A Note from Our Stewardship Team
Our annual Pledge Drive theme this year is, In UU We Trust. Our Financial Goal this year is $379,800. But first let's talk about Stewardship and what it means to trust the UUC. Stewardship is a state of mindfulness that guides us in how to care for the things that matter most to us, such as the values we hold dear and the future we want to see. Being mindful allows us to be intentional in our actions, thoughts and deeds. Mindful stewardship of the UUC guides us to volunteer our time to activities that support the greater good of our community or communities beyond our doors. Volunteering for committees or programs, such as the UUC Worship Committee, Lay Pastoral Care, To Our House, Right Relations, Small Group Ministries, the Music Program or Religious Education, to name a few, are some of the many ways in which we steward our community. The list of potential activities to which we could devote our time is long, and it is often not possible to get involved in all the causes we care about. But when everyone supports the things that matter most to them, collectively we can support the UUC values we hold dear.
One aspect of Stewardship at UUC is pledging. At its base, pledging is offering your financial support to the UUCNRV so that we can continue to fulfill our Mission. By pledging our financial support, we are being mindful about supporting the things that matter most to us. And by each individual pledging the amount they are moved to pledge, we can collectively support the financial needs of the congregation. Once all the pledges come in, we trust our board to make a budget that fairly and mindfully supports all the missions and visions of UUC.
The amount you pledge to the UUC is a very personal decision. For many of us, pledging is a deep spiritual practice that helps us slow down and look at what is important. It is an action born from a state of mindful giving. What is it that brought you here and what keeps you coming back? Do you see yourself reflected here? These are the questions we ask ourselves when deciding on our annual pledge. Every Sunday, we open the service by stating that we share a mission to Inspire, Create, and Transform. We often focus on how our stewardship or our pledging transforms others, forgetting that in the act of giving, we also transform ourselves. The act of transformation needs a catalyst, a way to sort through, and move forward, beyond where you currently are.
Take a moment, close your eyes, and ask yourself,
“How do I want to be transformed by this pledge?”
The amount of the pledge is not the catalyst; the act of pledging is. We not only trust the board to make our budget, but we trust ourselves to pledge what we feel is generous to support this beloved community. We also trust each other to pledge so that together we can achieve our overarching financial and stewardship goals. As stated on the Stewardship page on the UUC website, “In the end, it is not so much about ‘raising money’ as it is about creating a community of generosity where lives are literally transformed, where children learn our values, where we each find support in all areas of our lives, and where our values spread out into the larger world of social service and social justice.”
On Sunday, March 2, all are invited to the annual UUC Pledging Party Brunch Service, a fun, mindful (and delicious!) way to support the congregation. At the brunch, we ask that you come prepared to fill out your pledge card for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Come celebrate as we put our trust in each other to create a community of generosity in which we transform ourselves and our larger community!
March 1: Stewardship Team email message to Congrgants