For the past five weeks, our clergy and laity have been working tirelessly to provide vital worship, pastoral care, and hope for our local churches in the Iowa Annual Conference. I also know that many of our clergy, church staff, and worship teams are utterly exhausted in mind, body, and spirit. Therefore, I am requiring those teams to find three days back-to-back between now and Pentecost Sunday, May 31, to experience rest, renewal, and sabbath. That means no work on those three days. To make it through the long haul, caring for your spirit is essential. We need you.
I ask you to take three days to catch your breath. The cabinet will be recording a complete worship service for your use. The worship service will be made available on April 30. Clergy, church staff, and worship leaders will have no responsibilities in that worship service, other than to be blessed.
If you are a member of the Staff Parish Relations Committee, she asks you to please encourage your team to adhere to this essential three-day break.
More information will be made available when the service is ready for your use in the next week.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Bishop Laurie
