to restorative practices of joy in community. We consider the questions she raised, the concerns she managed, and the techniques she experimented with in adapting the ancient practice to her overscheduled life. Barton moves from avoidance to embracing the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy, delightful, and nourished in community.
She urges us to explore how we can dwell in the abundance of God by honoring our limits and accepting the gift of a whole day designed to restore, refresh, and reconcile all that is divine in our lives. Commandments are not negotiable and we disobey the fourth commandment to honor Sabbath at our own peril. Rather than a solemn day of silence or solitude, Barton distinguishes other spiritual practices from Sabbath and explains why such holy days can be eagerly anticipated.
The goals of Sabbath and sabbatical are similar: to remember and celebrate who we are in God. Barton outlines how spiritual guides and practices can shape our lives for good. She asks, Is there anything more significant during sabbatical than to become more real, more human, so that when God reaches for us we can be found?
Perhaps the best news she brings from the historical record is that Sabbath began as a communal practice. The Christian principle that we are meant to delight in each other’s presence with God shines on Sabbath. She predicts that once people experience Sabbath as a generative practice, they will expect it from their congregations and migrate to church bodies that disciple their members into Sabbath keeping as part of a sane rhythm of work and rest.
I would have liked an imaginative discussion of how people experience Sabbath or sabbatical in other countries, people groups, and historial times outside Western capitalist culture. Yet clergy and adults in all settings model an example of how to live a faithful life. People can use Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest to find and follow or deepen spiritual practices that are life-giving and sustainable. Read the book in tandem with a series about the book on The Transforming Center’s Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership Podcast. Thanks to Ruth Haley Barton for sharing good news that will grow healthy fruit.

[Katie Betts · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(4.5)

In our frenzied culture, balancing work and rest feels elusive, especially for leaders with nonstop responsibilities. This guide explores the deep resistance to resting in God and offers wisdom on practicing Sabbath. With practical steps and reflection opportunities, it helps embed Sabbath rhythms in life, fostering sustained spiritual renewal and holistic well-being.

I continually felt both affirmed and challenged. Ruth Haley Barton has a way of presenting spiritual disciplines with clarity and invitation that encourages everyone to simply begin enjoying God’s good gifts in whatever season they’re in.

Some of the recommendations for Sabbath includes:
walking outside, working out, culinary delights, reading, engaging in community

How I practiced Sabbath last Friday as a single pastor in my twenties living in a new city:
5am woke up & walked to my workout class (I deeply love being a morning person)
6:30am @barre3grandrapids Signature60
7:30am read the book of John while enjoying a London Fog & cinnamon roll (my favorite 🤤) from @wealthystreetbakerygr
9am walked home listening to The Enemy @dreamscape_media
10am chatted with friends I live with (they were also having a day of rest)
11am started reading this book
12pm the everything shower (girls know what I mean)
1pm read The Wedding People (I’m OBSESSED)
3:30pm went to @schulerbooks
6:30pm went to the @whitecaps game with friends & coworkers

Though I do find this regular Sabbath rhythm rejuvenating, this book has also helped me see that technology is hindering my mind from also resting. While this coming week I will likely spend my day in almost the same pattern, I’m going to try to eliminate my phone usage for at least half the day (I need to start somewhere 😅)

Thank you @ivpress for the gifted book

Perfect for you if you like:
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
The Inner Voice of Love by Henri Nouwen
The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan

Similar to:
Engaging in spiritual disciplines
Christian living
Personal stories of spiritual growth

[Stacey Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am terrible at practicing the Sabbath and I have so many questions around how to practically live it out in this life with little kids and a business to run so I was really excited to read this one from Ruth Haley Barton. I was especially encouraged when she started by acknowledging her own struggles with practicing the Sabbath and how it's been a journey for her.


Balancing Scriptural teaching, Rabbinic practices and her own experiences, Barton walks through both the why and some practical "how" of practicing the sabbath and taking sabbatical. I especially appreciated the reflection questions at the end of each chapter that helped make it practical and helped apply the teachings. The questions were well worded and thought out to be helpful on an individual's journey to experiencing the gift of Sabbath in their life.

