Desert Notes October 31, 2024
As many of you know, I sustained a small injury while canvassing voters a couple of Saturdays ago. I have a small break in my right fibula, which means I am in a boot for 4-6 weeks, and I am not able to drive at the moment. This has meant major disruptions to both my personal and professional schedules, and also to my own energy levels. I hope you can be patient with me. If you have scheduled an appointment with me, it likely needs to be online. I have canceled some activities in order to manage my reduced energy while I heal. I have asked others to step in and lead some activities as well, to avoid cancellation. I may ask you to reschedule an appointment and I may even have lost track of some correspondence during this time. It’s OK to confirm appointments ahead of time or re-send a correspondence if you’re not sure I received it. However, please expect a slower response time and give me some space to triage–some things may take priority over others in the short term. Last week I prioritized a wedding that had been on my calendar for 6 months, a VIP event that had also been on my calendar for months and which I had a central role in, and our Sunday service. This week I am planning a memorial service for the family of Roz Hawkins, whose father died last weekend. We also have been awarded a major grant for safety infrastructure, and several of us are involved in beginning the implementation of this grant. Training for implementation began this week.
I continue to work with a music steering team to plan music for Sunday services as well as engage the interim and developmental work we identified with Rev. Sam Wilson over the last year. I know that sometimes the answers to questions you may have don’t come as quickly or clearly as you or I would like them to. I appreciate the grace and trust you afford me that progress is being made even when it isn’t entirely visible or the direction is different than you may have hoped for. I believe in shared ministry and I am always working with a team–which also means I am considering multiple points of view and waiting for collective discernment at times. #speedoftrust
Post Election Care: I know many of you may want a safe space to connect after the election. No matter the outcome, many have expressed concern to me about what will be happening in our communities and in our country on the other side of it. We are looking at setting up some online and in person opportunities for us to gather. We’ll send an email with some offerings next week. Let me know what might feel supportive to you. minister@vuu.org
Rev. Sarah