A Letter from Ruthanne

As I have been preparing for my sabbatical, I have been reflecting on sabbath in general.  I define sabbath as taking time away from our everyday life and obligations to pay attention to the deeper rhythms of God’s Spirit in our midst. 

Though God long ago ordained the sabbath to be kept -

the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. - Deuteronomy 5:14

- we live in a world and a culture that makes sabbath keeping challenging.  Even when we are retired!

A thought I’ve stumbled upon has been the need for trust when we keep sabbath.  We have to trust that God somehow holds all the things that demand our attention and energy and will keep them in good stead while we rest.  This includes the people we care for, our work, our households and the many other things that make up our days.

And we all know what happens when we don’t rest.  Our bodies and spirits wear down.  We may find our selves unwell or diseased - both in body and spirit.  So, when God ordained the sabbath, God didn’t do so out of some ego trip, but rather as a directive for each of us to live full and healthy lives - for ourselves, for those we love and for our community.

As I undertake this sabbath leave, let me begin by saying I am so incredibly grateful to you, the people of Ascension for allowing me this incredible privilege.  Though it is written into the church canons that a priest is eligible to take such a leave, it really does depend on the parish to support and allow it - financially as well as practically.

My sabbath leave isn’t just for me though.  This is a special time in the parish’s life as well, and an invitation to each of you.  An invitation to trust.  To trust that God holds you in a special way during this time.  Not in a place of stasis, waiting for my return, but rather in a place of creative collaboration and hope for the ways in which God can and will work around and through you while I am gone.

As I have mentioned to a few people, I invite you to get up to some “Holy Mischief” in my absence.  Be open to the ways God will speak to you through a visiting priest and through our Lay Readers as they take services.  When you see something that needs attention, give it your prayerful awareness and ask God to show you ways you might engage the need.  And turn to one another in a spirit of grace-filled compassion as you offer care, prayer and encouragement to one another.

When I return in October let us share our stories of what this sabbath time meant for us.  Perhaps our parish story can be a story of hope, imagination and encouragement for other parishes where there is a need for more sabbath taking. 

While away I hope to do some focused writing, both about the church, but also about my own spiritual journey.  I look forward to exploring, with a bit more time available to me, a growing passion for embroidery and art with various fabrics and fibres.  I also look forward to letting my mind rest and my soul wander in the space God provides.  As you pray for me, know that you will also be in my prayers.  Especially that you will sense the invitation that God is giving you to enter into the life of church community perhaps in new ways. 

Let us all pay attention to the deeper rhythms of God’s Spirit in our midst so that we might be a healthy, hopeful and loving community together.

With gratitude and hope, Ruthanne