Dear Friends,
I hope you're enjoying this summer and that you're getting time for rest and relaxation. To my great surprise, it turns out that I'm going to be doing just that! Every six to eight years, pastors are supposed to take what is called renewal leave. I was ordained in 1992, 17 years ago, and I've never taken this leave. When I had my yearly supervision meeting with Rev. Gary Shaw, our District Superintendent, he said, "Nancy, it's time. This year you have to take your renewal leave." It's true that I've been tired and stressed with my mother's illness and with my foot surgeries and carpal tunnel surgery. I need time to rest and recharge my batteries, so I can come back with new energy and hopefully new ideas and enthusiasm! So I've arranged the time off with our Staff Parish Relations Committee and the Church Council. I will be taking my vacation on Martha's Vineyard beginning after worship on Sunday, August 16th for three weeks. Then I'll be staying on the Vineyard for an additional six weeks, returning on Sunday, October 18th, for a total of nine weeks.
The first three weeks will be pure vacation with my husband Eric and all of our children, also. Then they'll be leaving while I stay on. I'll spend this time with a routine of spiritual discipline, and reading a number of books on reaching out to people of the 21st century, new ideas in worship, and church growth. I'm also trying to arrange to go to a conference about these subjects that will be led by United Methodist pastor Rev. Adam Hamilton of the Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City, Kansas. Rev. Hamilton was the keynote speaker of our Annual Conference this year, and was very inspiring, presenting lots of exciting yet practical ideas about 'doing church' in the 21st century. While not everything that works in Kansas will fly in New England, I think a lot will. My hope is that by taking this time to rest and study and pray, I can come back to lead our church with new energy and excitement.
While I'm gone, Philip Viall, our District Lay Leader and Certified Lay Speaker will be preaching. Phil is a member of the Barrington United Methodist Church and teaches at the University of Massachusetts. Pastoral emergency coverage will be provided by nearby United Methodist clergy colleagues. My sister and her husband, Peggy and Richard Mankinen, will be coming to look after my mother for part of the time I'm gone, staying in the parsonage.
I will be working with the Ministry Team to carefully arrange and plan the start of the church year in September before I go. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to talk to me or to members of the Staff Parish Relations Committee.
Yours in Christ's,
Rev. Nancy