Sabbath: An Essential Practice for Rest and Renewal
The practice of Sabbath is central to God’s desire for abundant life. It’s a sacred rhythm of rest that sustains us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In the demanding life of ministry, honoring the Sabbath is essential to prevent burnout and ensure long-term vitality in the clergy profession.
Understanding Roles and Responsibilities
Since Pastor Emily joined us as a 3/4-time pastor, her responsibilities have been thoughtfully tailored to fit within her 30-hour workweek. Her primary focus is on leading youth and children’s ministries, preaching and presiding once a month, and providing full pastoral coverage when Pastor Kim is away. While she certainly offers pastoral care to our community, the responsibility for emergencies and ongoing pastoral care primarily rests with Pastor Kim.
Even on her Sabbath, Pastor Kim remains available for genuine emergencies—such as a death, hospitalization, accident, or spiritual crisis—and encourages you to contact her by phone or text in such situations. For non-emergencies, she appreciates communication via email and your patience in awaiting a response.
Why a Shared Sabbath?
Why doesn’t Pastor Emily handle ministry business on Fridays? The answer lies in her limited weekly hours and the importance of her focus on key ministry areas during her office hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. These days are reserved for tasks like staff meetings, collaboration with our administrator, OWLS connections, and leadership in APPLE Seeds chapel services. She also participates in evening meetings as needed.
As for Pastor Kim, her commitment to a Friday Sabbath aligns with her family’s needs. Her husband, also a pastor, takes Fridays off, allowing them to rest and recharge together. This alignment fosters sustainable family rhythms, which are critical for long-term ministry.
The Bigger Picture
Having both pastors take the same Sabbath day ensures a cohesive staff schedule, supports appropriate boundaries for Pastor Emily’s part-time role, and honors the need for sustainable family lives for both pastors. This structure ultimately allows them to better serve our congregation while remaining grounded in their personal well-being and God’s gift of Sabbath rest.
Thank you for understanding and supporting this schedule, which reflects both thoughtful planning and deep care for our APLC community.