Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul – Sabbatical Reflection
Our sabbatical reading journey has invited us into a deeper rhythm of reflection and renewal. Wayne Muller’s Sabbath reminded us of God’s invitation to rest—to step away from endless productivity and rediscover delight, balance, and trust. Last week, Victoria Loorz’s Church of the Wild encouraged us to leave the familiar walls of the sanctuary and rediscover creation itself as a place of worship, prayer, and encounter with God.
We conclude our series with John Philip Newell’s Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul. If Sabbath taught us to slow down, and Church of the Wild invited us to step outside, Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul asks us to see the world with new eyes—to recognize that all of creation is infused with the presence of God.
Recovering the Sacredness of Creation
Drawing deeply from the Celtic Christian tradition, John Philip Newell explores the lives and wisdom of early Christian teachers whose spirituality was rooted in the conviction that God is present in every part of creation. Rather than viewing the earth simply as the setting for God’s work, they understood creation itself as a living expression of divine love and beauty.
Newell gently challenges a worldview that separates the sacred from the ordinary, spirit from matter, or humanity from the natural world. Instead, he invites us to recover an ancient understanding: that the light of God shines within every person, every creature, and the Earth itself.
This vision does not diminish the uniqueness of humanity. Rather, it places us within a larger community of life where every living thing bears witness to the Creator. Such a perspective calls us to humility, reverence, and a renewed commitment to justice—not only for one another but also for the whole creation.
Throughout the book, Newell reminds us that many of the crises of our time—environmental degradation, violence, loneliness, and division—are rooted in forgetting our interconnectedness. Healing begins by recovering our awareness of belonging: belonging to God, belonging to one another, and belonging to the Earth.
Perhaps the most hopeful message of Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul is that this wisdom has never been lost. It has simply been waiting to be remembered.
Walking Together in Discernment
As we conclude our sabbatical reading series and prepare for Lisa’s return later this fall, we invite everyone to reflect prayerfully on how these three books speak to one another and to the future of St. John’s.
Looking back over all three books, what common themes have emerged for you
- How has your understanding of Sabbath, creation, and God’s presence been expanded or challenged?
- What practices from these readings would you like to carry into your daily life?
- How might St. John’s continue to nurture a spirituality rooted in rest, reverence, and care for creation?
- As Lisa returns from her own season of renewal, what insights from these books do you hope will shape our shared ministry in the months and years ahead?
An invitation to discuss these books together
These three books tell a remarkable story. They remind us that the spiritual life begins by slowing down, grows by paying attention, and matures as we awaken to the sacredness that has surrounded us all along.
May we share with Lisa a community that embraces Sabbath as a way of life, encounters God in the beauty of creation, and lives with the deep conviction that the whole Earth is filled with the glory of God.
We will be discussing together these three books during the month of August. We will have three sessions on August 9, 16th and 23rd immediately following the 10:00 service at 11:15 AM and a ZOOM call on the following Wednesday August 12th, 19th and 26th at 6:30 PM. ZOOM LINK
Church of the Wild by Victoria Loorzng
August 9th and 12th
Sabbath by Wayne Muller
August 16th and 19th
Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul by John Philip Newell
August 23rd and 26th
Sabbatical Team: Dick Howard, Kay Kramer, Kari Rusch-Curl
