T Minus 2 days and counting

Wow! This plan has been in the works for a while now.  

Initially, I considered taking a renewal leave in 2019 after completing my Doctorate of Ministry.  I was a busy time and there were terrible rumblings in our denomination as the pangs of a great divorce which would take nearly five years to come to fruition. In actual fact, it was a much longer time of contention and only now on the other side, can I honestly say, sometimes it is necessary to part company. Then the pandemic season resulted in an absolutely crazy season.  I had no idea where we would end up on the other side of the pandemic season.  Regardless, we made it through with new talents that probably never would have learned if not for that terrible time.  In these last two years, I conversed with our Staff Parish team and finally, after 2024 General Conference of the UMC and one-quarter of denomination deciding to go on their own way, I can finally feel like this is a good time to step away for a season.  We began this discussion in January 2023 when I shared that post General Conference 2024 would be the best time for this leave and in January 2024, we announce that I would be taking a leave from August to November. 

Since the announcement of my renewal leave, folks have been asking me about what I plan on occupying my time while I am away.  Jacki and I love to travel and so we will be on the move for much of the time of this renewal leave.  Our adult children all live out of this area and so they are on the list to visit.  The beginning of August we will visit our son, Wes, in Colorado and head up to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.  When we return our daughter Beth and boyfriend Bryan will visit and we shall celebrate Bryan's birthday.  At the end of August we are traveling with Jacki's folks as they join us for a trip to Iona, Scotland and then to England. Our European adventure will also involve an ten day trip to Portugal and Spain where we will walk on the Camino de Santiago along the Protugese Coastal walk.  While in England, we will celebrate our grandsons' birthdays (Harrison turns 6 and Everett will turn 1).  

While we are away, a Renewal Leave Team will oversee things at the church in my absence.  They have been meeting since January and discussing ideas of walking, journeying, dwelling and being on the move as the common themes that Jacki and I have lifted up.  We are calling our time apart "So(ul)journ!” It is obviously a play on the word “sojourn.” The word derives from the Latin prefix “sub” meaning “under” plus the word“diurnus” meaning “of the day.”  So a sojourn is a temporary stay or spending a length of time away. As people of the Christian Faith, the addition of the (ul) to sojourn, gives more flexibility to consider the physical and spiritual aspects to spending time away. So(ul)journ!

While away, a wonderful group of seasoned clergy will build upon this idea of “So(ul)journ!”.  They can do what they want to do.  I'm not running things behind the scene but the "So(ul)journ!" theme is a great one to build upon as they lead worship.  They can focus on a Physical So(ul)journ! such as Jacob wrestling with God upon the return of his sojourn away. They can focus on a Spiritual So(ul)journ! such as John of Patmos being taken up into a vision of the new heaven and new earth. A figurative use of the word sojourn could mean a slight pause in an action to reflect for a moment of time, such as one example I read, of a math teacher may stop midway through lessons on fractions for a brief sojourn into techniques for slicing pie.”  The “Renewal Leave Team” has shared some of their ideas as well and I am excited for the congregation.
  
While away, I shall not be in touch with how things are going at church.  That is the whole reason for the the time apart. I am wholly comfortable with the leadership and encourage them to move on and when we return we can share all of the exciting things that have taken place while we were apart from one another. And I have promised not to change things when I get back. How cool is that?

I shall be sharing my experiences through this blog.  It sort of is a diary of our activities. Folks are welcome to follow along if they desire. I can't promise to be on top of this, but I will try to share what it like to step away from the church and enjoy more time to rest and renew. 

Our first great adventure begins on August 1, I'll share more of that in the days ahead! 

Peace, 
M 












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