9 April 2007
Dear Friends,
Eastertime
Greetings from Omaha. The season of Lent has made way for Eastertime—the season of purification, making our hearts ready to receive and express more fully the redemption of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Like no other season of the church year, Easter invites us to enter with Jesus into the horrors and suffering of our lives and the world. We are not masochists who want to suffer. We are realists. As we enter into the Easter story, we identify with the one who was willing to endure crucifixion to offer us the hope of resurrection in the midst of our agonies and pain. By walking through Lent, Easter, and Pentecost, we enter into the life of the One who is present in every scene of suffering and agony in our world, the One who not only endures our suffering but also invites us to bear that suffering for others and so to offer them the hope of resurrection through him. In so doing we move closer to that health and wholeness we all crave for ourselves and for our world. Christine Sine, MD, Sacred Rhythms
Sabbatical
In the midst of this remarkable season in the church calendar, Chris and I have a privileged opportunity to take a holy pilgrimage.
May 1 marks the commencement of our pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain. (You can Google "Camino de Santiago" for more information if you're interested.) The cathedral in Santiago de Compostela marks the place where the remains of Saint James are said to be buried. For nearly two thousand years, saints have walked this route in search of meaning and expression to their faith, reflecting on the martyrdom of the Apostle James and a Savior who bids us come and die.
The way to Santiago is known to be one of the three holiest Christian pilgrimages, the first two being pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Rome. Even our beloved Saint Francis is said to have made this very pilgrimage. For approximately 5 weeks, Chris and I will walk for about 8 hours a day (13-20 miles) accompanying the spirits of these honored brothers and sisters of our faith.
This is a sabbatical year for us. Our pilgrimage marks the first part of our sabbatical. For the last 10+ years, Chris and I have done our best to follow the Lord in the active life of community, suffering and service. This year we have the opportunity to pursue in greater depths what it means to follow the Lord in rest.
Merriam-Webster defines sabbatical year as:
sabbatical year (Function: noun) 1 often capitalized S : a year of rest for the land observed every seventh year in ancient Judea, 2 : a leave often with pay granted usually every seventh year (as to a college professor) for rest, travel, or research — called also sabbatical leave
In the context of our community, we define sabbatical as a season of rest and renewal for body, soul and mind. And ideally this would be taken every seventh year of active full-time service with the community.
Chris and I return to Omaha June 10 and will serve in preparation for our international staff retreat which takes place every 3 years. Soon after, we will detach once again from the community for the second part of our sabbatical.
In August, we journey to Durham, North Carolina to spend 3 months at The Center for Reconciliation at Duke Divinity School. The Center has invited Chris and me to take part in their visiting practitioner fellowship. At Duke we will have more opportunity to explore rest and renewal, unique to our individual expressions of our shared vocation in marriage and service together. See http://www.divinity.duke.edu/reconciliation for more information.
As you can tell, this is a very important year for us as we take a creative absence from Word Made Flesh. What we're learning already is that this sabbatical is as much for the community as it is for Chris and me. Will you be in prayer with us that we might all receive God's intention for sabbatical rest?
The Extension of our Spiritual Community
In February, Chris and I wrote to you expressing our needs regarding our financial support.
Well, we want you to know that we have been blown away by your loving-kindness, generosity, prayers, and provision. Many of you either gave a one-time gift to help get us through, increased your monthly giving or committed anew to partner financially with us. We are really humbled by your commitment to this spiritual community that is formed in the nature of giving and receiving.
Thank you.
We are in feel so supported by you and know that we're not in this alone, but there is an extended community that serves with us in spirit as we seek to see God's justice established among the poor.
Thank you for your friendship, your prayers and your commitment to the vision of WMF. Know that as we take sabbatical this year, we hold you in our hearts and take you with us on our journey.
with depths of gratitude,
phileena