As I write this blog, I am pleasantly full of cookies from our cookie truck, and also pleasantly full of your good wishes for my sabbatical. I’m setting my out of office message, trying to clean my office just a bit…and writing a list of “things to do immediately when you get back!” All those little rituals that prepare us for time away. 

Sabbatical time is a huge gift to me, and as I shared this morning in platform it truly allows me to return with a greater capacity for relationship with all of you and with our mission and vision. THANK YOU to everyone who makes this sabbatical possible–staff, Board, volunteers. I am especially grateful to Beth Baker and Bryan Pashigian, who will lead our Pastoral Care Associates in responding to your pastoral needs. They can be reached at bethbaker@starpower.net or 301-537-1597 and bryanpashigian@gmail.com or 443-255-8946. 

And this summer, thank you to our sabbatical clergy Kären Rasmussen. Kären will be working about 1/4 time, but she will be present on most Sundays while I am away. Please welcome her and get to know her! She can be reached at KarenMRasmussen@aol.com. 

The SEEK Team, as shared in last week’s blog, has created some amazing summer programming. If you want to be involved in any way, don’t hesitate to reach out to them; you can sign up through the blog. I am really looking forward to seeing some of our children’s handiwork when I return! 
And we have fantastic speakers lined up for platform, a mix of WES members, guest Ethical Culture Leaders, and Kären herself. I’ll be back on Sunday, August 11 (when my colleague Amanda Weatherspoon will be speaking–you won’t want to miss her). Really, the only bad thing for me about being on sabbatical is that I won’t get to hear the platforms you’ll be enjoying! 

Finally, I want you to know there are two opportunities this summer to serve the broader community and respond to justice issues around us. WES’ Immigration Team (including Patti Absher, Kristin Hunter, Sue Smith, and Ross Wells) is working with Cedar Lane UU Congregation to support Dona Rosa, who is in sanctuary at Cedar Lane, and her children. And, a group of WES members are working with the Washington Interfaith Network (WIN) on how to create more affordable housing in DC, starting with a training on June 29. You can reach out to Shelagh Bocoum for information on that. 

As usual when I take sabbatical time, any email I receive during that time will be automatically deleted; I will not see it, even on my return. Just resend your email after August 11 if it’s still relevant then. I will likely be posting infrequently or not at all on Facebook, and I definitely won’t be tracking anything within WES Facebook groups. And I won’t check my work voicemail! But will all that, please do be assured that Kären and the Board know how to reach me. 

I’m looking forward to my time away…and I’m looking forward to returning. May you have moments of renewal, rest, and recommitment in your summer as well. 

Warmly,

Amanda Poppei