The rhythm of rest
It’s the time of year when churches shift into summer mode. In Manitoba, that means getting outdoors whenever possible: lounging in the sun’s warmth, visiting a provincial park, swatting mosquitoes, cooking a meal on the barbecue, and taking in as much green as possible before the snow returns.
This also means that churches experience a decrease in attendance. Fewer people warm the seats of the sanctuary. Volunteers are scarce. Pastoral staff use the bulk of their holidays. It’s as if summer is low tide for the church—the water recedes, not because the ocean is gone, but because that is the rhythm. Low tide reveals what is often hidden—rest, family, prayer, and quieter faithfulness.
The slower pace of summer can feel ordinary, even obvious. But perhaps it is also an invitation. Maybe embracing the rhythms of the seasons is a way to recalibrate our lives to experience rest. After a ministry year, summer becomes a purposeful exhale—a season reminding us that God sustains the church as we slow down.
A mentor of mine would often say, “Sometimes you need to slow down in order to speed up.” At the time, unfortunately, I didn’t understand his logic. Back then, I had always presumed life’s goal was to do more with better results at an increasing rate. What I failed to understand was that avoiding rest comes with consequences. Seasons of work need to be followed by moments of rest.
I am reminded of a quote that we read at the May EMC Encourage retreat from Brenda Jank: “Rest is not a reward. You can’t earn it. You don’t deserve it. It will never be convenient. Rest is a rhythm ordained by God and a responsibility for those committed to God’s best” (Run Hard Rest Well). I like the forthright manner of this quote. Rest is not our invention; it’s God’s design.
Jesus reminds his disciples in Mark’s Gospel, “The Sabbath was made to serve us; we weren’t made to serve the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27 MSG). Rest is not an interruption to faithful living; it is part of our God-given design. On the seventh day, God rested—not because he needed a break, but to reveal a pattern woven into the fabric of creation. As I age, I come to understand God’s wisdom of rest in new ways.
It is our prayer that as you read this issue, you will make new discoveries about the art of slowing down. Carl Heppner, the EMC director of Canadian outreach, reminds us of the value of pausing, listening and clarifying where God may be leading. Reflecting on the EMC Encourage retreat, Mo Friesen speaks about the significance of pausing to receive prayer and the power of transparency with God. Sheila Ginter, professor of counselling at Steinbach Bible College, reflects on joy amid trials, offering another way of understanding rest in impossible situations.
I hope you receive these reflections as an invitation. May you notice the gift of a slower pace, the presence of God in less hurried days, and the quiet faithfulness that continues even when the church calendar thins.
Photo credit: Drew Coffman on Unsplash
