What is Reset Sunday?

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy

— Exodus 20:7

Towards the end of the lockdown period of the Covid pandemic in 2021, as we were coming back together in-person, we sensed as a church that we could use a way to “reset, restore, and redirect” our lives — connecting to God and community in ways that weren’t possible while we were all “sheltering in place.”

This led to a regular spiritual practice for our church community of taking the 5th Sunday in a month where there were five weeks (about four times per year) to connect with God and others in a different, deeply restful way. We call this our “Reset Sunday.”

It’s not that we considered our weekly community gatherings to be not-restful, but we wanted to continue to give space to connect with our loving Creator God in different ways that we might not otherwise have opportunity to do.

This certainly isn’t meant to be merely a “self-care” day, as one might be tempted to think. Reset Sunday is a time…

• … to pause, to give thanks, and to remind ourselves that we are more than what we do or what we produce, because God certainly doesn’t see us that way.
• … to remember that we are a people who are loved and who are called to love.
• … to see God in all things — in our sleeping, in our playing, in our sharing, in our feasting — and to thank God as the Giver of all good gifts.
• … to remind ourselves that God is the Provider and that we do not need to and indeed should not work 24/7.
• … to rest and spend time in “re-creation” of ourselves with our community and loved ones. 

The commandment to “remember the Sabbath” is an act of love. It’s to look at what has been done and to love the Creator, to love ourselves and the work of our hands, to love those that are closest to us and even to love our neighbors as ourselves.

In “keeping the Sabbath holy” we’re called into relationship with God and with one another. When we find rest, then it should also follow that we advocate for the rest of others, particularly in the places of society where rest is most needed.

Deuteronomy 5:14 says, “ but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do.” So then Sabbath becomes an act of justice as well.

On Reset Sundays, we recommend that you, “see something beautiful, eat something good, do something enjoyable, get extra rest, spend time with loved ones and connect with God.” Our prayer is that whenever a Reset Sunday rolls around, you’ll do at least one of these things and that you’ll see God’s love for you in it — and, in turn, respond in love to God and God’s world.

Remember, though: Sabbath takes planning! So take some time to think about what your Reset Sunday might look like before that Reset Sunday rolls around. And don’t forget — we send out a Reset Sunday home worship guide so that you might use it during the course of the day.

(Jesus said) Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.

— Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)