“SABBATICAL: A TIME FOR REST & RENEWAL”
Dear Friends in Christ,
As many of you know, I will be embarking on a first-ever adventure very soon, as my 90-day sabbatical begins May 27 and continues through August 25. I am grateful, deeply grateful, to Holy Shepherd for this opportunity for rest and renewal through a variety of activities intended to be restful, personally-fulfilling, and professionally-enriching for my re-entry as your pastor in the fall. I’m also grateful to Pastor Michael, the rest of our top-notch staff, and volunteers from the congregation for their support and their willingness to pick up additional responsibilities in my absence.
I know that a pastoral sabbatical is a new experience for Holy Shepherd. I know it is a change. I know change brings with it anxiety. I want to assure you that I expect this experience to be valuable and enriching for the congregation as well as for Brenda and me. I am already energized just from anticipating this adventure, and know that I will be even more energized when I return! I trust that you will be refreshed by and grow from the experience as well; there are already signs of growth as many have stepped forward as visitors and preachers to assist Pastor Michael during the summer months.
My sabbatical plan includes a personal retreat near the beginning and end for prayer, reading, meditation, reflection, and integration of new learnings and discoveries; a Mexico City Immersion at the Lutheran Center there, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Synod-ELCA, to explore the political, social, and economic realities of Mexico; a forum led by Diana Butler Bass, author of Christianity for the Rest of Us, coupled with time with family and friends in Wisconsin; studying Spanish with a private tutor; worshiping with other local congregations, especially some who are offering effective contemporary worship; catching up on some reading; and, perhaps (we’re still looking into this) travel in Turkey to explore Christian origins and the rich mix of cultures and religions in that ancient and fascinating land. I’m also planning to report to the congregation at some kind of informal event early in September, so we can catch up with each other after a summer apart!
While I am away, I will really be away from Holy Shepherd. I will pray for you often, but I will not be on church property, and I cannot be in contact with you during the sabbatical. This will make it possible for all of us to fully benefit from this time of rest and renewal. If I bump into you in the community, I will gladly greet you, but I will not be able to discuss life at Holy Shepherd. Between the staff and leaders of Holy Shepherd, you will be in good human hands. And, as always, you will be in the best hands of all—the loving, merciful, strong, and faithful hands of God. As you rest in those hands, I am confident you will grow in faith. When I return in the fall, I will be eager to learn of all that has happened; I will not even be surprised if I am a little bit disappointed by all I will have missed during the summer.
If you are interested in following my sabbatical journey and have Internet access, I encourage you to check in often at the Holy Shepherd website, www.holyshepherd.com. I’ll be posting and updating a blog (web-based journal) entitled “Rick’s Ruminations,” and there will be a link to it on our website. In fact, you’ll find this article there as well and, soon, a more detailed outline of my sabbatical plan. “Rick’s Ruminations” will include comments, reflections, discoveries, and photos from my sabbatical time. Please visit me there!
Once again, thank you for this treasured opportunity to rest, reflect, renew, and recharge for the next chapter of our journey together. I look forward to the summer away, and I look forward to re-joining you in ministry in the fall!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Rick
As many of you know, I will be embarking on a first-ever adventure very soon, as my 90-day sabbatical begins May 27 and continues through August 25. I am grateful, deeply grateful, to Holy Shepherd for this opportunity for rest and renewal through a variety of activities intended to be restful, personally-fulfilling, and professionally-enriching for my re-entry as your pastor in the fall. I’m also grateful to Pastor Michael, the rest of our top-notch staff, and volunteers from the congregation for their support and their willingness to pick up additional responsibilities in my absence.
I know that a pastoral sabbatical is a new experience for Holy Shepherd. I know it is a change. I know change brings with it anxiety. I want to assure you that I expect this experience to be valuable and enriching for the congregation as well as for Brenda and me. I am already energized just from anticipating this adventure, and know that I will be even more energized when I return! I trust that you will be refreshed by and grow from the experience as well; there are already signs of growth as many have stepped forward as visitors and preachers to assist Pastor Michael during the summer months.
My sabbatical plan includes a personal retreat near the beginning and end for prayer, reading, meditation, reflection, and integration of new learnings and discoveries; a Mexico City Immersion at the Lutheran Center there, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Synod-ELCA, to explore the political, social, and economic realities of Mexico; a forum led by Diana Butler Bass, author of Christianity for the Rest of Us, coupled with time with family and friends in Wisconsin; studying Spanish with a private tutor; worshiping with other local congregations, especially some who are offering effective contemporary worship; catching up on some reading; and, perhaps (we’re still looking into this) travel in Turkey to explore Christian origins and the rich mix of cultures and religions in that ancient and fascinating land. I’m also planning to report to the congregation at some kind of informal event early in September, so we can catch up with each other after a summer apart!
While I am away, I will really be away from Holy Shepherd. I will pray for you often, but I will not be on church property, and I cannot be in contact with you during the sabbatical. This will make it possible for all of us to fully benefit from this time of rest and renewal. If I bump into you in the community, I will gladly greet you, but I will not be able to discuss life at Holy Shepherd. Between the staff and leaders of Holy Shepherd, you will be in good human hands. And, as always, you will be in the best hands of all—the loving, merciful, strong, and faithful hands of God. As you rest in those hands, I am confident you will grow in faith. When I return in the fall, I will be eager to learn of all that has happened; I will not even be surprised if I am a little bit disappointed by all I will have missed during the summer.
If you are interested in following my sabbatical journey and have Internet access, I encourage you to check in often at the Holy Shepherd website, www.holyshepherd.com. I’ll be posting and updating a blog (web-based journal) entitled “Rick’s Ruminations,” and there will be a link to it on our website. In fact, you’ll find this article there as well and, soon, a more detailed outline of my sabbatical plan. “Rick’s Ruminations” will include comments, reflections, discoveries, and photos from my sabbatical time. Please visit me there!
Once again, thank you for this treasured opportunity to rest, reflect, renew, and recharge for the next chapter of our journey together. I look forward to the summer away, and I look forward to re-joining you in ministry in the fall!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Rick
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