Universities and some corporations get the idea of a sabbatical from scripture, mostly Deuteronomy, as well as Genesis, where God rests on the seventh day of creation. Most UCC churches provide a sabbatical for their staff: some every five years and some every seven. These range from one to six months, depending on the parish and the position.
NHCC provides a pastoral sabbatical of two months plus two weeks every five years. In 2020 and 2021, due to the effect of Covid on our parish, we delayed part of the break, at the suggestion of Ken Baily. Now this January of 2025 Ken will take one month of leave, and because we value the office of Christian Education, Wendy Donnell will take one month of leave in August. Her sabbatical was also delayed, by mutual agreement.
NHCC keeps a fund for interim leadership, and we have a small endowment for our CE study-time expenses. (The pastor’s expenses are in our regular budget.) Our Deacons guide our worship and spiritual life, and after examining several ideas have chosen the Rev. Susan Cartmell to be worship leader and “on-call” during January. Susan is a talented, experienced pastor, known well in Greater Boston, and already she has plans for Epiphany and the following week, by tradition The Baptism of Jesus. She will lead at least one after-hour Adult Education program, and she can explore others with our Deacons.
With household responsibilities in his family life (two young-adult children and a spouse) Ken will not be going far, except for a tour of churches in Barcelona, Spain, as well as archeological sites (two cities founded by Caesar Augustus) late in the month. He will be back for Communion Sunday at the start of February. More about Wendy’s break as we approach the summer.
In scripture the sabbath is to provide rest, and honor the creator. Even fields are given a year off, and sometimes debts are reversed. In our day rest, prayer, honor, and restoration remain good ideas, so we are fortunate at NHCC to support our community life in this way.