Two RMCUCC Pastors Awarded
Lilly Endowment Grants

Rev. Jane Anne Ferguson of First Plymouth UCC in Denver, CO and Rev. James Chapman of Broadmoor Community Church UCC in Colorado Springs, CO have each been awarded a grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc, for the "What Will Make My Heart Sing?"2008 National Clergy Renewal Program.

"Lilly Endowment, an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation, seeks to strengthen Christian congregations by providing an opportunity for pastors to step away briefly from the persistent obligations of daily parish life and to engage in a period of renewal and reflection. Renewal periods are not vacations, but times for intentional exploration and reflection, for drinking again from God's life-giving waters, for regaining enthusiasm and creativity for ministry." (www.clergyrenewal.org)

Below, you can read what Rev. Ferguson & Rev. Chapman will be doing on their sabbaticals.

Rev. Jane Anne Ferguson
First Plymouth UCC, Denver, CO

This past spring a committee was gathered to work with Jane Anne on a sabbatical program of travel and study for Jane Anne’s renewal and to further her ministry with First Plymouth when she returns. Her program’s theme is Spiritual Pilgrimage. She will learn to be “a pilgrim” through travel throughout Scotland, Ireland and the Scots-Irish sites in America’s Appalachia seeking the stories of her own heritage and traveling to the places that hold stories she has told throughout her career as a professional storyteller. Her intention is to experience and internalize the spiritual practices of pilgrimage, intentional preparation, being present in the moment and reflection for her own spiritual growth and to bring these practices back to enrich the spiritual growth of our community. The Lilly grant also provides the church the resources to hire an interim Associate during the time Jane Anne is away.

Click here to read her full proposal.

Rev. James Chapman
Broadmoor Community Church UCC, Colorado Springs, CO

Jim Chapman’s proposal centers around three areas: strengthening family relationships; enjoying an extended time for renewal and reflection; experiencing new cultures and the art of dialogue.

Jim has selected Mexico and Central America for his sabbatical. Having grown up in the East and served churches in New England, neither Jim nor his wife, Andrea, had been in the Southwest before their move to Colorado in 2002. They have found the Southwest to be captivating, so exploring more of the culture tugs at them. Jim and Andrea will be joined part of the time by their son Giles and daughter-in-law Leslie.

The international portion of Jim’s sabbatical begins in Mexico touring Mexico City and the ruins of Teotihuacan. Jim will begin a ten-day immersion program for immigration and dialogue, an opportunity to learn about Mexico, its people, culture, folklore and popular religion. Jim looks forward to meeting and establishing permanent connections with congregations and families – their challenges, hopes, disappointments and successes, how they worship and how they celebrate.

Andrea and Jim will travel from San Miguel to San Cristobal, where they will join a friend and colleague, Steve Handen, for six days for conversation with community leaders who are directly involved with advancing dialogue between the Zapatistas, the Catholic Church and the government of Mexico.

From Mexico they travel to San Jose, Costa Rica, where the transition from intentional experiences to a more relaxed, informal pace begins. Jim and Andrea will enjoy a whitewater rafting trip and a five day retreat at a lodge. Then Giles and Leslie will join them for a fourteen-day trip that traces the footsteps of the Mayan culture. They will meet modern day descendants of the Mayan people and learn about the history and legacy of this ancient civilization.

Jim states, “This renewal experience will benefit me in many ways. I will be able to explore new places, worship, travel, recharge my batteries and experience the art and power of dialogue in an international context. Sharing time with Andrea, having uninterrupted time with Giles and Leslie, visiting family in North Carolina are also primary in the design of my sabbatical.”

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