Our Children's Ministry Coordinator at First Christian Church is Shawna Mitchell. She is also a fourth grade teacher at Shearer Elementary. During the sabbatical this summer she shouldered a heavy load of programming, some of which I would normally bear. For her September Newsletter Column she wrote, "Sabbatical 2018: Stories I Can't Wait to Tell Rev. Jerry." I share it with you in its entirety.
* Getting goosebumps when a child leads the whole congregation in collective worship.
* Exciting shrieks from a preschooler at the bowling alley when a single pin falls.
* Book clubs and mushroom dip and Key Lime Pie and bear hugs.
* Summer-long game of tag running Sunday to Sunday to Sunday.
* Summertime, poolside, friend time and family time.
* Breathing and stretching and remembering and forgiving.
* Children on a doorstep. Shut-ins at the door. Cookies in between.
* Camp songs on the tongue. Naps on the way home.
* Tie Dyes and Church Vans and golf parties and being stuck in small parking lots.
* Youth room slime, water slides and petting on a starfish.
* Paint parties and fireflies. Night outs and fellowships.
* Children's books donations, and cleaned up spaces.
* Leading. Expanding. Growing.
* Praying, listening, seeking, finding.
* We missed him, but I think we also found a part of ourselves along the way......
........What tales of sabbatical will you tell?
Peace,
Shawna Mitchell
Here are some photos from the FCC Sabbatical>
First Christian Church has been active while I was away. A sabbatical for me was intended to be a sabbatical for them also, and it looks like that has proved to be. I am looking forward to hearing the stories, and being asked about mine.
I am grateful for First Christian Church and the kinds and types of people who make FCC what it is. Their kindness to me is quite humbling. Their faithfulness is striking. Their joy is blossoming. Lots of experiences. Lots of discoveries. Lots of stories.
Peace and Love,
Jerry
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