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In today’s reading (Leviticus 22–23), the Lord spoke to Moses, giving him the appointed feasts that Israel was to observe throughout the year. Some people mistakenly count seven feasts, leaving out the Sabbath as one of the appointed times of celebration. But it is clear that the Sabbath was meant to be in the list of feasts of the Lord. Moses wrote in verse 3:

“Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the Lord in all your dwelling places.”

Others count eight feasts per year, including the Sabbath but still incorrect as it was not an annual feast like the others but one to be observed every week. Technically, Israel had 59 appointed celebrations each year: 52 Sabbaths, plus The Passover, The Feast of Unleavened Bread (which overlapped with Passover), The Feast of Firstfruits, The Feast of Weeks, The Feast of Trumpets, The Day of Atonement, and The Feast of Booths. That’s 59 specific times in a year when the people were reminded to pause and fix their attention on the Lord—He was to be their number one focus.

Having pastored in four different churches, I have seen the value of establishing a similar rhythm within the church calendar. Just as it was important for Israel to have structured times of worship, it remains just as essential for us today, even under the New Covenant, to set intentional rhythms that prioritize our focus on the Lord. God established rhythms for Israel, and I believe it glorifies Him for us to do the same in our faith communities.

One rhythm that I am personally convicted of is the practice of a Sabbath day of rest (see the blog post on February 9th). That’s 52 intentional days set aside for worship, rest, and focusing on God. Another important rhythm is The Lord’s Supper, which we celebrate once a month, usually on the first Sunday (adding another 12 intentional events to our calendar).

At KBC, where I currently serve, here’s a look at the rhythms we’ve established to help our congregation focus on Christ throughout the year:

  • 40 Regular Sabbath Gatherings (* 52 when you include the additional special Sundays in this list)
  • 12 Overlapping Communion Sundays
  • 1 Concert of Prayer (24-hour prayer vigil) in January
  • * 7 Sundays of Lent
  • 1 Tenebrae (Good Friday Service)
  • 1 Church Picnic (Fourth of July)
  • 1 Week of Missions Conference (June–July)
  • * 1 Love Feast Sunday in November (Jude 12)
  • * 4 Sundays of Advent
  • 1 Christmas Eve Service

That’s 69 events throughout the year, intentionally designed to direct our focus toward our number one priority—the Lord our God.

I love the rhythms we’ve established at KBC. I believe these intentional moments bring glory to God and joy to His people as we set our hearts on Him throughout the year. Each of these events is an opportunity to celebrate what the Lord has done and refocus on what truly matters.

Takeaway: Just as God established rhythms of worship for Israel, we too benefit from intentional times of remembrance and celebration. When we structure our lives around regular moments of worship, prayer, and reflection, we keep our focus on what matters most—our relationship with the Lord. What spiritual rhythms do you have in place to keep your heart aligned with God?