On Sunday, after the service is over, the cascarones have been shared, and a special coffee hour reception, I will head home to start a time of sabbath. I’ll be out from the 21st of April to May 18th.  Depending on possible family time demands I face later in the year, I may be able to take the 2nd ‘chunk’ (3 weeks) of my sabbatical in the fall. For now, though, the uncertainty of how much time I might need to have to take care of my spouse with his back issues means I am not comfortable taking a whole 7 weeks in one fell swoop. I’m holding all the possibilities lightly, focused on making the most of the end of spring and beginning of summer on our small farm. 

 

I have been setting up a small "chapel under the trees’  where I can chicken-gaze, write, and pray. I am thrilled to get to write for the sheer joy of it. And I can read books by Annie Dillard, and a book called “Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand.” I am particularly excited about a book called “Dirshuni: Contemporary Women’s Midrash, a collection of explorations of the Hebrew Scriptures by women in Israel. 

 

But that’s not all I’m going to do. I’ve been slowly putting in place a patch of elevated garden beds; my knees, hips, and back do not favor work that involves kneeling and crouching for days. I’m also learning to use a watering system that has terra cotta pots buried in the beds and connected to a reservoir to keep plants watered. Very reluctantly, my spouseman has agreed to help me learn how to use his shiny orange tractor. His back problems have taught me I need to become a better helpmate. My plan has been endlessly delightful to think about and prepare for. We’ll see how reality stacks up against the dreams. I will be recording how it goes on a Substack account I’ve created (https://substack.com/home/post/p-161019241?source=queue). I’ll post regularly, though not necessarily frequently. I want to have some lighthearted, playful time, unburdened by too many obligations.

 

Everything is in place for worship to be rich and meaningful in my absence. We just learned today that Paul Hard has been approved by Bishop G to enter into a tailored lay preacher licensing process. He’ll have a reflection to share with you in the middle of May. Lee will preach the 1st Sunday of the Season of Easter, and the Reverend Rob Morpeth will be celebrant and preacher on May 4th. On May 18th, when I return from leave, Maggie Paul will be our guest preacher. I have also made sure we have clergy coverage in the event of an emergency. I have promised the vestry and Sherod that I really, really, really will take time off starting on Monday. The only piece missing is you! Please come to church while I am gone. You make church church!!!

 

For now, I invite you to our Holy Week services, and to bring your bells and your Easter finery to celebrate the resurrection of the Alleluias and our Lord himself. See you at church!

 

With love and Easter blessings, Rosa