In our busy American culture we usually work beyond the dawn-to-dusk work day and often neglect to really rest on the seventh day. Reclaiming the Sabbath and sabbaticals helps us get our needed rest so we can work in a healthier way and with a higher quality of performance. A sabbatical is a time to be released from normal duties so that the pastor may devote time to rest and renewal, then focused study and planning. Sabbaticals have long been a practice in the field of education and in recent years many businesses and congregations have also been implementing them.