Sabbath Sunday is a quiet pause in the life of our church. On the Sunday between Christmas and the New Year, we step out of our regular gathering rhythm to intentionally rest, reflect, and receive. Instead of meeting in the building, we invite you to slow down, gather with others, and worship together from home.
This is an intentional moment. We’ve just celebrated the birth of Jesus, and now we begin to remember why He came: moving from the manger to the cross, from the joy of Christmas to the sacrifice that secures our salvation.
Why We Observe Sabbath Sunday: This season is often loud and full. Christmas comes quickly, and once it’s over, many of us feel more tired than rested. Sabbath Sunday creates space to stop long enough to notice what God has been doing, to acknowledge our limits, and to enter the new year grounded rather than rushed.
How to Participate: Sabbath Sunday is designed to be simple and flexible. You’re encouraged to gather in a home setting with family, friends, or your Community Group. That gathering can be as informal or structured as you need it to be.
A few suggestions:
• Choose a comfortable, quiet space
• Remove all distractions
• Watch the video together in one sitting
• Allow space for reflection and prayer afterward
Video-Led Communion Service: During the message, you’ll be guided through a short time of reflection and the sharing of the Lord’s Supper. This allows you to participate in communion together from wherever you’re gathered, united as one church even while apart. Before you begin, you may want to prepare simple elements: Bread or crackers, and Juice or wine. When the time comes, you’re welcome to pause the video as needed, take the elements together, and allow space for prayer and quiet reflection.
Watch or Download the Sabbath Sunday Message: The Sabbath Sunday message will be available as video and audio so you can participate in whatever way works best for you. Visit Mountainview.Church/WATCH-LISTEN for more info. Note, that if you have a weak or unstable internet connection, we recommend downloading the video ahead of time to avoid interruptions.
Optional Discussion Question Download: If you want to take the deeper dive after the message, we’ve created a set of discussion questions to help guide conversation and reflection. These questions are optional and meant to serve you, not structure the gathering too tightly. Feel free to use one, a few, or simply let them prompt quiet reflection. Click here to download the Discussion PDF ahead of time.
Remember that Sabbath Sunday is a gift. There’s nothing to produce. Nothing to prove. Nothing to rush into next. We pray this pause helps you notice God’s faithfulness, receive His presence, and begin the year rooted in rest.
