Sabbatical - May 20, 2024

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 1, 2, 3; PM: Psalm 4, 7; Prov. 3:11-20; 1 John 3:18-4:6; Matt. 11:1-6

John was separated from his friends and his disciples in today’s Gospel. He sent word from prison to share the profound work of Jesus Christ.  I find it timely that John is apart from the community that knows him best.

Today is the first day of my sabbatical. I wrote this last week in preparation for this day. I have turned my email off and have no plans to check my email until September 2. Over the next three months, I will travel with family, begin some coursework at Sewanee, the University of the South, and pray for renewal as we get ready for our next chapter at Saint Stephen’s together. 

I ask for your prayers as readers of our Daily Faith reflections. And I look forward to your meeting through her writing, the Rev. Sally Herring, who will begin writing the Monday reflection next week, and has joined our clergy staff as Associate Rector for Outreach and Pastoral Care. I look forward to sharing on the other side, and hopefully many new stories and images for our reflecting on the Daily Office together.

Faithfully,

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  What are ways you have been separated from your own community before?  How did it shape you as a person?