Hello Gloria Dei, Pastor Amy here. I’m writing the Friday Following this week to share some exciting plans I am working on for 2027. Next year I will be taking a pastoral sabbatical. 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, growth, worship, prayer, and a time to recharge. While on sabbatical, my responsibilities will be covered by Gloria Dei staff and lay leaders.
To allow for some unique travel and educational experiences, I’ve been working with a team of Gloria Dei members to apply for a Lilly Endowment National Clergy Renewal Grant. The grant application has the team reflect on what will “make the pastor’s heart sing” during their sabbatical time. We have had a wonderful time reflecting on and dreaming about this question.
After reflection I realized that the key to rest and renewal for me has always been water. Water is where I feel most at home and where my soul feels most at rest. I deeply resonate with verses two and three from Psalm 23: “He leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul”. Whether it is swimming or boating or long walks on the shore, water makes my heart sing. So, we are putting together a sabbatical time that allows for travel, education, family time, and rest around water. Whether or not we receive the grant, the plan for my sabbath time will be to seek renewal around water.
The goal of the Lilly grant is not just for the pastor to find renewal, but for the sabbatical time to be a time of renewal for the entire congregation. As I mentioned, the sabbatical team has loved reflecting on the question “what will make your heart sing?” The team and I are delighted to invite the entire congregation of Gloria Dei to reflect on this question as well.
The rhythm of modern life often seems out of touch with the rhythm of a faithful life, and we all need time apart to refresh our faith and find joy. Please take some time and reflect on the practices and places that make your heart sing. Then take a moment and fill out this form to share what makes your heart sing. Your responses will not only allow you to find a little more joy, but it will also allow the sabbatical team to plan renewal events for our sabbath time together next year.
Members of the sabbatical team will be sharing more about the sabbatical process this weekend and on Wednesday in worship, and there will be another chance to share what makes your heart sing at the kiosk in the Gathering Area.
Gloria Dei, I am excited for us to plan for this sabbath time together and to seek out more joy and renewal in our lives. Please plan to read John 4:1-30 to prepare for worship this weekend.
In Christ,
Pastor Amy
