Pastor Sabbatical August 3 - November 1

MP3 Sermons uploaded under “About” Tab!

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ

As many of you know, I began serving Bethany and Fairview in April of 2007. In the nineteen-plus years since then, I have never taken a sabbatical. In fact, I have missed only a handful of Sundays, usually arranging vacation time during the week so that worship and ministry could continue uninterrupted.

The last pastor to take a sabbatical here was Pastor Wayne Schupbach in the summer of 2003. During those months, while home from seminary, I had the privilege of helping cover those services. It is a little strange to find myself standing on the other side of that experience all these years later.

First, I want to thank you. You have trusted me, supported me, and allowed me to share in some of the most important moments of your lives. Serving Bethany and Fairview congregations has been one of the great blessings of my life.

The past two years, however, have been extraordinarily difficult for me. Following my father's illness and death August 28, 2025, and my mother's long battle with cancer beginning in 2024, and her death on May 21 of this year, I find myself emotionally, spiritually, and physically exhausted. Many of you walked alongside our family through that journey, and I will always be grateful for your prayers, support, and flexibility, especially as I cared for Mom during her final months.

Both trusted spiritual advisors and my physician have encouraged me to take time for rest, healing, grief, exercise, diet, prayer, and reflection. For that reason, I am leaving for a 3-month Sabbatical, a season of renewal and discernment, beginning August 3, and returning to the pulpit on November 1. Rev. Dr. Keith Herron will be care for our church, as well as our guest preachers Aileen Rost and Dixie Westervelt, and our excellent church family. I am grateful, knowing that our church family will be in good hands. Pastoral emergencies will be handled through our excellent Hiawatha Ministerial Alliance. If you’re in need of a visit, or have a spiritual emergency, please contact Pastor Keith, a Consistory member, or one of the ministers of the Hiawatha Alliance. Contact information is posted on our “contact” page.

I have also posted 12 brand-new sermons on this website, spanning my sabbatical time, and which will also broadcast as usual on KNZA FM 103.9. If you would like to listen to them at any time, just click on the “About” button at the top of this page, and then scroll down and click on “Sermons”. You’ll find all 12 sermons ready to listen to in MP3 format.

Thank you for your prayers, your love and your support; for your faith, and for helping me, and our church, to move forward with faith, hope and love. God bless us all! 

Shane