O sing to the LORD a new song, for God has done marvelous things. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
(Psalm 98:1a, 4)
“What is the new song God is singing in me?”
“What is the new song God is singing in us as a congregation?”
In preparing for a time of sabbatical for Pastor Joseph and his family we started with the belief that God has formed us as pastor and congregation with a heart that rejoices in the song which all creation sings in praise of Jesus Christ. From this conviction, this renewal plan is called “A New Song" and is born from gratitude to God for the marvelous things God has done among us over the past decade as we look forward to all that God will do in the years to come.
The church council has approved the request for time away from Monday, May 12 to Monday August 11, 2025. During this time, Pastor Joseph will be intentionally reflecting – and we invite you to reflect – on the questions, “What is the new song God is singing in me?” and “What is the new song God is singing in us as a congregation?”
For the sabbatical, our congregation has been awarded a Lilly Foundation Clergy Renewal Grant through the Christian Theological Seminary, which seeks to strengthen Christian congregations through renewal, intentional exploration, and reflection. The Lilly Foundation has fully funded this plan so that we might “drink again from God’s life-giving waters, and regain enthusiasm and creativity for ministry.” Here are some of the details related to the plan:
Intended Activities and Timeline – The renewal time for Joseph will include recording music at Sill & Glade Recording Studio with his band, the Sunslingers, an RV trip out west with his family to see musical heritage sights including the Grand Ole Opry, Graceland, Sun Studios, and several National Parks, a trip with Rick Steves’ Europe with Sarah, a time of solitude at Mepkin Abbey in South Carolina for silence, singing, and prayer with the monks, and a trip to the beach with his family including his parents and sister and her family.
Communication and Leadership During the Renewal Leave – Pastor Phillip will be here much of the summer, and for the time that he’s away on vacation, Pastor Scott Benson, a retired ELCA pastor who lives in the area, will be serving as our intentional interim pastor. Pastor Scott will be at Epiphany to preach and lead worship on Sundays June 29, July 6, July 20, and July 27, and will make visits and extend pastoral care much like Andy Ballentine did last summer. The Lilly Grant covers the cost of Pastor Scott’s time with us for the summer. Pastor Phillip and our Timothy Ministers will lead the youth service trip to Lutherock and while I will truly miss being a part of this trip, I know it will be a blessing for everyone involved! Pastor Sarah will lead Vacation Bible School this summer and then take her vacation and continuing education time so that she can participate in some of the renewal time with me. The council also granted her an additional week of time away and so she will be out of the office from June 8 to August 3. I will communicate once a month with the congregation offering reflections on sabbath, music, and ministry and you as a congregation. In the fall, members of the congregation will have the opportunity to make a video to share about how you have been finding renewal and sensing God’s new song in us. I’m exceedingly grateful to Rob McClintock, Kim Kacani, and Steve Diehl for serving as our sabbatical team and helping with this process.
Plans for Marking Leave-taking and Ministry in Pastor’s Time Away – We hope that you will spend time in reflection over the summer on the question, “What new song is God singing in us now?” We propose that in the fall we make a video to share capturing our reflections on the question, and I hope this time of reflection will be a time to take stock of our ministry and imagine new opportunities for sharing the song of faith.
Concert Celebration: On Sunday, September 28, 2025 at 4:00 pm, Epiphany will host a concert to celebrate the song God is singing in us for the sake of the world. The concert will feature the One Voice Chorus, whose mission is racial healing through music, the Sunslingers, and, we hope, other musicians from the congregation and beyond. Following the concert you’re invited to visit in the Burger Commons for refreshments. The Lilly Grant will cover the cost for this and it will be open to the community.
Congregational Renewal Activities: Epiphany will spend time in reflection and discovery of our congregation’s spiritual gifts, in our spiritual self-care, and in discernment of the new song God is singing in us. During early fall we will have times set aside for reflection with journals and other creative media, as well as an opportunity to make videos of your response to the question, “What new song is God singing in us?”
