Pastor Mark will be taking a pastoral sabbatical from May 14 through August 16, 2026.  Pastor Mark is completing 34 years of full-time pastoral ministry and has been serving our faith community for the past 8 years. This is a planned time of rest, renewal, and spiritual growth, providing space for reflection, study, and rejuvenation that sustains long-term ministry. During this time, our church will continue its ministries and worship life with the support of retired pastors connected to Advent, along with our staff, Church Council, and the active participation of the congregation.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Many of these questions came from members over the past two years during which time Advent approved a sabbatical policy and council approved Pastor Mark’s plan for his sabbatical time. We hope they will answer most of your questions and address any concerns.

Why is this a good thing for a pastor Mark?

A sabbatical will provide an opportunity for Pastor Mark to rest, rejuvenate, and grow both personally and professionally. This time away will lead to improved mental and physical health for Pastor, fostering creativity and preventing burnout. The congregation recognizes that a refreshed Pastor Mark can better serve the congregation upon his return - bringing new insights, energy, and passion to his ministry. The sabbatical will also allow a reset of our congregation’s roles and responsibilities during Pastor's absence and give us an opportunity to stretch our lay leadership capabilities.

Why is this a good thing for our Advent church community?

A sabbatical for the pastor does not have to be met with anxiety or church paralysis. A sabbatical can provide an opportunity for discovering new strengths for ministry within the congregation and watching authentic growth in individuals as they discover how their own particular gifts can benefit the church, even after the pastor’s return. The sabbatical will also allow a reset of our congregation’s roles and responsibilities during Pastor's absence and give us an opportunity to stretch our lay leadership capabilities.

Why is this a good thing now?

Pastor Mark is completing 34 years of full-time pastoral ministry and has been serving our faith community for the past 8 years. Pastor Mark has never taken a sabbatical. As a congregation we approved a sabbatical policy in 2024 and believe that a sabbatical will allow Pastor Mark to continue to serve our congregation with renewed energy and ideas. 

We are blessed to have a highly competent staff, leadership team, and ministry leaders who can lead in his absence. Summer is a good time for a pastor’s sabbatical since church programs and events are more casual and less frequent. This timing also allows Pastor Mark to be back in time for full participation in our fall ministry season.

How long and when will the sabbatical be?

Three months. Pastor Mark will be farewelled after the worship service on May 10th (and will be in the office through that Wednesday) and return to Advent in August for the August 16th worship service.

How can I make sure I say goodbye to Pastor Mark before he leaves for his sabbatical?

You are in luck! We will be having a sending gathering at worship on May 10th and we will celebrate with Pastor Mark and his family in Fellowship Hall following the service.

Who will be covering Pastor’s duties while he’s gone?

We are blessed to have multiple retired pastors within our congregation who are providing support during the sabbatical, for worship services and pastoral care. They know our congregation well and we look forward to them preaching and caring for our members during this time. Our Church council led by council President Amy Coll will continue to function as normal in overseeing the operation of our church.

• Worship Services
  
  Pastor Stephen Godsall-Myers and Pastor David Lutcher will be covering all our worship services. The sabbatical occurs during the time when Advent has one worship service at 9:30 am.
  
  Pastor Stephen Godsall-Myers served as Advent’s pastor for 6 years from 2010 to 2016. He and his wife Jean returned to Advent as active members in 2023. In addition to the occasional preaching at Advent, Steve has provided Bible Study sessions and led numerous Adult Forum discussions. 
  
  Pastor David Lutcher joined Advent with his wife Robin in 2019, following retirement from Grace Lutheran in Hatfield.  He has served congregations in Northeastern and Southeastern PA Synods as well as Bear Creek Camp for 44 years. He currently serves as part-time Visitation Pastor at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Audubon. 
  
  
• Pastoral Care
  
  Pastor Jo Wilhelmson will handle pastoral care activities along with Pastor Sue MacFadden and some lay volunteers. Funerals will be covered by Pastor Steve, Pastor David, or Pastor Jo. If you require pastoral care during the sabbatical time, please call the church office at 215-256-9941. If you call after hours, that number will transfer to someone who can assist you. 
  
  

  Pastor Jo Wilhelmson served as Advent’s pastor for 12 years from 1996 to 2008. She and her husband Stan returned to Advent as members in 2011. Jo continues to serve Advent in many ways including as a member of our Welcome Team. 

