Father David goes on Sabbatical June 15-August 20, 2026

Sabbatical Description

 EXPERIENCING GOD IN CREATION AND CULTURE IN THE AMERICAN WEST: A SABBATICAL FOR THE VERY REV. DAVID MICHAUD

June 15 – August 20, 2026

 Father David Michaud will spend time away from parish life to rest and to explore God’s creation in the Western United States by visiting a number of national parks and experiencing the natural wonder of the deserts, mountains, and coastlines of our nation during its 250-year celebration.  He will spend time camping with his spouse, Kelli, in twenty-five separate locations as well as visiting with family in Oregon and Wisconsin. It will be a time of renewal for his soul. Every day he will strive to write in his journal how he experienced God in these various settings and compile his observations in a summary upon his return. In his absence the parish will provide alternative leadership and pastoral care by making the parish’s part-time Assistant Rector full-time during the sabbatical and assigning parishioners temporary responsibility for jobs currently undertaken by Father David to continue operating and conducting its ministries until Father David’s return.

Sabbatical Leave

Father David’s Letter of Agreement with St. Peter’s, Salisbury Parish provides him with two weeks each year toward sabbatical leave, which can be taken after five years of service. Father David will have been employed by St. Peter’s for 13 years as of May 1, 2026. He has taken one 12-week sabbatical in 2021. On May 1 he will have a balance of 14 weeks of sabbatical leave which is well within the nine weeks needed for this second sabbatical.

Epic Road Trip

The vast majority of this sabbatical will be spent with Father David and Kelli pulling their 21-foot Travel Trailer along their Western route, camping at 25 different locations, some in national parks or other parks and some at strategic RV parks to use as a base to travel to sites close by in the same region.

Places to Visit

Here are the destinations planned for the sabbatical trip:

  • Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM
  • Albuquerque & Santa Fe, NM
  • Mesa Verde National Park, CO
  • Arches National Park, UT
  • Canyonlands National Park, UT
  • Capitol Reef National Park, UT
  • Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
  • Zion National Park, UT
  • Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
  • Mohave Desert, CA
  • Dockweiler Beach, Los Angeles
  • San Diego, CA
  • Big Sur Coastline, CA
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Sonoma Valley Wineries, CA
  • Redwoods National Park, CA
  • Crater Lake National Park, OR
  • Portland, OR - Visit with Dad and sister
  • Nehalem State Park, coastal Oregon
  • Olympic Natl Park, WA
  • Seattle, WA
  • Grand Hot Springs, OR
  • Great Salt Lake, UT
  • Yellowstone National Park, WY
  • Black Hills of South Dakota
  • Middletown, WI – visit David’s brother
  • Return Home

 

St. Peter’s Sabbatical Fund

One of the conditions of employment for clergy in the Episcopal Church and in Father David’s contract with St. Peter’s is that every five years he is entitled to take a three-month sabbatical. Father David has been leading St. Peter’s for thirteen years. This will be his second sabbatical. During his sabbatical he will continue to be compensated fully while the parish provides for substitute clergy during his absence.  The cost of travel and expenses for a sabbatical along with the additional administrative and staff costs for the parish are borne by the diocese, by the parish and by the clergy person.  A well- planned sabbatical benefits not only the clergy person but the congregation as well.  It has been arranged that the sabbatical’s expenses will be paid from the St. Peter’s Sabbatical Fund established by the Vestry.  Already a grant of $6,000 from the Diocese of Easton has been deposited in the fund.

Here is the estimated cost of the sabbatical:

 

Campsite Fees:                                 $ 4,700

Fuel:                                                      $ 3,000

 

St. Peter’s Additional

Operational Expenses                   $ 11,951

 

TOTAL SABBATICAL:                       $ 19,651

 

Father David has committed to contributing $6,527 toward the sabbatical which would leave, after the Diocesan Grant of $6,000 is subtracted, a contribution from the parish of $7,124.

Help Contribute to the Sabbatical Fund

The Vestry is inviting parishioners and supporters of Father David who believe in the importance of his sabbatical and who are able to contribute to St. Peter’s Sabbatical Fund to do so now.  Any shortfall between what is needed and what is raised the Vestry will fund from existing church accounts. Surplus funds raised will be applied to Father David’s portion.  Donations are accepted now through June 2026.  Thank you for your prayerful consideration of a generous gift to support Father David and the parish during this exciting time of spiritual growth, education and renewal that will benefit all of us for years to come.

Checks may be written to St. Peter’s with “Sabbatical Fund” in the memo line.  You can also contribute online by going to https://stpeterschurch.net/give/.