Seeking to strengthen Christian congregations through renewal and reflection
Westminster Presbyterian Church of Trenton, NJ and Pastor Karen Hernandez-Granzen received a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program for 2022-2023. This grant seeks to strengthen congregations by helping their pastors to take time away from day-to-day ministry to restore their commitment to ministry. Launched in 1999 with a program for congregations and their pastors in Indiana, this annual effort was expanded in 2000 to include a second program for clergy across the United States. These programs are made possible by a grant to Christian Theological Seminary and its Center for Pastoral Excellence, which administers the program.
Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs are administered by the Center for Pastoral Excellence at Christian Theological Seminary. Through its religion grantmaking, Lilly Endowment, an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation, seeks to deepen and enrich the lives of American Christians. It does this largely through initiatives to enhance and sustain the quality of ministry in American congregations and parishes. To this end, National and Indiana Clergy Renewal Programs provide an opportunity for pastors to step away briefly from the persistent obligations of daily parish life and 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:
Excerpts from Westminster’s Sabbath Renewal Program 2022-2023
Celebrated the kick-off of Sabbath Renewal Program
June 2022 Commissioning & Luncheon
Congregation’s Sabbath Renewal Plan: Racially diverse guest preachers & Worship Team experimented with new worship styles & Laughter Yoga Therapy: July 3-August 14, 2022 & November 6-20, 2022
July 3: Preacher & Officiant, Ruling Elder Adebisi Shofu, MDiv
November 6-20, 2022
Diverse Guest Preachers & Worship Team Experimented with New Worship Styles:
Spiritual Direction
Three church leaders led a two-week series on Spiritual Direction. Wednesdays, November 2nd and 9th. Elder Peter Crooke (trained with Sabbatical Renewal Grant), and member Emily “Z” Zinsitz trained prior. Member/Spiritual Director Pat Deeney and Pastor Karen invited congregation to adopt the practice of reading her weekly: Antiracism Adjustment as a Spiritual Practice.
Graphic Recording
Recruited three leaders, four Princeton Theological Seminary Field Education Interns, and invited the entire congregation to be trained in Graphic Recording, via YouTube and written resources. Elder Cherry Oakley, provided training.
Laughter Yoga Therapy
Recruited three leaders, four Princeton Theological Seminary Field Education Interns, and invited the entire congregation to be introduced tp continued training on Laughter Yoga Therapy Training via YouTube and written resources.
Interplay: Unlock the Wisdom of your Body
Recruited three leaders, four Princeton Theological Seminary Field Education Interns, and invited the entire congregation to be introduced to Interplay: Unlock the Wisdom of your Body via YouTube and written resources. Feedback will be requested in order to determine if further training will be provided during our Sabbath Renewal Program in 2023.