This 12 months’s Forma Annual Convention befell January 27–30, 2025. Our theme, “Come Away Collectively (Retirémonos Juntos),” got here from Mark 6:31–32: “‘Come away to a abandoned place all by yourselves and relaxation some time.’ . . . They usually went away within the boat to a abandoned place by themselves” (NRSVA). We explored this scripture and the themes of relaxation, retreat, and Sabbath via each day grounding practices, workshops, and plenaries.
An Invitation to Sabbath from Nathan Stucky
In our closing plenary, Nathan Stucky spoke on the subject of religion in an exhausted world and invited us into new methods of fascinated by Sabbath. Beneath you’ll discover the recording of his plenary, the beginning locations for religion in an exhausted world he names, an inventory of wonderings that might be used for particular person journaling or group dialogue, and extra assets. Viewing and discussing this recording would make for a beautiful dialog for almost any grownup group in a parish: an grownup discussion board class, a parish retreat, a creation care committee, or a sacristy, for instance.
Beginning Locations for Religion in an Exhausted World
- Abandon the parable of a person Sabbath: Therapeutic will solely be present in communion with God, one another, and creation.
- Pursue Sabbath in intimate communion with God and creation: Be open to surprising Sabbath companions, akin to a compost pile.
- Anticipate substantial resistance from each inside and with out: It’s simple to romanticize relaxation. However Sabbath isn’t an escape from the world; it’s our entry into sitting with the complete gamut of the injuries of the world—together with our personal.
Wonderings for Reflection & Dialogue
- I ponder if you’re prepared to call your eager for relaxation?
- I ponder when the church contributes to the restoration and renewal of the world?
- I ponder when the church contributes to the exhaustion of the world? How can we tip the scales towards restoration and renewal?
- I ponder what Christian religion can meaningfully contribute within the context of an exhausted world?
- I ponder the way you perceive Genesis 1:28: “Fill the earth and subdue it”?
- Dr. Stucky says, “After creating people, God by no means appears at them and sees that they’re good.” I ponder what that means you make of this? Is the query of human goodness open?
- If we take a look at God’s relationship with creation for clues about how we would relate to our fellow creatures, I ponder what we would see along with what Dr. Stucky mentions? And I ponder what behaviors we would want to vary?
- I ponder the way you’ve been spending time with creation lately?
- I ponder how completely different our lives could be if relaxation have been the start line—the start line for our days, our conferences, our initiatives?
- If Sabbath has one thing to show us about religion in an exhausted world, what may that be?
Further Sources & Suggestions
- “Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England” by William Cronon (New York: Hill & Wang, 1983; twentieth anniversary version, 2003)
- Recordings from the 2025 Forma Annual Convention (opening plenary recording, 19 workshop recordings)
- 2025 Forma Conference: Community Recommendations of Resources Related to Sabbath, Rest, and Retreat
- Worship: A Liturgy for Welcoming Sabbath and A Liturgy for Choosing Sabbath – contains written liturgy in addition to slides
- Music, Song, Prayer, and Quotes associated to theme of relaxation, Sabbath, and retreat
About Dr. Nathan Stucky
Nathan Stucky serves as Director of the Farminary Project at Princeton Theological Seminary. He grew up on a farm in Kansas the place his love for Christian religion and agriculture first took root. After incomes a B.A. in Music from Bethel Faculty (KS), Stucky spent six years doing ecumenical youth ministry on the japanese shore of Maryland and two years farming again in Kansas. After farming, Stucky earned an M.Div. and a Ph.D. (Sensible Theology, Christian Training and Formation) from Princeton Theological Seminary. His scholarship explores questions of land, ecology, theology, agriculture, justice, pleasure, and Sabbath as they relate to theological training. He’s the creator of “Wrestling with Rest: Inviting Youth to Discover the Gift of Sabbath.” Ordained within the Mennonite Church (USA), Stucky engages Farminary work as integral to his calling to instructing ministry. He lives in Princeton, New Jersey along with his partner and three youngsters.
Featured picture is by Sebastian Pichler on Unsplash
