The Sabbatical team met for the first time on Wednesday, April 9 at Beth Bell Lavoie’s home in Windham. Sue LeSueur, Connie Morton-Ewbank, Thelma Hutton, Angie Robidoux, Beth Bell Lavoie, and Heather Deranian met over dinner to brainstorm ideas for the congregation’s renewal while Sue is on sabbatical the summer of 2009
Sue’s Sabbatical:
Sue’s sabbatical is a “Sacred Quest: Tracing the Path of Celtic Liturgy” to “explore the dialectic between Celtic Liturgy and its impact on culture”. Sue will begin with a period of intensive research and reading, and time to confirm the itinerary for the remainder of the sabbatical. The next phase includes travel to Ireland, Scotland and England for primary research and retreat. The last phase is to complete a write-up of her study and conclude with necessary rest and reintegration. Sue’s Sabbatical is planned for the summer of 2009 and will be 3 months long.
Congregational Renewal:
The oldest, finest Anglican tradition – Everything we do has its grounding in worship and sending us out into the world to share the Good News.
The Congregational Renewal program is “to explore the evolution of worship and worship space though the development of Christianity”. This fits nicely with Sue’s study of Celtic Liturgy and culture, as we study worship throughout Christianity. Much of the congregation’s renewal will begin well in advance of the sabbatical, through workshops, retreats, speakers and study groups. The outcome of our study will allow us to spiritually refresh our worship and physically refresh our worship space. As early worship was focused around the table/home with Jesus active with us and among us, we want to provide for study and workshops in our homes and around the table at meals.
Brainstorming/Discussion:
- Road trips to Weare and Exeter for Evening Compline to experience their new worship spaces.
- Invite speakers from Weare, Exeter and Etz Hayim to talk of designing new worship spaces
- Speakers: Clay Mathews – focus of the 1979 prayer book is on empowering people.
- Explore “That the World May Know – Faith Lessons Series” by Ray Vander Laan
- Identify additional sources of funding for construction and furniture to refresh the worship space.
- Include property planning in the process.
- Capstone worship event in our refreshed worship space with Irish fiddlers incorporating additional Celtic music.
- Conclude the Congregational Renewal by composing a new Mission Statement.
The team is meeting every Wednesday at 6:30 until May 7. Please contact Beth Bell Lavoie for locations. We are meeting over dinner at each other's homes.