Rev. Hannah Roberts Villnave Sabbatical
July 13 – November 14, 2026
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General Contact:
After four years of ministry at our Fellowship, Rev. Hannah is taking her first (ever!) four-month sabbatical — an accrued benefit of our ministry agreements. It is a chance for her to rest, be with family, write, and renew her spirit. This time away is also an opportunity for our congregation to deepen our practice of shared ministry.
Coverage During the Sabbatical
Rev. Allison Farnum — will preach one Sunday per month and support our Justice Action Ministry. A UU minister based in Evanston, she serves as director of UU Prison Ministry of Illinois and guest-preached with us in January.
JD Gildemeister — a local fundraising consultant who will help our Auction Team plan a fall auction with a goal of raising $25,000 for the Fellowship. Additional guest preachers and lay leaders from our Hubs and Spokes will also be engaged throughout the sabbatical.
Rev. Christina, who took her own sabbatical in 2023–24, will help guide the Fellowship through this season. We look forward to practicing community, sharing ministry, and welcoming Rev. Hannah back renewed this November.
A Note From Rev. Christina …
Dear Ones,
As I shared during the service on April 12 as part of my reflection about our Fellowship’s return to greater shared ministry, Rev. Hannah will be taking a four-month sabbatical (her first!) from mid-July through mid-November. I had the benefit of taking my first four-month sabbatical back in 2023-24, and it was a deeply meaningful experience for me to take time to rest, restore my heart and spirit, and strengthen some skills for my ministry. During my sabbatical, we learned a lot as a Fellowship about how to successfully support a minister’s sabbatical while continuing the work of the congregation in their absence. I am excited that during Hannah’s sabbatical, we will be partnering with amazing leaders to support some of the areas of ministry that are usually Hannah’s, and I know that I can count on each of you to share the Fellowship’s programs and ministries. We will practice being a community that puts love at the center as we care for each other and give Hannah this time away to focus on her family, strengthen her spirit, and explore her interests and passions.
With love,
Rev. Christina
A Note from Justin Fisher, Governing Board President …
Dear Fellowship Community,
The Governing Board is confident that Rev. Hannah’s sabbatical will be a meaningful time for her, and a time of learning and growth for our Fellowship. This time away is an accrued benefit of our ministry agreements, and its purpose is to encourage our clergy leaders to regularly pause from the day-to-day operations of ministry, and focus on their own heart, mind, and spirit. The fact that our two co-ministers want to take their sabbatical time on a regular schedule is a sign of healthy ministry and a chance for our congregation to routinely practice what it means to be a Fellowship and to share our ministry, separate from any one particular minister.
During Rev. Hannah’s sabbatical, we will be partnering with the following leaders:
Rev. Allison Farnum will be providing sabbatical ministry coverage by leading services on four Sundays, one per month. She will also be working with our Justice Action Ministry team and justice programs to support their work and envision new possibilities for justice ministry at the Fellowship. Rev. Allison is a UU minister who lives in Evanston, IL and serves as the director of the UU Prison Ministry of Illinois. Prior to moving to Illinois, she served as a congregational minister in Florida. As you may recall, Rev. Allison joined us as a guest preacher in January, delivering a service that was well-received.
JD Gildemeister is a local fundraising consultant who will be supporting our Auction Team in planning and implementing a successful fall auction, with a goal of raising $25,000 for our Fellowship. JD’s husband Josh Kilgas is a development consultant who worked with our governing board in the past year or two, and both Josh and JD know our community and are in alignment with our values.
We feel that Rev. Allison and JD will help fill the largest gaps during Rev. Hannah’s absence. We have also invited some guest preachers and will be engaging lay leaders from the Hubs and Spokes within Rev. Hannah’s portfolio. With the help of many hands, we hope to minimize disruptions, infuse new meaning into our Justice Action Ministries, and have a fun and successful auction!
With gratitude…
Justin Fisher, Governing Board President
A Note from Rev. Hannah …
I have a deep gratitude for this congregation, for the ministry we are doing together, and for the ways you’re making it possible for me to take a sabbatical starting July 13th. Here, at the end of my fourth year of ministry with you all, and my ninth year of congregational ministry in total, I am still moved by how this community is a collective endeavor. It is such a privilege to serve you all, and I feel incredibly fulfilled by my work at the Fellowship.
At the same time, the logistical, emotional, and spiritual demands of ministry can still take their toll. The accumulated years of weeknight meetings, pastoral calls at odd hours, and the “always on” nature of this role necessitate the kind of deep rest that is just not possible a week or two at a time. I’m looking forward to this opportunity to rest and reset, including some time with family, lots of writing, and some time digging into my own spiritual renewal.
Thank you, both for the gift of this time, and for the ministry ahead.
Gratefully,
Rev. Hannah
Questions?
You can reach out to Rev. Hannah (hannah@fvuuf.org) prior to July 13th, or
Rev. Christina (christina@fvuuf.org or our
Governing Board (fvuufboard@fvuuf.org) at any time!