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 The Rev. Sharon L. Vandegrift, M.Div, PCC 
 
          Professional Certified Coach, International Coach Federation
                    Endorsed Life Coach, United  Methodist Church

Taking Time Off

Quotes Of the Month

  "Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time."

~John Lubbock

"A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken."
 

~James Dent

 

Prayer for the Month

"Sabbath God, in this season of long days and long daylight, we are grateful to be alive.  Give us the wisdom to pause from our hectic routines and enjoy the simple things of this time of year.  Let us live easily for a time, putting away watches and looking away from clocks, ignoring all the things that need to be moved, fixed or cleaned. Let us lose ourselves in the bounty of the earth you created. May this be a time of rest, refreshment and renewal. May we be calm enough and quiet enough to perceive your presence. Let us not fill all our time with endless activity."

~Based on a prayer composed by Ted Loder in his book, My Heart in My Mouth
 

Links

                                                                  June 2011

Greetings!   

 

One of the great joys of the summer months is the opportunity to move into a new rhythm with a more relaxed schedule and less structured time. What a gift in the midst of a hectic year. Summertime is the perfect season to immerse ourselves in renewing, rejuvenating Sabbath time.  This month we will focus on the importance of being intentional about taking time off.
                    Enjoy ~ Sharon

Plan for Time Off

 summer flowers

 Summer is a great season to get take that well deserved 'time-off'. But a significant percentage of pastors do not take advantage of the full amount of time off that is allotted to them. The most common reason for this is: "I just couldn't get away." Serving a church pastorate is certainly a profession that requires one to plan ahead for time off. Without intention and planning, even the relatively slower summer schedule will fill up with a variety of commitments and meetings and study groups and worship services. Before we know it, our calendars can be overflowing and the idea of any kind of significant time off seems unrealistic.

 

Taking time off is a gift that we give not only to ourselves, but to our congregations. Pastors deserve rest and relaxation and re-centering. Congregations deserve pastors who are regularly rejuvenated so that they are able to engage the ministry at hand with a fresh openness to the movement of the Spirit.

Being intentional about taking time off involves putting in some extra administrative work now so that we can truly be free from our responsibilities in the future. It means looking ahead, identifying and blocking off dates on the calendar. It entails inviting guest preachers and engaging trusted help for emergency pastoral care coverage. And finally, it means having the courage and boldness to accept that it is important to really take time off.

If you haven't yet solidified your plans for time off in the coming months, perhaps now is the time to do so.

*Are you ready to embrace your own need for time off?

*Can you imagine how your church could be blessed if you experienced a sense of renewal?

*When will you take time off?

*What tasks will need to be handled when you are away from your church?

 

*To whom are you willing to entrust these responsibilities?

 Get a Great Start
logo    Prepare your church staff for a great start to the 2011/12 program year!

  

Bridge-the-Gap offers a 1 or 2 day  Church Staff Coaching Retreat that can be custom tailored to the personality and needs of your professional staff. 

 

 Scheduling now for Fall/Winter 2011.

Contact Sharon today to design a coaching package that is right for your staff.

Bridge-the-Gap Life Coaching Services, LLC
 ~
Empowering Clergywomen to Excel
The Rev. Sharon L. Vandegrift, M.Div., PCC