At its best, summer is a season of rest and joy – tapping into the ancient, sacred practice of sabbath restoration. Mary Oliver can help us reconnect with this dimension of summertime, savoring what she calls its “luminous sprawl of gifts.” 

This devotional is designed to be flexible: use it as an individual practice of companionship with Oliver’s Devotions; or in partnership with family or friends; or with a small study group, or even a whole congregation. Spread it out over four weeks, four days, or a holiday weekend.

At each of the four steps, you’ll find a gentle rhythm to guide you: the lighting of a candle, a passage from Scripture to pair with poems in Oliver’s Devotions, a short prayer, and a song or two. Each step also includes a bouquet of “daily practices” to try, activities to help deepen your experience of the poems, the biblical passages, and the wider world they call us to love.

So grab your favorite Bible and Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver (the poems can also be found online). Step by step, we’ll make our way deep into the heart of summer, the heart of sabbath, and the heart of being human: joyful, rested, and free.

Files: This listing is for a downloadable PDF, printing instructions for the 8.5 x 11 devotional, and an e-reader version of the devotional as well. With this congregational license, any or all of these can be distributed (electronically or in hard copy) to members of your congregation.

Please note: you will not receive a physical product as this is a digital download. This resource is for congregational use only, which means it may not be reproduced commercially, duplicated, or resold :)