Pastor Kathy’s Blog

The 40 shades of green in Ireland!

Sunday dawned cool and full of sunshine. Today is the feast of Corpus Christi, which is marked with a special mass and then a parade through our neighborhood. The girls and boys were wearing their first communion clothes. There were songs and prayers, including the Rosary. Doorways to homes and businesses had flowers and pictures or statues of Jesus or Mary. (Flat Jesus was especially touched by these displays.) We visited the Episcopal Church and Cemetery. We then made our way to the harbor and began a coastal walk to the lighthouse. This is a footpath along the edge of pastures for sheep and cows. We stepped in the spaces between fences to continue our trek. As part of the walk there was a stone tower from the 1800’s built by a wealthy gentleman who wanted a better view of the harbor and bay. He certainly got it!

We came back for fish and chips and a bit of a rest. Then in the evening we went to a pub and listened to Irish music and met some of the local folks. One of our housemates who is about the age of my kids met up with us, making for a fun evening.

A word about our hosts, Tim and Eileen. She is a delight, making not only feel welcome but anticipated in your arrival. She offers great suggestions, but leaves you to your own devices. Tim, a retired police officer, is a fount of knowledge, but offers little unless asked. You will hear more about him tomorrow as we are planning on taking his archeological tour of the area.

Aaron in the Burren!

The family with Jesus at the Cliffs of Moher

Two days in Ireland and already we have fallen in love with the people and the landscape- even the animals! (Aaron is especially fond of the sheep, and we all love the cows.)

Corny the raven makes a friend!

Our first day we arrived in Dublin and drove across the country to Ballyvaughn, a small village in the Burren. The roads are narrow and winding and I have learned to drive on the left side of the road while sitting on the right side of the car! But the scenery for those not driving has been breathtaking, as you will see from the posted photos.

Our lodgings at Ballyvaughn were exceptional- perfect for sleepy, jetlagged folks such as us. We had an early dinner and wandered about the village before retiring.Our hostess, Karen, was attentive and caring, and provided us with a most delicious breakfast. And then we were on our way to Dingle.

Our drive there took us through the Burren, a rocky landscape with ancient stone ruins, including a pagan tomb.

A pagan tomb used from 4200-2900 BC.

We took an extended stop at the Cliffs of Moher walking the paths there. We heard our first Irish flute from a street musician there, and met a young raven (yes, bird) named Corny who was being raised by one of the rangers who was preparing it to be released into the wild.

From there we drove on toward Killimer where we took a ferry across and headed to Dingle. Roads widened a bit and I got a bit more comfortable with the driving. The towns were beautiful, with the pastel colors in their homes and the lush green and diverse plants and trees. As Aaron pointed out Ireland was one of the few places in the world that can sustain both temperate and tropical plants.

We are staying in Kirrary House and our hosts are Tim and Eileen Collins, a delightful couple who are most accomodating. We are experiencing a warm welcome and a gracious interest in us and again more delicious food!

The weather has been wonderful, with brief periods of rain but plenty of sun and cool breezes.

Sam, Gen and Jesus waiting for dinner in a pub in Ballyvaughn!

Two weeks from today, my family and I will be on a plane for Ireland! I am both excited and anxious. I am excited about all the new experiences we will have together, and all that we will learn about other people and cultures. I am also anxious about those new experiences and unfamiliar cultures and people. For I do want to be a gracious guest in these homes and in these countries. I am mindful that I do not just represent myself. I represent my country, my faith tradition, even my vocation. The impression people will have of me may reflect on their views of the US or the Christian Church in America or ministers. I am learning that part of the responsibility for good hospitality also lies with the recipient- listening well to understand, willingness to adapt to new practices and language, openness to others.

So as I pack my clothes and guidebooks, I am also tucking in my sense of welcome and friendship for whoever we meet!

