The Purpose of Sabbatical
The purpose of sabbatical is simple - rest, renewal, relationships. It is not a vacation in the classic sense, but a time set aside to cease the labor of ministry and rediscover the heart of the Lord. Every sabbatical looks different, but the ultimate purpose is healthy long-term leadership in the church. A pastor shouldn't have to go to another church to find deep rest and renewal. Sabbaticals also allow leaders to re-tool for the next season of ministry.
-The Very. Rev. Shay Gaillard, Rector, St. Helena's Anglican Church
-The Very. Rev. Shay Gaillard, Rector, St. Helena's Anglican Church
Sabbatical Snapshot
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I want to say thank you again for the gift of a time of rest and renewal after 10 years of ordained
ministry. I would like to give you a brief snapshot of how we spent the time and some of the blessings
that the Lord gave through it. More to come later for those interested in hearing more detail.
Travels: We planned two major trips in the month of July. The first was a stay at a resort in St. Lucia with
our children. The hurricane had just come through, so at times we felt like we had the place to ourselves.
The resort pool, the tropical ocean water, the paddle boards, Hobbie cats, and inflatable climbing wall in
the surf gave us a relaxing playground to enjoy extended time together as a family. In ministry, it is
common to be called away from the family to respond pastorally. So, this time together was much
appreciated.
Then Gretchen and I took a cruise around the Mediterranean, just the two of us. I had not been to the
"Old World" before in my life. We were in Greece and Italy and opened our curtains each day to a new
port city. We explored far and wide by taking trains to important sites with Gretchen making all the
plans. It was a new chapter for me, and I just loved the way the old cities and towns were laid out. It
blessed our marriage and encouraged me all the more about a walkable Parish in a walkable
neighborhood.
Family Time/Projects: Then July was over, and August 1st was here. Gretchen was required at Holy
Trinity for teacher workdays before the start of the new school year. So, after the annual regatta in my
hometown, which is like a family reunion for us, the children and I had lots of pool days and watched a
lot of Olympics. When school started, I had the later part of August with more free time than I have had
since college probably. It was time to get around to the things that I never get around to doing.
I emersed myself in home maintenance and other handy-man time projects. It was a blessing to me, to
see things slowly transform. I filled gaps and painted, I sanded and varnished, I repaired things that
hadn't operated in years. I took a lot of junk to the dump. During these days, I had lots of time to think
and to be quiet.
Physical Health: A major curve ball in the Sabbatical plans was when I was floored by pain on the day
before we were to return from St. Lucia. Then another attack two days before we left for Europe. It
turned out, I was suffering from gall stones. So, I had an unexpected surgery to remove the gall bladder.
Then I had to take it easy while my abdomen healed so I didn't give myself a hernia. I took note of the
fact that one year earlier, I had had that major heart episode. And turning 40 this November seemed a
little bit too real. I resolved to prioritize diet and exercise after spending the month of July in "all you can
eat" settings. Not purely to avoid the hospital, but also to be equipped to be a good father and leader in
this church. So that I can be ready for what the Lord is calling us to.
Emotional Recharge/Clarity in the Holy Spirit: I consider it an honor to laugh with those who laugh and
weep with those who weep. And I have already shared that separating from my friends and neighbors
felt painful and a bit like being in "time-out." However, I had not fully appreciated what it would be like
to take a short break from bearing burdens with people and to trust the pastoral team and the Lord
Himself to take care of the congregation. I remember the day during sabbatical when I lost track of what
day of the week it was and had no idea who was coming to preach that Sunday at The Parish. I haven't
known that feeling in a decade. The break recharged and renewed my soul, so that I could take the
ministry back up in strength and with true compassion. Meanwhile, I attended different churches in the
area on Sundays, some Anglican and others not. I learned and took notes, I compared and contrasted
our ways with theirs, and most importantly, I worshipped the Lord. And I came away with clarity about
what is truly special about what God has done in our midst. And I am beginning to see where he is taking
us next. There is more to come. I am very thankful to be back with you.
Godspeed to the Parish Church,
Jamie Sosnowski
Sabbatical Pictures
