Dear Friends,

If you have already watched the service for January 23 this message will come as no surprise, but I wanted to make sure that everyone is aware. At our most recent Tripod meeting (the Tripod is our name for the shared leadership of the Board, Covenant Committee and Minister) I requested and was granted a short personal leave beginning on January 31 and ending February 15.

There is no emergency or crisis beyond the ongoing stresses of ministry in a pandemic. Instead, I requested the leave to take care of myself and lessen the chances that a crisis might develop. I am feeling, as so many of us are, the effects of so much isolation, pressure, and stress and I know that I need to pay attention. Taking a short leave will allow me to attend to the needs of my mind, body, and my relationships so that I can continue doing what I love.

I won’t be ignoring ministry completely during my leave. The first week, I’ll be attending (virtually) the UU Ministers Association Institute for the Learning Ministry. In fact, Rev. Ninán (Theresa) and I are leading the opening worship for our colleagues. Being on leave will let me focus on this important event. The following two weeks will be for rest and reading and art-making and otherwise refilling the well from which I draw and refreshing my energy.

I am so grateful to my partners in shared ministry for encouraging me to take care of myself and understanding that ministers are human too and sometimes need to refill so we don’t reach the limits of our capacity to give of ourselves, encourage others, and lead through these times of constant change.

I encourage you to think of this leave as an invitation for you attend to your needs. Take some time to remember what fills you up. What helps you feel more balanced? What connects you to the things that matter most? How can you relax a little and let go of the stress or worry or overwhelm? Give yourself permission to do those things. Ask others to help make space for it to happen. Think of it as another way of making space for Love to be present, and for it to guide us toward restoration, health, and toward each other.

With great love and gratitude,

Rev. Sean