Dear WellSpringers,
I have missed you so much – and I’m thrilled to be back in ministry with you all, beginning again today, Tuesday, April 1.
For the past four months, whenever anyone asked how my sabbatical was going, I found myself repeating the same refrain: “It’s incredible. What a ridiculous privilege this is: to have four months all to myself… to rest and learn, to spend my time exactly as I choose… to have the freedom to say ‘yes’ to everything!”
As we weathered the upheavals and chaos in our nation – since January, especially – I’ve had the ability to practice “putting on my own oxygen mask first,” and to build up that habit over a long period of time. I’ve leaned into the sabbatical goals I set for myself, with guidance from our Board of Trustees, with ample time for study, reading, reflection, and rest. I strengthened my self-care routine as well, and attended worship services held by other faith communities in our area to see what I can learn from our neighbors. Finally, I completed multiple training programs for faith-based community organizing, including certification through the classic four-day “Organizing for Justice” course at Midwest Academy.
I told you when I left in December that I would come back ready for the year ahead, and friends: I am ready.
I’ll be with you this Sunday morning, April 6, to rejoin our community’s life together – and then back to preaching on Sunday, April 13. You’ll hear a bit more about what I’ve been up to, over the next few weeks – but I know I have a lot to catch up on, from all of you! I want to hear about everything I’ve missed, and I know Sunday’s coffee hour will never be long enough to fit it all in. So I’ve created a little survey that I’d love to have you fill out. It asks four questions – you can answer all, a few, or just one of them, whatever feels right:
- What made you most proud of our congregation in these past four months?
- What was the hardest part of the sabbatical, for you?
- What was different during the time I was away (either good or bad)?
- Who really went above and beyond during my sabbatical? Who do I most need to thank?
In these first few weeks back, my intention is to listen and learn about what’s been happening within our community, and what’s changed in this time, for you. It has been the gift of a lifetime, to prepare for our years ahead together with this time of deep rest and renewal.
Take care – and I’ll see you on Sunday!
Rev. Lee