Before the sabbatical, I had questions about what it would be like to return. Would I be so perfectly rested that it would be hard to get back to a daily routine? Would I remember how to plan and lead worship? What would I miss while I was away? I was excited to see how this sabbatical time might invite you as a congregation to re-evaluate our mutual ministry.

As it happens, we planned a pretty action-packed sabbatical. The Lilly Endowment requires applicants to account for every day of the sabbatical, and boy, did we schedule that time! After a challenging summer intensive in New York, and a month traveling in Europe (15 stops in 30 days!), I was excited to return to normal, everyday life in our community.

However, after being away, I feel drawn to establish a new normal in my ministry. I noticed that before I left, most of my interactions with parishioners involved church business, which can take the place of conversations about the things that matter most in our lives. My primary role here is to be the pastor. As a wise old, pastor once told me, “You have to leave room for Murphy. Murphy’s Law.” Amidst the business of church and the busyness of life, it’s easy to lose sight of what we are here to do, which is, to be present to one another in good times and hard times. To listen and learn from one another as we seek to follow God’s call.