Pastor’s Corner May 2010

The following was published in our monthly newsletter, the Redeemer Report.

Dear Redeemer Family,

As you know I am taking a three month sabbatical from my regular pastoral duties at Redeemer in order to spend some intensive study time working on my doctorate. I’ll be on sabbatical from May 17 to August 9 and thus out of the office and pulpit for 12 weeks. I will pray for you throughout this time, please pray for me also.

For approximately 10 of the 12 weeks of the sabbatical I will be in the library reading, researching, and writing. I will treat these days like normal workdays and will have evenings and parts of the weekends with my family. I am hoping to be at least 75% done with my total doctoral requirements by summer’s end and complete the degree a little more than a year later, Lord willing of course. I am looking forward to genuine family time during the weekends. Pastoral ministry, especially teaching and preaching preparation, tends to make me unavailable to my family most Saturdays (even if I’m with them in body, my mind tends to be occupied with what’s coming Sunday). It will be a blessing to calmly sit and worship with my family on weekly basis for a few months.

I am extremely grateful to our Session for granting me this sabbatical. I am also encouraged by their instituting a general sabbatical policy for the pastors of Redeemer. For every 7 years of pastoral service, the pastors are eligible for a 12-week sabbatical. These sabbaticals are not vacations, but rather intentional periods of specific study or ministerial renewal as approved by the Session. I have always felt well cared for and encouraged by Redeemer, especially the elders, this sabbatical policy is an example of such gracious nurture.

Our family will be in attendance for worship many Sundays during this time frame. I will be in Colorado for all of July and the first week in August, but Shari and the children will be in attendance at RPC for several of those weeks. Redeemer is our family, we are not taking a sabbatical from you! Pastors Nathan and Brian will split preaching and teaching during the 12 weeks of my absence, you will be well fed and cared for by these two able shepherds. I’ll continue blog-writing and will send a monthly newsletter article to let you know how I am progressing.

I am beginning my 14th year of ministry at Redeemer, and 10th year as the senior pastor. I would not want to be anywhere else on earth. I’m not remotely burned out or in need of a recharge, in fact, I’ve never been more excited about ministry at RPC and the future. This brief sabbatical will be a time to dive in to some intense biblical/theological study that will, by God’s grace, ultimately enhance my ability to minister to Redeemer. It will also be a great time for Redeemer’s spiritual growth under Pastors Nathan and Brian and the other elders God has blessed us with.

So, Lord willing I’ll finish preaching through Philippians 2 on May 16. I’ll start Philippians 3 on August 15.
In the Lamb,
Pastor Tony Felich