A Recap and a Renewal Leave
This summer, I will be taking some time for renewal leave. This leave is encouraged every few years as explained in the Book of Discipline. After the Annual Conference (June 15-19), I will be taking some time off and I will return for worship on August 7. The three years that I have been at Mt. View have been wonderful, challenging, and beyond what any of us could have imagined! In the first few months of my appointment, an Inclusivity Statement was created, the church voted overwhelmingly to become Reconciling, we celebrated the 60th Anniversary of our building, and then we closed the doors because of Covid! Together we learned to do church in new ways, and continued to be the church! During that time we have welcomed new staff and celebrated some staff retirements. We adopted One Board governance, changed the Sanctuary, tackled some difficult issues in sermon series, and had some powerful worship! Pshew!
It is wonderful to be in ministry with you all, and I am looking forward to returning ready for more! While I am gone several different excellent preachers will bring messages based on a Psalm, pastoral care will be covered, and the staff will be available to help you in various ways. I am looking forward to a birthday trip with my whole family to Puerto Vallarta to celebrate a milestone birthday, camping to add states 48 and 49 to the list, relaxing at our cabin near Estes Park, and dreaming up new ways to continue our shared ministry!
I pray you will hold me in your prayers as I will you in mine,
Pastor Stephanie