Sacred Pause

March 25, 2007 UNEDITED
Rev. Barbara McKusick Liscord
Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Milford, NH

We come together on Sunday mornings to remind one another to rest for a moment on the forming edge of our lives… to resist the headlong tumble into the next moment, until we once again claim for ourselves awareness and gratitude.[1] When we gather on Sunday mornings, we sidestep the treadmill of busy-ness to be still, reflect on our lives, to put our burdens down for a time, to celebrate our lives and connections in community so that we may be revived and inspired for living life as our best selves.

This, after all, is the meaning Sabbath… time out for rest. The old biblical sense of the word comes from the 4^th commandment in Exodus: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God… in it you shall not do any work …for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”[2]

The book of Leviticus goes on to say that in the 7^th year- (a whole year- 12 months!) On the 7^th year- there shall be solemn rest for the land and a sabbath to the Lord.[3]

In our modern and secular age, we don’t always look the Hebrew and Christian Bibles for guidance, but this teaching about Sabbath is one that we would do well to follow. The fundamental need for Sabbath will always exist, but we might to make a few tweeks to make this teaching fit our evolving, living tradition.

In modern life, things seem to move a bit faster than in the ancient middle-east where the Bible was written. Just as other particulars of a literal reading of the bible don’t apply to our time and culture… the idea of a whole 12 month Sabbath needs adjusting for the on going health of everyone involved.

Experts who pay attention to what works best for congregations and ministers recommend that shorter more frequent sabbaticals are preferred to long periods away. In the spirit of that wisdom, my letter of agreement with you when you called me as your minister, says that I must take a sabbatical after 4 years and before 7 years. I had thought I would take a 6 month sabbatical in my 6^th year, but as I researched what has worked best in other churches, I discovered that shorter sabbaticals seem to work best. And I can tell you that the thought about leaving you for 6 months plus my July vacation made me feel sad. Because plain and simple I would miss you!

So as you know, if you have read the sabbatical brochure that was sent to you at home… the council and I have come up with a plan that we think will work well for both our congregation and your minister. The first part of my sabbatical will be two months this spring and early summer beginning at the end of April. And the second will be three months beginning after Christmas next winter.

The time seems just right… I have been with you close to 5 years and we have accomplished so much together. The best work is done in the world through the process of alternating work- or practice- with reflection. This is similar to what you may have experienced if you lift weights for exercise. You lift one day and rest the next. The rest allows your muscles to heal stronger for next time when you lift again. After the vigorous, concentrated activity, it is wise to rest and integrate the experience… before moving on to the next thing.

There is no question that I need some deep rest at this point in our ministry together- I look forward to the deep physical and spiritual renewal that may only be possible when relieved for a time of my duties as your minister. At the same time, I realize that it will take some time to let go- because I love this calling to be with you in the life of the ministry of our congregation.

Even though you will free me of my day to day responsibilities, you should know that each day you will be in my thoughts and prayers. What gives this sabbatical deep meaning to me is that it is ultimately for the good of our ministry together. I will be reflecting on how I can sustain myself to be able to continue to serve as your minister.

During the first few months here, we held what is called a “start-up-workshop” so that I could get some clear direction about your expectations for our ministry together. It came through loud and clear that you hoped I would concentrate on being the spiritual leader of our congregation. Now- 5 years later, I feel the need for some introspection and reflection on how I might enhance my role as your spiritual leader.

I look forward to visiting other Unitarian Universalist congregations, to experience worship with the best ministers in our movement… and to meet those ministers one-on-one to learn what I can about excellence in ministry. I will attend worship in other faith traditions as well… to learn what more I can about the sacred art of worship… such an important element in our communal life together.

I also look forward to deepening my practice and understanding of Vipassana- Insight meditation in the Buddhist tradition. I’ve signed up for a 9 day retreat led by Jack Kornfield, whose book, “A Path with Heart” influenced my journey toward parish ministry. I expect the retreat will be a challenge for me… no reading or writing and living in silence for 9 days… except for the dharma talks and individual direction from the teachers on the retreat.

After the retreat, I look forward to reading, gathering stories from simply living, and writing. I plan to read books about congregational life, spiritual life, fiction, history, spiritual texts. I will look for a class on the Tibetan Book of Natural Liberation through Understanding in the Between – otherwise known as the Tibetan book of the dead. I expect other classes on spiritual leadership and wisdom traditions to also capture my interest.

