Religion and faith: Sabbatical for St. Andrew's pastor

Church wins grant
for pastor’s sabbatical

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 7650 N. Paseo del Norte, is one of 144 congregations across the country to receive a grant that gives clergy a break.

The grant of $36,000 is part of the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment’s Clergy Renewal Programs, administered by Christian Theological Seminary. The money will allow the church’s senior pastor, the Rev. Jim Toole, to take a six-week sabbatical with his family to study Presbyterian roots in Scotland and possibly visit mission partners in Zambia.

Toole wants to learn firsthand about Presbyterian history and then explore some other long-lost roots. “I thought I would become a missionary, and I became a pastor,” he said. “But I have always had this passion for Africa.”

The church applied for the grant, using the theme of going deeper in faith and going deeper in church. The grant money will also go toward church renewal retreats in the spring and fall, bookending Toole’s summer 2016 trip. The church can also use the funds to bring in guest preachers during Toole’s absence.

“Pastoral ministry in some unique ways is a job where you are always on,” said the Rev. Robert Saler, the executive director of the Center for Pastoral Excellence at the seminary. “It’s also a job that requires intense emotional energy.”

Taking a breather lets clergy return to their church energized.

Christian congregations could receive up to $50,000 in grant money through the program. St. Andrew’s is the only Arizona congregation listed as a 2015 grantee.

Church hosts fair
on aging, wellness

St. John on the Desert Presbyterian Church, 2695 N. Houghton Road, will host an “Aging Gracefully Wellness Fair” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13.

Health professionals and agencies will be on hand to provide information on subjects such as planning for retirement, health care and caregiving.

For more information, visit stjohnonthedesert.org or call 749-3615.

Grace St. Paul’s changes schedule

Starting Sunday, Sept. 13, the Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church service that previously began at 8 a.m. will start at 7:45 a.m. to give all churchgoers a chance to participate in the 9 a.m. Adult Spiritual Formation at the church, 2331 E. Adams St.

Children will also stay longer in the 10 a.m. service, beginning in their own classrooms before joining the adults for the remainder of the service, according to a church bulletin.

For more information, visit gsptucson.org or call 327-6857.

St. Philip’s offers grief, Scriptures programs

Starting at 9 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church, 4440 N. Campbell Ave., will begin the series “The Hebrew Scriptures.” Taught via television by Amy-Jill Levine of Vanderbilt University Divinity School, the free Sunday classes end Oct. 18.

From 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturdays, Sept. 19 through Nov. 14, the church will offer the grief support program “Walking the Mourner’s Path: Transforming Grief into Joyful Living.” The $75, nondenominational program is open to those grieving a death, the church says.

Email MournersPath@stphilipstucson.org to register. For more information, visit stphilipstucson.org or call 299-6421.

ASL interpretations for High Holy Days

Temple Emanu-El, 225 N. Country Club Road, will offer American Sign Language interpretations for the High Holy Days this year.

Thirteen interpreters learned Jewish signs during an August workshop, according to press materials.

Rosh Hashanah services are the evening of Sunday, Sept. 13, and the morning of Monday, Sept. 14. Yom Kippur services are Tuesday, Sept. 22, and Wednesday, Sept. 23.

Pre-registering for a free admission card is necessary to attend the services. Visit templeemanueltucson.org for more information or call 327-4501 to RSVP.