A Handbook for Rev. Fred Small s Sabbatical photo credit:maria Cristina Vlassidis Burgoa First Parish in Cambridge 3 Church Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 617.876.7772 www.firstparishcambridge.org
A Message from the Sabbatical Committee As just about everyone knows by now, Senior Minister Fred Small will soon be taking a well earned sabbatical, starting on February 19, 2014, and returning on August 28, 2014. While he is resting and recharging, it will be our privilege as parishioners, lay leaders, and professional staff to continue the remarkable progress we have made with Fred over the past five years toward fulfilling the dream of beloved community. During this period we are blessed to have a marvelous pair of gifted ministers, a dedicated, competent staff, and a wealth of effective lay leaders in place. Having consulted in the fall with members of the congregation and all the players who will be in charge of worship, pastoral care, religious education, and church administration from now through the end of the summer, we on the Sabbatical Committee are brimming with confidence that we will thrive during Fred s absence and surprise him next fall with all we have achieved. In this handbook we describe what you can expect in worship services and whom to contact for pastoral needs and other services and concerns. We also answer a host of Frequently Asked Questions that we ve gathered during the last few months. We hope the handbook will be a handy reference guide for your use, but if there is any detail we have missed or concern we have not addressed, please feel free to contact any of us individually or email us at sabbatical@firstparishcambridge.org. In faith, Michael W. Wiggins (chair) Janice Ellertsen Katrina Piehler Mark Watanabe Guide to Rev. Fred Small s Sabbatical - page 2
Frequently Asked Questions about the Sabbatical When does the sabbatical take place and how long will it last? Fred s sabbatical will begin February 19, 2014, and end August 28, 2014. He ll be back in the pulpit at the Homecoming worship service on September 7, 2014. Why a sabbatical for the Senior Minister? The word sabbatical stems from the Sabbath, a time of rest. When First Parish called Fred to be its Senior Minister, an important provision in our ministerial agreement was that after five years he could take time for a five-month sabbatical. (He will also take a month of vacation during the summer.) The sabbatical leave is a tradition for Unitarian Universalist clergy. It offers an extended time for reflection, rest, and renewal all ingredients for effective ministry. Fred will be using his sabbatical primarily for rest and rejuvenation, with no duties to the congregation and deliberately without any charge to produce any specific body of work. Our congregation will benefit as Fred returns refreshed, with new ideas and with rekindled energy. What will happen on Sundays during the sabbatical? Rev. Lilia Cuervo will continue to serve as Associate Minister during Fred s sabbatical period. She will be responsible for ensuring continuity in worship and pastoral functions. In addition, Rev. Mykal Slack has joined the staff as Worship Leader and Community Life Coordinator. Lilia and Mykal will lead worship services and each preach once or twice a month, making certain that the Sunday morning worship experience we have come to expect will continue. In addition, our Worship Associates team, working with Fred, Lilia, and Mykal, has planned several memorable special services. These will include seasonal services typically conducted at First Parish, services involving lay participation and sharing, as well as visits from dynamic ministers who will preach on topics that align with our spiritual values and our mission. Guide to Rev. Fred Small s Sabbatical - page 3
Who will provide pastoral care? Lilia will look after the pastoral needs of the congregation, with assistance from the church s Pastoral Associates and the Circle of Care volunteers. Congregants can contact Lilia by telephone at 617.876.7772 Ext. 204, by dropping in at her regular weekly open office hours, by making an appointment through Congregational Administrator Carol Lewis in the church office, or by e-mailing assocminister@firstparishcambridge.org. Alternatively, you may speak to the Pastoral Associate of the Month, who is usually present at Sunday services and also reachable by e-mail at pastoralcare@firstparishcambridge.org. Who will perform rites of passage? Lilia will be available to perform weddings, child dedications, and memorial services for members of First Parish, and for others when possible. Please contact Congregational Administrator, Carol Lewis at office@firstparishcambridge.org to begin planning any of these events. When Lilia is unavailable, Carol can provide a list of Unitarian Universalist ministers who can perform these services. What will the music be like in the worship services during the sabbatical? The wide variety of music provided by the choir, soloists, and Music Director Jonathan Barnhart, drawing on a variety of sources from around the world, will continue. We will also continue our tradition of learning and singing new songs as an entire congregation, as an integral part of the service. Will there be any changes in the Religious Education program? The Religious Education Program will remain in the capable hands of Religious Education Director Mandy Neff. The rich set of programs created by Mandy and R.E. volunteers will continue during the sabbatical period. Guide to Rev. Fred Small s Sabbatical - page 4