In June, I will return to church on flower communion Sunday to be here for our Bridging ceremony, since my son, Rob is a senior and I would like to be here with other seniors who I have known since their 8^th grade year.

My husband Paul and I will attend the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly in Portland Oregon in June. We would love to have your company there to feel the power and inspiration of being part of a liberal religious movement far wider than our Milford community. Not only will you have much to bring home to us, but we’ll have a whole lot of fun, together! After my usual vacation time in July, I’ll return to church and be available to you starting on August 6. Rick Davis and others will lead our usual summer worship services, but I will be here to begin planning for the next church year, for meetings and pastoral care.

As to the second part of my sabbatical next winter, I will continue much of what I’ve already mentioned, but I hope Paul and I will do some traveling or live in a very different environment for part of the time. Part of my time this spring will be used to figure that out. In addition to taking on challenge of living in a different environment, I also would like to do a service trip of some sort- hopefully with our Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.

So those are my hopes for my time. But I have hopes for you, too. I see this as an opportunity for you to experience the deep meaning and joy of practicing the arts of ministry yourselves. Leading worship … really thinking about what people need when they come to church on Sunday mornings … often helps you figure out something you yourself have been grappling with.

When you chose to lead an adult religious education program, you get to learn something new in the process… as the wayside pulpit sign outside our door says… you never learn anything well until you teach it. This spring two discussion programs will be offered by John Shonle and Dana Forsman- look for news in your newsletter.

Attending to the administrative needs of the congregation is a ministry, too- indeed we could not exist without the administrative bones that give us structure- the work of our finance committee and council and membership committee, children’s program committee.

Our Small Groups will continue to offer a mutual ministry of care with the guidance of each facilitator of each group.

Pastoral Care is another art of ministry that I know you have the capability to attend to well, while I am away. Being with people when they are experiencing difficulties gives you the feeling that you are right where you are supposed to be in the world. The rest of the world falls away as you are fully present to someone in need. You are filled with a sense of purpose and meaning.

This week, in our greater community we experienced the death of McKayla Geisinger… from Mont Vernon… only 13 years old. Many of the middle school girls in our congregation were close friends with McKayla and her sister Amanda. McKayla’s death has created deep sadness and anxiety for parents and other family friends and neighbors. This is a good example of when our congregation can serve. You don’t need me here to find a time to open the sanctuary and invite members and friends and the wider community to come together to light candles and share their stories and feelings. Yestersday, at McKayla’s funeral at St. Patrick’s, her father, Greg, spoke. He said what has meant the most is all the company the community has offered. Knowing that they are not alone has meant the most to them.

Whether I am here or not… know that just simply keeping each other company through the losses and devastation in life matters. It matters more than anything.

Many of you are already so good at the arts of ministry… and have lots of experience. So I know our congregation will be in good hands while I am away. My hope is that this will be your sabbatical too… a time for you to try new things and a chance to draw newer members and friends into the life of the congregation. Congregations grow and thrive when they are not dependant on the minister to reach out and invite newer folks into connections with those who have been here for awhile.

I’m looking forward to learning from each other after our time apart… reflecting on what we have learned from these changes in how we do things. I am grateful for this time to rest, renew, reflect and learn. Thank you. And I’m excited about the possibilities for you, too.

Our Sabbatical Committee has prepared carefully. I am so grateful for this thoughtful , committed group and their time and care in preparing for our Sabbatical. They decided to do this service now to give us a few weeks to answer any concerns that you may have that we haven’t thought of.

Of course, no matter what our plans and expectations are of our sabbatical… our openness to the unknown will enrich our experience. Our willingness to see this as a learning experience and reflect on it together will help shape our community in healthy ways for the years to come.

I know deep in my bones, that we are meant for one another – I don’t mean just our relationship- minister and congregation. Each of you and me and all of us are meant to be together. We need one another.

I wish you could see your lovely faces as I am so able to see them. Although we are not in a circle, as we sing this song look around and see each other… and feel our undeniable connection with one another…whether you already know the people near you … or have yet to get to know them. We need one another. So may it be.

[1] Kathleen McTigue from No. 435, Singing the Living Tradition

[2] Exodus 20:8-11. (Suggested in sermon by Rev. Helen Luton Cohen, First Lexington, Where Are We?)

[3] Leviticus 25:1-7, 20-22. (Suggested in sermon by Rev. Helen Luton Cohen, First Lexington, Where Are We?)