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Sabbatical 2014
Frequently Asked Questions
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This booklet has been prepared by the Sabbatical Planning Committee for the members of Tabernacle to share information about our pastor’s sabbatical experience for the summer of 2014 and the corresponding time of congregational renewal. Sabbatical Planning Committee Tracy Hartman Art Wright Megan Strollo Bill Welstead Marty Watkin Molly Huffstetler
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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 in order to rest, disengage, study, reQlect, play, and travel in order 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 searching, retirement planning, or terminal leave.) Sabbatical is more than a vacation from meetings, budgets, sermons, and people in need. It is a time for Sterling to receive spiritual nourishment and a change in perspective, to deepen his relationship with God and his family. It is a season of both rest and growth. The sabbatical time will also be a season of growth and rest for the entire congregation.
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Do other clergy go on sabbatical? Yes A growing number of congregations are realizing the lasting beneQits of providing their clergy with sabbatical leave. Ministers return refreshed and revitalized and the church often moves into new phases of ministry following a sabbatical leave. Many churches now have regular sabbatical times written into their covenants/job descriptions with their ministers.
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How long will Sterling be gone? Sterling will leave after worship on Sunday June 1, 2014 and return to work the Qirst week of September. The Severns’ Qirst Sunday back in worship will be September 7th.
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What will Sterling be doing on his sabbatical? Sterling has planned a balanced combination of travel and rest for his sabbatical. Utilizing our sabbatical theme of “coming home,” Sterling will: A. Come home to the roots of our faith with a trip to the Holy Land (This experience will enrich his preaching and teaching when he returns.) B. Come home to his family with two vacation trips. C. Come home to the land of our Burmese rooted families with a trip to Burma.(This trip will enrich Sterling’s understanding of the history
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and culture of our ethnic groups from Burma and and better equip him to lead upon his return. D. Come home to rest. Travel will be interspersed with down time at home to read, rest, and observe Sabbath.
Who will cover Sterling’s responsibilities while he is away? The church voted to invite Dan Schumacher to cover most of the Sunday morning preaching opportunities and Senior Pastor duties while Sterling is gone. We have hired Kristen Koger to be our summer Pastoral Intern and Judy Fiske will continue to serve faithfully. The support staff will continue to function in their roles, assisted by the deacons and other volunteers.
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Who should I call to plan a special service? The church ofQice will be open during its usual hours. Betty and the church staff are available to help you arrange for weddings, funerals, and other special services over the summer.
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Who do I call if I have a family or personal crisis? As always, we will have a pastor on call throughout the week. This person’s name and contact information is listed in the bulletin every Sunday.
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Who will pay for the sabbatical? Tabernacle received a very generous grant from the Lilly Endowment that is fully funding Sterling’s sabbatical program as well as additional staff coverage and sabbatical activities for the church. TBC will continue to pay Sterling’s salary while he is away.
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What if a question/concern arises while Sterling is away? Church staff members will be available to answer questions, just as they always are. They will consult the deacons for advice and discernment if a matter of particular concern arises.
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What will be happening at church during the Sabbatical The sabbatical season is designed to be a time of renewal for Sterling and for the church. A portion of the grant has been designated for various congregational activities. In keeping with the sabbatical theme, the congregation will:
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Come Home for three church-‐wide Fellowship Opportunities: June 8th Church-‐wide picnic – good food and fun activities for all ages th July 9 Ice Cream social plus age-‐speciQic book discussions (children, youth, adult) Aug. 20th Movie night – The Wizard of Oz: popcorn plus conversation about “coming home” Come Home for three Creative Arts Opportunities: after worship on June 15th after worship on July 13th after worship on Aug. 3rd
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Join us as local artist and minister Suzanne Stovall Vinson leads us in creating unique and versatile themed stoles and banners for worship. We will also make some new Chrismon ornaments for our Christmas tree. Get to know new and longtime church members during these inter-‐generational creative arts sessions
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Come Home by attending some home team sports events: Baseball with The Richmond Flying Squirrels Soccer with the Richmond Kickers.
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Come Home by reconnecting with family members that we have commissioned through the years. Small groups of church members will arrange homecoming trips, traveling to reconnect with and worship alongside those we have commissioned over the years.
Judy Fiske will coordinate an outing in New York with Bryon Lepere, Eric Hasha, and Amanda Hambrick-‐Ashcraft.
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Dan Schumacher will coordinate a reunion in Charlotte, NC, with Jason and Joanie Williams and Molly Huffstetler.
