What do we mean by work, rest and renewal RHYTHMS?
| WORK |
Tokyo is a beautiful global city where people come to work from all over the world. We are a people sent by God to serve the city through our work (Jer. 29: 7, John 20: 21, Matt. 28: 19). We envision our church scattered in every part of the city and culture for the common good of Tokyo.
As a church family, we have seasons where we work together to build up our church community in love (Eph. 4: 11- 16). We gather for worship on weekends and in various community groups during the week, to encourage one another in loving relationships.
| REST |
Tokyo is also an overworked and restless city. Instead of over-working or under-working, we seek true rest in the finished work of Jesus and in the ongoing work of Jesus in our lives through His Spirit. Instead of cultivating an over-programmed, fast-paced and restless church culture, we seek to enjoy Sabbath rest and renewal as part of God’s good design for us. (Deuteronomy 5:12-15, Heb. 4: 10).
Generally, what this means is while we gather for worship every weekend, we will seek to promote a time of rest for other community groups, activities and events. But each year we rest for one Sunday where we give rest to all ministry activities at church.
| REnewal |
We also follow seasons of renewal (like Lent, Good Friday, Easter, Pentecost Day, Reformation Sunday, Christmas) and celebrations as we are reminded of what Jesus has done for us and His call to discipleship. We seek daily renewal of our minds and affections by the Spirit to treasure, love and resemble Jesus by meditating on His Word. We seek renewal by learning from one another in various groups so that the Word of Christ dwells richly in our hearts to obey Him. We seek to become mature disciples by learning the rich implications of the Gospel at the Gospel Formation Trainings. Finally, we also seek corporate renewal through our Prayer Immersion Gatherings as we pray for ourselves, homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, cities and the world to God’s glory.
ARE THERE EXCEPTIONS?
Bridge Community groups maintain autonomy over their rhythms and are free to gather during all seasons. However, all Bridge Community groups will be strongly encouraged to honor the summer rest season (in August) before heading into the fall, and the winter rest season (in December) in order to rest and reset for New Year.
WORK & REST RHYTHMS SCHEDULE:
(No corporate worship gathering on Jan. 1st to honour our work and rest rhythms)
2023
January: Work (Jan. 22nd, Bridge Family Member’s Gathering | Covenant Renewal )
February: Work
March: Work (Lent Season—Renewal, Good Friday April 7th)
March: Work and Rest
April: Easter Celebration (April 9th, Our Church Anniversary | Renewal )
May: Work (May 28th Pentecost Day | Renewal )
June: Work
July: Work
August: Rest
September: Work
October: Work (October 31 Reformation Sunday | Renewal )
November: Work (Advent of Christ | Renewal)
December: Christmas Celebration (December 24th | Renewal ).
Note | Please Check Church Calendar to honor our community pace and rhythm.
“There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy..” (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26a)
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40: 29-31).
more on Work and Rest Rhythm |
What is Sabbath? Why does it matter? Watch a sermon on Sabbath and Gospel Rest from our Gospel Basics Series :-