Conference Minister's Corner - 08/19/2025

We have a Lab “ish” rescue named Lola who does not understand the concept of rest.  At first it was cute and we attributed her constant energy to her puppy stage.  She’s now seven and it’s not as cute anymore.  We are exhausted trying to exhaust her.  Her favorite activity is catching the ball.  She’s ridiculously adept at this.  We throw the ball and unlike our previous lab she doesn’t just retrieve it and dawdle, or leave the ball somewhere in the woods for us to hunt down. Oh no. Lola will chase the ball, thrown by our handy dandy “chuck-it” until she’s about to pass out.  She will drop the ball at our feet – or anyone’s feet – and run down the yard waiting for us to throw it again and again and…well, you get it the picture.  She will wait at the end of the yard with her tongue lolling out the side of her mouth, panting like she’s about to drop. She will not stop. Or rest.  So we make her.  “GO LIE DOWN!” we yell. And she does.  And blessedly we all get a 3-5 minute break to breathe. 

You see where I'm going with this.  I hope you’ve all been able to rest a little bit this summer… whether it’s been on your own volition or somebody (a friend, family, your congregation!) is making you do so.  We know it’s important. We know we need it.  We know the restoration and renewal that comes from time off and time away.  We know the road of ministry is filled with joy and all kinds of good stuff, and lots of challenging stuff as well, and we need our wits about us – and strength, a new perspective, and sometimes just a moment (or a week) - to breathe. 

So take a moment, even if your vacation is over, to breathe and to rest, and if that involves spending time with your dog and a “chuck -it”…then God bless you.  God bless us all.   

See you in church!  

Rev. Linda Hirst 

Transitional Search and Call Minister 

The word "holiday" is derived from the Old English word "hāligdæg," meaning "holy day," according to Merriam-Webster. Historically, clergy (and the general public) used the term to refer to days set aside for religious observance and celebration, such as Christmas or Easter.  

However, the meaning of "holiday" has expanded over time to encompass any special day of rest or celebration, whether religious or secular. While the religious origins of the word remain, the contemporary usage of "holiday" may or may not explicitly reflect those origins, depending on the context and the speaker's intent.