The 2007-2008 church year is unique in one very significant way. Our minister, Elea Kemler, will be away on Sabbatical Leave from the middle of January, 2008, until the middle of May, 2008. This is the first time in recent history, and perhaps in the entire history of our church, that we have had the experience of sending our minister off for a Sabbatical Leave, a period of focused spiritual growth and exploration, and then welcoming her back to resume her ministry with us. The Sabbatical Committee has been planning for this momentous occasion for almost a year now, and we are excited about the opportunities and challenges that lie before us, as we all embark on the year of our first First Parish Sabbatical.
Click here for a calendar of events related to the Sabbatical year.
Our Sabbatical Minister is the Rev. Sue Phillips. Rev. Phillips will be joining the staff of First Parish from mid-January through mid-May on a part-time basis during the period of Elea's sabbatical. Rev. Phillips has recently completed a very successful four-year, full-time ministry at the Unitarian Universalist church in Keene, NH. This summer she moved back to her hometown of Westhampton to be closer to her family. The Keene church is a growing congregation like our own so Rev. Phillips has experience with the complexities and challenges of a burgeoning church community. Rev. Phillips will take part in Elea's last Sunday service before the sabbatical period begins on January 6, and will begin office hours the following week. She will be available to the church for 10 hours a week and will preach four Sundays during the sabbatical period. You can find more details on Rev. Phillips in our November newsletter.
FPCoG's Sabbatical Coach for the year is David Rynick. You met him if you attended the Personal Spiritual Practice of Welcoming workshop on Saturday Sep. 29 (PDF brochure) or the pre-sabbatical workshop on Nov. 11 (PDF brochure). Here are notes from the How Are We Doing? workshop David led on Feb. 29 9in the Members area of the site).
Sabbatical Reflection Readings: Click for the collection of Readings that we will be using for chalice lightings throughout the sabbatical.
Here are progress reports from what was originally called the Sabbatical Planning Committee:
Jan.08 | Dec.07 | Nov.07 | Oct.07 | Sep.07 | Jul.07 | May 07 | Apr.07 | Mar.07 | Feb.07 | Jan.07 | Dec.06
The Sabbatical Committee:
Becky Pine, Chair
Deborah Johnson
Melinda Green
Steve Lieman
Karen Goudey
Alice Van Ormer
Susan Randazzo
Diane Hewitt
Elea Kemler
