On Saturday morning, March 30, we convened a meeting of all those with leadership responsibilities at St. Philip's.  Of the thirty-two invited, twenty people came.  Our purpose was to discuss with Martin, our Vicar, his plans for his imminent Sabbatical during the months of April, May, and June, and to share with each other how we can assure continuity of leadership in the many activity areas of the congregation during his absence. 
Also present were John Duncan and Bill Kelly, who, along with Eliza Linley (not present), make up the Pastoral Leadership Team for the Sabbatical period and who will be preaching and celebrating on Sunday mornings.,  They will also provide pastoral care, and look after office administrative tasks.  Mary Rhodes, Office Manager and "hub of the communication wheel," and answered many questions about whom to contact when and how and for what.
In spite of it being held the day before Easter and a number of people being out of town, there was an excellent turnout for this discussion.  We were pleasantly surprised to recognize the large number of people in leadership at St. Philip's. So many do so much, often little noticed, and figure into the operation of the congregation and its mission.  A list of these "doers" will be published and sent to all members of the congregation soon. It's reassuring to know what excellent provision has been made for the smooth flow of activities while Martin is away.
Following up on the Bishop Committee's offsite retreat on March 23, I detailed a way of thinking about change and chaos.  Change is natural and normal in our lives - AND it often is unsettling and uncomfortable.  We are just entering into that wobbly  that process now - and it's normal to wonder how St. Philip's is going to fare over the three-month period.
I dare to think that we will actually "thrive" and not just "survive"!  This can be a period of looking at new options for the congregation, new possibilities for personal and spiritual growth, new ways of "taking charge" in our areas of responsibility, new ways of being together in faith. 
This is our challenge during this period.  It's not unlike how it felt when you went away to college--or graduated from college and faced the world--or when you went abroad to live for a time.  Martin has been a "parent" for this congregation and has carried much of the day-to-day business in his head and all of us in his heart.  Now we have the opportunity to come into our own as a congregation, ready to take full responsibility for ourselves.
(For more about how the church will operate during Martin's sabbatical, see page 7)
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