How will church operations be handled during the sabbatical period? Lilia will be in close communication with the chair of the Standing Committee, Susan Shepherd, during the entire sabbatical period. Carol Lewis, Congregational Administrator, Janice Zazinski, Office Assistant, and Roland Ellies, Sexton, will continue with their respective duties and responsibilities under the supervision of the chair and vice-chair of the Standing Committee. The many church leaders who staff the various committees that do the ongoing work of the church will be faithfully continuing their service. Whom do I contact if I want to get more involved in First Parish life? Rev. Mykal Slack, Community Life Coordinator, will be happy to discuss opportunities for new connections to the church community. Mykal will be available most Sunday mornings and can also be reached by contacting the church office or by emailing clc@firstparishcambridge.org. You are also invited to speak to a greeter or the designated newcomer liaison on any Sunday morning. What will happen to the Strategic Planning process during the sabbatical period? The report and recommendations of the Strategic Planning Team, on which Fred has served as a consultant, will be presented to the Standing Committee in February before Fred leaves. The Standing Committee and congregation will decide how to respond to these recommendations. What about Fred s annual concert? This is a year when we won t have the pleasure of Fred s concert. Guide to Rev. Fred Small s Sabbatical - page 5
Does Fred s taking a sabbatical mean he s thinking about leaving First Parish? Not at all! In fact, a sabbatical is the best way to prevent burnout. According to Fred s agreement with the congregation, the minister agrees not to resign from full-time service for a minimum of nine months following the end of each sabbatical leave. Fred has expressed his intention to return refreshed and remain with us for many years to come. Can I contact Fred while he is on sabbatical? Sorry, but Fred s sabbatical is a time for a complete break from his duties as our Senior Minister. The only people to contact Fred are the Associate Minister, the Pastoral Associate of the Month (in case of pastoral emergency if the Associate Minister can t be reached), the chair of the Standing Committee, and the Congregational Administrator, and only in the event of an extraordinary emergency. The network described in this handbook will deal with routine matters and most emergencies that may arise. A comprehensive list of names and contact information for First Parish staff and volunteers can be found at the end of this Handbook. How will our congregation benefit from the sabbatical? We will have a great congregational opportunity during Fred s absence to continue forward on the journey we began with him five years ago to grow as a church, deepen our bonds with one another, conduct meaningful worship services together, strengthen our membership, and spread our wings as a justice-making, multicultural congregation. And we will benefit enormously when Fred rejoins us on that journey next fall, well rested and energized. Guide to Rev. Fred Small s Sabbatical - page 6
Sunday Worship during the Sabbatical As mentioned earlier, we recognize how fortunate we are to have committed and experienced ministers, staff, and volunteer teams supporting First Parish during our Senior Minister s sabbatical time. Our Worship Associates team, working with the ministers, has coordinated a schedule of wonderful services to make certain that the Sunday morning worship experience we have come to expect will continue. Our Sunday worship services will be a dynamic combination of the following: Rev. Lilia Cuervo and Rev. Mykal Slack will each lead worship services every month. Some of the inspiring topics they are planning to preach on are: creating, sustaining and celebrating community; the feminine faces of God; Meister Eckhart and the joy of living; and being the change. During these months we will also have worship that connects and involves our community with opportunities for lay participation and sharing. Some empowering and moving services we can look forward to include those coordinated by the Youth Group, the Abilities and Access Committee, and the Immigration Task Force, plus voices from our congregation on Mother s and Father s Day. Additionally, the Worship Associate team has invited a number of inspiring ministers and dynamic speakers to preach and visit with us during these months, including Rev. Manikka Bowman and Rev. Clyde Grubbs. A specific list of upcoming services for the month ahead can always be found at First Parish s website: http://www.firstparishcambridge.org/listofweeklyservices Guide to Rev. Fred Small s Sabbatical - page 7
