What to Expect During Sabbatical

GSC Council granted a request from Pastor Carl-Eric Gentes for a 12-week sabbatical leave in accordance with Good Shepherd's sabbatical policy and with the encouragment of the Southeast MN Synod of the ELCA. This sabbatical will take place May-July.

Here you will find information about the reasoning behind the sabbatical and what to expect during this time.

Variety of Worship

We will continue our commitment to experimentation in worship during the sabbatical with a focus on lay-led worship experiences. Theses experiences will accompany 6 weeks of pastor-led worship in the sanctuary with Holy Communion.  See worship schedule below.

Pastoral Coverage

Thanks to our new shared ministry agreement with Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Pastor Nikki Rockne will provide worship leadership and pastoral care coverage. Pastor Corrine Thul (Mayo Clinic Chaplain) will also offer some worship leadership. 

Lay Leadership

Many lay leaders of Good Shepherd will be stepping up to ensure weekly tasks of  the congregation are attended to and communication between leadership, staff, and congregation are maintained.

Growth

Are you still Church without a pastor? Sabbatical can be a time of reflection, renewal, and self-discovery for the congregation, as well as, the pastor.  We encourage the whole congregation to not hit the pause button, but grow into this sabbath time and therefore make it holy.

Why Sabbatical? 

Why Now?

From Pastor Carl-Eric
"Over the last 10 years of ministry stretching from my role as intern to now lead pastor, my pastoral identity has been molded by this community in beautiful ways. Over those 10 years, we have also experienced multiple leadership changes and one world-altering pandemic. As I look to the future of ministry at Good Shepherd, I feel the spiritual need for deep and extended reflection on who I am as a child of God apart from my calling as your pastor and the responsibilities that come with that role. This leave promises the opportunity to ground myself in the formative and sustaining relationships that prepared me for ministry in the first place."

What is Sabbatical?

“Those who study parish ministry have found that healthy pastorates (especially those of longer duration) require that attention be paid to a “sabbatical rhythm” if heath – for both pastor and parish – is to be maintained. Far from being a “favor” to the pastor, the synod’s sabbatical program is designed to offer refreshment and renewal for the whole ministry of the congregation by taking seriously the need for called leaders to be renewed and, yes, “inspired” by all of the dimensions – rest, reflection, study, prayer, and more – that are included in a period called “sabbatical.”

Worship Schedule

Up, In, and Out
May 7
TBD
Worship w/ Communion
May 28
Pastor Corrine Thul Presiding. In Sanctuary. Live-streamed.
Worship w/ Communion
May 14
Pastor Nikki Rockne Presiding. In Sanctuary. Live-streamed.
Worship w/ Communion
June 4
Pastor Nikki Rockne Presiding. In Sactuary. Live-streamed.
Acts 2:42 Worship/Potluck
May 21
"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." Potluck, Prayers, and Hymns in the Fellowship Hall.
Wild Card Worship
June 11
Lay - Led Worship. TBD
Worship w/ Communion
June 18
Pastor Corrine Thul Presiding. In Sanctuary. Live-streamed.
Wild Card Worship
July 9
Independence Day Hymn Sing and Water Games.
Up, In, and Out
June 25
TBD
Worship w/ Communion
July 16
Pastor Nikki Rockne Presiding. In Sanctuary. Live-streamed.
Worship w/ Communion
July 2
Pastor Corrine Thul Presiding. In Sanctuary. Live-streamed.
Up, In, and Out
July 23
Led by GSC Youth Group following summer mission trip to Milwaukee.

Pastoral Coverage

During the sabbatical worship and preaching duties will be handled by Pastors Nikki Rockne and Corinne Thul. Pastor Nikki will also see to all pastoral care needs.

Pastor Nikki Rockne

Associate Pastor - GSC/OSLC Shared Ministry
I live in Zumbrota where my husband, Matt, runs a 3 generation family business. Our 3 children attend Zumbrota-Mazeppa Schools. I grew up in SE MN with ministry experience at Good Earth Village and as Youth Director at United Redeemer Lutheran Church in Zumbrota. After graduation from Luther Seminary in 2018 I have served St. Ansgar's LC in Cannon Falls and now Our Savior's LC in Rochester. I am an optimistic, energetic person.  I like to run/walk, knit, read or watch British sitcoms in my spare time (I love PBS). 

Pastor Corinne Thul

Chaplain Mayo Clinic
Rev. Corinne Thul, MDiv, is a chaplain at the Mayo Clinic, with her office at St. Marys Campus. She is a Minnesota girl who grew up in Cold Spring near St. Cloud. She has 28 years of ministerial experience, serving congregations in Minnesota, Colorado, California, and Utah before becoming a hospital chaplain. Her training in chaplaincy was with the Mayo School of Health Sciences. She has been a staff chaplain at the Mayo Clinic since 2014 and works with patients in cardiac surgery, heart and lung transplant, the Pain Rehabilitation Center, and has an additional emphasis in staff care.

Let's work together.

If you have questions, comments, or concerns during the sabbatical you can direct them to the GSC Council. You can use the form below to contact them.

Contact Us