Sabbatical—A Shifting of Rhythms

 We’re sinking into summer and a change of seasons, although some days it feels like summer is already here. With summer comes a shift in the rhythm of life. I find that during the summer, we have really intense weeks of activities and then nothing at all. But such is church life, rhythms, and the falling away of rhythms. 

I’m preparing to take my first-ever sabbatical in the fall, which, I won’t lie, is a bit of a scary concept. Leaving you all for twelve weeks straight is going to be such a break in a rhythm that I know it’s going to throw me for a loop and take a while for me to catch my bearings. Same with when I come back from sabbatical. 

However, rest, and good long rest, is so much a part of the rhythm of life and ministry, and it’s necessary to restore my soul and connection with Christ so that I can better serve you. 

It’s also, in a sense, a way for you to have a break from me, to rest your souls, and for the rhythm of the congregation to shift for a short period of time before getting back to it. 

This time of sabbatical isn’t just a stop, where everything is on hold. And I won’t be sitting at home and doing nothing. I’ll be working on my personal relationship with Christ, continuing to deepen and strengthen it, and reconnecting in ways that are difficult when I’m always the one in charge. I’ll be attending other church services on Sundays, taking a few week-long retreats for silence and reflection, reading, reading, and reading. 

This is an intentional time that’s set aside to help me grow, which will in turn help us grow as a congregation. 

So, looking ahead, make sure to pay attention to some shifting temporary duties as we strive to keep everything going during my sabbatical time.