  (Update 5/7/2026: The implications of Pr. Jo's recent surgery and rehabilitation are being evaluated and managed by Council and the Sabbatical Team. We will know and communicate more as Pr. Jo's recovery and rehab progress.)

  
  Pastor Sue MacFadden served as pastor at Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit in Emmaus for 18 years before retiring. She became a member at Advent in 2019 and serves on the Worship and Music ministry team and as a lector. 

• Administration/Operational Decisions
  
  Council and the Sabbatical Team have already assigned most of the identified responsibilities within the congregation. They are continuing to identify individuals that can assist in coverage of some specific activities. Please consider helping out if you are asked or offer your services to a member of the Sabbatical Team or Church Council.
  
  

Will the Church Staff being doing more?

No, our dedicated staff will continue to perform their roles and no additional work activities will be required of them. There may be some process adjustments within the Office Administrator Role as it relates to preparation for worship services but otherwise this is an opportunity for lay people within the congregation to assume new responsibilities and to not expect more to be done by our staff during the sabbatical.

What if I truly have an emergency?

Please call the church office at 215-256-9941 and you will be directed to the appropriate person to handle the emergency. If you call after hours, that number

will transfer to someone who can assist you. 

Can I still call or text Pastor Mark while he is on sabbatical?

Sadly, no. For the Sabbatical to be of the greatest value and reflection, Pastor Mark will not be reachable from the congregation. We have asked him to disengage from email, phone, and social media. All responsibilities and concerns that Pastor Mark handles will be delegated to appropriate sabbatical coverage pastors, Advent Council, Staff, and Members during this period.

Can I contact Pastor Mark’s family?

You may see Merlyn or Cassandra in worship or in the community, so please feel free to say hello as a friend and spiritual companion in Christ. Ask them about their family or any other sort of topic that you would talk to a friend about. Remember, they are still a part of our family! You can respect the sabbatical by not talking church business.

What will Pastor Mark do during this time away?

Pastor Mark’s sabbatical will be centered in Upper Michigan. He plans to spend his sabbatical time learning, growing, resting, connecting, reading, and creatively planning for future sermons.

Is this a sign that Pastor Mark is leaving our church? 

Advent’s sabbatical policy requires that any pastor taking a sabbatical will commit to return to Advent for a minimum of two years. Pastor Mark has made that commitment in writing to Council. Pastor Mark is not updating his resume, searching for other jobs or moving across the country. He is not ill. This sabbatical is a joyful blessing for him, his family and for Advent. Let us anticipate and trust the work God will do in us and in him and we look forward to his future years at Advent. 

How can we best support Pastor Mark during this time away? 

In a word, PRAYER!

• Pray that Pastor Mark’s time with God will be filled with refreshment, goodness, love and truth. Pray that God will give Pastor Mark insight and perspective, to receive His love more fully and love Him more deeply, in a way that overflows to his life, leadership and our ministry.
  
  
• Pray for Pastor Mark’s family (Merlyn and Cassandra) during this time. Pray that his family would benefit from this time as well.
  
  
• Pray for our Advent staff, church council, sabbatical coverage pastors, and other lay leaders as they continue to serve our Advent faith community.
  
  
• Pray for all our members during this time that they might be empowered to step up and serve in new ways. As a congregation we pray for our renewal and look for new opportunities of service as individuals and as a congregation. Help us to be unified in our mission and vision, we have a strong sense of where God is leading us before, during and after this sabbatical time.
  
  

How can I make this sabbatical successful for Advent?

In addition to praying (see above), a successful sabbatical is dependent upon participation by the congregation. The pastor’s absence during a pastoral sabbatical

provides a new opportunity for the congregation to realize that “we are the church!” Allow this to be a time when you are able to embrace this concept

.

Volunteer to support our worship service and participate in church events. Invite a friend to Advent worship or any event and be supportive of our Church Council and staff. Perhaps this is a time you could volunteer for a few hours a week to provide additional assistance in the office.

I have more questions! Who can I talk to?

Anyone on Council or the Sabbatical Team will be happy to discuss the sabbatical with you and answer your questions – feel free to reach out to us!

Council: Amy Coll, Zach Boyer, Rich Lantz, Diana McClure, Bruce Rhoades, Judi Greene, Lora Drenth, Helen Nace, Teresa Feeser

Sabbatical Team – Steve Nevin, Carl Dahlgren, Amy Hammond, Judi Greene