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In 2026, Leigh and St. David’s are in for an adventure called Sabbatical.

It is a holy time, a holy trek and allows for a holy homecoming.  In the coming months we will learn more about the what and why of sabbaticals.

What is a Sabbatical?

The biblical roots of Sabbath are foundational to the concept of sabbatical as a time of rest from the work of ministry. Sabbatical time is for learning through reflection, revitalization, and recreation.

It is a biblical and ancient practice.

It begins with God’s example in Genesis 2:2.  “On the sixth day God finished the work that had been done, and God rested on the seventh day from all the work that had been done.” God’s own actions shows that to “quit doing and simply be is divine.” (Eugene Peterson). The people and the land are commanded to rest regularly as well. “Six years you shall sow your field, …but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for the land, …”(Leviticus 25:3-4).

Then came Hebrew leaders like Moses, who spent tending sheep helped change his perspective on life so he could hear God’s call (see Exodus 2:11-7:7). 

The start of Jesus’ ministry was marked baptism and isolation in the wilderness. He kept up this practice of separation and reflection throughout his ministry and commanded his disciples to physically separate themselves from the busy demands of ministry regularly (see Mark 1:12 and 6:31 and Luke 5:16).

When Paul is struck down on the road to Damascus at the start of his journey of leading the church, he disappeared into the desert of Arabia for three years and emerged with a new vision (see Galatians 1: 15-18).

 

If any of this feels like a rude interruption of our routines and rituals, that is good.  That is one of the reason for Sabbath:  to challenge the assumption that our daily work makes the world go around (when really it is our gracious God).

 

Rev. Leigh’s and St. David’s sabbatical will begin on April 5, 2026 after our Easter Worship service and will return on June 1, 2026 and lead worship again starting June 7, 2026.  The source for much of this research/information is The Alban Institute’s Clergy Renewal Guide to Sabbatical Planning (2000 written by A. Richard Bullock and Richard J. Bruesehoff)