A Word from the Pastor – Sabbatical Approacheth!
I have been truly overwhelmed with all the love and support that our great congregation has shown me as I prepare to head out on sabbatical. Thank you thank you thank you to everyone who has wished me well, offered prayers, shared encouragement, and given gifts to make it possible. It is wonderful to feel that the church is cheering for me and blessing me to spend some time recharging and being inspired.
This Sunday, September 7, will be my last work day before beginning the three-month sabbatical, and returning to work on December 8. I’ll spend the first month at Duke University’s Divinity School—resting, reading, and planning. Then I’ll head out to Scotland. My first stop will be a spiritual retreat at an ancient Celtic monastery on the Isle of Iona, on the west coast. Then I’ll walk about 250 miles to the east coast, where I’ll have another spiritual retreat at an ancient Celtic monastery on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. It will be an inspiring pilgrimage and quite an adventure. It’s a hike that St. Aidan walked 1,400 years ago to spread the gospel to a new community. I hope it will inspire me to spread the gospel in new and loving ways to our own community. (To see an overview and some pictures, click here.)
On Wednesday nights, Nic is scheduling some good speakers and Bible study leaders, pulling a lot from his Mars Hill University connections. In the pulpit on Sundays, I’ve scheduled some wonderful guest preachers—like Anna & LaCount Anderson, Buddy Corbin, Serena McMillan, our own Nic and Chuck, and others. Most will be here for one Sunday to share a good message, but the last four Sundays will be my own dad, James Lamkin. I was glad he agreed to come out of pastoral retirement and suit up one more time.
During September, there are two community programs that I had already committed to months ago, and I hate canceling commitments. So I’ll be offering words of blessing at Weaverville’s 9/11 Observance program and its Resiliency Celebration on Sept. 27 at Lake Louise. It will be an honor to participate and represent our church.
I will be unreachable for most of the sabbatical, so if any needs arise, don’t hesitate to contact our other church staff members. The office number is 645-6720, our administrative assistant Debbie Sprinkle’s e-mail is debbie@fbcwvl.org, Nic is nic@fbcwvl.org, and Chuck is chuck.taft@gmail.com.
While I’m away, I hope to send my wife some updates (proof of life) that she can then send in to include in the church newsletter so that folks can follow along (route, pictures, epiphanies, and more). I will certainly be carrying our church in my heart as I go, and I’ll brag about it all across the wilds of Scotland.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Stuart