This year, as Kim so eloquently and vulnerably pointed out, we are at an inflection point as a growing congregation both in size and complexity. We are asking you to dig a little deeper to support the addition of an assistant minister. This is SO important to the health of our congregation, and WE DEFINITELY DESERVE THIS!
Over the course of the next month, we will be highlighting the ways we at UUCWC Create Community, Celebrate Life, and Change the World. Our theme this year is Heart of the Matter, and we ask that you look into your hearts to determine the impact UUCWC has had on you – so that we can bring the vision to reality!
I’m not going to mince words and am going to cut right to the chase here in terms of what we need from every one of you, because after all, won’t each of us benefit from the tremendous resource of an assistant minister?
First off, yes, this is a big ask! But let’s break it down so we can better translate it into our lives:
The total cost of funding an Assistant Minister is $70,000 per year.
The simple math is that if each pledging family in this congregation increases their pledge by $8 per week, we will be able to fund 100% of the cost of an assistant minister. Sounds simple, right? I’m sure you’re all thinking about what you would need to give up to add $8/week to your pledge. For example, in our house, Susan and I will use this as incentive to commit to meatless Mondays – something we’ve failed miserably at in the past. We figure it will not only help us save money that we can direct to UUCWC but will also help the planet.
Well, that may be simple for some of us and, in fact, we expect those who CAN will increase their pledge by much MORE than $8 per week. But for others of us, it’s not that simple, is it?
We recognize that giving is a very personal matter and varies with each family’s circumstances. We are not asking anyone to endure undue hardship, but we ask you to commit to taking a close look at what you can contribute and, like us, be a little creative!
Next steps:
- As in past years, each family can pick up their personalized pledge envelop in the lobby. Members of the Stewardship Committee (with magenta name tags) are at the tables to distribute your envelopes and answer any questions you might have.
- Your pledge form will include your pledge for the current church year, which ends June 30. If joined UUCWC this year or did not pledge for the 2018 – 2019 year, your form will be blank.
- Please complete your pledge amount for 2019-2020 and return the form to the table in the lobby or to the church office at your earliest convenience, but no later than March 24! We will then be able to complete the budgeting process in a timely manner! You may also make your pledge online by going to the Giving section of our web site. Keep in mind that you will not be changing your pledge immediately – this is your pledge for the period beginning July 1, 2019 and extending through June 30, 2020.
- This year, we have included a Giving Guide in your envelopes, which is also posted on the easel next to the Stewardship table. This guide outlines 4 different levels of giving and describes the typical characteristics of households who fall into each category. I hope you find the guide helpful, and we encourage you to use this as a guide to your giving moving forward.
- I also encourage you to consider automatic payments for your pledge so we can budget appropriately for your contributions.
- Lastly, I will mention that if you are age 70 and above and are eligible to receive Required Minimum Distributions from an Individual Retirement Account, you may want to redirect a portion of that distribution satisfy all or part of your pledge. In doing so, you will not pay Federal taxes on the amount that goes directly to UUCWC. If you have questions, I am happy to walk you through that process.
A member recently shared with me how connected they feel to UUCWC, largely because of their financial commitment – they feel like they have skin in the game, so to speak. So there are many ways that we create community with people – all on a very personal level. I like the skin in the game analogy. We’re not asking for a pound of flesh, but we are asking for a piece of your heart.
I will close with a quote from Helen Keller:
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart”….
Thank you for listening today and thank you in advance for your support!
Lori Hoppmann
Stewardship Chair
stewardship@uucwc.org