sabbath mini-grants

Personal Sabbath Mini-Grants for Rostered Ministers

Rostered Ministers Personal Sabbath Mini-Grants

In order to support the Metro D.C. Synod’s goal of equipping healthy leaders to faithfully follow the commandment of keeping the sabbath, the New & Renewing Missions Table is offering mini-grants for up to $500 to be used for sabbath time away to all rostered ministers in the Metro D.C. Synod.

Rostered Ministers can apply below and are encouraged to take time off and away, ideally on a Sunday or other primary workdays.

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What costs are covered by the mini-grant?

The grant supports paying for:

  • Group 363

    Another leader to serve in your absence – list of local supply preachers can be viewed here.

  • Vector

    Costs to go somewhere different than your usual home/church/location

  • Group 364

    Childcare

  • Group 365

    Travel or retreat materials (art supplies, fancy snacks, what is Sabbath for you?)

How to Apply?

This mini-grant, has a mini-application process. Keep it simple. Please submit the basic details and a short paragraph describing what your retreat plans will be. There is an example provided as well. Click the link below to apply.

Consider Spending Time at One of These Retreat Centers

Individual Hermitage at the Franciscan Monastery

Enter into deeper communion with God through prayer and solitude. The hermitage is a peaceful urban retreat for one person that is nestled behind the historic Franciscan Monastery.

Mar-Lu-Ridge Camp & Retreat Center

Mar-Lu-Ridge is located near Fredrick, Maryland and has a variety of cabins, conference space and housing depending on your needs!

Overlook Retreat House in Germantown, MD

Come away along for solitude or come to tend relationship and grow new ideas. Overlook Retreat House is ideal for individual and small group self-guided retreat time and open year-round. It is a 3-bedroom living space.

Caroline Furnace Retreat Center

Caroline Furnace is located in Fort Valley, VA and offers The Farmhouse and The Loft to guests weekly. Cost is $200/night.

Shrine Mont

Shrine Mont is a conference and retreat center located in Orkney Springs, a community in western Shenandoah County, Virginia. Enjoy a peaceful weekend or a week at one of six cottages on property. Prices vary so call for assistance.

Reflections

Group 237 (1)

“These days away taught me again that God is good, that life is beautiful, and that it is not only important and advised, but it is vital and commanded that I take time to dive more deeply not into my never-ending to-do list, but to honoring the space God has placed in and around all of those commitments.”

Read Full Reflection

– Pastor Connie Thomson
of River of Grace in Manassas, VA
Group 237

"While I was gone, I was able to think a lot about how I’ve let my work/life boundaries and balance slip, especially during the pandemic. I was able to reprioritize and recommit to those boundaries for myself, my family, my congregation, and for God.”

Read Full Reflection

- Pastor Ben Hogue
of Reformation in DC reflecting on a weekend away with his fiance and dog.