Journey Films
Journey Films
AdventHealth University (AHU) and Markham Woods Church in Longwood, Fla., partnered to host a special “Festival of Sabbath” weekend event January 12 and 13, 2024, for the local faith communities they serve in central Florida. The idea for this event came from the release of the documentary Sabbath, created by the renowned filmmaker Martin Doblmeier. AdventHealth leaders also participated in the celebration of the Sabbath.
Doblmeier became well acquainted with the Adventist faith tradition through his earlier productions: The Adventists, The Adventists 2, and The BLUEPRINT: The Story of Adventist Education. Sabbath, which explores how Adventists value and observe the Sabbath, aired on PBS in summer of 2023.
The Festival of Sabbath event began Friday evening with a demonstration of the traditional Jewish practice of welcoming the Sabbath at sunset, led by Alex Schlussler, ministerial field associate for lay and leadership development of the Florida Conference, and his wife, Anjanette. Select clips of Sabbath were shown, followed by an interview with Doblmeier conducted by Ray Tetz, director of communication and community engagement at Pacific Union Conference. Jeff Bromme, executive vice president and chief legal officer at AdventHealth, closed the evening session with prayer.
On Sabbath morning, the first service sermon was delivered by Carla Park, vice president of wholeness and faith strategy at AdventHealth, and titled “It Is Finished — Sabbath, Community and a Faithful God.” Doug Hardt, senior pastor for the Markham Woods Church, gave the second service message, “Sabbath and Creation Care.” Both services featured inspiring music by the Markham Woods brass ensemble, and singing by the Men of Markham Woods group.
The Sabbath School lesson focused on the origins, renewal, and value of the Sabbath. A clip from Sabbath about Adventist observance was shown, followed by another brief interview with Doblmeier. Mixon and Oleg Kostyuk, Ph.D., assistant to the president for mission and assistant professor of religion at AHU, gave presentations and moderated a framework of biblical and historical perspectives of the Sabbath. Many guests from the community also attended.
David Banks, senior executive vice president and chief strategy and organizational transformation officer at Advent- Health, moderated the afternoon panel composed of Park and Doblmeier; Zdravko Stefanovic, Ph.D., professor of religion at AHU and author of a commentary on the book of Daniel in the Bible; and Nathan Stucky, Ph.D., a special guest featured in Sabbath, and the author of Wrestling with Rest and director of the Farminary Project at Princeton Theological Seminary.
Sabbath concluded at sunset with another traditional Jewish ceremony led by Schlussler. The entire Festival of Sabbath weekend was also livestreamed to hundreds of online viewers. The recorded events may be rewatched at YouTube.com/@MarkhamWoodsChurchFL.
Organizers expressed they were honored to have such a distinguished filmmaker and his wife join them for the entire weekend celebration. “It was always my hope that the Sabbath film might strike a chord across our stressed-out country that really needs to stop and remember the amazing gift of Sabbath,” said Doblmeier. “For Sabbath-keeping communities like Seventh-day Adventists, my hope is that gathering around a Festival of Sabbath might create both time and space where Adventists can re-imagine a practice they already hold as sacred, but appreciate it in all new ways. I hope the community at Markham Woods benefitted from the experience. I know I was deeply moved by the weekend, and I will carry that experience with me for a long time.”
Plans are underway to organize Festival of Sabbath events in other congregations nationwide. To learn more about hosting a similar event, visit JourneyFilms.com.
AdventHealth University | April 2024
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