Author Archive: pwoodbeck
And So It Begins
I arrive in Halifax on Saturday, June 13th at just after 6pm. The three of us who were coming from Manitoba were met at the airport by another student from Kingston, who graciously agreed to pick us up and bring us into Halifax (the airport is about 1/2 hour outside of the city, by highway). […]
Continue ReadingSharon’s Sabbatical Reflections October 16, 2014
While on my travels, I was able to attend the final day of the Ryder Cup Golf tournament held this year in Auchterarder, Scotland. As some of you will know, this is the hometown of my maternal grandparents so the prospect of a day watching wealthy men chasing small white balls had slightly more appeal. […]
Continue ReadingSharon’s Sabbatical Reflections September 26, 2014
It occurred to me that some of you might be wondering how the church life has continued in my absence—or perhaps you haven’t?Shortly after Easter, the Worship Council meets to consider Mother’s and Father’s Day, Pentecost, Welcome Back, Worldwide Communion, Remembrance and Advent/Christmas. As most of you know, we develop our own worship at WPUC […]
Continue ReadingSharon’s Sabbatical Reflections September 22, 2014
Sunday morning began with serene quiet. We stayed the night on Jesse Sage’s home farm in Batcombe Vale, Somerset. You will remember Jesse for his visit several years ago to the church. He is our South Africa connection. The farm is like the postcards you see of rolling green hills, stone fences, grazing cows and church […]
Continue ReadingSharon’s Sabbatical Reflections September 17, 2014
How much does one have to do in order for it to be a good day? When I think of my ‘normal’ life, fulfillment comes from maximizing the number of accomplishments in any 24-hour period. From the alarm going off in the morning until the book is closed and the light turned off at night, […]
Continue ReadingSharon’s Sabbatical Reflections September 13, 2014
Well, many weeks have passed outside the normal routine of work. Today I was reminded of the process my Dad went through as his retirement approached. The company he worked for had a very structured protocol for all employees regardless of whether they worked in the plant or in the office. Because the company offered […]
Continue ReadingSharon’s Sabbatical Reflections September 4, 2014
Well, you will note that my speed of reading has declined substantially with Quiet. This is a book that demands slow consumption. I just completed a chapter devoted to the apparent affirmation of our culture for extroversion. Cain begins by describing her experience as a participant in a Tony Robbins workshop in Atlanta. Robbins is a […]
Continue ReadingSharon’s Sabbatical Reflections August 29, 2014
This will be an ‘interesting’ reflection. Tomorrow morning I being the 24 hour drive home anticipating the two audio books that will make the journey fly by. Any time I plan a long road trip I prepare with a trip to the book store. As most of you know, I love to read. My choices […]
Continue ReadingSharon’s Sabbatical Reflections August 24, 2014
I read Ed White’s, Saying Goodbye today While the book is fairly old having been published in 1990, I was anxious to read it. Some years ago I travelled to North Carolina to take a five day course on long-term pastorates with Ed White. He was on the Presbyterian Synod staff in the DC area for many […]
Continue ReadingSharon’s Sabbatical Reflections August 23, 2014
Well, what an interesting Sunday morning. I had planned to visit a different church today and had carefully checked their website last night to get the time and location. What a surprise when I arrived to a sandwich board out front announcing that worship had actually started one hour EARLIER!!!! I sat in my car […]
Continue ReadingSharon’s Sabbatical Reflections August 22, 2014
Today is a sad day. The phone call I had been dreading and expecting finally came. My friend Karen has died. She is part of the amazing girls weekend group from residence at Carleton University so many decades ago. Along the way, she has provided my home away from home on sabbatical. Karen was a […]
Continue ReadingSharon’s Sabbatical Reflections August 21, 2014
Let me begin today with a word of thanks. This marks the end of the third week of my sabbatical. It has been a busy and blessed time. Sabbaticals have only become part of a minister’s employment package in the last decade or so. Until then I had managed around the three weeks of annual […]
Continue ReadingSharon’s Sabbatical Reflections August 20, 2014
Today I read Mary Lindberg’s, The Graceful Exit. She is a Lutheran pastor who served in congregational ministry as well as a writer and chaplain. As much as anything, I was drawn to this book by the title. When the time comes, I want my departure to be done with as much grace as possible. This […]
Continue ReadingSharon’s Sabbatical Reflections August 18, 2014
Today I completed Bruce and Kate Epperly’s book, Four Seasons of Ministry. I had read and excerpt of the book in the Alban Institute newsletter in January and decided then that I needed to get a copy. It looks at the call to ministry from the perspective of the seasons. While I found the sections on […]
Continue ReadingSharon’s Sabbatical Reflections August 17th, 2014
Today I was able to attend worship at First United Church. It is in downtown Kelowna and one of only two United Churches in this city of 120,000. I arrived about thirty seconds before 10 am and took my place in the second pew from the back. I will admit that my worship experience was […]
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