Each year I use the February Column to reprise my Annual Report. As we enter this new year we pledge to support one another, prayer for each another and celebrate the good work that God has begun in this parish community. Peace my friends. Pastor Jeff

One man challenged another to an all-day wood chopping contest. The challenger worked very hard, stopping only for a brief lunch break. The other man had a leisurely lunch and took several breaks during the day. At the end of the day, the challenger was surprised and annoyed to find that the other fellow had chopped substantially more wood than he had. I don’t get it, he said. Every time I checked, you were taking a rest, yet you chopped more wood than I did. But the winning woodsman just smiled and replied, But you didn’t notice, that every time I sat down to rest – I was sharpening my ax!

I know it seems a bit of an odd story to begin a pastor’s Annual Report, but this year I’d like to reflect less on what has taken place in the last year, and more on what is before us. I wish to share some thoughts about my upcoming sabbatical. From Mid-June throughout the month of July I will be away from my work here as pastor for a six week sabbatical. Sabbatical comes from the Hebrew word – Shabbat – literally, to cease. In the book of Genesis, a Shabbat is taken by God on the seventh day. God ceases from creation and rests. In the Book of Exodus Shabbat is the first command given after the flight from Egypt. In the Book of Leviticus, God commands that every seventh year is a time of Shabbat. In fact the command to Shabbat is given 170 times in the bible! And certainly you can not read the gospels without understanding that Jesus was a person of Shabbat – a man who often ceased what he was doing to rest.

These past ten years at Messiah have been a wonderful adventure. There have been so many great memories, great liturgical experiences, joyful gatherings and of course God has blessed this community in abundance. We are growing so quickly and in so many different ministries. Still, I know that to pastor a growing community into the next decade I need to sharpen my ax. I need to Shabbat – to cease from my daily activity and spend some time learning, reflecting, praying and resting. The ELCA recommends a sabbatical time every seven years for a rostered pastored and the Pastoral Parish Council and I have planned mine for this summer.

Starting in mid-June, Melissa and I and the children will be traveling to the Rocky Mountains as I will be enrolled in the Luther Academy of the Rockies. For two weeks I will be in class with seminary professors and theologians updating my understanding of the church and sharpening my theological ax. Afternoons will be spent with family, hiking, exploring nature and enjoying the beauty of the Rockies. Melissa and will then return home for a couple of weeks for family visits before heading off to the east coast. We’ll travel to Washington DC to re-visit my old university, spend time in historic Williamsburg, Va. and then spend a few days near the ocean on Virginia Beach.

During this time of Shabbat, Pastor Gil will be covering pastoral emergencies and presiding at Sunday liturgies. He will preach some of the liturgies and we will have guest preachers for some as well. The Pastoral staff will continue their great work in keeping the parish alive and healthy. I am aware that few people in life have the opportunity to take a sabbatical. I am grateful for the church’s financial support and for the council’s encouragement in this time of rest. During these six weeks I will pray for you, my Messiah Church friends, and trust that you will continue to gather faithfully every Sunday morning and lift me and my family in your prayers as well. God has done great things through our common ministry. I believe that God has even greater plans for us in the next ten years.

Every year as the old year comes to a close, the national media highlights the most influential people who have passed – an in memoriam for those who have died. 2011 saw the passing of perhaps one of the most influential designers and entrepreneurs of the last century – Steve Jobs. The creator and founder of Apple Corporation and the inspiration behind the personal computer, Steve often spoke to his employees about the importance of time – of using time wisely. Jobs believed that our time is limited – so we shouldn’t waste it living someone else’s life. He always told his design team not to be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. He told them never to let the noise of other’s opinions drown out their own inner voices. And most importantly, he encouraged his employees to have the courage to follow their hearts and to trust their intuitions. You already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. This was Steve Jobs’ legacy – to use our time wisely.

There is so much truth in Steve Jobs’ philosophy of time. The time we have is limited and thus so very valuable. I read recently:

• To realize the value of a year, ask a student who failed a final exam.
• To realize the value of one month, ask the mother of a premature baby.
• To realize the value of a week, ask the editor of a weekly magazine.
• To realize the value of one day, ask a daily wage laborer with kids to feed
• To realize the value of an hour, ask two people in love waiting to meet
• To realize the value of a minute, ask someone who barely missed the train
• To realize the value of a second, ask the person who just avoided a crash
• To realize the value of a millisecond, ask the person who won the Olympic silver medal

All time is limited and thus so very valuable. And still we waste time! As Steve Jobs so deeply believed, we waste time by striving to live someone else’s life – when we spend all of our days trying to live up to other’s expectations of us – our parents, children, spouses or our bosses. It isn’t wrong to please other people, but we have to be authentic people. We have to claim who we are and love who we are and live who we are!