Reflections from our Leaders It is a great privilege and a sacred trust to serve this amazing congregation. I'm excited by what we've accomplished together over the last five years, and still more excited by the years to come! I look forward to some deep rest during my sabbatical--and also to returning refreshed and renewed in my ministry with you. Rev. Fred Small Senior Minister Our Senior Minister s sabbatical will ask that all of us give a little more than usual, to keep our spirits high, to trust that each of our contributions, no matter how small, united to those of others, will keep us on course. I have offered Fred and the congregation my full support, and I have the utmost confidence that together, members, friends, leaders, and staff of First Parish will preserve the many successful ways he has employed to help transform our congregation. I expect that in his absence we will continue growing together, serving each other, and strengthening our congregation. I am sure we will thrive in his absence as a tribute to his leadership. I invite all to share my great pleasure in contributing to our Senior Minister s peace of mind and enjoyment while he takes his well-deserved sabbatical. Rev. Lilia Cuervo Associate Minister During Fred s well-earned sabbatical, I am committed to keeping things running smoothly and maintaining our commitment to beloved community. I have great confidence in our Associate Minister Lilia Cuervo, our Director of Religious Education Mandy Neff, our Worship Leader and Community Life Coordinator Mykal Slack, our terrific staff, talented volunteers and all our members and friends. Every time I engage with you I feel the love and belonging that we share. Please feel free to contact me with any concerns you may have. Susan Shepherd Chair, Standing Committee Guide to Rev. Fred Small s Sabbatical - page 8
Whom to Contact during Fred s Sabbatical First Parish is fortunate to have strong professional staff and volunteer leadership. In particular, Associate Minister Lilia Cuervo, Worship Leader and Community Life Coordinator Mykal Slack, Religious Education Director Mandy Neff, Standing Committee Chair Susan Shepherd, and Congregational Administrator Carol Lewis will be on hand during the sabbatical period to answer questions and offer guidance. For more direct assistance in specific areas of church operation, you may find it helpful to consult the list below. Email addresses are provided, but if you need further assistance contacting anyone on this list please call the church office during regular business hours at 617.876.7772, or e-mail office@firstparishcambridge.org. Question Regarding: Contact Person/Group: Pastoral care needs Rev. Lilia Cuervo, assocminster@firstparishcambridge.org Pastoral Associate of the month, pastoralcare@firstparishcambridge.org Sunday worship Rev. Lilia Cuervo, assocminster@firstparishcambridge.org Worship Associates (Gloria Korsman and Linda West, cochairs), worship@firstparishcambridge.org Sunday Morning Welcome Team (Katrina Piehler, Sr. Deacon), welcometeam@firstparishcambridge.org Health of our shared ministry Committee on Ministry (Jack Jurras, chair), COM@firstparishcambridge.org Efforts to transform First Parish into a multiracial, multicultural, justice-making congregation Transformation Team (Natalya Stratton), transform@firstparishcambridge.org Guide to Rev. Fred Small s Sabbatical - page 9
Governance of First Parish Standing Committee (Susan Shepherd, chair), standingcommittee@firstparishcambridge.org Religious education, child care Director of Religious Education Mandy Neff, dre@firstparishcambridge.org Religious Education Committee (Bruce Leslie-Pritchard, chair), REComittee@firstparishcambridge.org Weddings, child dedications, memorial services Rev. Lilia Cuervo, assocminister@firstparishcambridge.org Congregational Administrator Carol Lewis, office@firstparishcambridge.org Membership, newcomer welcoming Community Life Coordinator Rev. Mykal Slack, clc@firstparishcambridge.org Membership Committee (Renée Saindon, chair), membership@firstparishcambridge.org Volunteering, committee involvement, community outreach, church life Community Life Coordinator Rev. Mykal Slack, clc@firstparishcambridge.org Social Justice task forces Social Justice Council (Marcia Hams, chair), socialjustice@firstparishcambridge.org Accessibility Abilities and Access Committee (Barbara Ceconi, chair), access@firstparishcambridge.org Public Relations Standing Committee (Susan Shepherd, chair), standingcommittee@firstparishcambridge.org Music Program, choir Music Director Jonathan Barnhart, musicdir@firstparishcambridge.org Music Committee (Mara Voorhees and Steve Hanna, cochairs), musicchair@firstparishcambridge.org Guide to Rev. Fred Small s Sabbatical - page 10
Annual giving, pledge payments Congregational Administrator Carol Lewis, office@firstparishcambridge.org Stewardship Committee (Steve Hanna, chair), stewardship@firstparishcambridge.org Church operations Congregational Administrator Carol Lewis, office@firstparishcambridge.org Announcements, newsletter, email list-serve, general office information Congregational Administrator Carol Lewis, office@firstparishcambridge.org Building maintenance and grounds Congregational Administrator Carol Lewis, office@firstparishcambridge.org Sexton Roland Ellies, sexton@firstparishcambridge.org Building and Grounds Committee (David Ray, chair), building@firstparishcambridge.org Guide to Rev. Fred Small s Sabbatical - page 11