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“Remember the Sabbath and Keep it Holy” (Exodus 20:8)
God gave this commandment to us out of a two fold purpose. The first purpose the Sabbath fulfills is reinforcing the first commandment, having no other gods but the one true God. Stopping once a week to remember our maker and redeemer is a systematic way of making sure God’s place in our life doesn’t get replaced by some other competing or lesser gods like: money, career, family, athletics, academics, entertainment and the list goes on. We have a tendency to allow these good gifts from God (finances, family, athletics, academics, entertainment) to sneak into first place in our life. It doesn’t take long for these “lesser gods” to suddenly be given our greatest efforts and our most focused attention. When this happens our lives get “off center” and we wonder why our lives feel less fulfilling and more hollow despite our greatest efforts and lavish attention. This discontent occurs because we’re off center, nothing can fill the center of our needs and the center of our lives… other than God.
This brings me to the second purpose of the Sabbath. God gives this commandment as a way to bless humanity. In God’s infinite wisdom we were designed in a systematic way to have a beautiful harmonious rhythm of work and rest. For centuries agricultural societies learned the importance of systematically allowing fields to lay fallow so that their production continued to be hearty and long lasting. It was easier for these cultures to see the wisdom of God’s words regarding the Sabbath. They saw visually and tangibly the law of diminishing returns of constantly trying to produce without taking a “rest,” and realized this held true in their lives as well.
Less than 10% of our population today gains its living from agricultural means. It seems that 90% of the United States has become “untethered” from the healthy natural rhythms God built into our bodily systems of work and rest. While our medical experts continue to counsel us on the absolute necessity of good systematic rest for a healthy life, Americans continue to believe the lie that “burning the candle at both ends” is an excellent way to get ahead. This lack of remembering and honoring the Sabbath is a big contributing factor to why we hear so much about people burning out and see so many people’s bodies “giving out” way too early in life.
Thanks to the generosity of Faith’s members and Faith’s council I will be taking a “Sabbath rest.” From June 4th through August 27th I will be on “Sabbatical;” a term used for time away from work to renew and recharge body, mind, and spirit. A little known fact among church goers is 1,500 clergy leave the ministry each month, in large part due to the “burn out” that occurs spiritually and medically from the ministry’s demands. Many denominations have been trying to address this problem amongst its clergy by requiring their congregations to provide sabbaticals for their pastors once every 4 to 7 years. I’ve been in the ministry for 23 years and this will be my first sabbatical.
Thanks to the help of Ric Miles in facilitating members support for this Sabbatical, my wife and I will have the chance in June to tour Germany; see its many castles, tour its great cites, and, most importantly, take in the many sites of Martin Luther’s life and times. In July I will be flitting from family reunions on the East coast, to quite times in Telluride, to checking in on our boys here in good ole Castle Rock. August will be an active month of balancing the needs of “back to school” for the boys and Debbie, along with a 75th birthday party/55th wedding anniversary party for my mom and dad taking place in the Smoky Mtns. Thanks again to Ric for arranging a “cabin in the woods” for that occasion.
It is my intention despite all the travel plans to use this sabbatical time as a time of resting and renewing. I hope to renew my body, mind, and spirit so that when I return I might have the “fire of spirit” I had as a newly ordained seminary student just a scant 23 years ago! Good Lord willing I’ll fulfill a daily commitment to the renewing disciplines of devotions, in depth reading, guitar playing, and exercise.
By now you may be asking yourself but what happens to us “working stiffs” at Faith not on sabbatical? Will we survive Pastor Mike’s absence? I’ve had those questions myself. I’m aware that our congregation has struggled when I’ve been away more than a week at a time. But we are no longer a single pastor congregation, Faith has a very capable, caring, and Christ centered Assistant Pastor, Pastor Ebassa. Pastor Ebassa will be handling the pastoral care needs of the congregation while I’m away. Faith also has a capable and dedicated church council that I trust to provide leadership while I’m away. The final key ingredient in answering the question ”Will Faith survive a summer without Pastor Mike?” is the unknown of whether you the members of Faith will “Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy.”
Without your faithful attendance on summer Sunday mornings I can see our worship dwindling, our community’s spirit diminishing and God’s blessings being negated. Without our members consistent financial support over the summer I can see bills not being paid, staff being overextended and leadership being frustrated. These are not the things I want to happen to our congregation as a result of my sabbatical. If they do occur I’m sure all the renewed spirit, reinvigorated outlook, and regained strength for service I obtained while on sabbatical will be quickly drained away by returning to a tumbling house of cards.
In talking with members supportive of my sabbatical we dream of a different result for Faith as a consequence of my sabbatical. We dream of a community where our member’s dedication to “remembering the Sabbath and keeping it holy” results in “many hands making light work.” We envision new faces finding new ways of contributing to the cause whether that’s taking leadership in, or simply engaging in, the many ministry opportunities that are happening at Faith this summer: VBS, Summer Camp, Intergenerational Sunday School, Family Camp Weekend, and the list goes on. We believe that my absence of leadership will actually allow for the congregation to grow in leadership. For example many of the “non- senior pastor jobs” that FLC’s senior pastor ends up doing- such as the recruiting and managing of Sunday Servants, or keeping the sanctuary worship seating presentable and useable- might find joyful volunteers who revel in the knowledge that their small but consistent contribution makes a large positive difference for God’s church. We envision a congregation so proud of being able to nurture its lead pastor with a sabbatical that its generosity overflows in its summer offering plates and its support of its staff not yet on sabbatical.
This Sabbatical is a blessing of a life time for me. I am so thankful to have such a generous congregation, such caring members, such a trustworthy staff and considerate council that will allow me this opportunity to grow in Christ. I pray that this time away will be not only a blessing of spiritual growth and renewal for me but for our congregation as well.
In Christ,
Pastor Mike
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