We waste time when we get caught up in dogmatic thinking. This is especially true of churches. Dogmatic thinking keeps us from looking at the future with a newness and freshness that brings life. Just because that is the way it has always been done, doesn’t mean that it’s the only way to do it! In our church community and in our personal lives we have to try new things, and begin new adventures, and dream new dreams because our time is valuable!

And mostly we waste time when we ignore our inner voice and fail to follow our hearts. Steve Jobs wasn’t a particularly religious man and yet he believed that there was something sacred within each human being that I call the voice of God. Every Sunday I finish the liturgy by blessing you. I remind you that God goes before you to guide you and is behind you to encourage you; that God is above you to watch over you and beneath you to support you. And then every week I end by saying: And may you discover the power of God within you and know that God will always be your friend. What I mean by that is that the sacred is within you, and if you reflect and listen to this voice, then God will lead you well.

And so as we embark on yet another year I pray that you will use this year wisely. I pray that you will again realize how precious is every year and month, every day and hour, every single minute and second. Do not waste this time. Dream great dreams for yourself and stop trying live up to everyone else’s expectations of you. Do not plod through another year dogmatically doing things the same way – take some risks, strike out anew, and live differently. And most of all listen to that voice within you – the voice of the Divine. Have courage to follow your heart this year and may you discover the power of God within you and know that God will always be your friend. Happy New Year my Messiah Church friends!

I once heard a wonderful saying: Gratitude is the memory of the heart. It means, of course, that if we are truly grateful – we remember. This month I want to share with you some of the memories of my heart. I write about one for whom I am truly grateful, our Parish Secretary, Beverly Schedel. I have worked alongside Bev for the past ten years and celebrate the nearly twelve years that she has served Messiah Church. On December 31^st Bev will be retiring from our pastoral staff (although not from our community) and moving on to other activities and adventures. When you work so closely with someone for a decade there are, of course, so many memories…

I remember her patience and kindness to me when I first arrived at Messiah. There were afternoons when my then infant son Ben would be in my charge, and I would have him jumping in a bouncy seat between our offices. It’s always fun to have an infant around, that is of course unless you’re trying to answer phones and put together a newsletter and deal with office details – and Bev never once complained. I’ll remember too the day that Melissa called me at the office and told me that she was pregnant with our second son Joey. I ran into Bev’s office to tell her and she hugged me and cried with me and only later did it occur to me that she knew of this great news before my own Mom did – even more shocking – before my mother-in-law did! I remember how humbled I was the day that I discovered that Bev knew the names of all the mail carriers who dropped off mail; or the one’s who stopped just to use our restroom; or the people that fixed the office machines; or the sales people who dropped by to sell their products. These are people that I walked by so often and yet she took time to know their names. That is a true gift.

            I remember all the birthdays and Boss’s Days that I would walk into my office to find a chocolate donut sitting on my desk because she knew I had unhealthy eating habits and loved donuts. And I won’t forget the laughter that was always present when I would share a goofy email, or God forbid, try out one of my Sunday jokes. It was a joy as well to hear stories of her family, her husband Arlo, her beautiful daughters and her love of being a grandma.

            When you share workspace with someone every day for ten years, they see the best and the worst of you. Aside from Melissa, Bev has seen the worst! It’s the side of me that can be frustrated and worried when something goes wrong; tired and terse when weariness sets in; angry or controlling when things aren’t done the way I want (usually when I haven’t eaten!). Bev has seen it all and accepted it with grace. I’ll remember that as well.

            Still, perhaps more than anything else I will remember the hospitality that she showed to those who walked into the office simply to shoot the breeze. It’s a rare gift to make people feel as if they are not an imposition or a distraction and to listen to them. Bev is a great listener…and I supposed God knew that I needed a listener.             All of this and so much I will remember and in remembering I will show my gratitude.

            On Sunday, December 11^th in between the liturgies, we will be having a small celebration to honor Bev and the twelve years of ministry that she has offered to this parish community. Come and join us in the Gathering Space for cake and coffee and of course great conversation.

            So the question becomes: If Bev is retiring, who is managing the office? After accepting resumes and interviewing candidates, the pastoral Parish Council offered the position of Office Manager to Anna Eherenman. Anna has a background in Office Management and volunteer coordinating. She has an in depth knowledge of graphic design and has worked in church environments before. Aside from her family she has a passion for exercise and fitness (she has completed two Iron man races!) She also has a deep love for animals and has worked with the Dane County Humane Society. Anna and her husband and two children live in the Heritage Heights neighborhood. I’m pleased that Anna will be working on the Pastoral Team.

            Again, please join us on Sunday, December 11^th as we show our appreciation for Bev. Stop by and say hello to Anna in the New Year. Most of all take some time to remember those who have touched your lives. Remember, and in remembering you will show your gratitude. After all – Gratitude is the memory of the heart