Rev. Carla introduces this week's Compassion Camp Scripture, Mark 12:28-31.

Dear Plymouth,

I am writing this reflection as I head into my short sabbatical time (July 20 – August 22). I want to thank you for affording your called ministerial staff with this kind of time away to be renewed for ministry! It is a great blessing.

Many of you have asked, “Where are you going? What are you going to do?” Well, current circumstances prevent me going much of anywhere. I am very fortunate that we have a lovely backyard and garden with a new sitting area under our apple trees and a new hammock. This is where I will go! And what will I do? I will spend as much time as possible in being rather than doing.

What is being time? I don’t know about you, but my mind starts scheduling my day the minute my feet hit the floor each morning. “Where is my list of work tasks? What needs to be done to keep our household running, laundry, cleaning, cooking? Where is the new puppy? What does she need to learn today?” You know your own drill. And I try to incorporate a few minutes…maybe even 20… of being time into my morning routine for prayer each day. I try to remember to “pray without ceasing” throughout the day as I encounter the conundrums and joys of work and home and just life. There are many distractions, as you know! Now it’s time to go deeper to develop new habits.

The word and concept of “sabbatical” comes from “sabbath,” a day that you keep as “holy,” mindful of the Holy One, God. During these weeks away I will endeavor (and pray) to wake up with the “Holy” on my mind as my feet hit the floor. Upon waking I hope to be mindful of the sacredness of taking the puppy out first thing, the sacredness of coffee, of the birds at the feeder, of the sun and the clouds, of the news, of the dreams I remember, of the reading and journaling during the day. As I write, I am not imagining a choir singing “Ahhhh” somewhere as background music to an idyllic video of my daily routine. I am imagining what it is like to live the nitty gritty of each day dedicated to and in relationship with God, even the taking out of trash and compost, the dusting, the pick-up of puppy poop, the heartbreak of our current times.

A sabbatical, a sabbath time, is the time to practice this. I try to practice it one day a week or more likely a half day a week when I am working. It often gets interrupted with my distractions. I am hoping that practicing sabbath being more mindfully for this set period of time will further embed it in the habits of my mind, heart and soul so that when I return to ministry in late August there will be new focus and sustenance for pastoral care and leadership. That as I resume the list of ministerial tasks, I will bring with me the habit of the practice of being mindfully connected to the Holy no matter what I am doing. It will always be a practice never a “perfect.“

I invite you to set aside sabbath time in your life. Discover what it is for you to “remember the Sabbath day and treat it as holy.” The root of the English word “holy” that translates the Hebrew word for “sacred” meant “whole.” What practice do you need to invite you into sacred wholeness in relationship with the Holy One?

Many Blessings! Until August 23rd…

I decided to take a different tack for this week’s Staff Reflection. I hope you’ll enjoy seeing summer in full bloom at Plymouth, with a journey through our Memorial Garden, Labyrinth, back yard…and the nearly-completed new apartment building next door. We look forward to the day when we’ll all be back together in person.

See you Wednesday evening at 7:00 for Midweek Vespers from Plymouth.

Thanks and peace,
Hal

P.S. Download your worship bulletin for Vespers here.

Our summer intergenerational interterm begins Monday, July 13, and lasts five weeks. "Intergenerational" means it involves everyone with many different ways to engage. Compassion Camp is all-virtual and, except for Zoom for 7, can be completed at your own pace. Sign up for Zoom for 7 to participate in a small group discussion of the theme/Bible story of the week.

We invite you to watch throughout the week as our Bible stories unfold through art, yoga, music and worship.

Each week we will focus on a different way to experience compassion:

The week will start with a Facebook Live video 1pm Monday to introduce that week’s theme and music. On the website you will then be able to find videos teaching the Bible Story, Create & Play, Movement/Yoga, and Compassion in Action sections. These videos will also be emailed out on Tuesday. At 1pm Thursday there will be a Facebook Live video to review the week and to share your pictures and stories from Compassion Camp. Lastly, Sunday Worship services will focus on our weekly Bible story.

If you would prefer to have less screen time with Compassion Camp, you can download the full Family Pack from our website. The Family Pack has the written instructions for each of the weekly activities, even yoga! Families with Elementary aged kiddos will also be getting a packet of coloring pages and song sheets via snail mail.

You can find all the information about Compassion Camp on our website. Downloadable materials are available here.*

Be loved * Be kind * Be you

Carla & Mandy

*Email formation @plymouthucc.org for the password.