Sabbatical & Renewal Plans – Upcoming Q&A Sessions
The Renewal Team has had much fruitful conversation imagining and planning for the time Kristin+ will be away on sabbatical for 12 weeks in 2021. We’ve covered things large and small – from thinking about what clergy coverage will look like, to details about the timeline, to activities for the parish. We are on track to submit an application to the Lilly Endowment National Clergy Renewal Program in the next month.
The emerging theme of our hope for this time has been the desire to strengthen family bonds – both for Kristin+ and her family, and for our St. James’ family. Playing on the name of our family ministry group, we see this upcoming time as a “Time-Out Together” where Kristin’s+ family has time to play and worship together, and where our parish family finds renewal in some special events.
Kristin+ identified that this time away from the persistent demands of parish ministry would allow her to focus on just being a Mom. She, Zachary, and Jasper talked about what they could do together and landed on the idea of taking a pilgrimage. They first explored the idea of going to the Holy Land, but the Holy Spirit eventually led them to decide on walking the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) in Spain. As many of you know, our previous Rector Portia+ has walked the Camino three times. She has been a wonderful resource and inspiration for Kristin’s+ planning, along with other friends of hers who have also made this pilgrimage. That trip will only be a part of her planned time away. The balance will include extended visits with family and a personal retreat, as well as down time at home.
We are anticipating that Kristin’s+ sabbatical will be next summer/fall (2021). In planning for activities to offer renewal and “time-out together” for the parish, we are looking to bring back the “Luck of the Pot” potluck gatherings. One of the things clearly identified when we collected data about our community using the Sources of Transformation model from the College for Congregational Development, is that we value gathering together to share meals. When we do this, our sense of community transformed and enlarged. And so to facilitate the strengthening of parish family bonds, we will have several potlucks to provide opportunities for fellowship and deepening relationships.
Planning for this time in our common life is exciting and we trust in God’s guidance and presence in our midst. We would love to hear your thoughts and questions as well, and so everyone is invited to Q&A sessions after both services on Sunday, March 8 – or catch any one of us at coffee hour or drop us a line. Please keep this work of our congregation in your prayers.
The Renewal Team
Kristin+, Lynda Ellis, Joan Fader, Jeannie Pellicier, Jane Barger, Blix Winston