Shabbat Dinner

While this Shabbat dinner format incorporates several elements of a traditional Shabbat dinner, many aspects have been modified, simplified, re-ordered, or adapted. Explore what connects most for you in this space, and leave room for both ancient tradition as well as inspired creativity!

Prior to beginning your Shabbat gathering…

• Determine a time to start (as close to sundown as possible on Friday evening)

• Invite family, friends, neighbors, and the poor - it’s a communal time

• Consider turning off phones before beginning, and even having a phone box in another room for people to leave their devices

• Have everyone take off their shoes as a sign of homeliness, respect, and the intent to stay for a while

Shabbat Gathering

1. Help Young Kids Settle In (this may require letting them start eating early, establishing a play area, etc.)

2. Light the 2 Shabbat Candles (Matriarch of the house)

   • Prayer: (“Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam…”) Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the universe, who makes us holy with His Word, and who has called us to kindle this light on Shabbat. May your light ever shine in the darkness, guide our way, and warm our hearts.

   • Passing the Shalom: (Hold out hands) “Shabbat Shalom!” (Group Response) “Shabbat Shalom!” (Spend time greeting and hugging each person in the room)

3. Washing Hands (Pass around basin of water & towel)

   • Prayer: Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your Word, and who washes our hands with living water.

   • Share: As each person washes their hands, have them share something (in just a few sentences) that they are choosing to release from the day or week that might be a hindrance to entering into the delight and rest of Shabbat (ex: distracted by work, fear of a diagnosis, anger at a friend, anxiety about a hard conversation, sadness at a big life change, etc.)

4. Kiddush: Prayer for the Wine

   • (Have everyone raise their glass)

   • Prayer: Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine.

     • Note: Wine is drank to sanctify the time, remind us of our covering from the Exodus and the blood that Christ has shed for us

   • (Cheers clinks all around!)

5. Kiddush: Prayer for the Challah

   • Prayer: Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.

     • Note: Bread reminds us of the manna God provided in the desert and the double portion that was given for Shabbat, as well as the body of Christ broken for us

6. Dinner (Teaching and Discussion Time)

   • Teaching: If someone has a 3-6 minute teaching they’d like to share, or a Scriptural/ liturgical reading

   • Possible Discussion Questions: 1) What are you thankful for today/ this week? 2) What has brought you delight today/ this week? 3) Where have you seen God move today/ this week? 4) What is a story where God brought you overwhelming joy? 5) What is playful for you? 6) What is something new you would like to try/ learn? 7) What is something you’d like to celebrate about someone else in the room? 8) What is something good, beautiful, or true that has gripped you lately? 9) What is something you have been learning recently in the Scriptures or from Holy Spirit? 10) What is a deep desire you have in your heart? 11) What have you been learning from a community or culture that’s different than yours? 12) What do you picture when you think of the Kingdom of God?

7. Post-Meal Prayer / Prayer for Children (Oldest to Youngest)

   • For sons: (Opening words of blessing) “May you be like Ephraim and Menassah…”

   • For daughters: (Opening words of blessing) “May you be like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah…”

     • Speak special blessings over each child (things you’re grateful for, things you see in their character, and things you desire for their life)

   • Prayer over the children: Conclude with the Priestly Blessing: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

   • Singing: Close with playing “The Blessing” by Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes which uses lyrics from this passage in Scripture

8. Time of Singing and Dancing

9. Dessert / Continued Shabbat Discussion

10. Household Activities

Possible Household Activities…

• Game night

• Worship time (singing, Scripture, prayer)

• Group yoga, grounding, and/or breath prayer (Check out the Yoga Abbey here)

• Arts and crafts

• Play outside

• Movie night

• Dance party

• Read stories together

• Writing time

• Celebrate a seasonal feast or festival from Scripture

• Make a fire

• Camping

• Look at the stars

• …Just enjoy time being together and connecting!

Thoughts on How to Spend your Shabbat Day

• Do things that are restful, life-giving, and playful

• Enjoy celebrating the day with your family and community

• Create special traditions

• Practice delighting

• Spend time in nature

• Connect with your 5 senses

• Include others, especially the lonely or marginalized

• Embrace resistance to the spirit of Empire and oppression

• Take a break from chores

• Limit/ avoid use of screens

• Limit/ avoid shopping

• Release heavier thoughts and emotions (practice container exercise)

Resources:

• Sabbath by Dan Allender

• Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel

• Sabbath as Resistance by Walter Brueggemann

• The Relentless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer