Dear FBC Family,
Your generous gift of time away for leading, preaching and teaching continues to bear fruit in ways I never could have imagined. This week marks the end of a particularly meaningful chapter: my final residency co-leading the Shalem Institute's Clergy Spiritual Life and Leadership Program with Rev. Emily Kellar, my UCC colleague and friend from Massachusetts.
Five Years of Holy Work
For half a decade, Emily and I have had the profound privilege of guiding pastors and chaplains through the same transformative 16-month journey that you encouraged me to take eight years ago. We've watched spiritual leaders from around the globe learn to quiet that relentless inner voice demanding more productivity, more achievement, more spiritual performance—and discover instead the radical grace that whispers, "By grace you are saved...not by your ministerial success.”
Trusting the Spirit's Lead
A year ago, I began sensing it was time to step away from this particular calling when our current class graduates. While I'll miss this ministry deeply, I look forward to discovering what new invitations the Spirit has in store. Sometimes our journey invites us to release something we love to make space for what's coming next.
By the way—if the "produce more, achieve more" voice sounds familiar in your own life, the 9-month contemplative journey starting in September might be just what your soul needs most.
Deep gratitude to Pastor Eric for leading and preaching this Sunday.
Blessings and peace,
