Pr. Suzi begins her sabbatical today. Since 2009, Pr. Suzi has walked with St. John's through revamping the youth education programming, pastoral transitions, and the arrival of a new colleague. The root of the word "sabbatical" is sabbath. As we hear in Genesis, "And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done." (2:2) And also in Deuteronomy, "Observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God: you shall not do any work." (5:12-14a) We give thanks for the abundance of care and ministry that Pr. Suzi has coordinated and facilitated among us and we hope that this sabbatical is a time of rest, refreshment, renewal, and re-creation for her.
Jamestown North Dakota