When to Reach Out to your Minister

One of the challenging things about having a new minister (or being new to the church) is that you don’t always know when it’s worth reaching out. I am always happy to hear from you! As a reminder, I am available for appointments Sunday-Wednesday. I typically schedule at least a week out, unless it is an emergency. You can always give me a call in the office or send me an email to set up a time to talk.

Here’s a helpful list (with gratitude to the ministers at UUAC in Sherborn, MA for the inspiration) of when it is a good time to reach out to your minister. Feel free to print it out and keep it somewhere as a reminder that there’s somewhere to go whenever one of these things happens.

  1. When you or a family member are ill.
  2. When you, a family member or a church member are in the hospital.
  3. When you are experiencing a life crisis and need to talk.
  4. When you are celebrating one of life’s joys and want to share it.
  5. When you have a child you wish to have blessed or dedicated.
  6. When you are looking for someone to listen to your thoughts and feelings.
  7. When you have a concern about our faith community.
  8. When you are feeling challenged by your life circumstances and want to talk.
  9. When you are considering joining the congregation.
  10. When you have an idea for our faith community and aren’t sure where it fits in.
  11. When you have good story to share.
  12. When you are wondering how to get more involved in the congregation.
  13. When you are feeling alone and want to be reminded of the support you have.
  14. When you want to talk about religion.
  15. When you are planning to get married or celebrate a commitment ceremony.
  16. When you just got promoted or demoted.
  17. When you have just won the lottery and are wondering how much of your winnings to give to the church
  18. When you would like to discuss your wishes for a memorial service.
  19. When you need spiritual direction.
  20. When you simply want to talk.

Blessings,

Allison