Ministerial Sabbatical
Rev Shari's Sabbatical: What to Expect
July 1 - Oct 31, 2025
A sabbatical is a paid leave for study, reflection, rest, and renewal, fostering effective ministry. Rev. Shari Woodbury will take her sabbatical from July 1 to October 31, 2025, as outlined in her Letter of Agreement—a cherished Unitarian Universalist tradition. This time will rejuvenate her and bring fresh energy and ideas to the congregation.
During her leave, the Sabbatical Committee, comprising Douglas Lee-Regier, Valarie Palacio, Suzanne King, Deb Burton, and Rebecca Turner, will ensure smooth continuity in worship, pastoral care, and leadership while supporting her transition and reintegration. For updates and details, contact the committee at sabteam@firstuuomaha.org. You can also attend the Brunch Church on July 6 -- Sabbatical Coverage and Q&A will be the topic.
Read on to meet the ministers providing support during this period. You can check out two video messages from the Sabbatical Team at bottom of this page, too. For Rev. Shari's two sermons from June speaking to the sabbatical, go to this Sabbatical Playlist on our YouTube channel. You can also read her church blog post on this topic.
Who Will Lead During the Sabbatical?
Pastoral Care During Sabbatical
Rev. Juniper Meadows from Second Unitarian will provide pastoral care from July 1 to October 31.
To access care, please contact our Caring Team Coordinators, who can confidentially connect you. caringcoordinator@firstuuomaha.org
Church Contacts During Sabbatical
Worship: worshipteam@firstuuomaha.org for our lay worship artists (and sabbatical minister)
Caring needs: caringcoordinator@firstuuomaha.org (for Caring Team co-coordinators Carol Ramsey, Kay Lynn Goldner, and Debbie Burton -- and to connect with the sabbatical pastoral care minister)
Music (Sept.+ or Choir): musicdirector@firstuuomaha.org for Music Director William Miller
Summer Music (July & Aug.): judeunger@icloud.com for Summer Music Coordinator Judi Unger
Rites of passage: admin@firstuuomaha.org (to book the church)
Streaming program / tech support: avtech@firstuuomaha.org (staffer Jake Shaw-Sutherland) or techies@firstuuomaha.org (volunteers plus Jake)
Communications: editor@firstuuomaha.org (submissions for e-news, social media etc.)
Web page updates: website@firstuuomaha.org
Membership: coordinator@firstuuomaha.org for staffer Melissa Gibson
Room Reservation: please use this form
Building and grounds: building@firstuuomaha.org
Other operational questions or don't know who to ask: mtc@firstuuomaha.org
BEWARE OF SCAMMERS. If you should receive an email or text purporting to be from the minister, saying she needs urgent help or asking for gift cards, passwords or other suspicious requests, please know that this is a scam. Phishers have been very busy and figured out how to do this via text as well as email; someone malicious got ahold of a church directory. Both staff and church members have been impersonated. You can block cell phone #s and report suspicious emails.
