Thursdays, October 12 and November 9, 7-8:30 p.m. Spiritual Exploration. This series of events on the second Tuesday of each month explores a variety of spiritual practices such as prayer, Sabbath keeping, and individual and group spiritual direction. ​

Deborah Oosterbaan has participated in (ordained) ministry for more than 25 years, starting in Hospice of Washington,D.C. and then in both large and small Presbyterian congregations in New York and New Jersey. Two core commitments - participation by every congregational member and life long quest for learning - define her ministry.

She embraced mission and education early on and these twin pursuits animate her work and play to this day. A childhood trip to Cuba with her pastor father in 1955 made a strong impression. As a youth, she taught in "at risk" communities, originally, close to home, in Paterson, NJ and Harlem NY, then farther afield, after college in Gallup,NM with two Native American Nations.

A Graduate of Calvin College, she was one of the first women to give a chapel talk there and went on to earn two Masters from Wesley Seminary, one in biblical studies and a second in divinity in the 1980's.  She turned to ministry full time after teaching in various high schools, raising a family, instructing piano, directing choirs and introducing the Bible as literature in various Protestant churches in the Washington, 
D. C. area.

She has specialized in organizing and leading tailored retreats, conversations and gatherings for church groups, people in transition and individuals seeking discernment or "alternative religious education."   She continues to explore what it means to be "in service" and to be a "spriritual guide."  Deborah trusts in the wonder of nurture in every aspect of life with many different kinds of people or alone in her garden.

​Deborah has been a member of the Sabbath House Discernment Team since 2014.

Tuesday, September 19 at 7 p.m. Conversations on Race with Maiya Thompson. Come at 6 for coffee, tea, snacks, and more - bring something to share or just yourself..

This is a follow-up for members of our Conversations on Race groups who read Waking Up White (which is written for "white" people) and wanted the opportunity for dialog with someone who isn't "white." Maiya has been reading the book and discussing it with friends and is looking forward to an evening of more conversations on race. It's part of our Spiritual Activism/Social Justice series at Sabbath House, which meets every third Tuesday.

About Winter Solstice

​This is the eighth passage of Earth’s calendar, as we experience it from the northern latitudes in which we live. It is a time of total immersion into the dark, hidden spaces of the inner world awaiting the return of light.
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For earlier peoples the fear that Sun would retreat with its gifts of light and warmth was real. The absolute dependency on Sun’s return was essential for the conditions of human survival and the capacity to hope. Hope is hard-won. It was evoked by the depth of difficulties that humans have encountered in the long history of the evolving of our minds, imaginations and emotional capacities.

We wish to honor the sacred mystery of this journey. It may be seen as a commitment to new depths of faith, hope and caring in these uncertain and profoundly significant times.

​Notes from Genesis Farm.

​Sunday, December 17 at 4:30 p.m. Blue Christmas/Longest Night - a service of remembrance and hope for all who find rejoicing hard work. With harpist Gian Torrano Jacobs.

Christmas is a season of joy and hope. It is also a time when memories of the past and the reality of present experiences and situations can become overwhelming. The sorrow of losing a loved one, the ache of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation—all of these and more can make us feel very alone in the midst of all the celebrating and spending. We need time and space to acknowledge our sadness and concern and to find strength and hope.

We invite you to our traditional “Blue Christmas” service on December 17. With prayer, poetry, scripture and special music, we will acknowledge God’s presence for those who mourn and for those who struggle, while we remember that God’s Word comes to shine light into our darkness.

​Part of Winter Solstice

Wednesday, November 8, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Clergy Rest Day. Take a spiritual break. Between the rush of Stewardship and Advent, take time for a quiet day of worship, reflection and rest. Donation $20.