Hello Gloria Dei,
Pastor Amy here again. A few weeks ago, I shared a little bit about the sabbatical I’m planning for the summer of 2027 and asked the congregation to join me as I reflected on the question: what makes my heart sing? It was a joy to read the answers – from a spouse’s smile, to watching the loons on the lake, to the perfect slice of rhubarb pie – there is so much in this world that causes us to rejoice!
Time on the water makes my heart sing. Every year my family and I spend a week at my family’s lake cabin. Last summer my son and I went kayaking early every morning. As I watched the sun sparkle on the lake, I could feel the everyday concerns and worries I carried fall away. As those worries fell away, I could feel my heart swell with joy. Suddenly, I felt smaller. God felt bigger. I noticed all there was to delight in: the beauty of the water, the sound of my son’s laughter, and the calm of the quiet lake. Sometimes it takes time away from our usual routines to experience joy and delight in God’s presence.
I know many of you at Gloria Dei share my love of water. I also know we all need time away from our usual routines to experience joy and delight in God’s presence. So, I am again asking you to reflect with me in sabbatical planning. This time we are going to dig a little deeper and answer: What brings you joy and renewal when you are around water? Please consider your spiritual, emotional, and physical needs. Is it a fishing trip on the river? A long walk along the shore? Yoga on a paddle board? I am excited to hear more about the joy you find in water.
The answers to these questions will be complied into a booklet of ideas for sabbath rest. Knowing that we all need time for rest and renewal, this booklet will be shared with the congregation while I am on sabbatical next summer and will be a tool for the congregation to use to also experience joy and renewal during my sabbatical. I look forward to seeing all the ways water renews us. You can share your answers here or at the displays that will be in the Gathering Area this weekend.
Thank you for your input and your prayers as I plan for this time of sabbath rest. I hope to see you in church this weekend!
In Christ,
Pastor Amy
