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| Renewal and Transition"Our help is in the name of the lord, who made heaven and earth." - Psalm 124:8 Many of you have remarked that this year's sabbatical experiences seem to have given me new energy and enthusiasm. Several of you have mentioned the word "creativity" in expressing your observations. I have been very glad to receive this feedback, and I agree with you! The sabbatical seems to have accomplished exactly what it was designed to do, and it feels good to be engaged in the work of ministry again and having people notice the positive differences. Rest and renewal is a wonderful thing! My goal in the coming months is to be able to share some of my sabbatical experiences and discoveries with you. Thus, this year's stewardship emphases will be built around a resource I first encountered because of the sabbatical. I have Aimee at work on scheduling a church visioning/planning retreat day at a location I found to be peaceful, spiritual, and enriching. I hope to offer other members of the church staff at least one opportunity to connect with their source of energy and creativity. And, of course, my reading is finding its way into my Sunday morning messages. The onset of fall brings with it both a flurry of activity and the opportunity to think about priorities and dreams. Schools are in full swing. Campaigners are vying for our attention. Businesses may be facing new challenges. Personal lives may be under stress or in transition. And the holidays are coming! At church, we will be reflecting on leadership potential, the relationship between faith and finances, and our direction for ministry. Testing the equilibrium I gained on sabbatical, I will be tending (alongside members of the congregation) to a number of annually required reports and forms. In the midst of daily pressures, I pray we can all find ways to stay in touch with God, the source of goodness, peace, and love. Each of us have our own "best" method for renewal: a daily walk, 20 minutes of devotional reading, the habit of writing or drawing in a journal, certain music we listen to in the car, a cup of tea and a soft chair when we first arrive at home, puttering in the garden, reaching out with a phone call to a friend, a dip in the ocean, a period of meditation or prayer, an exercise or athletic discipline that keeps us centered and focused. God is available to us in so many ways, if only we can keep our hearts and ears and eyes open to receiving! Life is precious, so let's help each other to savor the golden days of autumn. With you in Christ's service, Pastor April Recommended Reading: The Language of God by Dr. Francis Collins, director of the Human Genome Project. |
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