The covenants of marriage, parenting and family, pastoring, and our individual relationships with God are each threads of deep meaning and challenge in our lives. Because we are a clergy couple sharing a position in the same congregation, these threads are interwoven in a particularly intricate way. In mid-life, we sense that we are being called to new patterns of weaving.

During our sabbatical, we intend to step back -- to examine the threads and focus upon the challenges and opportunities that each presents; to deepen our understanding of how we have been weaving thus far; to enjoy the current tapestry in ways not always possible in the midst of hectic pastoral family life; and to envision new patterns and designs for our future weaving. We plan to do so through an intentional interweaving of time alone with God, time together, time with experts, time with our children, time with extended family and friends, and time simply to be and read and play. We trust that we may thus come to know anew ...what is the hope to which [God] has called [us] (Ephesians 1:18).