Holiday and "sabbatical"
Just loading the van!
We're setting off tomorrow morning to get the 2pm ferry to Dunkerque, for nearly 3 weeks in France and Spain. And when we come back, I'm still not working, as I'll be on "sabbatical" until late June. This is something ministers are encouraged to do every seven years, but after over 23 years I've only just got around to it. The idea is to take a "break with a purpose," completely off duty in the local church and community, but doing or studying something that will be of use there in the future. Some use the time for extra study, PhDs etc. Not me.
Liz & I are going to get in the van, and visit a lot of different churches around the eastern region which have more than average "young adults," ie 20s and 30s. That's an age group the churches around here struggle to connect with, so I want to find out how we can do better for them.
Even the holiday forms part of it (sort of!), as we'll be visiting friends at Baptist churches in Murcia and in Rouen. If anyone wants to follow us, my daughter has introduced me to the mysteries of "travel-blogging, so we'll be updating at least every week at
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/tonyssabbatical/1/tpod.html
That's enough for now - got to cook a final English meal of sausage egg chips and beans!
Sounds like a great trip, Tony. Enjoy your break, and we'll be following your blog every step of the way.
I would have loved to know where some of those churches were. We have spent 8 months traveling in Europe and have been to exactly three Sunday services. Most of the churches were closed. In one little village on Easter Sunday the manager at the campground told us there would be no service at their little church because the priest handles 17 parishes and had been there last week and would be around again in five weeks!
Do have a great trip over the water Tony..enjoy the weather and I hope you find those little churches for your inspiration...MMM sausage egg chips and beans..one of my fave meals..but with a couple of slices of bread and butter and a strong mug of tea..Ex truck driver me
Drive safely now..and remember they drive on the "Wrong Side" over there!!
I guess your trip must be nearing its end. Hope you have enjoyed your time away.
We usually visit churches if we can and try to get to services as and when we can. It is great to mix with the locals and see how their services differ from ours.
Yes Rita, we're back in the UK now, and we've started our programme of visiting churches in the region. I've just been updating the "blog" (link above) if you want to see how we got on so far!
A Sabbatical is a short period off from your job. Usually professors take sabbacticals to enjoy studying somewhere else, other professions take sabbaticals for different reasons. It's a period of time that one takes off work, with the intention of returning to their job.
Hi Tony
Hope you have a great time, and let us know how you get on when you get back!! In the meantime we'll keep an eye on your blog with interest.
Best wishes
Sarah