A Letter from Denise Graber, outgoing director:
Transition is defined in the dictionary as ‘movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage subject, concept etc. to another; change.’ I’m not afraid of change and in all honesty, I enjoy new experiences and things that might be out of the ordinary. I like my schedule being different each day and I enjoy a wrench, every now and then, being thrown in the mix.
God knows all about these transitions we experience and only he understands the reasons and the timing of this incredible world. I believe in that powerful God and I believe in his wisdom, his teaching and his guidance, even when he is leading me back to Texas.
I cannot begin to tell you what this community has meant to me. You have loved me, held me so close in prayer, laughed and cried with me and believed me when I asked you to support the ministry and young adults at Circle of the Beloved. Our beloved Episcopal Church does not have a strong history with ministering to this age group but I want to assure you, Bishop Loya and the board of directors are changing that by taking a sabbatical year to discern how Circle and ECMN does young adult ministry – and does it well.
Transitions can be tough, but transitions are also life affirming and we are assured of help and guidance. Psalm 121:1,2 says, “ I lift up my eyes to the mountains; where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord; the Maker of heaven and earth.’ I ask for your continued support of Circle, the young adults whose lives are being transformed and those who will call Liberty House their home for the 2022/23-limited program year. This age group is courageous, wickedly intelligent and insightful and truly wants to make our world a better place. Listen to them and help them. Circle is listening to them, listening to God in His call to breathe and take stock in where they need to offer the best version of ‘kinship across lines of difference’ for you, ECMN and the community at large.
With gratitude and blessings,
Denise
What other factors led to the decision to take a sabbath?
Transition is defined in the dictionary as ‘movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage subject, concept etc. to another; change.’ I’m not afraid of change and in all honesty, I enjoy new experiences and things that might be out of the ordinary. I like my schedule being different each day and I enjoy a wrench, every now and then, being thrown in the mix.
God knows all about these transitions we experience and only he understands the reasons and the timing of this incredible world. I believe in that powerful God and I believe in his wisdom, his teaching and his guidance, even when he is leading me back to Texas.
I cannot begin to tell you what this community has meant to me. You have loved me, held me so close in prayer, laughed and cried with me and believed me when I asked you to support the ministry and young adults at Circle of the Beloved. Our beloved Episcopal Church does not have a strong history with ministering to this age group but I want to assure you, Bishop Loya and the board of directors are changing that by taking a sabbatical year to discern how Circle and ECMN does young adult ministry – and does it well.
Transitions can be tough, but transitions are also life affirming and we are assured of help and guidance. Psalm 121:1,2 says, “ I lift up my eyes to the mountains; where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord; the Maker of heaven and earth.’ I ask for your continued support of Circle, the young adults whose lives are being transformed and those who will call Liberty House their home for the 2022/23-limited program year. This age group is courageous, wickedly intelligent and insightful and truly wants to make our world a better place. Listen to them and help them. Circle is listening to them, listening to God in His call to breathe and take stock in where they need to offer the best version of ‘kinship across lines of difference’ for you, ECMN and the community at large.
With gratitude and blessings,
Denise
What other factors led to the decision to take a sabbath?
- Episcopal Service Corps requires members to start the program year with four fellows who each have a job or service placement in an organization working towards community justice and equity, and that meets other supervision and evaluation requirements. Because of low application numbers in recent years, we were not confident that we could recruit four fellows who met this requirement. In order to maintain our relationship with Saint Andrew’s, which owns Liberty House, we decided to focus on finding four residents who wanted to live in an intentional community, without the restrictions on their employer or service placement.
- ESC members must offer health insurance or medicaid coverage for fellows and staff, as well as Employee Assistance Program coverage or equivalent mental health resources. In order to meet this requirement, we need to make changes to our financial model and fundraising. Sabbath gives us the space to develop these plans.
- Across young adult ministries, there is a growing recognition of the need to adapt to changes in young adults’ spiritual and relational needs and values—not to mention the long-term impacts of the pandemic. Sabbath will allow us to step back from the immediate operational responsibilities of a normal program year and engage in deep discernment about how we can meet young adults’ needs and opportunities in this new context.
How will this program year be different from others?
Normally, the program director prepares and facilitates at least 8 hours of programming each month for the fellows on topics like spiritual practices, seeking justice, and building community across lines of difference. During sabbath, programming will be scaled back substantially and led by board members and other Circle of the Beloved supporters and friends. The board will connect residents with additional external resources and learning opportunities if requested.
Each fellow is normally expected to have a job or service placement in an organization working towards community justice and equity and that meets other supervision and evaluation requirements. During sabbath, residents will be free to work or serve in any setting that is not in major conflict with our core values.
Are you leaving the Episcopal Service Corps?
No. We will remain members of the ESC network. ESC has a process by which programs can request to take a sabbath year, which means they do not recruit fellows through the central ESC application process, but can still participate in network meetings and working groups. To re-enter recruitment the following year, we will need to prepare a written reflection about how we spent the year and any alterations we’ve made to our program.
How can I support your work?
Normally, the program director prepares and facilitates at least 8 hours of programming each month for the fellows on topics like spiritual practices, seeking justice, and building community across lines of difference. During sabbath, programming will be scaled back substantially and led by board members and other Circle of the Beloved supporters and friends. The board will connect residents with additional external resources and learning opportunities if requested.
Each fellow is normally expected to have a job or service placement in an organization working towards community justice and equity and that meets other supervision and evaluation requirements. During sabbath, residents will be free to work or serve in any setting that is not in major conflict with our core values.
Are you leaving the Episcopal Service Corps?
No. We will remain members of the ESC network. ESC has a process by which programs can request to take a sabbath year, which means they do not recruit fellows through the central ESC application process, but can still participate in network meetings and working groups. To re-enter recruitment the following year, we will need to prepare a written reflection about how we spent the year and any alterations we’ve made to our program.
How can I support your work?
- Make a financial contribution to fund our current and future programming
- Encourage young adults in their 20s who are interested in a year of intentional community to apply to be a 2022-2023 resident. Our application goes live on March 19!
- Pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as Circle of the Beloved enters a year of rest and discernment, considering how we can best build a program that allows young adults to build kinship across lines of difference in North Minneapolis and across the Twin Cities.
