Sarah Allison, Tea Chaplain

Threads post from Tea Chaplain reads:

All my LGBTQIA+ siblings,

I am a post-Christian chaplain and would be happy to curate and officiate your wedding ceremony. No matter if you're q***r or straight, monogamous or consensually non monogamous, a couple or more-

Together, we can create a meaningful, non-religious ceremony that will honor your commitment.

You are not alone. I celebrate you. And I'm here to help you celebrate.

I'm in South Central Michigan but I'm willing to travel. You pay for travel and then pay what you can for the service.

Dear Friends, Family, and other supporters,
For the past several years, I've shared my journey to chaplaincy with you all. You've joined me as I've learned and grown and found belonging.
It's time to let you know that I have parted from the Order of Hildegard. I have my reasons, but untimately, It just wasn’t the right home for me and my soul. I still value the mission of the Order and I still respect anyone working with the Order. It is my deepest hope that, while not part of the organization, I can still work with my beloveds to curate offerings and ideas. I do not want to lose my connections with people, even while I disconnect myself from an organization.
I do not know what is next. I’m feeling the grief that comes naturally with an ending. I’m processing my own health concerns. I’m trying to find a way for my family to stay healthy while living in a home that is unhealthy.
I also still day dream of doing Tea Chaplain work. I was ordained by my peers and disconnecting from an organization does not invalidate that ordination. It was one of the most beautiful days of my life and I remain committed to the vows I took that day- vows of love and connection and belonging. I remain committed to the well being of my Beloveds within that community. I remain committed to your well being.
With the world on fire, literally and figuratively, we are all feeling overwhelmed and a bit lost. I know that and I hold space in my soul for all of us. I hope to find a way to support you in your own journey. I trust that my path, whatever it may be, will lead me to goodness and mercy and grace.
I love you. I am open to your questions. I am still here for you, even as I heal.
with all my heart,
Sarah

Two slides of Threads from Tea Chaplain read:

Over this past year, I've lost a lot of functioning. I could barely walk, use my hands, or even stay awake. Reading and writing, two lifelong passions, became virtually impossible both physically and mentally. Just listening to audiobook novels was challenging.

I seem to have turned a corner though. I've been journaling nearly daily, doing some of my PT exercises, and, *today*, I read 3 chapters in a non fiction book.

I'm not all better. I may never be. But I'm celebrating none the less.

I genuinely believe a large part of my recovery has been the improvements in our home. We have two air purifiers and we replaced our mattresses. Our home feels so much healthier and we all feel so much stronger.

We didn't use the money you gifted us to move. We couldn't. But we did get to dramatically improve our lives.

Thank you for your generosity. Thank you for helping us find healing.

I have 1 Patreon supporter and cannot figure out who it is. I don't know why.

But I'm so beyond grateful for their support. This month, they are paying my copay for my medications.

Thank you whoever you are. Thank you so much.

And thank you to everyone who supports the chronically ill. You'll never know how many times you've made it possible for us to buy our lifesaving meds. Thank you friends.

Screenshot of a thread from Tea Chaplain reads:

I had trouble getting an email through to Representative Walburg, so I called his office. I called Senator Slotkin and Senator Peters as well.

I asked that they openly, passionately, and decisively reject Secretary Kennedy's proposed autism registry. I asked that they, instead, promote autism acceptance and awareness led by the actual autistic community.

Will my voice change anything? It will if you add yours.

What's keeping you from calling your representatives?

I'm not working on any projects right now.

Don't get me wrong, I have several WIPs (works in progress). I'm just not working on them.

I just can't right now. Maybe I'll feel stronger this summer. Maybe not.

In the meantime, I need to do *something* with my hands. So I'm going to practice different crochet blocks. I might find a way to display any I finish, but that's not the point.

I've done a lot in my relatively short life. My body is tired. Maybe this is a season of being, not doing. Maybe this is a season where my existence is enough. And maybe this is a season where I don't pressure myself to make something useful. Maybe the value is just in the making.

Maybe.

Photo of an in-progress crochet block with pink yarn and an ergonomic hook laying on top of a book open to a pattern reading "58 Peach Rose".

Screenshot of Tea Chaplain's Threads response to another poster- their name has been redacted.

OP reads:
No, the proper term is persons/people with disabilities, as they calling them “disabled” is derogative as it negates the abilities they do actually have. They have disabilities and abilities. They are not “disabled” or useless, as the term disabled sugests.

Tea Chaplain responds:
I'm disabled. I have disabilities, yes. And my disabilities disable me, making me disabled. Nothing will make this any less my identity. I am disabled. Disabled doesn't mean I'm useless and, even if it did, useless doesn't mean I'm worthless. My belovedness is rooted in my identity not in my ability. Denying my identity as a disabled woman doesn't make me more worthy. It just means you're ashamed of who I am. That causes me more pain, not less. . . .

Reminder y'all: "Disabled" is not a bad word.

Thread from Tea Chaplain quoting

Dan says:
The most underrated health hack no one wants to do is walking 10,000 steps a day.

Tea Chaplain responds:
I was just thinking about how much I used to walk. I walked everywhere and nowhere. I walked all over Kandern Germany and Basel Switzerland and the campus where I taught English in China. I walked like I was Elizabeth Bennett.

And then I got sick.

Now, I can't walk across the room without my knee subluxing or my back seizing.

Dan's statement is inherently reductionist and ableist and just incorrect.

Thread from Tea Chaplain reads

This Autism Appreciation month, I'd like to remind y'all that both the puzzle piece and the term "special needs" have been widely rejected by actual autistic adults.

Continuing to use the term or symbol just tells us you're not listening to us. That's a pain we've known our whole lives. This month, as a way to truly celebrate us, stop using terms and symbols that hurt us.

Love you,
An autistic adult, parent of an autistic Kiddo

Thread from Tea Chaplain reads

Happy Trans Day of Visibility to everyone under the trans umbrella. Especially if you feel ignored, erased, or unseen within your transness... I see you. I celebrate you. 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️💙🩷🤍🩷💙

Screenshot of a thread from Tea Chaplain reads:

I've been working on Kiddo's disability paperwork all week. Today, we went to the library to print a couple things out.

I learned that, at least at our library, it's free to print, copy, and fax legal documents- including taxes and SSI applications.

I love the public library and am thrilled my tax dollars are used to run it.

Jackson District Library