Last week, I sat down with Rev. Dr. Gloria and Wende to begin shaping our upcoming clergy retreat for Arizona and New Mexico. As they were talking, I kept hearing echoes of something many of us already know deep down: ministry can’t thrive without rest. Not just time off, but intentional time to reconnect with God, with one another, and with the quiet places within us that we often overlook. (I think I am preaching to the choir, lol) When we neglect that space, we risk running empty while trying to lead others to fullness. Rest isn’t indulgent, it’s part of how we honor the sacred calling we’ve received. How do we take C.A.R.E.S. of our mind, body, and soul, tending to our well-being in ways that reflect our covenant, accountability, resilience, education, and spiritual life? You’ll learn more about what C.A.R.E.S. means and how it shapes our shared ministry in the weeks ahead.

The Marks of Faithful and Effective Authorized Ministers address this need directly. One mark lifts the importance of cultivating a life grounded in spiritual practices. Another emphasizes emotional and spiritual well-being. Rest isn’t an afterthought to ministry. It’s part of the calling. If we take the marks seriously, then we also have to take rest seriously.

We’re planning a retreat that honors that truth. A time not for fixing, producing, or checking things off a list—but for being. For laughter, prayer, quiet, renewal, and maybe even sleeping in without guilt. Let me put it like this: you know it’s time for a retreat when your sermon notes are scribbled on the back of a grocery receipt, your spiritual practice is muttering “Lord, have mercy” between meetings, and the only “still waters” you’ve seen lately are the puddles from your leaky church roof. Sound familiar?

We’ll be sharing details soon, but for now, I invite you to join us for this prayer retreat. Ask yourself: What might it look like to truly rest in the presence of God, among colleagues who get it?

Grateful to walk this journey with you,
Rev. Dr. Derrick Elliott