This is the season of summer vacation, the week of July 4th, the quintessential American summer holiday. I begin with this prayer written by a colleague in ministry:
A prayer for those on vacation, by Rev. Steve Garnaas-Holmes
God of Sabbath, Master of infinite playfulness, bless those who are on vacation. Protect them from the worries of home. Guide them, that they may become lost in a new place, with no way but to wander. Shepherd them to still places. Watch over them, that they may not stumble into work or obligation. Grant them wonder, delight, renewal and release. Run the world without them. May their fireworks be grand, their campfires lovely, their beaches uncrowded, their traffic at peace. When they are renewed, bring them home safe, whole and changed. And may the savoring pace of their absence stay with them, by your grace. Amen.
For me, this is the middle of my summer time. I have enjoyed some working vacation – time off from preaching and some other duties of ministry, but time to work on other things. One project I did was to move back into the office.
The minister before me serving this Fellowship, Dawn Daniels, had the desk and the office furniture arranged in a way that suited her but didn’t quite work for me. The old desk and a side table were sold at the Fellowship garage sale last month. A new desk and chairs were bought, and everything re-arranged. This is the minister’s space, but it belongs to the Fellowship. There is a desk but also a round table where we can light a chalice and talk. Or pray. There are some of my books from seminary but also books of spiritual practice, social justice, UU history, and poetry for you to read and borrow.
The other thing I did was to move boxes of books and papers back to the Fellowship. After a year making my home my office – and Zoom my primary mode of communication – I’m back to working at the Fellowship building, and increasingly encountering people face to face. I look forward to meeting you at the round table, doing the business of the Fellowship or the work of navigating life, love, faith, community as we light the chalice together.
What about you? How are you spending your time this summer? In what ways are you re-charging, re-thinking? Are you changing your physical space – or your mindset – to reflect the new season of summer and the new reality of emerging from pandemic isolation to being with people again?
I will be having some more working vacation time this month to prepare for the new Fellowship year, including the launch of hybrid worship services (in-person and on Zoom) August 15. There is more summer time ahead of us: long days, lush green, enjoying woods and gardens and maybe visiting loved ones.
May the summer be fruitful and restful. May the summer season serve you in whatever ways you need. Blessed be.
Rev. Andrew Frantz
A prayer for those on vacation, by Rev. Steve Garnaas-Holmes
God of Sabbath, Master of infinite playfulness, bless those who are on vacation. Protect them from the worries of home. Guide them, that they may become lost in a new place, with no way but to wander. Shepherd them to still places. Watch over them, that they may not stumble into work or obligation. Grant them wonder, delight, renewal and release. Run the world without them. May their fireworks be grand, their campfires lovely, their beaches uncrowded, their traffic at peace. When they are renewed, bring them home safe, whole and changed. And may the savoring pace of their absence stay with them, by your grace. Amen.
For me, this is the middle of my summer time. I have enjoyed some working vacation – time off from preaching and some other duties of ministry, but time to work on other things. One project I did was to move back into the office.
The minister before me serving this Fellowship, Dawn Daniels, had the desk and the office furniture arranged in a way that suited her but didn’t quite work for me. The old desk and a side table were sold at the Fellowship garage sale last month. A new desk and chairs were bought, and everything re-arranged. This is the minister’s space, but it belongs to the Fellowship. There is a desk but also a round table where we can light a chalice and talk. Or pray. There are some of my books from seminary but also books of spiritual practice, social justice, UU history, and poetry for you to read and borrow.
The other thing I did was to move boxes of books and papers back to the Fellowship. After a year making my home my office – and Zoom my primary mode of communication – I’m back to working at the Fellowship building, and increasingly encountering people face to face. I look forward to meeting you at the round table, doing the business of the Fellowship or the work of navigating life, love, faith, community as we light the chalice together.
What about you? How are you spending your time this summer? In what ways are you re-charging, re-thinking? Are you changing your physical space – or your mindset – to reflect the new season of summer and the new reality of emerging from pandemic isolation to being with people again?
I will be having some more working vacation time this month to prepare for the new Fellowship year, including the launch of hybrid worship services (in-person and on Zoom) August 15. There is more summer time ahead of us: long days, lush green, enjoying woods and gardens and maybe visiting loved ones.
May the summer be fruitful and restful. May the summer season serve you in whatever ways you need. Blessed be.
Rev. Andrew Frantz
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