Sabbatical Week 13

This final week was spent with family, hiking, and preparing for the return to ministry.

At the beginning of the week my step-son Matt and his four children (ages 4-13) came for a visit to “grandma- and grandpa’s-on-the-lake”.  We enjoyed swimming and fishing on our lake.  You’ll see pictures of Shane and Henry’s 13” rainbow trout.  They enjoyed catching and eating the fish, but cleaning them?- -not so much.  

We also went hiking together on a Tiger Mountain trail (just 15 minutes from home and one we’d hiked earlier in the summer).  We discovered anew how children and youth can give you a different perspective.  One was from our 13 yr. old grandson, Shane.  When you see the picture where “old trees go to die,” think “treeatary.” Henry also coined a phrase. He saw young trees and shrubs growing out of old trees and stumps, and dubbed them “grandbabys” (a combination of the words “grandparent” and “baby”).  We also discovered interesting flowers and plants along the way.

On Friday, Juliann and Law, my sister and her husband, and Tom and I met at my parent’s apartment at Madison House in Kirkland to share the wedding video with them. Mom and dad could not make the trip to Port Townsend for their granddaughter’s wedding.   After the video we had a delicious dinner together. 

On Saturday we took our final sabbatical hike up 7,000’ Dege Peak at Mt. Rainer National Park near Sunrise.  We hiked 1½ miles and gained 1,000 feet. The views up the trail and on top of the peak are spectacular.  You’ll find pictures of brilliant flowers and majestic scenery from the trail and mountaintop.  As I looked out over Mt. Rainer, the Olympics, Mt Adams, and Mt. Baker, this verse from Psalm 90:2, came to my mind:  “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”  The mountains remind me of how enormous and yet intimate our God is!

Alas, we forgot the camera when we went to KFP for worship this past Sunday, Sept. 4.  So, unfortunately, I cannot share any pictures with you.  So I will try to describe what it was like for Tom and me to be back at Kent First Presbyterian Church.  There was a warming in my heart as I saw each of you.  It is so good to be back among the people whom I love and with whom I am privileged to serve in the name of Christ Jesus. Tom felt a renewed spring in his step as he walked into worship.  As I looked around I saw a faith community that looked renewed as well.  I look forward to hearing your sabbatical stories and sharing more of my own with you. 

Tomorrow the sabbatical ends and I am back as your pastor.  I come back renewed and refreshed.  I have challenges before me, but what is wonderful is having full energy to face them and boldly walk forward.  Ecclesiastes says, “there is a time for every season on this earth.” The sabbatical was a season of rest and renewal.  Coming back is the season for energy, creativity, and bearing fruit.  I look forward to seeing the harvest reaped from this sabbatical in both me and the faith community at Kent First Presbyterian Church. 

Sabbatical Week 12

This week was our annual weeklong pilgrimage with the Kirkpatrick clan to Odell Lake in the Oregon Cascade Mountains.

During the week I read Cintra Pemberton’s book, Soulfaring.  Pemberton is a Catholic nun who regularly visits the Celtic lands of Ireland, Britton, Scotland, and Wales.  In her book she discusses the pilgrimages of the Celtic people.  She identifies two reasons for being on a pilgrimage:  to go on a mission to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ; and to find one’s “resurrection place”.  A resurrection place is where one encounters the holy Triune God.  Our annual trip to Odell Lake is a pilgrimage where Tom and I encounter our holy God.  We have been going to this special place for nearly 25 years.  Let me share with you this year’s pilgrimage.  

We arrived at our cabin at Shelter Cove Resort last Monday, and set up our place of rest and renewal.  The lake, flowers, seagulls, fish, blue jays, chipmunks, osprey, and eagles welcomed us.  

The Kirkpatrick family started to arrive.  There were 16 of us at various times during the week.  Tom and I did miss our children and their families.  They were not able to join us, but we were able to spend lots of time with our relatives from Eugene, Salem, and Portland.   

During the week we went on a number of hikes.  We made several 3-mile hikes up nearby Trapper Creek.  As we walked along this pristine mountain creek we saw sub alpine flowers, verdant meadows, and diverse evergreen trees.  We have many memories of hiking this trail with our Oregon family and with our own children and grandchildren.   You will find a picture of me bending over and dipping my hand in Trapper Creek.  In Celtic tradition I dipped my hand into water three times, in the name of the Trinity, and then I washed my face.  This was a powerful reminder of how Christ’s spirit refreshes my soul.

We also went on several 3- to 6-mile hikes on the Pacific Crest Trail to Midnight and Arrowhead lakes.  We saw bear grass (the flower in our wedding along the Pacific Crest Trail near Enumclaw 37 years ago), a mammoth fungus, spectacular skies and waters, and various wildflowers. 

Our longest hike of the summer (9 miles roundtrip) was to Yuran Lake.  We so enjoyed this hike!!!  The scenery and wildflowers were beautiful and the lake was gorgeous! 

Odell Lake did not disappoint.  I saw God in the trees, in light shimmering on the water, in the eyes of a chipmunk, and in the eyes of family members.  As I hiked, sat by the evening campfire, and prayed in quietness, I experience the reality of this prayer of St. Patrick: 

Christ beside me, Christ before me.

Christ behind me, Christ within me.

            Christ beneath me, Christ above me.

             Christ to the right of me, and Christ to the left of me.

            Christ in my lying, in my sitting, my rising.

            Christ in the heart of all who know me.

Christ on the tongue of all who meet me.

Christ in the eye of all who see me.

Christ in the ear of all who hear me.

When hiking, I often prayed this Celtic prayer:  Lord bless the earth beneath my feet, and bless the journey I am on.   On this sabbatical journey I have been truly blessed!

This last week of sabbatical I will be praying for each of the staff, members, and friends of Kent First Presbyterian Church, and I will be preparing myself to re-enter my ministry at KFP.  See you all on Sunday!!!!

Blessings to you all and enjoy the pictures!!!