Hello Gloria Dei,
One of the gifts Gloria Dei provides for its pastors and staff is the gift of Sabbatical. Every five to seven years, your pastors qualify, with approval from the Church Council, for a sabbatical. Sabbatical is a time of rest, renewal, reading, learning, worship, prayer, and a time to recharge.
Over my 35 years as a pastor, I have taken only one sabbatical. It happened eight years ago. It is on me that I haven’t used this gift more often, as I know it is good for pastor and congregation.
I will be taking a two-month sabbatical during the upcoming months of July and August. You won’t see me at worship or in the office, but Lorrie and I will be blessed to worship together at other Christian congregations during these months. I will also spend time on strategic planning for Gloria Dei and its ministry to be put into action over the next few years.
In addition, our daughter is getting married in late August in California, near where her fiancé grew up. It will be good to have time together with family around the wedding celebration. Lorrie and I are also planning a trip to Denver where our son and his wife have recently relocated. It will be good to see their new digs.
Thank you for the gift of sabbatical. The role of Senior Pastor at Gloria Dei is fulfilling and joyful, yet also quite time consuming and demanding. This time of renewal is welcomed and appreciated. Thank you!
For this weekend in worship, please read Galatians 3:23-29.
See you in worship,
Pastor Tim
