I am writing to let you know that I will be taking a sabbatical from January to April of 2025. A sabbatical is a time for ministerial leaders to rest, reflect, reorient, and imagine the future. It feels helpful to use this announcement to share a few organizational details (you know I hate to miss a teaching opportunity!) so here is a little summary of how sabbatical leave works at South Church, as well as specifics about my upcoming leave:
I plan to depart on January 5th, 2025 after worship, and to return to lead worship on April 27 (the Sunday after Easter).
Sabbatical time accrues at the rate of one month per year of service. To be taken after four but before seven years of service (I am a little behind on this, but better late than never!). As part of taking a sabbatical, ministerial leaders agree not to resign from service to the Congregation for a minimum of one year following the end of each sabbatical leave. Sabbatical periods are also an important opportunity for the staff and congregation to experience our community and its many ministries while a core leader is away. It keeps us a little more aware of the roles we play in doing this work together.
I imagine you have some questions. I have tried to anticipate some of them below, and I encourage you to reach out to me with any other questions or ideas.
Sabbatical FAQ:
How are you preparing for your sabbatical? I have already begun to talk with Rev. Ellen, the board of trustees, the staff team, and the leadership groups with whom I work most closely, to begin to discern what support needs each of those folks might have during the time I am away. We will continue to be in dialogue around that question for the next few months. I am compiling a sabbatical plan, and will share that when it is complete, allowing time for feedback and further questions. I am grateful to have received a scholarship of $4,000 from the UU Service Committee to help offset some travel and study expenses during my time away.
What are ways the South Church community can help support this sabbatical? As I mentioned, one significant way you can help is to stay curious about the lessons that emerge during my absence, and share them with me when I get back! In addition to that, there are a variety of other roles I will be looking to fill in the coming months, including:
Worship Support~ TFAA: I will be recruiting a group of people to lead the Time for All Ages in order to fill 2-3 Sundays each month, and if you are interested in sharing a story, sharing a musical lesson, or planning some other multigenerational reflection for a worship service please reach out and let me know and we can talk more about possible dates and topics to explore! Worship Support~ guest preaching: I will also be recruiting guests for the pulpit once a month while I am away.
Lifespan learning opportunities: In a typical church year I lead an in depth learning program (such as Wellspring, or Living our Values), A weekly poetry practice, as well as several smaller offerings. While I am away in collaboration with the Learning Associates, I plan to recruit several folks to lead offerings that will help maintain opportunities for growth and learning. If you would like to lead a discussion or a workshop, please let me know.
Responding to need: A big part of my job is helping inspire folks in our community to sign up for volunteer opportunities, so it would be a huge help if you keep your eyes out for calls to get involved! There is always need for Religious Education volunteers, Sunday morning kitchen ministry, ushers, folks who are willing to be greeters, and so many other ways that every one of us can chip in to the mission of our church!
What are your plans while you are on sabbatical, Kirsten? For ministerial leaders a sabbatical is a time away from the day to day responsibilities that place demands on our physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual resources; It is a time to reflect on the state of the ministries of South Church, and the development of my own ministry. I have chosen to use those four areas of release as guideposts for my time away.
The Physical: I will be taking time to recommit to physical care practices- daily walks and bike rides, and hopefully a longer hiking journey that is still taking shape.
The Emotional: During the four months I am away, I will also be reflecting on the intense demands of the past several years of leadership transitions during the Covid pandemic, reconnecting with my family, and realigning my heart.
The Spiritual: There are a few potential retreats in the works which will surely deepen my own daily reflection practices, and nourish my spirit.
The Intellectual: I have a growing stack of books and resources I am looking forward to exploring as I carve out some of my sabbatical time to research and reflect on the evolving landscape of shared ministry in Unitarian Universalism, and how such practices support the vision of collective liberation. I will be taking a gentle approach to all of this, weaving rest and restorative practices with curiosity and exploration. I am excited!
Do you have a question I have not answered, or an idea you’d like to share? Email me! Kirsten@southchurch-uu.org or send me a note: 73 Court St. Portsmouth, NH 03801
Sending you all love and deep gratitude for all of the ways that you help make this community so special. I am regularly amazed at the vision and service you all offer- day in and day out- to me, to each other and to this precious world. It is truly a blessing.
In Faith,
Kirsten