Dear Congregation,

My sabbatical begins on March 1st and will continue through the end of July. (The Unitarian Universalist Association’s recommended formula is one month of sabbatical for every completed year of service, sometime between years five and seven. I have completed five years and am in my sixth year with you.)

During my sabbatical, I will be improving my Spanish and finishing a theology book I am writing for Skinner House books. I will also be starting work as the (as of yet, very, very part-time, at just five hours a week) Executive Director for the Connecticut Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Ministry. We may have some related contact during my sabbatical as a result.

Mostly, I hope to gather myself for ministry for families in a democratically unstable era. I began my ministry with you in March of 2020, right at the beginning of the pandemic. So much of our work together has been finding our way through new ministry landscapes. I know that in order to keep going in this intensive work, I need a chance to gather myself for the next iteration.

I want you to know that it is an honor and a privilege to minister with and to you. I treasure you so much, and look forward to returning to be with you in what is next.

When I return, there will be about one month to make sure volunteer teams are in place and trained for our 2026-2027 program year, which runs mid-September through late May. In the last weeks of February I learned that some of our volunteers will not be able to continue next year. This means that when I come back, I will need to quickly fill those positions. If you can help for the nine months of the next program year, please get in touch with me before March 1st if at all possible, or on my return in August.

Thank you so much for this opportunity to grow in my work, strengthen my ministry, and prepare better for what is ahead.

Warmly,
Sierra-Marie