Family -

I write to you with mixed emotions.  This past Tuesday, as I was visiting Denise Benoit in her hospital room, she handed me her phone.  On it was typed her resignation letter.

Some of you may know that Denise fell a few weeks ago at home.  She is well on her way to recovering, but this was — and continues to be — a consequential event.  Denise is well-supported and rests in caring and capable hands (including many from this community!).  Unfortunately for us, however, Denise also feels she needs her full attention and energy on her recovery and rehabilitation.  I believe her; I trust her discernment.  I communicated to her my — and our — deep appreciation for her, and also our support.  And so it was with mixed emotions that I accepted her resignation, effective immediately.

Denise joined the UUSGS staff team in 2019.  She took over the congregational life lead following the resignation (and retirement) of Jackie Shanti, whom many of you know.  Jackie had worked with me closely to grow that staff role from a seed of only a few hours to a half-time position, and an important one.  The congregation grew during that time, in membership and in connection.  We are so grateful for Jackie’s leadership… and for Denise’s now, as well.

I like to say that in this ‘business’ of community that we are always passing a torch.  I am; you are; we all are.  We have been handed something sacred, the result of now more than 200 years of human labor, of everyday people like us striving for love, for freedom, for a better way.  Is there anything more sacred?  We accept this inheritance, and we endeavor to move it forward a bit in our time, to protect it, to steward it… before eventually handing it off to others who hopefully know that sacredness, too.  We are all links in a chain.  

For many of you, Denise was the first and most reliable contact you had at the congregation.  That is the design of her role.  But it is also who Denise is, how she shows up for folks.  She has been the frontline of our warm welcome… on Sundays, at Suppers, for folks with questions or in need of care.  She is always there to do what needs to be done.  She was instrumental during the pandemic, providing connection online and offline, helping to make magic moments at a time when magic felt impossible.

Were I to celebrate one of her greatest gifts to us, I would surely lift up her willingness and honest desire to be of use.  Even as we support her decision, we on the staff team are grieving a teammate, an especially good one.  Denise was easy going, while also being all in — a rare combination, in my experience.

We’re still working out transition plans.  Expect to hear more before the end of the year, with plans in place for 2026.  In the meantime, if you have questions you might ordinarily direct to Denise, please send them my way.  Or to another of our dedicated staff team.  We’re all pitching in a bit differently now; we’ll need volunteers to do some of the same.  And BIG thanks to those of you who have already jumped in!

I know you will join me, too, in holding Denise and those close to her prayerfully in your hearts.  As I said, she is doing well.  I believe in her.  And we’ll be there for her as community, celebrating and supporting every step of the journey.  As is our way.

With love and gratitude…

Jason

 

PS - If you’d like to leave a card for Denise, I’d be happy to bring them to her.  Her work email will soon be forwarding elsewhere internally, part of our ongoing transition.  Thank you for your patience and care.