Sermon 11/26/17 Mark 1:1-8 Hope: A Thrill of Hope Are you a pessimist or an optimist? Is the glass of life half empty, or half full? My mom and I have gone back and forth about this a bit over the years. She’s wildly optimistic about most things, and sometimes I would say her optimism, her hopefulness borders on the irrational. If the weather forecast says there’s a 70% chance of a snowstorm coming, my mom will focus very seriously on that 30% chance that it is going to be a nice day after all. I, meanwhile, will begin adjusting my travel plans and making a backup plan for the day. My mom says I’m a pessimist, but I would argue that I’m simply a realist , trying to prepare for the thing that is most likely to happen, whether I like that thing or not. My mom, however, says she doesn’t want to be disappointed twice, both by thinking something bad is going to happen, and then by having the bad thing actually happen. She’d rather be hopeful, and enjoy her state of
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I know I have been taken to task on this issue by at least one of my congregation members. Her reasoning is , "I resent you doing these things with the Conference, when we are the onespaying your salary." Not a bad line of reasoning, but it thoroughly discounts the idea that we are connectional in nature.
As for how many Sundays I miss, it is usually around 10 (4 vacation, 2 Continuing Ed, 2 rotational preaching, 1 Camp, 1 Annual Conference). Then there are the Sundays I voluntarily leave the pulpit to others (which sometimes coincides with the others, but not always) like Laity Sunday, UMW Sunday, Youth/Camp Sunday, and Special Speakers - like the Conference Evangelist. All in all I guess it works out to about 16 Sundays I am out of the pulpit.
The biggest concern seems to come when they come right in a row, or very close together.
Peace,
DC
1 for AC/YAC
2 vacation
1 pulpit exchange
Additionally, I was present for church but not in the pulpit on Laity Sunday.
We get 4 weeks of vacation and 2 weeks continuing ed ,plus one week spiritual renewal. Even though you take 4 off for AC and Conference responsibilities that does not include your vacation. Make sure you take it!! Empower the laity and make use of retired clergy. If not for your health and sanity...then for the pastor who will follow you!!
See you Sat.
Richelle
I am out of the pulpit for my 5 sundays a year holiday. Prior to ordination there was an extra Sunday off. Other than that I am in the pupit every Sunday in the morning and often in the evening.
Our (Uk) Circuit system means that I am in different pulpits quite often. I am in a 12 Church circuit. I have pastoral care of 2 churches. The larger gets me about 6 times in each 3 months plan and the smaller gets me about 3/4 times (Both only have morning services). The other Sundays when not holiday, are either elsewhere in the Circuit or on exchange on other Circuits.
Nobody complains about that but I am currently going through a phase of questioning how worship should be and so long to see some examples of emerging church etc. Unfortunately it is hard to do so other than whilst on holiday - that is until I get a sabbatical. Sadly this is 8 years away.
Coming back to your post, we are connexional and so I agree that ir is good that you have your wider responsibilities and involvements. Reading what you blog and preach, I suspect this actually enriches your church and future churches where you will be called to serve.
As sometimes happens, your post reminds me that whilst much unites UK and US Methodism, we work in very different situations.
So that means 3 Sundays for vacation. I will also probably do an Emmaus Walk at some point througout the year. And there may be a time or two when I ask someone in the congregation to share the message. I will be there, but not preach.
Now if I'm sick or needed somewhere else at some point (like the time I baptized my nephews up in TN), I don't worry about it. This is because I'm here throughout the week, every week of the year basically, on call 24/7 to care for and be a pastor to these folks here.
Don't let it bother you to be absent. I'm sure you're doing a lot for those people that they will never even know about.
As we celebrate Eucharist every Sunday, I'm inviting the congregation to lead themselves in Morning Prayer, the other authorized Sunday-morning worship in our Church, that can be led by laity.
Our annual diocesan convention used to carry over until Sundays, but they've changed that so clergy could be back in their congregations for Mass. Kinda wish we'd go back to the old days.
The concern about taking the Sundays right in a row, or close together, is prevalent in my church, too.
1 - 2 Sundays for Retreats, camps, etc.
0-1 Sunday for Continuing Ed
1 Annual Conference
1-2 Sunday for Laity Sunday & Special Guests
I can't beleive David is out of the pulpit 16 Sundays a year. I just missed 3 Sundays in a row (2 vacation & 1 for a Walk to Emmaus) and I'm feeling a bit disconnected and can't wait to be preaching this week.
1 out for Laity Sunday, but still at church.
Then, roughly 4, usually spread out quarterly for vacation or continuing education (2 and 2, roughly). Our conference gives vacation weeks out gradually over years of service: 2, then 3, then 4 weeks. But I decided to plan on taking about 4 Sundays per year, spread out, just to have a regular break.
I think I've missed 12 this year because of various and sundry. The year before it was 2. So, an average of 7 a year for 2 years. One about every other month.
I know these have not been good habits for me. I have four weeks of vacation to take each year This year I plan to take my remaining two.
This year I project 5: 4 weeks vacation and 1 for when my Association Minister comes to preach. I wonder if we'll have a Youth Sunday this year.
4 weeks vacation
1 week Conference Committment (committee work, camp, etc)
1 week cont. ed.
1 week spiritual renewal
Disciplinary standards include a sabbatical month once every quyadrennium.
Few actually stick to this list including me, usually taking fewer times away. I will also lead a church mission trip and consider it part of my church ministry.
I try to schedule lay-led services in my absence using our in-house speakers and leaders.
There is one retired United Pastor pastor in our Conference who heads to Florida for the winters and gives the pulpit over to the laity for the season. Don't know how he does it or why someone has not sought to correct the issue...
WNY Conference Elder