Dear Gentle People,
It’s hard to believe that my time with you is over. It has been a privilege to grow together in faith with each of you. People have graciously invited me into their homes and into their hearts. I have enjoyed our Sunday worship together as we picked over different topics allowing them to deepen our devotion to Jesus. It has been a gift to be part of your faith lives.
May I leave you with the reminder to honor the Fourth Commandment: “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.” Wayne Muller, in his book Sabbath, shows his readers there are many different ways to take Sabbath. He reminds us that Sabbath time is one where we step away from human worries and concerns for a short while and rest in God. We New Englanders have a very hard time just sitting for no reason, or walking for no other reason than to be outside, or lying on the couch reading a book for nothing more than for the pleasure of it. As the saying goes, “God made us human beings, not human doings.” Let us remember to revel in being so we can be better in our human doings.
Our time together has been rich and spiritually filling. I thank you all for that gift.
Pastor Holly
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Greetings from Forest Haven, my final sabbatical stop!
First off, my deepest thanks to you all for making this two-month sabbatical possible!
Second, my heartfelt appreciation, respect, and delight to Pastor Holly for her mavelous work with you as the sabbatical pastor!
It is with great expectations that I look forward to re-entry as your pastor come October 1st, and I am really excited to share together about OUR (yours and my) sabbatical experiences at the barbecue following worship on October 5.
This sabbatical time has been spirit-led and spirit-blessed, and I hope it has for you as well. I am indeed refreshed and renewed, not to mentioned inspired and motivated from all the reading and reflecting/praying I have done. After learning that Holly would be leading a class around the book Sabbath by Wayne Muller, I obtained a copy to read along with you! It has been a great blessing to the sabbatical and brought needed corrective focus to my life. In case you were unable to attend the class, I urge you in all sincerity to get a copy and read through it: you will find great refreshment for you soul and wisdom for your life in its pages.
Probably the most impactful week of sabbatical was that spent at Star Island. Spending every morning for seven days in silence from 6:45 AM until Noon, experiencing four 25-minute sitting meditation sessions only interspersed with three 25-minute walking meditation sessions. I definitely began that time way out of my comfort zone! However, by the end of the week, I found wonderful delight, inspiration, transformation, connection with God, and peace. That week led me to review a book assigned in a class on prayer in seminary. That in turn has led me to a sermon series for the weeks from Oct. 12 to Nov. 23 entitled, “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” which will lead us all into a closer relationship with our God, Lord, and Spirit as well as exploring a number of “walks” or “kinds” of prayer. I look forward to sharing this with you!
See YOU in church very soon!
Rev. Jim