2016 Calendar

Calendars

Sarah Vandergugten Thoughts for the Week

By now, most of us have become accustomed to the new year. We usually remember to write the proper date on our cheques and appointment calendars. Businesses generously distributed calendars to valued customers, and those calendars grace the walls of offices, classrooms, and kitchens, hanging at the ready to record important meetings, dinners and other events.

This year I have received one calendar that I do not like. The pictures are lovely, the quality is excellent. What I don’t like is that it starts each week with Monday. That’s confusing because for centuries the first day of the week has been Sunday. Admittedly, some might argue that having Monday as the first day makes sense; we work five or six days, and then have our day of rest. Yet there is something right and beautiful about starting the week with a day of rest. Sunday’s the day that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, marking the supreme victory over sin, Satan, and death. Every Sunday, we celebrate that reality by resting from our daily labours and by gathering for worship.

Renewed and restored, with vigour and energy we face our daily work. More than that, Christ’s death and resurrection give purpose and meaning to our work. Along with Paul we claim, “always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15: 58 ESV).

So take the time to rest and worship on Sunday, the first day of the week. The other six days will be the better for it.