Day of Prayer, a day without classes and with multiple events encouraging prayer and rest, is a mainstay in the schedule of a Covenant semester. In the days leading up to it, many students can be heard expressing their wish that we had a day like Day of Prayer more often—free of classwork so that they can focus on rest, prayer, worship, and fellowship with other believers.
This raises a pressing question: have we forgotten? Have we forgotten that there is a more frequent Day of Prayer that we are given every week? I am, of course, referring to the Christian Sabbath, that one day in seven on which we are commanded by God to let ourselves and our neighbors rest and worship God. While the day on which we observe it may have changed, the principle and command remain the same.
Students recognize both the value of Day of Prayer and its tension with the weekly Sabbath, but some worry about whether it reminds us of or distracts us from the Sabbath.
“It can point people to understanding the Sabbath and the joys of it,” said Eli DeVries ’28. “Some students may think that because the College allots for it, it [Day of Prayer] is all they need.”
Some students worry that people may value Day of Prayer too much, believing that it is not the college’s intention to replace the Sabbath.
“As christians, we are supposed to take a day of rest every week. Covenant adding to this is good,” said Blake Dellenback ’27, adding that he hopes students will “make the Sabbath a priority outside of Day of Prayer.”
“[The] incongruity between Day of Prayer and Sabbath comes from a misconception of what the Sabbath is and how to rest biblically,” said Elianna Speck ’29, adding that she appreciates “the zeal shown for worshiping God by students on both the Lord’s Day and Day of Prayer.”
Times of reflection like Day of Prayer should point us back to the gift already given to us: the weekly Lord’s Day. This day is not merely for the individual; you cannot simply “take a Sabbath” on a separate day of your own choosing. The Sabbath is corporate, shared with all believers throughout the world as we rest together in Christ.
Spend the day in restful fellowship with friends on campus, with brothers and sisters in Christ.
Let us then receive this gift with gladness. Set aside ordinary work and the usual busyness of the week. Gather for corporate worship with the Church (twice, if possible) and also worship privately by spending time in prayer and the Word.
Covenant students can make every Sabbath as enjoyable and edifying as many feel Day of Prayer is.
“Part of what makes Day of Prayer so special is how my hall rests together,” said Anthony Davis ’29. “I do think that part of the magical feeling of Day of Prayer would be more present on the Sabbath if my hall focused more on resting together.”