Our Shabbath Service

Our Shabbath Service Set Up

Our family is not Jewish.... Okay, that's debatable.

28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God (Romans 2:28-29, KJV).

But we celebrate the Jewish holy days as a devotion to God. No one forces us to have these devotions or to keep the holy days. We are not messianic Jews or part of a group of believers who keeps the holy days as a tradition. We do not keep them out of fear of losing salvation otherwise. We do not keep the holy days as legalistic rituals. We keep the holy days as a personal and familial devotion/offering to God.

So what does the most important holy day look like for us and what is its significance?

Purpose of Shabbath

Shabbath is the Hebrew word for Sabbath. Sabbath is the seventh day of each week. In Jewish tradition, each day is from sunset to sunset. Therefore, Sabbath is from sunset Friday evening to sunset Saturday evening every week. Shabbath is the most important holy day, which is why it is once every week.

Shabbath is a time set apart specifically for rest, to be restored physically, emotionally, and physically. We are to abstain from work so that we can focus on who God is and enjoy His presence.

We believe as Jesus did:

27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath (Mark 2:27-28).

Sometimes, we are not able to have our Shabbath service. That's okay. We are not slaves to the Sabbath. Rather, God instituted Shabbath for our own peace and rest. Our complete and total rest is in Him. We set apart this time specifically to remember His rest and to thank Him for who He is in our lives.

Order of the Service

At sundown Friday, I (the woman of our family) light the Sabbath candles, indicating that Shabbath has begun. I lead the family in a prayer of thankfulness that we have the Sabbath to rest, to be restored, and to remember God. The significance of this portion of the service is to remember the Sabbath and to sanctify it. A moment for silent prayer and reflection follows.

Then, my husband (the man of our family) gives each person participating in Shabbath a glass of beverage. (Sometimes we use grape juice. Sometimes we use pomegranate juice. Sometimes we use milk. Sometimes we use water. We use what we have.) The grape juice (or whatever liquid we have standing in) represents the joy of God's provisions. The man of the home blesses it, thanking God and rejoicing for His provisions in the past week. As we partake of the beverage, we might comment/discuss about something the Lord has done in the past week. (For example, He provided us the Echo last week so that it was able to be driven.)

Next, my husband breaks the challah bread which represents the double portion. He breaks the challah bread by hand representing peace (rather than by a knife). He gives us each a piece, and then prays, thanking God for His double portion. My husband usually connects the double portion to having the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. We might comment on/discuss a blessing the Lord has done for us or in us the past week (beyond His provision).

As we eat the bread, we tell each other "Shabbath Shalom" or "Shalom Shabbath," meaning "peaceful Sabbath."

My husband then leads us in a prayer over our future children. If we had children, we would actually lay hands on them and pray over them (each one individually). We pray over Rhylee, our puppy.... :-)

Next, the woman of the family (that's me!) reads Proverbs 31:10-31 about the virtuous, capable wife. (What a beautiful reminder of my significance in the home! I feel so empowered in my role as a woman and wife by reading these scriptures.)

Finally, the family enjoys the Shabbath meal which is already prepared. The meal is a time of family sharing and worship. We have lively conversation, discuss the goodness of the Lord, and maybe one day we'll even sing songs with our children. We have our Shabbath meal on our best dishes, my great-grandmother's china passed down to me. The Shabbath meal is a way of rejoicing for what the Lord has done and provided!

The Point

The whole reason for Shabbath is peace, rest, and unity in the family as we remember who Jesus is and what He has done. If keeping Shabbath will put stress on a family or cause disunity in the family, then it is in vain. If Shabbath does not produce peace, then it is in vain. If keeping Shabbath is done for the keeping of Shabbath, then, again, it is in vain, legalistic, and Pharisaical. 

We keep the Sabbath because it is good for our family. We truly enjoy it!

So, Shabbath Shalom, everyone!

Also, Chag Purim Sameach (Happy Purim)!

God bless you and keep you,

~Raquel