March is my birthday month—and if you know me, you know I celebrate for thirty days! While it may sound like a month-long party, this season of celebration is far more than balloons, confetti and gluten-free cupcakes. My birthday month has become a sacred time to clarify my focus for the year and discern how God is not only calling me in ministry, but how God is calling me to be present for the people who nourish and replenish me. It’s a dedicated time to reconnect with beloved family and friends, to express gratitude for my parents who gave me a home filled with laughter, love, and strong faith, and to be intentional about slowing down for a bit of reflection. What began as a personal tradition has also shaped the rhythms of my household, creating space for rest, renewal, and deeper connection. In many ways, this practice mirrors what we call Sabbath in the Christian tradition—a sacred pause that reorients us toward God’s presence in our lives.
What is Sabbath Practice?
Sabbath practices are an intentional shift from our typical daily routines to embrace God's sacred rhythms. “Sabbath is a time intentionally devoted to cultivating the relationship between oneself and God.” It’s “time made holy—‘set apart,’” an intentional pause from the usual demands of life in order to reconnect with the Divine Creator. In the Office of Christian Formation’s Sabbath Practice Essentials, Sabbath is described as an exchange of our daily rhythms for God’s holy rhythms to set our intentions, pace and actions to mold our habits. That means we intentionally stop, dwell with God, and engage in practices that restore us spiritually and deepen our love for God and one another.
Do I Practice Sabbath Through My Birthday Habit?
When I look at what I do in March—slowing down, seeking out meaningful connections, intentionally expressing gratitude—it does align, in aim, with Sabbath. Instead of the daily scramble, there’s a holy sort of rest and reconnection. They’re moments that create joy, build relationships, and invite me to dwell more fully in God’s presence and relationships I’ve been blessed with.
Why This Matters for Faith Leaders (and Households!)
Through the Around the Table Initiative, we invite faith leaders, parents, and anyone nurturing young hearts in our congregations to explore the spiritual practice of Sabbath—together. One of the best ways to build our skills in Sabbath keeping is to share our stories and listen deeply to each other. Whether you’re crafting a “birthday month” ritual of your own, or simply looking for small weekly pauses, practicing Sabbath can be life-giving for all ages.
One story at a time, as we share how we experience God’s rest, we discover common ground. We learn that simple habits—like carving out time to thank loved ones—shape our beliefs and model for younger generations the power of small, faithful rhythms.
Resource of the Month: Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley
If you’re looking for practical guidance on creating household or congregational rhythms, Justin Whitmel Earley’s Habits of the Household is an excellent resource. One of his central themes is that what we do over and over again teaches our children what we believe. When my family sees me carving out these intentional times each March, they learn that Scripture and communal reflection sharpen your sense of call and connection to God don’t just “happen”—they’re fostered through regular, deliberate habits.
Earley says, “Because habits are kinds of liturgies. They are little routines of worship, and worship changes what we love. Habits of the household are not just actions that form our families’ routines, they are liturgies that form our families’ hearts. That is why we should choose them so carefully” (pg. 11). In Earley’s book he suggests that the household (and I’d add the congregation, too) becomes the sacred laboratory where faith is practiced everyday. My “birthday month” habit might look unique, but it underlines this truth: habits shape beliefs, and beliefs shape who we become in Christ.
Journey with Us into Sabbath
If you’ve ever struggled to find rest, or if you have a longing to connect with others in more intentional ways, I invite your ministry team to join our Around the Table Cohorts starting in August of 2025. Together, we’ll explore what Sabbath keeping can look like in our ministries and homes. Let’s keep reminding one another that God wants us to have moments of rest and reset, to draw closer, and to turn each day—yes, even birthdays—into holy ground.
Thank you for journeying with me. Happy Birthday to all born in March! May this Lenten season bring you the Sabbath gift of deeper relationships, joyful gratitude, and slowing down and renewing trust in the One who calls us to stop and dwell in love.
May the Lord protect you on your journeys, whether going or coming, and the peace that Jesus promised, be ever flowing. (Neema's blessing adapted from Psalm 121:8)
Lenten Blessings,
The Reverend Neema Cyrus-Franklin
Around the Table | Project Coordinator
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