Hey Church! My name is Steph, and I’m going on sabbatical.

Hey Church,

I’ve never really written a formal letter to the whole church before, so this feels a little like standing on stage with a rip in my jeans (which actually happened just the other day, really). But here we are, and I’ve got something pretty special to share with you.

Thanks to the kindness and care of our Missional Logistics Team, I’ll be taking a six-week sabbatical this fall. I’ll step away starting October 20 and plan to be back with you all for worship on December 7. I’m not going anywhere for good, just taking some much-needed time to rest, reflect, and recharge before diving back into the work I love with fresh energy and a clear heart.

While I’m away, you’ll be led by the incredible Brad Thompson (the kinetic guitarist!), Chris Hoffman from Embrace United Church of Christ, and Joel Penrod from First Congregational Church. They are all amazing folks who share so many of the missional priorities Galileo strives for every day. I know you’ll be in excellent hands.

That word “sabbatical” honestly sounds a bit formal and lofty, but for me, it’s really about rest and remembering who I am outside of constant planning, preparing, and producing.

Serving as your Worship Architect has been one of the most meaningful chapters of my life. Helping shape the way we worship, week after week, has been a joy and a challenge in all the right ways. From picking music and crafting liturgy with Katie, to creating something beautiful out of our collective vulnerability, I have been so grateful to be in it with you.

One of the things I will miss most during those six weeks is hearing you sing because there is nothing quite like the sound of Galileo. It’s not just music. It’s the sound of people who believe in love that won’t let go, in grace that keeps unfolding, in a God who shows up in the weird and the beautiful. It’s voices raised not because everything is perfect, but because we keep showing up with open hearts anyway. That sound has formed me. It has healed me. That sound has carried me more times than I can count and I will carry it with me while I’m away.

So, what will I be doing with this sabbatical time? Well, I’ll be traveling a bit with my wife Cait and spending some much-needed time with my best friend and beloved. I’ll be resting a lot, and hopefully reconnecting with some of the things that bring me joy. I’ll be playing music for fun again, not just for work. I’ll be out in nature, watching birds and not checking the time. Playing rugby with my friends. I’ll be sorting through and collecting Pokémon cards like I’m a kid again, because yes, that is still a thing in my life. None of this is especially dramatic, but all of it feels deeply important. It feels like the kind of quiet, playful, Spirit-filled time that can heal parts of me I didn’t know were worn out.

This sabbatical is a chance to be renewed. To let go of the constant “doing” and simply be. It is a sacred pause, a way of listening for God’s voice in the quieter, slower moments. I want to remember who I am when I’m not leading worship, and then bring that deeper, freer version of myself back to you.

While I’m away, you are in good hands. Galileo has never been about one person. Worship will continue with the same heart and soul it always has, shaped by the many gifts already here. You know how to show up for each other. You know how to sing. You know how to create beauty for our God-Who-Is-Beautiful together.

I’m so grateful to our leadership for making this time possible. A special thanks to Katie for being not only a great pastor but also a wonderful friend who gently (and sometimes not so gently) pushed me to plan this sabbatical, even though I kept wanting to just keep working because, well, that would have been easier.

Thank you for giving me this time to step back and rest. Thank you for being a church that doesn’t just tolerate sabbath but encourages it. I’ll be holding you close in spirit, and I can’t wait to come back, refreshed, inspired, and ready to keep building something beautiful with you.

With love and deep gratitude,

Steph