CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Donna Schaper will be the main speaker during the "Sabbath Sense 24/7 Conference," Nov. 10-12 in Dublin, Ohio, sponsored by the Coalition for Ministry in Daily Life and the Forum for Faith in the Workplace. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is represented in the leadership of the coalition and the forum.
"Sabbath Keeping" is the title of Schaper's latest book. Schaper, Miami, Fla., is an area minister for the United Church of Christ and author of several books, including "Raising Interfaith Children" and "Teaching My Daughter to Mulch: Gardening Meditations."
"Sabbath Keeping" redefines "sabbath" -- "away from the idea of isolation for long periods of time to finding sabbath moments in the course of each day," said Sally A. Simmel, director for daily life ministry, ELCA Division for Ministry, and board president of the Coalition for Ministry in Daily Life.
During the conference, Schaper will present three sessions, "exploring inspired ways of looking at work and of seeing the 'sacred' in our vocations," said Simmel. "Since sabbath is also about play, Schaper will present ideas on how to do that well," she said.
"Keeping sabbath keeps me sane," Schaper wrote in the preface of her book. "I walk, pray, sing, garden, worship -- and do so with a discipline and vigor that keeps play and praise in my life. God is good to me.
"Sabbath keeping is a spiritual strategy: it is a kind of judo. The world's commands are heavy; we respond with light moves. The world says work; we play. The world says go fast; we go slow. These light moves carry sabbath into our days, and God into our lives," Schaper wrote.
Paul Everett, past president of the Pittsburgh Experiment, will address a Friday evening dinner. Incorporated in 1955, the Pittsburgh Experiment combined youth and college ministries with spiritually-based support in the workplace to influence a generation of community leaders through personal Christian transformation.
An individual or group will be awarded the Carolyn Dickerson Minus Award for "making outstanding contributions toward helping people connect their faith and their work." Trustees of the Forum for Faith in the Workplace will present the $1,500 cash award during the Friday evening dinner. The first award was given in December 1998 to William Diehl, a member of the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, Emmaus, Pa.
Four Saturday afternoon workshops will give participants opportunities to present and analyze programs and ministries already helping people integrate their faith with their daily lives.
The Forum for Faith in the Workplace is a Christian association whose mission is "to help people everywhere discover the presence and will of God in their places of work."
The Coalition for Ministry in Daily Life is an ecumenical, international, not-for-profit partnership of individuals, congregations, denominations, colleges, seminaries, publishers and independent organizations working in support of the ministries in daily life of all Christians. -- -- --
On the Web <http://www.faithintheworkplace.org/> is the home for the Forum for Faith in the Workplace.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
