Late Summer, 2021
Dear Friends,
A comma. Our United Church of Christ has been using this powerful little piece of punctuation for many years. It originates in a note penned by Gracie Allen, who upon her death reminded her husband George Burns: “Never place a period where God has placed a comma.” It was to remind him – and now us – that there is more to come, that God is still at work in our lives, that God is active and moving among us, in us, through us.
A comma. In writing and in speech it can create space, give us pause, a moment's hesitation. It interrupts, sets apart, creates rhythm. It groups together thoughts and phrases. In singing, a comma offers us an opportunity to take a deep breath, to prepare ourselves to continue on. A comma also helps to stay us together, so that we can carry the tune forward.
A comma can also signal an interruption in our lives. It can be, oh...say, a global pandemic, or a change of employment, a new child or grandchild, the loss of a loved one, or the discovery of a new love. Good or ill, interruption can create an opening that allows us to enter a new place in life. It can be the opportunity to create something new, something more, to discover new possibilities.
I am preparing to take some sabbatical time next month. This was originally going to take place last year – two months – September and October 2020. That plan was foiled by Covid-19, and while we had hoped things would be “more like normal” this year (remember: we are not going back), I find myself needing this time time for rest, renewal, and reflection. I plan to hike, read, garden, finish a couple of projects around the house, maybe fish a little, and, yes, ride my motorcycle some! I plan to take this opportunity to re-focus and re-energize, so that I can re-engage the work of the church with renewed faith and courage and vigor. Sabbatical is a comma in the vocation of ministry: a pause, a breath, a space.
Sabbatical is also is a gift which I am well aware many vocations do not afford. With roots in the Hebrew word shabbat, sabbatical is not just a time of rest from work, but much, much more. It is an opportunity to explore and create and rejuvenate. But sabbatical is also a time for us, for you, as a church community, to renew and reflect, to nurture known gifts and discover new ones, to listen anew for God's call, to learn and grow and re-energize ourselves for ministry of welcome and worship and service.
While I am away, we will be blessed to have Rev. Maren Tirabassi leading worship and providing pastoral care. Knowing the church is in her exceptionally capable hands will help me rest much easier.
See you in October,
Brad
Dear Friends,
A comma. Our United Church of Christ has been using this powerful little piece of punctuation for many years. It originates in a note penned by Gracie Allen, who upon her death reminded her husband George Burns: “Never place a period where God has placed a comma.” It was to remind him – and now us – that there is more to come, that God is still at work in our lives, that God is active and moving among us, in us, through us.
A comma. In writing and in speech it can create space, give us pause, a moment's hesitation. It interrupts, sets apart, creates rhythm. It groups together thoughts and phrases. In singing, a comma offers us an opportunity to take a deep breath, to prepare ourselves to continue on. A comma also helps to stay us together, so that we can carry the tune forward.
A comma can also signal an interruption in our lives. It can be, oh...say, a global pandemic, or a change of employment, a new child or grandchild, the loss of a loved one, or the discovery of a new love. Good or ill, interruption can create an opening that allows us to enter a new place in life. It can be the opportunity to create something new, something more, to discover new possibilities.
I am preparing to take some sabbatical time next month. This was originally going to take place last year – two months – September and October 2020. That plan was foiled by Covid-19, and while we had hoped things would be “more like normal” this year (remember: we are not going back), I find myself needing this time time for rest, renewal, and reflection. I plan to hike, read, garden, finish a couple of projects around the house, maybe fish a little, and, yes, ride my motorcycle some! I plan to take this opportunity to re-focus and re-energize, so that I can re-engage the work of the church with renewed faith and courage and vigor. Sabbatical is a comma in the vocation of ministry: a pause, a breath, a space.
Sabbatical is also is a gift which I am well aware many vocations do not afford. With roots in the Hebrew word shabbat, sabbatical is not just a time of rest from work, but much, much more. It is an opportunity to explore and create and rejuvenate. But sabbatical is also a time for us, for you, as a church community, to renew and reflect, to nurture known gifts and discover new ones, to listen anew for God's call, to learn and grow and re-energize ourselves for ministry of welcome and worship and service.
While I am away, we will be blessed to have Rev. Maren Tirabassi leading worship and providing pastoral care. Knowing the church is in her exceptionally capable hands will help me rest much easier.
See you in October,
Brad