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.

Click through to read more of Dr. Derrick’s article and to learn a little about C.A.R.E.S. at our upcoming clergy retreats.

Attending General Synod 35 in Kansas City this past week was a good reminder of that for me. Gathering with so many faithful people around the theme “Into the Deep” rekindled my sense of purpose. The worship, the conversations, and the witness to justice all pointed back to the same truth: we are here because God called us. As the Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson noted in her address to the church, the UCC is a “big tent.” We encompass a diversity of beliefs, theologies, and traditions. That’s what I love about the UCC. We don’t have to agree, but we are together because of the covenant they faithfully promised we made to each other that we will be together. Being with others who share this calling renewed my gratitude and gave me fresh energy for the work ahead.

I can still remember my very first General Synod. The gathering of so many people from the various expressions of the United Church of Christ: congregations, conferences, national staff, and global partnerships, all seeking to walk together in all God’s ways, made the Day of Pentecost come alive. It was like the rush of a mighty wind, a holy stirring that reminded me we are not alone in this call. The Spirit is still moving, gathering, and sending us out to be with others.

I also remember the moment that first stirred my heart toward ministry.

Click through to read Dr. Derrick’s full article.

I had the chance this week to pick up the phone and call a few of our retired clergy in the Southwest Conference. As the SWC Associates Conference Minister and also their colleagues, I to say it felt good just to hear their voices. It is my belief that sometimes a simple check-in is all it takes to feel a little less alone. We don’t always have to solve big problems—sometimes it’s enough just to be present for each other. This caused a flashback of my military days!

Back when I was in the military, first the Army, then the Air Force, we never went out by ourselves. In the Army, you had a battle buddy. In the Air Force, you had a wingman. Those were not just nice titles. They meant you always had someone by your side. A battle buddy was there to make sure you came back safe. A wingman was there to keep watch, to cover you when things got rough. No matter how well-trained you were, you still needed that person you could count on.

This isn’t a new idea. It shows up in our sacred stories, too. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs. They didn’t head off alone to teach or heal. They went together. They depended on each other, and that was part of the plan all along.

Click through to read Dr. Derrick’s full article.