As we approach the Season of Light (Epiphany) I am being blessed with a great Epiphany gift from our Staff-Parish team. The gift is time for rest and renewal from my pastoral duties for a four-week period. Recent years have been lean, financially, and the thought of this wonderful group is that rather than a cost of living increase that an increase in time to rest is even better compensation after 8.5 years of service. I am further blessed by the willing and capable presence of Pastor Andy on our pastoral team so that taking this time will not burden the Church.
We have been crafting an appropriate time for this renewal to occur and after much prayer, we are agreed that my favorite liturgical season, Lent, is the best time for me to be away. So, Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2016 will be my last time in worship with you and I will return just before Palm Sunday in March.
This year has already proven a challenge and a gift as I have stepped away from my Sunday pastoral presence to serve our families in developing a stronger program for Sunday Children’s Ministries. With one-half of the program year behind us, I feel that my time away will not impact the forward motion of these efforts. I’ll be meeting with the Education Team in January to shore up coverage and to prepare for coming events.
I invite your prayers for me as the concept of rest is foreign and the look of one who is ‘renewed’ is hard to define. Know that these first weeks of the New Year will be sweet for me as we worship, fellowship, and serve together. These experiences will warm my heart while I am apart from you.
I am surely blessed to serve among you and to receive such a blessed gift.
Peace to each of you,
Pastor Kelly