For me, a short sabbatical from my pastorate at Goodwill has begun. It lasts until Ash Wednesday, February 25, 2009. I’ve never taken one, so I’m very interested to see what this will be like. A sabbatical, as you may know, is not merely a vacation or time off. It is a time for refocusing. It is a regular, required feature in the lives of pastors who stay in one congregation for their career. On our website and via brochures that the Goodwill staff will make available, you can read the EPC description and prescription for sabbaticals. The best way to describe it is as a time when the urgent is forced to take a back seat to the important. Usually in life, the urgent wins the day. This may be especially so in pastors’ lives. I’ll take a few weeks for vacation, resting, and family time and then be at it. Reading, writing, study, and – as you’ll soon hear more about – set aside times for intensive prayer, will, for about nine weeks, get all the time they deserve. The vision of the Elders in directing me to take this mini-sabbatical is that I be spiritually strengthened, freshly resourced as a leader, and at my creative best heading into the opening of our new building. There’s a funny balance to it. On one hand, it’s time to rest. On the other hand, it’s time to dig and discover. Pray for me as I’ll be praying for you. Thank you for your devotion and love. May God richly bless you and your family in 2009!
Pastor John Torres
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