It’s Good to Be Back

I returned last month from an 8-week sabbatical, my third sabbatical in 13+ years at Trinity.
Two things surprised me:

1. The staff had completely redecorated my office with silly pictures, silly furnishings, and a shrine to the St. Louis Cardinals (a silly baseball team).
Go Cubs!

2. I was eager to come back. In the past, I have found sabbaticals hard to leave. Not because I don’t love my call or the people at Trinity. (I really do.) But these weeks are such a gift. I haven’t wanted them to end.

This sabbatical was another remarkable gift. With two teenage daughters, I soaked up the time we had together as a family – a trip to the Black Hills, another to Chicago and Washington D.C., and the time we spent with my extended family celebrating my parents’ birthdays. I loved the chance to dive deeper into the intersection of faith and civic life, to read and take time planning the class I am teaching on Wednesday nights this month. 
By the end of my time, though, I was itching to come back. I missed our community. I missed our staff and leadership. I benefited greatly from the time to disengage and renew. But I am
excited by what lies ahead!

What lies ahead?  We continue to explore opportunities for partnership with other congregations in our region. Our congregation is blessed with a vibrant ministry and a heart for others. As churches everywhere continue to change, we want to be open to new ways of being church together.

Our Fall Generosity Series kicks off on Sept. 30-Oct. 1. Worship this year will
center around a series of panel discussions featuring different Trinity members. Check out the blurb on the “Called” series for more info. You won’t want to miss it!

And we continue to discern through our own transitions. We are still seeking our next Pastor of Spiritual Care. We get to celebrate the ordination of Matthew Rossler at Trinity on Oct. 14! And we must say goodbye to Dr. Matt Gender as he begins a new call.

It’s good to be back! A huge thanks to our staff team and leadership for their great work over the summer. And if you are interested in hearing more about my time away, reach out. I’d love to chat or send you a copy of my full Council report. Thank you, Trinity, for providing your rostered leaders with regular sabbaticals!

Gratefully,