Needless to say, I have been making a lot of travel plans! Plane tickets, maps, poring over travel books and websites. What has been so wonderful has been the warmth of kindness of our future hosts in the places where we will be staying. They are welcoming and gracious. They are founts of information and have made offers to help us schedule certain activities. They have given advice about travel in their country. We even received an Easter Greeting from an Italian family whose farm will be our home base while in Tuscany. Even those prospective hosts, whom we did not end of booking, were so open and informative.

These people do no know me, and yet they are treating me as friend. They are already sharing their lives and gifts with me. I already feel more comfortable going into these strange surroundings because of the ways they have extended themselves to me. I am looking forward to more than just the adventure of the trip. I am looking forward to meeting these new friends.

It made me aware of how my interactions and responses communicate welcome and friendship. I know I have not always been as friendly or outgoing as I should- perhaps I am having a bad day or don’t believe I have the time to engage in small talk. And yet, how do I extend myself in friendship? How do I make others feel more comfortable? I am already learning valuable lessons from people I haven’t even met!

As plans begin to solidify both for Pastor Kathy and for the congregation for this summer, it might be helpful to recall the background or context for the sabbatical. In our proposal to the Lilly Endowment, it was stated: “More and more, those who come seeking a church, have little or no church experience. The language and culture of the church is foreign to them. In addition to seeking God, they are seeking a community which extends hospitality and invites them to make a spiritual home, bringing their unique gifts to enrich the congregation.

            Pastor Kathy has been raised within the community of the church as have most of the long term members of The Union Church. The language and culture of church life is second nature to them.  In order to lead them into becoming inviting to those for whom the church is a strange land, it was thought Pastor Kathy should experience what it is to be in a place where the language and culture are foreign to her.”

            Last summer, a group from The Union Church had the unique opportunity to experience life in a culture very different from ours, where daily life and customs and language were alien to us. All who went came away with things they learned about hospitality as well as being a gracious guest.

            How do we help others not only feel welcome, but comfortable with the language and culture of the church? Perhaps you have had an experience in a foreign culture. As you reflect on that, what helped you feel comfortable? How was hospitality shown to you? What made you continue to feel like an outsider?

            Things for us to ponder as part of our sabbatical musings…

How did this sabbatical come about? Through the generosity of the Lilly Endowment’s Clergy Renewal Program, our congregation received a grant of $39,975 for a sabbatical time for Pastor Kathy and the congregation. $15,000 of this grant is for the congregation- to pay for a summer pastor, for sabbatical activities for the congregation, and for farewell and welcoming celebrations (a requirement of the renewal grant program). The remainder is for Pastor Kathy’s sabbatical activities.

When will this sabbatical time be? Pastor Kathy will be on Sabbatical from June 8 to September 8.

Who will be the pastor/head of staff during this sabbatical time? Rev. Earl Kreisa, a retired PCUSA minister and part of our church family will be the Summer Pastor. He will also serve as head of staff for the church and Learning Center staff.

What will Pastor Kathy be doing while on sabbatical? The theme of this sabbatical time is hospitality. Pastor Kathy and her family will be traveling to Italy and Ireland for three weeks to experience the hospitality of f oreign cultures. During that time they will be staying in bed and breakfast type accommodations, and will be taking cooking classes and experiencing how “strangers” are made welcome. During other times she will be doing reading and reflecting at home, journaling about her learnings, and taking a class at the Campbell Folk School in North Carolina.

What will WE be doing during the sabbatical time? The congregation will also be engaged in activities and reflections on hospitality as a spiritual practice. Earl will be preaching on biblical texts that speak to this and there will be other related activities. More details on this will follow!

Why a sabbatical? It has been shown that when pastors are given a significant block of time for renewal, rest and creative pursuits, their ministries benefit greatly. The Human Resources, Committee and Council/Session believe that this is well timed- Pastor Kathy has been with us seven years, during which time we have done a great of work in merging and growing our congregation. Additionally, Pastor Kathy has been in active ministry for 25 years and this will provide a time for growth and renewal of her spirit, so that she can continue to minister among us with energy, intelligence, imagination and love!

Have more questions? Just ask Pastor Kathy- she’ll be glad to provide any information you are seeking.