March 2026
"Be still, and know that I am God”
-Psalm 46:10
Dear church family,
As I compose this article for our newsletter, I happen to be on my couch at home resting because of an upset stomach. I don’t often have to take sick time (that’s not a flex, I just happen to be blessed with a good and undeserved, totally inherited immune system), and like many of you I grew up with a mentality that values “toughing it out” and going in to work regardless of how you feel.
Yet I’ve been astonished at how startlingly creative and productive one can be when there isn’t a “HAVE TO” hanging over your head. When there is true REST. No one is forcing me to answer e-mails, work on administrative tasks, or even write this newsletter right now. True, these are good things to get done, but at the moment no one would blame me for simply sleeping and letting my body recover (and let me say, these are important things to do as well). There is a freedom in “time away.”
I pray that this is a preview of my upcoming Sabbatical, when you as a church are letting me completely unavailable for three months so that I can be totally available to God and to life outside of “work.” I am praying that, like this morning, it will result in the rediscovery of joy and finding out how much I truly love the ministry God has given us.
During those three months, there will be folks available for the work and to help lead and care for you. We are making the list of those names and numbers available to you. But this is a good reminder to us all that ministry does not depend on a single person or even on an approved list of people, but rather each of us are a part of the church’s overall health and mission.
Every now and then, it is good for all of us to take a step back to recharge the batteries and get out of routines that in the long run tend to stifle our creativity or rob us of joy. Now, I do love my routines, but this break provides new perspective and hopefully many reminders of God’s calling to me and my first love for Jesus. After those three months, I hope to return refreshed and ready for many more years of ministry together.
I know that we at FPCM have never done anything like this before, and I do feel an incredible amount of gratitude for your willingness to allow me this time away from you but present to our Lord and myself. Please lift me up in your prayers and boldly lean on each other and the help God has provided in folks to lead you during that April-July time.
A Sabbatical is a spiritual journey with a destination in mind. I want to grow closer to Jesus so that I may enter into another chapter of leadership and be of greater help and availability to you and the community as well. Yes, I am doing this because I believe I need to do this, but I am also doing it because I don’t want to give you leftovers, but rather the best of myself.
Have a most blessed Lent, Church, as together we journey again to the cross and the victory of Jesus. And then after Easter, I’ll see you in July; hopefully with fresh strength and a rested mind and a reignited heart.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Matthew