Who is doing what?!? Sabbatical questions answered
Who do I call if there is a pastoral care need?
- Susan Seipp will organize care with the deacons committee
What if someone dies?
- Susan Seipp will help with church care and the funeral home will help find a minister
What if I see a problem with the building?
- Contact Nancy Jones or Tom Ruehle to connect with the Trustees
What if I want to help with worship?
- Contact the lay leader for that Sunday or the person/team leading worship - the schedule is on the back
What if I have an announcement for the bulletin?
- Email or phone Debbie in the church office or simply stand up and announce it on Sunday
What if I need to get on (or off) of the Prayer List?
- Email or phone Debbie in the church office
What if I really really really just need to talk to Pastor Heather?
- Heather will be back in October and she will meet with you then
Sabbatical Sunday Schedule
July Lay Leader – Henry Croes
July 3 – Stewardship Committee (Nancy Jones)
July 10 – Rev. Don Wilson
July 17 – All church Show and Tell (Amber Clifford Napoleone)
July 24 – Mission Committee (Cyndi Urbanski)
July 31 – Tara Napoleone - Clifford
August Lay Leader – Vanessa Figg
August 7 – Amber Clifford-Napoleone
August 14 – Rev. Melissa Bowers
August 21 – Mary McCord
August 28 – Doug Christie
September Lay Leader – Neal and Susan Seipp
September 4 – Neil Fowler
September 11 – Rev. Eric Garbison from Cherith Brook
September 18 – Susan Seipp
September 25 – Youth Sunday (Teresa Janvrin)
Pastor Heather’s Sabbatical
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sabbatical?
The word sabbatical has its roots in the biblical concept of Sabbath - “to rest” or “to cease”. Sabbath keeping is setting aside time that God consecrates and makes holy.
Sabbatical leave is a time for our pastor to shift gears to rest, disengage, study, reflect, and travel to return to minister among us refreshed and renewed in body, mind, and spirit. It is not a time for routine work, mid-career assessment, job search, or retirement planning.
Pastor Heather has served our congregation faithfully for ten years and in ordained ministry for 16. The Presbyterian Church recommends a sabbatical for every pastor after 7 years of service. Pastor Heather is long overdue for this rest. She will take a 3-month sabbatical starting July 1, 2022 and ending September 30, 2022
Sabbatical is more than a vacation from meetings, budgets, sermons, and people in need. It is a time for Pastor Heather to receive spiritual nourishment and a change in perspective, to deepen her relationship with God, herself, and her family – a season of spiritual growth. This special time is also a season of growth for the entire congregation.
Do other clergy go on sabbatical?
Yes, sabbatical leave is a necessary part of the spiritual and emotional well-being of the pastor to prevent burnout – the most common cause of pastors leaving congregations. Our Presbytery has remained committed to sabbatical time as part of the culture, planning, and budget of healthy churches. Several ministers in Heartland Presbytery are on sabbatical now.
What will Pastor Heather be doing on her sabbatical?
Pastor Heather will be exploring and strengthening her own spirituality and connections with God during this time. In July her family will take a 4-week road trip visiting national parks across our country. They will visit with the Jepsen family in California and the Ruehle family in Oregon. This will be a once in a lifetime adventure for the Jepsens. In August Heather will begin a time of quiet study and reflection. She will read, write, worship, garden, and quilt. She will have an alone trip to Bennet Springs to reconnect with God in nature. In September the reflection time will continue at home as well as a Lectio retreat at Conception Abby. In October Heather will return renewed, refreshed, and ready to lead again.
Who will cover Pastor Heather’s responsibilities during her absence?
Sundays are all planned out ahead of time for Heather’s absence. Many Sundays will be led by members of our own congregation. We will bring in some of our favorite preachers to lead on communion Sundays including Don Wilson, Melissa Bowers, and Eric Garbison (Cherith Brook). Deacons are ready to handle pastoral care. Should a funeral arise, the funeral home can help the church secure leadership as needed. Sunday school and Brown Bag will take care of leadership themselves.
Who will pay for the sabbatical?
Our congregation has the funds to cover pulpit supply and Pastor Heather received a grant from the Board of Pensions to help cover her expenses.
Will the church just be in a “holding pattern” while Pastor Heather is away?
No – God’s work doesn’t stop for a sabbatical! It is important to know that the sabbatical is a two-way process: while Pastor Heather is on her journey of renewal, we will embark on a journey as well. This is a wonderful time for the congregation to discover their connection to God apart from Heather as we explore new avenues of lay leadership.
Will Pastor Heather be in contact with the church during her sabbatical?
An important part of a sabbatical is to make a complete break from responsibilities here at church. We realize this will be challenging because of the strong relationships that have developed over the years. Pastor Heather will be happy to say “hi” if you see her around the ‘burg, and she will still be posting on Facebook, but she will not attend worship with us or be able to hang out for a visit until she returns in October.
So what does this mean for me? How can I help?
Engage in your spiritual health and growth! Come and worship, come and serve, come and learn. Finally, if you see anything that’s not getting done, ask how you can help or just step in and get it done!
How can I learn more about the sabbatical?
Ask Pastor Heather or any member of Session.