2025 Sabbath Workshop
Embracing Rest in a Restless World: A Sabbath Experience
Sat, Nov. 15 | Sweetwater Creek State Park | Cost: $30 (scholarships are available)
Cost includes bagels/coffee, boxed lunch and materials. Save $5 with early bird registration by October 22.
About the Experience
Workshop Details
In this half-day workshop, we will explore the biblical concept of Sabbath and what it means to embrace God’s rest amid our busy lives and restless world. Through guided conversations and immersive practices, we will consider the purpose, place and practice of Sabbath in the Christian life. In doing so, we will come to understand the ancient idea of Sabbath as more than just downtime on the weekend. Rather, we will discover Sabbath as a disruptive and life-giving invitation to think differently about our priorities, the pace of our lives, and what it means to be created in the image of a God who rests.
Schedule:
8:30 a.m. Bus and Carpool Depart SPdL
9:15 a.m. Continental Breakfast in Meeting Room
10 a.m. Workshop/Experience Begins
Noon Boxed Lunch
3 p.m. Workshop/Experience Ends
Workshop Leader
Dr. Ryan Bonfiglio
Ryan serves at Emory’s Candler School of Theology as an Associate Professor in the Practice of Old Testament and as the Executive Director of The Candler Foundry, an initiative that seeks to make the best of theological education accessible and engaging to congregations and the broader public.
After earning degrees at Princeton University (BA in Chemistry) and Princeton Theological Seminary (MDiv), Ryan completed his PhD in Hebrew Bible at Emory University. His research and teaching interests include biblical metaphors, the Bible and Poverty, ancient Near Eastern art, the Ten Commandments, and the biblical theology of the Sabbath. Ryan was born and raised in Philly and suffers from a life-long love of Philadelphia sports team. His wife, Jamie, is a Presbyterian minister just down the road from SPdL.
Additional Info
Please indicate when you register if you would like to carpool (or ride bus) from the church, leaving at 8:30am. The ride to the park is approximately 40 minutes. Directions will be provided to registrants who prefer to drive (note: $5 parking fee per car). Bagels and box lunches will be provided. You are welcome to remain to explore the park further after we adjourn. We’ll mix content with experience and free time. There are several hiking trails, views of the ruins of an old textile mill, and other things like geocaching, fishing & birding.