Rev. Dr. Curran Reichert, Pastor

The slightly irreverent Reverend Dr. Curran Reichert has been stirring up “good trouble,” and serving up questions that challenge us to grow spiritually for the past seven years at FCC. She believes in the power of Spiritual community to be a force for good in the world. Curran is highly educated and completely dedicated to making Sonoma Valley a more just and equitable place.

Throughout the Valley, Rev. Reichert lends her perspective as a faith leader to addressing the need for fair housing and worker justice. She has been a leading voice concerning fair treatment of those without permanent shelter. She is committed to doing her part to end racial bias and deconstruct colonialism in the church and in our community.

Rev. Reichert also understands that Christianity can be scary for people who have suffered abuse, or oppression due to bigotry and religious intolerance. She creates what she hopes will be a safe entry point for those seeking the support of a radically inclusive community of faith. Her motto is “Purpose, Presence, and Practice,” she embodies all three.

We love our pastor, and we think you will love her to. If you would like to make an appointment to meet with Rev. Reichert, receive prayers, or a visit from our support team, send her a message or call the church office at 707.996.1328.

Rev. Reichert often says, “FCC is the place you would want to go to church if you went to church.” We are a gathering of spirited people who care about earth justice, speaking out about injustice, tending to the vulnerable, and learning to find common ground, these are the relevant earmarks of our congregation. We invite you to join us on Sunday mornings either contemplative at 9:00am or regular in person at 10:30am.

Notes from the Pastor

April 21, 2025

First the Resurrection then the Resistance

Beloved Community,

It is good to be back with my favorite church community. I am sure most, if not all of you have your ‘go to’ news outlets to keep abreast of reasonable commentary on the madness occurring in the highest office in our Nation.

One writer I particularly appreciate is Emily Amick and here I will share with you her latest article on How to Keep Fighting Without Falling Apart; what I’ve learned about staying in the work and not losing myself.

Having just been through a very personal lower case “r” resurrection of my own, I have greater awareness of the need to find a way to be present to the pain around and in us without being swallowed by it. Emily’s advice is spot on.

As I preached on Easter Sunday, it’s all about incremental resurrection. We take our cues from Jesus and what he showed us is that the capital “R” Resurrection was not completed in one day’s time. We don’t know exactly how long it took for Jesus to ascend to God, but the point is that Resurrection both personal and on a larger scale does not happen all at once, it happens bit by precious bit.

With Easter on the tip of our tongues, we are daily part of the creation of heaven on earth. Together in community, we are in it together for the long haul.
 
Big love,

Your Pastor Curran

•    •    •    •    •     • 

How to Keep Fighting Without Falling Apart; what I’ve learned about staying in the work and not losing myself.
By Emily Amick

I wrote this list because I’ve been there. That place where you’re doing all the things while slowly unraveling behind the scenes.

I know what it’s like to care so much that you forget to care for yourself. To mistake constant motion for impact. To think rest is something you earn after the world is fixed.

But here’s the truth: we need people who are well enough to keep going.
This list is for anyone who wants to stay in the fight. It’s part reminder, part permission slip, part quiet pep talk to read when everything feels like too much.
  

• Set boundaries around your availability. You are not required to say yes to every ask or show up for every meeting. Say yes to what you can do well—and say it with your full heart. Let the rest go.
• Pick your lane. You do not have to do everything. Are you an organizer? A designer? A storyteller? A connector? Great. Bring that to the table. We don’t need more burned-out generalists. We need skilled, focused humans doing what they’re best at.
• Measure impact, not attention. Don’t confuse likes with liberation. Real work often happens off-camera.
• Focus on long-term commitments. Join a local org or mutual aid group. Show up consistently, even in quiet seasons. Build relationships that last longer than a news cycle. Movement work isn’t a sprint—it’s a life.
• Check in with yourself regularly. Ask, “What’s mine to carry today?” And just as important: “What’s not?”
• Celebrate quiet wins. Did you make a phone call? Have a hard conversation? Support a friend? That counts. That matters. Just because it didn’t go viral doesn’t mean it didn’t ripple.
• Pair action with care. Write the email, and then light the candle. Call your representative, and then call a friend. Let care follow effort like an exhale after a deep breath.
• Grieve when you need to. There is real loss in this work. Let yourself cry. Name your heartbreak. Make space for your sorrow so it doesn’t turn to stone inside you.
• Honor your evolution. It’s okay if what you care about shifts. It’s okay if your role changes. You’re allowed to grow, pivot, and reimagine your contribution.
• Let others lead sometimes. Step back. Support. Amplify. Rest doesn’t always mean stopping; sometimes it means knowing when not to be at the center.
• Track your small victories. Keep a “done” list alongside your to-do list. It’s easy to forget how much you’ve actually accomplished.
• Avoid urgency culture. Not every email is an emergency. Not every issue needs your immediate reaction. Pause before responding—urgency often serves systems, not people.
• Let yourself be a beginner. You don’t have to be an expert to care. Ask questions. Learn out loud. Being willing to grow is one of the bravest things we can do.

We don't need perfect people. We need real people, doing what they can, in sustainable ways. This work is too important to burn out on. Let's find a way to keep going, and to bring ourselves with us.

Because the goal isn’t just to win. The goal is to build a better world. And that vision includes you: Well. Joyful. Whole.