I am both excited and nervous to begin my three-month sabbatical this month. While some of the plans from my initial proposal still stand, others have changed, as one might expect in this time of covid. But this time of rest and study is much needed and is so very appreciated by my family and by me.
I still intend to study the Celtic blessing way through the writings and poetry of John O’Donohue and David Whyte. I will also be traveling to Ireland to experience the fierce and beautiful landscape from which such a powerful theology came to life. I will be there for 40 days (this was unintentional, but I love it!) and will do two long-distance walks while there. The first is around the Kerry Peninsula on the Kerry Way, and the second is through the Burren, beginning in Ballyvaughan and ending along the Cliffs of Moher. I also have a time of learning and study out on the Aran Islands with Celtic priest Dara Ó Maoildhia planned, for which I am very excited.
Unfortunately, both the Corrymela Community and the Abbey at Iona cannot take me as a guest. But I will still study their works and their reconciliation process, and with some luck might find a way to cross their thresholds. We shall see.
I am so grateful to serve a church that is so supportive and generous to its ministers. Thank you for your love and your encouragement for my family and me in this brief time apart. You will be in my heart and in my prayers each day.
Should you require any assistance or guidance for any of the boards or committees I oversee, please contact the church office. Bromleigh and Talia have divided oversight duties for all my boards, and our board chairs are more than equipped to ensure our ongoing success. Thank you!
Andy Bachmann’s sabbatical runs from September 1–December 1. We wish him grace and peace on his journey!
Your plans bring to mind our month-long exploration of Ireland several years ago. Your choice of study subjects sounds very personal, and hopefully will benefit your ministry as well as the UCG congregation.
As well, we encourage you to become very familiar with both the seafood chowder and Irish whiskey!
Dear Andy,
I hope this sabbatical is all you hoped it would be and I pray for a safe journey for you and send you lots of love to carry with you! It won’t take up any room in your luggage ?
Have a wonderful sabbatical – you’ll be back just in time for the Rawligs gift market! I expect we will have a reprise of last year’s market unless Covid fades away, which seems unlikely. I will be in touch with Mrs. Creamer very soon to begin planning for it.
I’ve been to the Kerry Peninsula, the Burren and the Moher Cliffs. They are awesome and inspiring places; I’m sure you will feel inspired. The landscape is so verdant, it is renewing. And yet this was the site of one of the great tragedies of history (the Great Potato Famine), not because there wasn’t other food, but because human greed prevented those in power from sharing and giving up their stubborn belief in the free market system. (If they gave away food, the price that owners could earn from it would plummet.) And now you leave in another time of great suffering; we pray for your safety and look forward to learning from you when you return, refreshed and newly inspired.
Dear Andy, I’m quite British, my maiden name is Hatlee (Atlee with an “H”), but I’ve soaked up quite a bit of the wonderful world of the Irish! I’m thinking of you in the rugged and moist landscape that you’ll be absorbing! I hope it will fill you with special blessings and you’ll come back refreshed and re-fueled. May the road rise up to meet you.