“There remains, then, a sabbath rest
for the people of God.”
Hebrews 4:9
Dear Caldwell,
Happy Fourth of July! Last Sunday, through Galatians 5, we reflected the fruit of the Spirit, including our freedoms – as Americans and the liberty we have in and through Christ. I pray this is a day for you and yours to find rest and reflect on the freedom we are given and the responsibilities that come with it to love our neighbors as ourselves.
We are headlong into summer. It’s hot as blazes. The frogs and bugs fill the night-time air with their music. Life slows down a little … and we find rest. From Genesis to Revelation, scripture honors the idea of sabbath rest, first as a specific commandment for a specific day and then as rule of life, a time for reflection and renewal.
In our life together at Caldwell, it’s that time for me. It is a rule for Presbyterian churches to grant their installed pastors a sabbatical, a word rooted in “sabbath,” every seven years. Caldwell extends that to me, for which I am so deeply grateful. I took part of my sabbatical in my eighth year (2015) and, beginning at the end of next week, I will take the remaining part.
From July 12 through September 18, I will be away from all aspects of my daily life with you. I will travel, some with family, and some on my own. I plan to write a lot, read, attend a conference, visit family and friends and rest, too. I take leave with absolute peace because of the strong leadership and pastoral care that remains.
As you know, Caldwell is a busy place. Our dreams are coming true and many staff and lay-leaders will continue to nurture those dreams in the weeks to come. Rev. Dr. Diane Mowrey, a professor at Queens University and our Parish Associate minister, will take on some of my duties leading and caring for the staff. Music Minister Anne Hunter Eidson, a pastor if there ever was one, will expand her hours to help with pastoral care, complementing the leadership of Gail Henderson-Belsito in that area of responsibility. You will see a mi of familiar faces in the pulpit, and some new ones as well.
While I am away, you will wrap up “Flip-Flop” Sundays in Belk Hall, move back into the refurbished sanctuary, host the city-wide Interfaith Pride Service (Aug. 11) and bear witness to God’s love at the festival, celebrate our Gambrell Social Justice Interns as they finish, begin a new school year and continue dreaming and working on all that God has put before us. Our church is in great hands – God’s and yours.
I thank each one of you for extending this “sabbath” to me and our family.
See you Sunday.
In Christ,
John