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Megan Strollo will coordinate a reunion with Rene Kenley Purtlebaugh and Susan Reed in Louisville, Ky.
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Jessica Corbitt will coordinate a reunion with Greg and Melanie Harrell in Blacksburg, Va.
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A group us us will enjoy a reunion with some of our former members living in the Richmond Metropolitan area.
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Lastly, a group will also travel to Camp Alkulana to offer support to Beth, Art, and Anna.
Will Sterling be in contact with TBC during the sabbatical? An important part of sabbatical is to make a complete break from things. The only people who will be in direct contact with Sterling while he is away will be his family. In the unlikely event that some extraordinary news must be communicated to Sterling, Dan Schumacher will notify Laura and/or Sterling.
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Will Sterling’s family go with him? Sterling will travel with his best friend from college and seminary to the Holy Land and by himself to Burma. His family will enjoy the remainder of the sabbatical time with him.
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How will we send Sterling off? On May 31, CBF leader, Bo Prosser, will lead a brief dinner meeting for our clergy and lay leaders, facilitating the conversation of entrusting congregational leadership and spiritual guidance into the hands of other staff and deacons.
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On June 1, we will have a congregational Send-‐Off. In worship, Bo Prosser will preach. We will creatively interpret the sabbatical theme and set the tone for the season ahead. The congregation will send the Severns family into the sabbatical with bread for the journey.
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How will we get “reacquainted” when the Severns return? On Saturday, September 6, Bo Prosser from CBF will lead a re-‐entry Retreat for deacons, lay leaders, and the pastoral staff.
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September 7, Bo Prosser will lead all of the adults during the Sunday School hour and preach in worship. The Severns will enter the sanctuary with bread and Sterling will lead communion as we break bread together around the family table and celebrate coming home for the very Qirst time.
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How can I help make the sabbatical successful for the Severns family and for the church? First, pray. Pray for a signiQicant time of rest and renewal for each member of the Severns family. Pray for each member of the church staff that will lead us while Sterling is away. Pray for the deacons and other volunteers who will plan and lead sabbatical activities. Pray that this season is one of renewal for each member of the congregation and our church as a whole.
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Second, participate. Join in the fellowship and worship opportunities that are offered this summer. Volunteer to help support the staff and the deacons lead key events.
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Finally, seek to be present in the moment and enjoy this unique opportunity in the life of our church.
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Sabbatical Schedule May 28: Sterling’s last day in ofQice May 30: June 1 -‐ DNOW Youth Retreat May 31: Dinner meeting for our clergy and lay leaders, 6-‐8 p.m. June 1: Severns family’s last Sunday with us June 2-‐16: Pray for Sterling as he travels to Israel
June 7: Camp Alkulana work day and reunion June 8: Pentecost Sunday/Graduate Recognition Sunday/ Church-‐wide Picnic at Mechanicsville Baptist June 14: Richmond Kickers game June 15: Suzanne Vinson here to facilitate stole, banner, and Chrismon ornament projects. June 21: School’s out for the Summer Beach Day for the youth, pray for the Severns Family as they travel together to Florida and the Caribbean through July 7. June 29: Flying Squirrels game July 4: Fireworks at Dogwood Dell July 9: Ice Cream Social & Book Discussion/ UniDiversity Youth Camp info mtg. (6:30-‐8:30 PM) July 13: Suzanne Vinson here to facilitate stole, banner, and Chrismon ornament projects/UniDiversity info mtg July 14-‐18: Music and Arts Camp (children) July 15-‐31 Pray for Sterling as he travels to Burma July 19: Richmond Kickers game July 21-‐26: UniDiversity Youth Camp July 23-‐27: Vinton Baptist Church Mission Team at TBC July 27-‐Aug. 2: TBC Team to lead Metro Baptist Clue Camp (NY, NY) Aug. 2-‐19: Pray for the Severns Family as they travel to Hawaii Aug. 3: Suzanne Vinson here to facilitate stole, banner, and Chrismon ornament projects. Aug. 9: Flying Squirrels game (Qireworks) Aug. 10: Vacation Bible School Prep Day Aug. 11-‐15: Vacation Bible School Aug. 16: Tentative trip to Turner Smith’s house (Senior High) Aug. 20: The Wizard of Oz Movie Night and Discussion Sept. 2: Sterling’s Qirst day back in the church ofQice Sept. 6: Local re-‐entry Retreat (Deacons, lay leaders, and Pastoral Staff), 10 a.m -‐ 3 p.m. Sept. 7: Sterling’s Qirst Sunday back. Reunion dialogue during Sunday School and special communion during worship.