Memorial Lutheran and Pastor Elizabeth have been awarded a Sabbatical Renewal Grant! This sabbatical will be completed at two different times with the first section being the month of January and the second section being in June and July. In January, Pastor Elizabeth will be gone for four weeks and in her absence, Memorial has the rare opportunity to be led by inspiring musicians from the area.
- Jan. 9: Singer-Songwriter Peter Mayer
- Jan. 16: Gospel Singer Anthony Brewer
- Jan. 23: Singer-Songwriter-Storyteller Rachel Kurtz
- Jan. 30: Jazz Pianist Dennis Friesen-Carper and Pr. Elizabeth returns; Sabbatical Celebration reception following worship!
- Guest Pastor for January: Pr. Sarah Anderson
With the theme of “Sounds and Silence” both pastor and Memorial will have opportunities to experience music and rest. The grant monies allow for two layers of renewal,
1) For Memorial: a program of music and celebration has been designed by the small group that wrote that grant
2) For Pastor Elizabeth to rest, renew, and learn for three months away from the church
Why is Pastor taking a sabbatical?
The ELCA, St. Paul Area Synod, and Memorial all have within their clergy guidelines that a pastor who serves more than five years in any one congregation may take a sabbatical for up to three months. The sabbatical helps to reduce the frequency of burnout and ensures that pastors everywhere will serve their churches with inspiration and dedication. This agreement was also a part of the contract Pastor Elizabeth signed when accepting this call over five years ago! A part of the sabbatical agreement (both from Lilly and within the ELCA) is a pastors’ commitment to remain in their current call for at least one year after the sabbatical has ended.
How is this renewing for the church?
This grant program is designed to give monies to the congregation too! The small group of Memorial members who helped to write the grant has designed a program that will bring in amazing music to enliven Sunday worship and host community celebrations to begin and end the sabbatical program.
When will this happen?
Soon! Pastor Elizabeth will be taking this sabbatical in two separate times; January 2022 and June-July 2022. This timing fits the life of the church well as Pastor will be present for Lent-Easter, gone for much of the summer, but returning in August to prepare for all the fall happenings of the church.
Who will be filling in?
The council is currently working on this piece. We are reaching out to area pastors who are not currently in a traditional call (chaplains, clergy working for non-profits) we are blessed by our location that puts us in close proximity to many clergy! We’re focused on bringing in pastors with energy and passion for ministry who can also help oversee the sabbatical program and other needs of the church.
How can we afford this coverage?
Supply pastors, guest musicians, and all sabbatical programming is covered by the grant monies. This will not be a burden on our operating budget. This grant is a significant blessing and a sabbatical would have happened one way or another for our pastor, this grant allows us to not be financially burdened and instead to be inspired and renewed through the musicians that will come to Memorial and the celebrations we’ll have together.
What will Pastor Elizabeth be doing to experience this renewal?
The first month of the sabbatical will be the most travel-intensive. The grant was designed so pastor and her family could be immersed in musical cultures different from our own. In January the whole family will fly to Ireland, Spain, and Paris.
June will include state-side travels with live theater, music, hiking, and rest.
July will mostly be at home with more music experiences and intentional family time at a lake cabin. Some monies have also been set aside for music lessons, and a reading list.
The great hope for this sabbatical program is that everyone will experience renewal of their faith, a deeper connection to this church family, and sabbath rest.
MEMORIAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AFTON and REV. ELIZABETH DAMICO-CARPER
RECIPIENTS OF GRANTS IN THE
2021 NATIONAL CLERGY RENEWAL PROGRAM
Memorial Lutheran Church of Afton has received a grant to enable its minister, Rev. Elizabeth Damico-Carper, to participate in the 2021 National Clergy Renewal Program. Memorial Lutheran is one of 156 congregations across the United States selected to participate in this competitive grant program, which is funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. and administered by Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Established by the Endowment in 2000, the program’s grants allow Christian congregations to support their pastors with the gift of extended time away from their ministerial duties and responsibilities.
Ministers whose congregations are awarded the grants use their time away from the demands of daily ministry to engage in reflection and renewal. The approach respects the “Sabbath time” concept, offering ministers a carefully considered respite that may include travel, study, rest, prayer and immersive arts and cultural experiences.
Through the National Clergy Renewal Program, congregations apply for grants of up to $50,000 to support renewal programs for their pastors. Collaborative in nature and implementation, the program allows congregations to partner with their ministers in developing experiences that address their unique renewal needs and aspirations. Recognizing that ministers’ families are subject to the stress and demands placed on pastoral leaders, the program encourages pastors to involve their families in renewal activities. Congregational needs during the minister’s renewal experience also are considered. Up to $15,000 of the grant may be used to support interim pastoral leadership during the pastor’s retreat, as well as renewal activities within the congregation. Since the National Clergy Renewal Program’s inception, more than 3,200 congregations have participated in the program, including the 156 congregations receiving grants in 2021.
“Pastors play an important role in nourishing the spiritual lives of individuals and in guiding the work of the Christian congregations they serve,” said Christopher L. Coble, the Endowment’s vice president for religion. “Through these grants, we seek to honor pastors for their extraordinary service and enable them to engage in a brief period of rest and renewal. We have learned that such experiences invigorate the leadership of pastors and bring new vitality to their congregations as well.”
Dr. Robert Saler, research fellow and director of the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs, noted that the National Clergy Renewal Program integrates key attributes of healthy congregations, including a mutual respect for the renewal needs of both ministers and the congregations they serve. “The program provides an opportunity for congregations to express appreciation for their ministers’ service and leadership,” Saler said. “At a time when leaders are often praised for their pace of innovation and productivity, the National Clergy Renewal Program pays homage to the timeless wisdom embedded in the practice of reflection and renewal.”
Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis directs the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program for Indiana Congregations and a second program for congregations across the United States.
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