August 9-11, 2020
During a Mini Sabbatical, you'll have time to think, pray and connect with God and each other in the beauty of His creation called Sandy Cove. Imagine...no rush, no schedule.
By yourself...with your spouse...or with another pastor or ministry leader in need of the same. No formal meetings or programs to attend.
This is a Spirit-directed time for you. Have your own prayer retreat. Catch up on your reading. Write a book! Organize a staff retreat or planning time. Work on sermon outlines.
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28
Mini Sabbaticals are scheduled Sunday night through Tuesday morning.
sabbatical (noun)
a period of time during which someone does not work at his or her regular job and is able to rest, travel, do research, etc. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
Sabbatical (from Latin sabbaticus, from Greek sabbatikos, from Hebrew shabbat, i.e., Sabbath, literally a "ceasing") is a rest from work, or a break. The main Bible passage for sabbatical concepts is Genesis 2:2-3, in which God rested (literally, "ceased" from His labor) after creating the universe, and it is applied to people (Jew and Gentile, slave and free) and even to beasts of burden in one of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11, reaffirmed in Deuteronomy 5:12-15). All agriculture was stopped during these periods, so even the land itself was given a Sabbath.
In recent times, "sabbatical" has come to mean any absence in the career of an individual. In the modern sense, one takes sabbatical typically to fulfill some goal, e.g., writing a book or traveling or research.
I have attended two of these events and I can attest to how helpful it is to getaway for a few days of quiet R and R. I recommend these affordable events to all my clergy friends. Jeff, Facebook Review
Once again I took my annual sabbatical to Sandy Cove in North East, MD. First, the city of North East is quiet and beautiful and more importantly the people are friendly. The town seems to echo the spiritual peace you experience once you are on the grounds of Sandy Cove. My friend and I ate lunch after a relatively short drive, at the Steak & Main which is on Main Street. The Sushi was delicious and fresh. The owner even sat with us and chatted. Remember friendly?? Steak & Main is one of the better restaurants in town and it was open on Sunday (Valentine's Day). Second, when we arrived at Sandy Cove a sense of well being and peace immediately enveloped me. The visitors and staff at Sandy Cove are genuinely interested in who you are. And more importantly the Sandy Cove staff seem to go out of their way to please you. The tradition of keeping the fireplaces burning as long as you sit next to them continues. It is unexplainable how it makes me feel to sit next to a fireplace and I don't have to lift a finger to keep the fire going. Hmmm, I guess cared for is the closest explanation/description for the feeling. I recommend anyone who wants to get away and unplug from "the grind and the grid" to spend some time in North East, Maryland, at Sandy Cove Retreat Center. It's a healing experience. Trip Advisor Review
A number of women from the Fellowship of Women Clergy decided to take advantage of the mini sabbatical opportunity at Sandy Cove. We greatly needed the rest and the time with the Lord. Thanks for providing us with a welcoming atmosphere, good accommodations, a workbook, reading material, and fantastic service. We were blessed during our time at Sandy Cove! Trip Advisor Review
