Giving Campaign 2025

Stronger Together

Over the past year, our community has experienced several pivotal moments in our shared life. Last summer, we joyfully welcomed Rev. Danielle Lindstrom as our settled minister. As 2024 drew to an end, we faced the reality that our UU values may be threatened in the years ahead. And as 2025 began, we started planning our congregation’s response to these potential challenges—a plan grounded in justice, equity, and liberation. At the same time, we’ve continued to pursue our mission of spirituality, compassion, and service, which underlies everything we do at CUUC.

In this time of uncertainty, there’s one thing we know for sure: none of us has to go it alone. Together, we can meet this moment with hopeful resolve, deepening our relationships with each other and our communities, providing a haven for those in need, and strengthening our capacity to care for ourselves and the world.

To do this, we will need everyone’s support to ensure that we have a bedrock of financial security in the years ahead. As we plan for the next fiscal year, beginning July 1, 2025, we are launching an Annual Canvass Campaign that celebrates our collective power, based on the belief that we are:

Stronger Together

Just as our mosaic tiles show us that each individual piece contributes to a beautiful whole, each of our contributions is needed to meet our financial obligations and strengthen us for the road ahead. For 2025, we have set our pledge goal at $490,000, a 5% increase from last year. To meet this goal, we need 100% participation, receiving a pledge from every member and friend. Enclosed are a pledge form, informational flyer and a self-addressed envelope. You may also pledge online at cuucwp.org/pledge.

Once again, our goal reflects an increase in our annual expenses. As an entirely self-supporting congregation, it’s up to all of us to step up to cover these unavoidable increases. For example, energy prices have remained relatively high (up 20% in the last two years). Additionally, we have seen a significant increase in expenses for the very necessary upkeep of our building.

We are not only working to keep our congregation financially healthy, but also to uphold our CUUC covenant through generosity–offering the gifts of our faith, presence, and resources to our community and to others in need. It is more important than ever for each of us to consider increasing our pledge by at least 5%. If you can do more, please do.

With everyone’s participation, we can sustain and expand our full range of programs:

• Journey Groups provide meaningful connections and personal growth.

• Social Justice Teams help us transform our vision into action locally, nationally and globally. From preparing meals for those in need to standing up for reproductive and racial justice, this work is more vital than ever.

• Committees and Groups help our congregation run and provide valuable leadership and community-building opportunities. From music and worship to finance and grounds, these essential roles keep CUUC going.

• Our growing Religious Exploration program provides spiritual teaching and moral grounding for children, youth, and adults, led by our dedicated Director of Lifespan Religious Education and team of volunteer teachers and leaders.

• Our music ministry enriches worship with sublime piano performances, heartfelt choral works, and guest musicians from a variety of world cultures. In addition to supporting our beloved part-time musical staff, your increased contributions this year will help fund additional offerings from a diverse range of musicians.

• Our worship services are provided year-round, with summer services led by guest ministers and speakers, including members and friends of CUUC.

• Finally, we are Organizing to Respond to injustices locally and nationally through communications, outreach, and activism.

We know that we are stronger together. In the year ahead, we will draw on our collective talents and energies to safeguard our values and be a light for others seeking a way forward.  Your increased generosity this year will sustain this transformational work.

Gratefully,

The Canvass Team
Carolyn Hanson, Chris Kortlandt and Barry Litcofsky