You probably know that the biblical Sabbath is to be observed from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. But did you know that to observe the Sabbath properly, you need to prepare for it during the rest of the week?
“We should begin thinking early in the week about how we can make the Sabbath special and memorable,” says the Good News of October-November 1982. “How, for instance, can we make the evening meal extra special and enjoyable—something to really look forward to?”
As wives and mothers, we have a great responsibility to get our home ready for the Sabbath each week to ensure that every member of the family has an uplifting and spiritual Sabbath day. Much of this effort can be done on the preparation day, the Friday before the Sabbath.
Here are four areas to consider to help make the most of the preparation day so you have the best possible Sabbath.
1. Cooking
Most of the food we consume during this special 24-hour period can and should be prepared ahead of time. This would include most of the salad contents as well as the salad dressing. Then, on the day, chop the head of lettuce and maybe add in an avocado. The main entrée of meat can be seasoned and prepared so you only need to put it in the oven. All baked goods should be done on the preparation day.
If you live close to services, doing most of our food prep ahead of time makes entertaining on the Sabbath more feasible. Having people in your home on the Sabbath day is really one of the best days to entertain since many brethren may not live close to where services are held. This is also a great way to serve another family. Not only can you feed them well before they depart for the journey home but you can create an environment for robust Christian fellowship.
An example of a meal you can prepare on Friday for the family or for company: roasted or braised beef or chicken, mashed potatoes, baked vegetable and salad; you could add to that dinner rolls and a dessert. This sample menu can all be done on Friday and simply heated up on the Sabbath day.
“[P]reparation of food, so far as possible, ought to be made on Friday,” Herbert W. Armstrong said in a Bible study on Oct. 23, 1981. “That is the preparation day. And a little bit of cooking, a little preparation of food, is allowable on the Sabbath, but remember it is the day that is holy to God. It is not for our work. It shouldn’t be work like regular daily work for the housewife or anyone who does the cooking. It should be cut down to an absolute minimum.”
Have a family tradition for Friday night meals. Make them extra special from the rest of the week’s dinners. Some examples: fresh flowers, cloth napkins, dessert, a special centerpiece done by one of the children, etc. Make this a meal that will start the Sabbath off on a positive note. If you have Bible study on Friday night, this shortens the time frame of this special Sabbath meal, but it can still be done—just simplify.
If you are planning to host a family for the Sabbath dinner after services, plan to have the table set on preparation day. If you have only one dining area, locate all the table items to one place so a minimum amount of time is used to set the table on the Sabbath.
If you attend a field congregation that holds the service and Bible study on the Sabbath day, you need food in between services. Consider using some of the leftovers from the Friday night meal. Whatever food you use, prepare it ahead of time.
If you have a longer drive that requires breakfast in the car, most of this should be prepared on the preparation day. Consider also preparing food that doesn’t require cutlery: items like quiche squares, egg burritos, egg sandwich and fruit.
If the Sabbath dinner after services is just for your family, have everything ready so that all it needs is reheating. This may include leftovers from the Friday night meal or even leftovers from earlier in the week. This will allow more time for fellowship at services.
The point in all of this is to avoid major meal preparation on the Sabbath day.
2. Cleaning
Having a clean house going into the Sabbath makes for a relaxing and serene setting as we approach the Friday night meal.
It is easy to fall into the trap of trying to do all your weekly cleaning on Friday; this has happened to me. This does not work well. The more organized we are with our cleaning, the less likely we will be doing a week’s worth of cleaning on Friday. Set up a weekly cleaning schedule, then do a light cleaning on Friday: vacuum, wipe down all bathroom and kitchen countertops, etc. The priority on this day will need to be food prep.
An example of how to minimize the cleaning on Friday: Schedule laundry and ironing in the earlier part of the week. Then on Thursday evening, clean the bathroom, take out all major garbage, and dust.
3. Clothing
Preparation day is a time to make sure all Sabbath clothes are cleaned and ironed. It is worth assembling your Sabbath outfit on Friday, knowing it is ready to be worn.
If you are running on a tight schedule on your preparation day, choose clothing that tends to be wrinkle-free or wrinkle-resistant. While clothing that is made from natural fibers is ideal, these tend to wrinkle easily. Some man-made fabrics are designed to be wrinkle free.
If you are traveling long distance for a special Sabbath or holy day that requires an overnight stay, consider packing clothes that don’t wrinkle easily. Another tip for avoiding wrinkles is to roll your clothing when you pack.
A time-saver for children: Roll a whole, complete outfit into one roll, saving time when getting dressed. Once you arrive at your destination, unpack your Sabbath clothes right away. Consider putting them in the bathroom while the shower is on so the steam can help get out wrinkles. Then iron any remaining wrinkles, if necessary.
The point is, plan how you pack so it requires the least amount of work.
If you are a single lady working a full-time job, set aside Thursday evenings to clean, cook, prepare clothes and other things. But strive to keep it simple so you can go into the Sabbath and be refreshed spiritually.
4. Children
Again, strive to choose your child’s outfit for the Sabbath ahead of time. Also, check each child’s backpack to reorganize or replenish supplies if needed.
Mothers: If you have very young children, check your diaper bag and restock as needed. This would include more diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, snacks, bottles, etc. And don’t forget the blankets or mats for the floor.
Older children should be responsible for choosing their outfits and possibly helping the younger children do this. Just be prepared to provide guidance when needed.
It can help to have a checklist for items needed for services. The more organized you are, the more time you and your husband will have on the Sabbath reading the Bible stories, taking a walk, or enjoying a special treat with your children.
Consider these four areas in your preparation day, and it will enhance your Sabbath observance.
Overview
“The basic principle here is to ensure that all work that we need to do to allow us full rest from our labors for the entire duration of the Sabbath be completed by sunset on the sixth day of the week,” Ron Fraser wrote. “This involves laundering and preparing our clothes, doing any heavy baking attached to the preparation of Sabbath meals, housecleaning, cleaning the car, general tidying up to ensure that our home environment reflects a royal standard for the Sabbath, perhaps even the purchase of wine for the meal and flowers for the table” (Royal Vision, November-December 2001).
Because we live in the last days of this present evil world, we should do all we can to make the most of the preparation day so every Sabbath can be a delight to us and will please our great God.
In all of this, as you work to do your part on the preparation day, it is wise to expect the unexpected on occasion. This may mean you can’t do much food prep. This is where pulling out a frozen casserole or some other main item for a time of need can be very helpful.
Keep in mind that having a perfectly clean house along with the most sumptuous food should be second in priority to keeping the Sabbath feeling good physically and in a proper mindset. You don’t want to push preparations right up until sunset only to fall into the Sabbath exhausted.
Create a schedule that works for you. The key is to plan to ensure it happens.
Make the most of your preparation day and you will truly make the Sabbath a delight!