From the Rector: A Summer Sabbatical

Dear friends,

It’s hard for me to believe it, but this June will mark five years since I came to join you in ministry at Incarnation in 2018.

And what a five years it’s been. Over these years we have worshiped, prayed, served, learned, grieved, and laughed together—all things I was expecting. We have also done some things I wasn’t expecting: lockdown, Zoom church, outdoor and hybrid worship, staying connected and staying the church during a global pandemic, and then gradually coming back together in old ways and new ways.

One of the provisions our diocese makes is that clergy serving in congregations should take a three-month time of sabbatical every five years. Sabbatical is meant to be a time for reflection, rest, and renewal, not just for the clergy person but also for the congregation. It allows clergy to have a season apart for study and refreshment, and it allows the congregation to have a change in rhythm.

This summer I’ll be away on sabbatical from May 29 through August 27. I’m delighted to share the news that during that time, the Rev. Rod McAulay will be joining us as Sabbatical Pastor. Many of you know Rod well. He served as rector at our neighbor parish of St. Stephen’s in Sebastopol until his retirement in 2010. Since then he’s remained very active in our diocese. He was here at Incarnation as interim priest for most of a year following Matt Lawrence’s departure as rector in 2014, and has served as supply priest on other occasions since then, so he is a longtime good friend of Incarnation. In 2021 Rod published an autobiographical book, Of Becoming a Priest.

Rod will be serving part-time: he will be here most Sundays over the summer and will also spend an average of about two half-days in the office during the week to support our staff and other ministry leaders. He will also be available for pastoral needs that emerge. Deacon Pamela and our priest associates will also be continuing their regular ministries in coordination with Rod.

As for me, I’m hoping to spend a good part of the summer working on developing my Spanish language skills. I’ll also be completing a research project on children and Anglican worship, and our family will be doing some travel during the month of July. I’m looking forward to the change of pace and the time to reflect, and then to coming back renewed at the end of August to start a new chapter in our ministry together here at Incarnation.

I’m grateful that our church offers this sabbatical time, and I’m grateful to Rod for being willing to come and join us this summer.

In Christ’s love,

Stephen