The Rev. Sharon L. Vandegrift, M.Div, PCC
Professional Certified Coach, International Coach Federation
Endorsed Life Coach, United Methodist Church
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Quotes Of the Month
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"Activity conquers cold, but stillness conquers heat."
~Lao Tzu
"If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."
~Harry S. Truman
"Noble souls, through dust and heat, rise from disaster and defeat the stronger."
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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Prayer for
The Month |
"I offer you these months,
My heart's July and August days:
Come summer with me Lord;
Summer deep down in my soul;
Restore my faith in summer's time, in rest, in joy, in play, in you...
Summer in my heart, and dwell there as if time would never end, as if the time were child's time, eternal
time when school is always out and joy is always in."
~Fr. Austin Flemming
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New Fall Offerings from
Bridge-the-Gap
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September 25-27
Riverview Retreat Center Centreville, MD
A small group leadership development program for churches
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Greetings!
Ah....Summertime....it is a season that often brings with it relaxing time apart from our normal rhythms. But even in this beloved, joyful season, we can find ourselves dealing with struggle and challenges. This month's theme is Heat Wave.
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Heat Wave
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Like many of you, I love the summertime.  My spirit resonates with the lyrics of that gorgeous song from Porgy and Bess: "Summertime...and the living is easy." But when we were in the midst of a severe heat wave recently, and many around the country were dealing with wildfires and the fall-out of violent storms, I was not rejoicing in summertime. For the many who were affected, the living was not easy at all.
Of course, summertime is no different from any other time of the year. No matter how much we plan and strategize and organize, sometimes the unexpected happens and we are called upon to rise to the occasion. We will become more resilient if we nurture a mindset that embraces the power of planning while keeping attuned to the reality that we cannot be in full control of all aspects of life.
- How might you get ready for the next heat wave?
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Query for the Coach
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Dear Sharon,
My church secretary is wonderful. She is a dependable and hard worker who is adored and trusted by the congregation. When we hired her 3 years ago, she had no secretarial experience, but she was an active member of the church and the hiring committee knew she had a good reputation for being friendly, smart and organized. It was a good decision. She is a great member of the staff and we have become friends.
So, here is the problem: my wife and I are struggling with a complicated family issue. We have agreed to keep the situation confidential. Because of the situation I am at the office less than usual during normal hours. I put in plenty of work hours in the evenings, so I don't feel like it is a problem when I am not in the office at all times. But the secretary is getting very frustrated with me. She says she needs me there to answer her questions. She also feels like it is her job to tell people where I am when I am not in the office and she is embarrassed when people realize that she doesn't know where I am. She wants to know why I am gone so much and when I am vague she is worried that I don't trust her. I really value her and all that she does for the church. But lately her attitude is adding stress to an already stressful situation. Any suggestions?
For Sharon's Response go to: Query for the Coach
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Bridge-the-Gap Life Coaching Services, LLC
~Empowering Clergy to Excel
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The Rev. Sharon L. Vandegrift, M.Div., PCC
www.btglifecoaching.com
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