Read this week’s newsletter here.

A note from Rev. Justin Schroeder, Rev. Jen Crow, and the Annual Giving Team:

All In. That’s the theme of our annual giving campaign this spring, which we’re launching this Sunday, March 4, in worship.

Our church has been growing these past few years – growing in its sense of meaning and purpose, growing in the ways we live our values out loud, and growing in numbers. Maybe you’ve noticed the way that our building is full during the week – hosting small groups of church members, community arts and justice organizations, and teams hard at work to help us live our values. Maybe you’ve noticed that our religious education classes for children and youth continue to be full to overflowing at our 9:30 a.m. service and that our youth are leading the way in justice efforts throughout our city.

Maybe you’ve been thinking that First Universalist is a place, maybe even the place, that helps you find your bearings and keeps you working toward the world of love and justice you know we are meant to create together. This community means so much to each of us – as a place to nurture our spirituality and the spiritual lives of our children, a place of support when life’s ups and downs break our hearts, and as a beacon of learning and justice for us and our larger community. First Universalist means so much to each of us, and First Universalist needs each of us to thrive.

This year, we’re asking you to be All In with your annual giving. This means that we are asking every individual and family – whether you are an official church member or someone who attends services, participates in the choir or small groups, or whose children are registered in religious education classes – to make whatever gift you can to support the work of the church. More than eighty percent of our budget comes from annual gifts from people like you, and if we are going to continue to be a beacon of love and justice in our community, we need each other to be All In.

Over the past few years, we have taken steps to ensure that we pay all adult staff members a living wage of at least $15 an hour. We’ve eliminated our Religious Education fees, so that Sunday School is accessible to all children and youth. We’ve worked together to ensure that our racial justice commitment is alive in our Worship, our Religious Education, our Programming, and our Vendor Policy. Together, as a faith community, we continue to move beyond good intentions to create patterns and practices that align us with our values of inclusion, equity, welcome, and justice.

Join us in being All In this year, as each of us gives what we can to sustain this community of faith, hope and love in times when we are needed more than ever.

In gratitude,

Rev. Justin Schroeder, Rev. Jen Crow, and the Annual Giving Team: Jeanne Guignon, Jane Baudelaire, and Tim Gluszak

P.S. This year, we are striving for All In, 100% participation – which means we would like to hear from everyone regarding your giving intentions for the 2018-19 fiscal year. And – new this year – we’re offering the option to make your gift ongoing so that your commitment automatically renews in future years. When you opt in to make your gift ongoing, it will help simplify the process of annual giving going forward and reduce the amount of administrative work for staff and volunteers. Your prompt response is helpful and appreciated!

P.P.S. Please pick up your packet of materials this Sunday before or after each service. Packets will be available at tables just outside the sanctuary for the coming three Sundays. Remaining packets will be mailed after that. Help us save on postage by picking up your packet in person!