As I write this, my summer sabbatical begins later this week on June 1. For the next three months, from June 1 – August 31, I will be stepping out of my role as parish pastor and stepping into the role of learner, traveler, thinker, etc. My congregation has graciously allowed for this to happen, and I am incredibly grateful for this tremendous gift. Plans have been in the works for the better part of a year for this sabbatical, and it is now before me. A word of appreciation is in order to the many people who have worked behind-the-scenes to make this happen: the Staff Care Team, the Church Council, the Sabbatical Planning Team, and certainly the congregation at-large who wholeheartedly endorsed this request. The support of my fellow staff members at St. John’s for the sabbatical is another huge blessing. I see the hand of the Lord in all of this!

So what does this summer sabbatical entail? It means experiencing worship in other congregations, and being enriched by how the Body of Christ gathers in different places and settings, but united by the common confession of faith that Jesus Christ is Lord. It means catching up on reading. It also means that some boundaries are in place for the next three months: I am not to have contact with members of the congregation during the sabbatical, nor are they to contact me. It is time away for refreshment and renewal in body, mind, and spirit. That is what sabbatical means. Stemming from the word “sabbath,” meaning rest, that is the primary purpose of this time away for the next three months.

My wife and I will be traveling to the British Isles for almost a month, visiting England, Scotland, and Ireland. One of my sabbatical goals is to immerse myself in Celtic Christianity. I have a stack of books to read, and so I look forward to seeing firsthand the Christian faith through the lens of the ancient Celtic Church that gradually became absorbed into mainstream western Roman Christianity. We are really looking forward to exploring the beauty of this part of the world, together with its rich history. We will be concentrating on the northern part of England, visiting Manchester, York and Durham. This is the birthplace of Christianity in England, and we are looking forward to seeing the great cathedrals/minsters of York and Durham, as well as attending Evensong to soak in the beauty of these houses of worship and hearing glorious music of cathedral choirs. Being interested in gardening and landscaping, we will also be seeking out some of the great gardens that are part of the British landscape. Our hope is to learn some best practices from gardening experts, especially as these pertain to the challenge of what are sustainable techniques in the midst of climate change. From England, we then travel up into Scotland to visit Edinburgh and its surrounding area, taking in the sites and sounds (bagpipes, anyone?) around us. In case you may be wondering, haggis is not on the menu.

From Edinburgh, we will then travel on to my family’s homeland of Ireland. I spent the summer there in 1981, but my wife has never visited the Emerald Isle. After more than forty years, a trip back will be very interesting as we travel around Ireland: Dublin, Kilkenny (where I spent most of my time in 1981), Galway and the wild Atlantic way, Limerick, Cork, and Kinsale. There are various centers of Celtic Christianity scattered around Ireland, and so more learning will take place. One of the things I hope to do while there is to take in a hurling match. This is an ancient sport unique to Ireland, and if you’re not familiar with it, like so many other things, check it out online (irish hurling - Bing video). It’s a very fast-paced game that is sort of a mash-up resembling lacrosse and field hockey. Notice that I said I wanted to take in a hurling match; I didn’t say that I wanted to actually play in one. I think I would likely end up in the hospital. But maybe I’ll come home with the ash stick, the hurley, from which the sport takes its name.

Before leaving on our overseas trip, I will be learning about the Celtic world and its peoples in an online course. Celtic art, language, and culture once spread from Ireland to Austria, and gave rise to much of what we know today in western Europe. All of this will help me better understand the places we will be visiting in the British Isles. Is there application from all of this for life and faith today? I believe there is, and I look forward to exploring these connections more deeply.

While on sabbatical, I ask for your prayers for safety in travel, good health, and openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit who opens doors of opportunity for the sake of Christ’s mission to the world. Upon my return in September, I look forward to sharing what this experience has been like so that the congregation may be blessed as well. Until then, as the psalmist writes: “May the Lord watch over your going out and your coming in from this time forth and even forevermore” (Psalm 121:8).