Rambling's From The Rev.

Pastor Jim Johnson
St. Luke Lutheran Church
April 2008
"Sabbatical"

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As this is posted on our website, I have now officially begun my sabbatical! What a gift this time is, and I pray and intend for it to be beneficial as well, for both me and the congregation.

As you probably know, I received a grant from the Louisville Institute, funded by the Lilly Endowment, for pastoral sabbaticals. In February, the Institute flew me, and the other recipients of the grant, out for an orientation. Some explanation was given as to why we were chosen from among the hundreds of applicants. One of the things we held in common was the desire and plan to reorient ourselves to the one thing, place, or time that ignited our aspiration and passion for ministry. For me, that has always been the study of Martin Luther’s writings and theology (as well as the study of Greek and Hebrew). The focus of my sabbatical will be to do just that: read Luther, about Luther, and visit the sites of Luther’s life.

It is my intention to keep you updated monthly while I’m gone. The very first Sunday after I begin I will be going to the last parish I served to preach there for their 25^th Anniversary (so much for a break!). The rest of the month I will have time at home with my family – studying during the days while kids are in school, and home in the evenings and weekends with the family – as well as a couple of weeks studying by myself at a remote lake cabin.

I will keep you all in prayer, as I thank God for you daily, and thank you for this time.

Peace be with you,
Pastor Jim