Sabbatical 2024: Values that Make Our Heart Sing
Sabbath rest is a Biblical value that we cherish, gleaned from the stories of the world’s creation when God worked six days and rested the seventh. God later spoke to the Israelites, saying “Remember the Sabbath by keeping it holy.” Christian faith has built upon this principle and recognizes the sanctity of human rest that honors the Holy One and reinvigorates life. Our congregation believes the pastor should structure days off and periods of rest for spiritual growth and rejuvenation, and, by doing so, the pastor models the same for members of the congregation.
We are well-versed in providing our pastors a three-month sabbatical after five years of service. Now, we’re looking forward to Pastor Nathan’s first sabbatical! His five-year anniversary with us is September 1, 2023, and he will be on sabbatical leave through the seasons of Lent-Easter 2024 (February 12-May 13). Our church leadership has been anticipating and planning for Pastor Nathan’s sabbatical, and we are energized! This enthusiasm has flowed through the congregation with a recent article in The Spire from Lauri Warfield.
With Pastor Nathan, a team of lay leaders completed an application to Christian Theological Seminary for a Clergy Renewal Grant that the Lilly Endowment, Inc. funds. We created the below video as part of our application:
This website will have the latest information about the upcoming sabbatical. We will hear news about the grant by August 31, 2023. Until then, take a look at these plans for renewal that are brimming with promise and possibility: