It’s easy to feel like you’re always moving: organizing the next event, writing the next newsletter, developing the next product or project. That leaves little time to pause and honor the amazing sacred work you’ve done and the great people who have helped along the way. Taking time to honor milestones like an anniversary, hitting a goal, or welcoming a new team member is vital to sustaining energy and creating opportunities for reflection and learning. Your celebration can be simple–making a piece of art, a photo book, or a short video–or something more complex, like hosting a party, writing dozens of thank you notes, or leading a participative ritual.
The team at St Lydia’s Dinner Church celebrated their fifteenth birthday with a day of programming and a party with food, drink, and singing in the evening. They welcomed back their founding pastor, Emily Scott, as part of the celebrations, too! So, take time to honor your milestones and give meaning to the work, strengthen relationships, and remind everyone involved why this journey matters.
In what creative ways can I honor my milestones?
Priya Parker’s The Art of Gathering is full of inspiration and ideas about hosting meaningful gatherings that transform ordinary moments into milestones.
Ritualwell is a treasure trove of contemporary and traditional Jewish rituals for marking life passages, leadership transitions, and community milestones.
Or check out the Ritual Design Toolkit for creative frameworks to design rituals that help mark transitions, celebrate successes, and honor endings.
Practitioners like Ezra Bookman and Tiu de Haan can also help if you need more custom support.
This manifesto, created by the Forum for Theological Education, challenges systems of individualism and burnout in ministry. It inspires a new generation of leaders dedicated to liberation, creativity, and healing.
Walter Brueggemann’s classic work on prophetic imagination and justice. Drawing on the Hebrew Bible, it remains radically relevant for spiritual leaders and change agents.
