February 14, 2025
The Episcopal Church observes a practice of employees taking a sabbatical every seven years. Many of you have heard me discussing the idea in What If terms, but until now the timing hasn’t felt quite right. Now, in my 8th year as your priest (lucky me!!), the What Ifs are starting to take shape and at this year’s Vestry Retreat we had a For Real conversation about what a time of sabbatical could look like. I’ve decided to write for a grant that might fund some of the ideas floating around, and I want to loop you all in.
The idea of a sabbatical comes from Scripture, where God instituted a rhythm of work and rest. A day of rest each week is actually a commandment, a reminder that our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls need rest as much as anything else. Similarly, the concept of a sabbatical for a priest is time set aside to rest and refresh, both spiritually and physically.
The grant writing has required me to dream concretely about what I want from this possible time of refreshment. What keeps coming to me is an exchange between Jesus and the disciples that appears in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The disciples, trying to figure everything out, ask Jesus, “Who are you?” Jesus responds by saying, “Who do you say that I am?” A version of this question has been swirling in my head and heart for some time: Who does God say I am right now?
During seminary, there was time to ponder that question. As life unfolds, I joyfully spend time on many other aspects of who I am: a priest, a mother, a wife, a daughter, sister, friend, a person who wants to show up in and for our wider community. I focus a lot on who I am in relation to other people, but I wonder if I may be forgetting a bit of who God says I am, as just me. When I look back to the time I first remember feeling God knew me, I think of being a little girl, living in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Those are my earliest memories of church, and of connecting to the Divine. If I receive the grant funding, I imagine going back to Puerto Rico for at least part of the sabbatical time. Immersing myself in the culture that was formative for me. Worshipping at the church I attended as a little girl. Getting my Spanish back. Having time and space to ground myself again in who God says I am.
This grant also encourages the church to do some spiritual exploration during the sabbatical time, and my invitation for you is to ponder the same question: Who does God say you are, as individuals, and as a community. There are many ways to delve into the question. Maybe there are some who would like to go on a retreat together. The Episcopal House of Prayer and Camp Du Nord both offer time and space to connect with the Divine. Closer to home, maybe prayer walk gatherings, a speaker series, or some form of community artwork. A Parish Hall mural, anyone?! Perhaps re-build a labyrinth on our grounds. The grant provides funding for activities like this. Rebekah Dupont will be in the Parish Hall on Sunday with some more information and to capture some of your ideas for how Saint Anne’s might engage with the sabbatical time. I can hardly wait to hear your thoughts.
And I want to be clear: I absolutely love being in community with all of you. I am on fire for all that Saint Anne’s is and all we can be together. If I do take this sabbatical time, I will be back, with bells on. I am here, and all in, for as long as you’ll have me.