Sabbatical Minister’s Letter 8/1/2025
“Keeping the Lights On”
This month I get to join you for sabbatical ministry as your halftime sabbatical minister. I’ve been instructed to do my best to “keep the lights on” while Rev. Jason is away. Knowing that his position was full-time, I won’t be able to be and do all the things that a full-time parish minister is and does. But I will do my best to serve you and Rev. Jason‘s ministry in his absence. I’m looking forward to working with fantastic lay leaders and staff in our short time together.
From having had the opportunity to serve as a sabbatical minister before, I do have some pointers to share. Take what you like and leave the rest.
Having your full-time parish minister on sabbatical can give you an opportunity to notice all the resources that you have in your ministries, that a church is more than its minister.
In a congregation, sabbatical time is an opportunity to hold each other with tenderness because things will be different. Usual routines may have more hiccups. Lay leaders have a couple more things on their plates. Now, more than ever, is a time to pay attention to being in right relationship with one another and cultivating a culture of appreciation.
That culture of appreciation can also extend to your parish minister who is on sabbatical. Notice what you miss about them and be sure to share your appreciation of all those little details when they return.
Lastly, unless asked to before the sabbatical minister leaves, don’t make any huge changes. Holding steady is enough for now, and the Spirit of Love moves in and through the congregation during times of finding steadiness as well!
So let’s keep the lights on together so that 2U will shine brightly as a beacon of liberal religion in Lakeview.
Bright blessings,
