Thank you again for the gift of time away for rest and renewal this summer. Unfortunately, not everyone has the gift of taking a 3-month extended leave, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t also embrace some of the patterns shaping my summer of refreshment.
Rest Up
I pray that the coming months are filled with some sabbath time for you, too. God took time to rest at the end of a time of creating. Jesus regularly spent time retreating for restoration. Following those patterns, may we take time—make time—for rest and renewal. It is essential to our long-term well-being. Remember that refreshment doesn’t have to be a week at the beach. This summer, schedule a walk, embrace a lazy afternoon of reading in a comfy chair, or whatever else helps you rest up. Your heart, soul, body, and mind will thank you for it.
Fuel Up
Along the same lines as above, lean into the patterns and activities that provide rejuvenation and bring you joy. Time in nature, immersion in the arts, delicious food, time in communal worship, solitude, catching up with a friend, and all the other good things that bring you refreshment and renewal are essentials to filling your tank. Fuel up with the good things that energize and propel you.
Look Up
As you rest up and fuel up, continue to look up from your own adventures with an awareness of those around you. Paul wrote, “Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Show up for those who need a hope-filled word or a traveling companion through a hard season. Look for opportunities to serve and moments to step up and make a difference.
Speak Up
Frances R. Havergal’s powerful hymn text, “Lord, speak to us, that we may speak in living echoes of your tone,” reminds us that God uses our voices to bring hope and comfort to a world looking for a word of peace. For those who are lost and alone, speak up with a word of welcome and inclusion. Speak up with a word of encouragement. Speak up with a word of forgiveness. For those with little or no voice, speak up to those in power. Speak up against injustice. Speak up with a word of wonder and curiosity at how God might be inviting us into holy moments. In courageous and confident love, speak up.
However your summer shapes up, I pray that you can live like you expect Jesus to show up. He makes that promise in Matthew 28:20, saying, “I am with you always.” Jesus always lives up to his promises.
Leaning into God’s abundance,
Pastor Lowell Michelson
Pastor Lowell will be away June 1-September 7 for an extended time of refreshment and renewal sponsored by The Lilly Endowment National Clergy Renewal Program. Read about the application process and updated details about how he plans to spend his sabbatical at this link. www.tinyurl.com/LOLsabbatical
We welcome Pastor Mary Laymon, who will be leading worship, providing pastoral care, guiding book discussions, and more during this summer.
For all other questions and concerns, please connect with Council President Jillian Campbell.
Visit the Staff page online to connect with other staff.