Barton acknowledges that Sabbath life isn't a prescriptive experience. What I mean by that is that she allows for each of us to practice sabbath in a way that's beneficial to the way that we were created. Sure there are principal's that guide that for every one - and she does a good job of addressing those - but there are also things that are unique to the individual. For example, what one considers work, another might not. Likewise, what one considers restful and life-giving, another might not. This is one of the spots where I found the reflections sections especially helpful as a guide to digging into the individual nature of Sabbath.

That said, she also acknowledges the community aspect which, I think, a reading of both scripture and Jewish practice has to take into account as the communal focus was integral to those communities. It was an interesting evaluation for our individually focused society.

I would say that about the first third to the first half of the book focused on Sabbath in a way that was applicable to everyone. After that, it felt much more applicable to church leaders. My one critique of the book would be that the audience wasn't clear and clearer marketing around the target would be be beneficial. Much of the second half of the book was definitely targeted to those in church leadership - how to lead a community into greater practice of the sabbath - and, nearer to the end, to those in vocational ministry (especially the portions on Sabbatical).

[Sue Fellows · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Compelling Read

The book first appealed to me because I had just had 2 conversations regarding this subject – of keeping the sabbath. I was expecting this book to dig into the background and good, solid reasons for retaining the habit of keeping a sabbath. This book met my expectations in spades! I was pleasantly surprised at her reasoning and personal story regarding sabbath rests.

From the 1st chapter she makes a good case for it by beginning with God’s heart for it, the need to establish a regular rhythm and this is to be a shared practice – not a private practice on your own. The need for community in this was my first surprise – I had looked at this previously from a personal perspective. But it is much broader than that!

One of her quotes from the 3rd chapter is this - “If you aren’t resting, you are a slave to something”. Wow, that hit me! She explains that it is the freedom to live our lives on God’s terms. This practice came from him, for us.

I was challenged in the 5th chapter as she relates the sabbath to unplugging and she compares it to the habit we have of unplugging our computers to completely restart them – and we have the same need in our own lives – rebooting!

She related the sabbath as a delight in Chapter 6 and reviews God and worship as playing a big part in it.

Chapter 8 is a hands-on description of what it looks like and ways to go about it with practical suggestions.

I came away challenged to develop my own sabbath and to form a narrative to share with my church – because I believe in her point – it was meant for community. Until then, I will be developing my own rhythm of sabbath.

This is a good manual for anyone who wants to dig deeper into the subject. One warning – be prepared to be changed!

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent exploration of Sabbath and Sabbatical!

Yet, it was written more for church leaders, it seemed, so much of it didn't quite connect with me. And sadly, the whole section on Sabbatical was interesting, but it feels wholly unrealistic to even hope for something like that for myself. Maybe when I retire....
I imagine, now that I've finished the book, that what I was really looking for was a practical how-to guide for Sabbath-ing today. So, how can I fault a book for not being something it didn't intend to be?!

My wife and I are committing (along with our 2 little kids) to experiment with Sabbathing Sundays. I find it bothersome (and frustrating) that the fundamentalist, Bible-following church I was raised in failed to even mention the Sabbath. Why was this central teaching utterly ignored? Who knows. Perhaps it's for the best....

If curious, here are our Sabbath "rules":
1. No shopping, buying or selling.
2. No cooking or cleaning (so we have to prep meals and chores before).
3. No screens unless it's a movie together (so put them phones in the drawer).
4. No house projects.
5. Go on a "nature walk" at some point in the day (which can be as short or long as is practical).
6. Do whatever feels restful and life-giving, such as reading, writing, gardening, playing games, dancing, music, napping, visiting friends, sharing a meal, whatever.)
Feels like a fun experiment!

Oh! Last thought or two - my favorite two ideas in the book were this: Barton emphasizes throughout the simple(?) idea of opening yourself to God's healing. That's really all Sabbath is - taking the time to rest in God's presence and find healing. (That's my paraphrase...). My second favorite idea was her encouragement to putz around the house. Be okay with putz-ing. It can be a life-giving thing, particularly for P's on the Myers-Briggs.