Sabbatical At A Glance
Journey Together: A Season of Reflection, Recreation, and Reconnection
We are incredibly honored to have been granted a Clergy Renewal Grant from the Lily Foundation. This grant will fund renewal activities for Pastor Lauren - who is celebrating her seventh year at MCCGSL - and for the church.
As we emerge from a season of transition and move into a season of rooting ourselves more deeply in being a spiritual hub for queer community, co-creators of justice and joy, and physically rooted in the Carondelet neighborhood, we will engage in spiritual practices and practices of community to open ourselves more intentionally to where the Spirit is asking us to be. We pray this season is renewing for our entire community and those we touch. Read more about opportunities to connect below.
renewal for MCCGSL
Each month, will feature a different practice, way to connect in community, opportunities for learning, engagement with social justice, and recreational activities that follow the month’s theme for worship. Here are some of the things to look forward to. Please consult the Programs page on the website for more information.
June
Honoring, Respecting and Loving Our Bodies | Get your portraits taken for our Saints wall to be installed later this year. Portraits will be taken before or after church and before or after the month’s community meal with special guests PROMO, MTUG, SQSH, and Black Pride. End the month marching with us in the Pride Parade after worship in the Park on June 28th.
July
The Faith We Sing: Songs of Resistance | This year, we will sing in the resistance. Join us for a weekend singing workshop the second week of July, featuring Paul Vasile. Special guest artists for this year’s Faith We Sing include: Rev. Andy Bryan, Rev. Pressley Sutherland, Rev. Heather Buckley Wilson, AhSa-Ti Nu, Ryan Marquez, and Alicia Hernendez. Don’t miss the Silent Disco at the Key!
August
Drawn In | Consider how spiritual practice, creativity, and community building help us to live into the kin-dom of God. This month, we will focus more on our neighborhood, getting to know the history of Mill Creek and inviting our neighbors for dinner.
September
Reconnection | In September, we will come together to dwell in the things we have learned while experiencing our own pilgrimages.
All Church REtreat September 18 - 20 | MCCGSL
Save the date! Join us for our All Church Retreat with Rev. Phyllis Hunt planned by Rev. Dr. Tijuana Gray, Dennis White, Freida Smith, Rev. Eli Anthony and Rev. Phyllis.
Shared PRactice
There is something grounding about taking out a nice journal and a good writing pen to write down reflections from the day. Through the years, my practice of journaling has ebbed and flowed. More recently, I steal time in between meetings and study to write down thoughts, gratitudes, and prayers in my notes app. But this summer, I am taking the invitation to slow down - to pick up a pen and write something down every day, even if it’s small. Time moves so incredibly fast. Even two sentences can help me remember the ways God is present in my life, connect me to others, reveal deep questions I need to wrestle with, and help me see patterns that can deepen my understanding of what the Spirit is nudging me toward.
Throughout this season of renewal, one of the ways we can stay connected is through prayerful reflection. Each week, we will receive a question to sit with. Each day, we will be invited into a different prompt to help us engage different angles of the question for the week. If you get stuck, use the one-word prompts on your bookmark to spark a memory, another question, an idea, or anything else that comes to mind.
These questions, prompts, and words are merely starting places. Use them in whatever way speaks to your needs for that day and that week. And remember, you don’t have to use words! You can paint, draw, or dance your reflections. Prefer typing or talk to texting? Consider downloading Reflection and using the journal function (everything you need is in the free version)!
As a way of grounding, think of a common way you can begin each time you come to your journal. Is your journal a prayer book? Maybe you start your entry with – Dear God – Hey Jesus – Beloved. Perhaps you start with a one word about how you are feeling that day — reflective – irritated – grateful. Or maybe you start with something you noticed that day – a sign of beauty – two things you learned – a color for the day.
However you start is right and whatever way your practice changes, trust that too. Remember, like any practice, you can start again and again and again.
Thank you to Rev. Tijuana Gray, Frieda Smith, Darla Wickard, Christine White and Dennis White for co-creating this practice and leading us through the summer with thoughtful questions and reflections. If you want to share your reflections with others and receive a weekly email to your inbox with only the question, please sign up here.
In anticipation of how the Spirit is connecting us and with loving gratitude,
Pastor Lauren
On Sunday, May 17, our journals will be blessed. If you want a journal after this time, please contact the office: info@mccgsl.org.
Each week, a question will be sent to you via the Sunday morning eblast and a reflection on the question of the week send via the Thursday eblast. Engage throughout the week and receive an email just with the prompt by clicking the link above. As you engage with the weekly question, consider using these daily prompts to reflect more deeply.
Daily Rhythm:
Sunday
Sit with the question. What stirs within you?
Monday
Revisit Sunday’s scripture*. How does it speak into this week’s question?
*scripture can be found at mccgsl.org/live in the link for the bulletin
Tuesday
What draws you in or excites you about this week’s question/theme?
Wednesday
What feels challenging or uncomfortable about this week’s question/theme?
Thursday
Write a prayer inspired by your reflections this week.
Friday
As you move into the days ahead, what will you carry with you? What might you release?
Saturday
Enjoy the open space today. Write what’s on your heart.
Where in the World is Rev. Lauren?
Throughout the summer, Pastor Lauren will be traveling for renewal, reconnection, and recreation, learning from nature, different cultures, and the experience of pilgrimage.
Here is a rough itinerary of her travels:
Ritual of Release: May 17
Family time in Missouri
Anniversary in Sedona
Week in NY
Lauren Leaves for Spain
Walk the Camino de Santiago for 50 days
Family Trip in Europe
Come Home to Reflect and Prepare for Return
Staff Retreat for Reconnection
Ritual Return: September 16
Though the parameters of the grant do not allow Rev. Lauren to be in touch with church, you can follow her travels on Polarsteps.
Please note: she will not be able to respond like usual, so if you don’t hear from her directly, trust it is not personal.
Connect with Rev. Lauren via music! Listen to the music MCCGSL and Rev. Lauren made for the journey. You can collaborate by adding your own song or asking Pastor Eli to add it for you.