Sabbatical News
With Easter Sunday celebrated and School Sunday coming this weekend, it has been a bit startling to realize how soon my sabbatical will be beginning. There is a chance I’ve also been in a little bit of denial because I am going to miss seeing you all. My final Sunday will be May 15th and I will return on Sunday August 21st (this is the standard required time in the Diocese of Texas). The intent of a sabbatical can be well understood by looking at our related religious term, Sabbath. This is a period of intentional rest, renewal, and reimagining. We have experienced a great deal at Holy Spirit in my 9 years, much of which was wonderfully routine like weekly worship, Sunday school, baptisms, weddings, concerts, feasts, trips, and more. We have also shared some significant experiences like our listening campaign, capital campaign, building project, the formation of new priests, and on the more difficult side, Hurricane Harvey and Covid. Friends, this is a good moment to make space to reenter the fall with new vision and energy.
I am not taking this opportunity lightly. My family and I will spend time at our Oxford house with family, on walks, with books, and in reflection on all we have shared this past decade. We will then spend several weeks in New York City thanks to the wonderful hospitality of our friends, the Smiths, who will be away for most of July. While museums, theater, restaurants, and parks will all surely be inspiring, I am truly excited to get to go to church (a luxury rarely allowed in my line of ministry!). We will show the kids our old neighborhood and visit many friends we still have there. Apart from these two destinations, there will be time for excursions and retreats, and I am trusting that God will guide us through whatever experiences will bring us back to ministry in the fall refreshed and renewed.
I have wonderful news about your care while I am away. I have invited The Rev. Erin Jean Warde to serve on Sundays at Holy Spirit. She is a colleague Sarah and I have known for some time now and I am very excited that you will get to experience both her presence in the pulpit and her pastoral care all summer long. Erin Jean introduces herself in the letter she has written below. One of the wonderful things, apart from her competency and heart, is the consistency she will provide to our wonderful parish while I am away. One of my top priorities was finding a way for our church to have a single priest and pastor for the entirety of the summer. I pray you will come to church often this summer to get to know Erin Jean and to be welcoming to her in her ministry with us. Her first Sunday will be May 22nd.
Our Wardens and Vestry will be intentionally present to you as will our Priest Associate, John Pitts. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to them if you need anything. Last, I ask that you pray for me and my family. I will be praying for you every day.
We love you and God loves you,
Josh Condon+