Sabbath

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A Brief History of Time

Today is my day off. Aside from the usual call to let the dog out and make her breakfast, time today in one way is mine.

It's not of course. The time I have today is a gift. I am told by the Church to take a day off. It is time given to me by God through His church. It is time to rest, to recover and to give & receive love. It harks back to God's own rest after creating & looks forward to a time in the future when our rest, our all, will be with & in God. It is about living that hope.

In my head I have a cover of Joe Jackson's 'Got the Time' by Anthrax from their Persistance of Time album



The time I have to enjoy today is God's gift to creation for there is a 'now-and-not-yet-ness' about it. It is special time. It is Sabbath. It is worth exploring the theology of Sabbath in Heshel's excellent book 'Sabbath.' His writing left a huge impact on me... A good review be found at the Infinite Resources blog...

I am enjoying the sabbath God gives me today. It has given me time with my family, time to cook, time to eat, time to drink &amp; time to give &amp; receive love...

And by way of a PS - the Church Times has arrived. Now where is that cup of coffee...

The Coal Face...

Well folks, here I am back at the coal face after my three month sabbatical adn it feels odd...

In a way I am relieved to be back and that things have moved on in the life of the church in just an amazing way - just as I had hoped ad prayed that they would and I am indebted to 2 fantastic wardens, 2 fantastic Lay Readers, a fantastic team of clergy, a fantastic church council, and each and every member of the church for allowig me and my family to have that very very precious and enriching time.

But here I am back at the coal face and it feels odd because in a way so much has gone on so it feels like I am starting a new job as a return, but also because I feel daunted by what lies ahead.

What does lie ahead you ask? Answer - I am not exactly sure, but what I am sure of is that the process of discerning what the future holds for us as a church begins and ends in listening to and trusting God. So yes it feels odd, but also very very exciting!

I am excited because God has done so much amongst us in recet years, and I am sure that there is much much more to come!

It also feels odd because I am having to readjust to working and praying and trying to construct a new pattern of life and pattern of life and prayer that edifies and resources me but also stops me from frenetically and frantically returns me to a post Sabbatical state. So:

1. I am regularly keeping a track on my hours - I know that with 2 days off last week and simply 'getting back into it' I only worked 37 hours last week. and at the point of writing I have (inc the Bank Holiday) worked 8 hours and 45 mins this week. I am aiming for 40-45 hours a week on average with a maximum of around 50 hrs.
2. I will be taking 2 days off a week once in a while to ensure that, as son 3 enters full time education in September, I get to spend time with my lovely children. I treasure the time I have had with them over the last 3 months and I do not want to allow their childhood pass me by.
3. I am all the more clear what my priorities ad strengths are as a priest and as a human being and I will now ensure that I delegate more effectively to release others into ministry and to ensure that I act on the vision and tasks that I believe that God has laid out before me.

All of that said I am very tired already and days are full - tomorrow for example my day looks like this

10 am Said Eucharist and address
11 am Pastoral meeting
12 noon Lunch with a colleague
4.30ish Meeting about spirituality in local school
8 pm Meeting to plan a Thanksgiving for Marriage service (otherwise known as a blessing).

A few years ago, a friend of mine talked about the difference between him being a human being and a 'human doing'. Sometimes it feels like I have been more like the latter. And yet the principal of weekly rest from work for renewal, recreation, re-creation, and time with God and others is enshrined in the scriptures and is a mandate from God (Genesis 2:2-3).

If it's good enough for a God at the coal face to have some down time and enjoyment, then sabbath living is something I need to rediscover... especially at the coal face

I have just returned from 'full stop.' A sabbatical. This is something we clergy can take every 7-10 years. And yet sabbatical, sabbath living is what all Christians are called to live