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Jan. 24, 2007 The Parish Minister’s Column The Rev. Barbara J. Pescan
We ask much of Members and Friends of this congregation: participation in weekly worship; visiting the sick and temporarily disabled among us; financial pledges of support to keep the place functioning well; attendance at programs that staff and dedicated volunteers design and lead; enthusiasm for the church’s work outside our doors: social justice, peace, making the world more green; helping others when we can with the surplus of our bounty with contributions of food, clothing and money; all of which grows out of an ethic of caring for one another, for our larger community and for the earth. In all of this trust in each other is a given.
These requests to participate and to give don’t come from one central source. That is, the UUA doesn’t tell us what to do. The Central Midwest District of the UUA doesn’t tell us what to do. The ministers, the board or church council don’t dictate what happens. Dozens of volunteers with great ideas learn how to use and appreciate the skills of the professional staff so that activities and programs bloom for all of us. They are us. UCE does not operate by fiat, but by a continual synergy of vision and energy, respect and enthusiasm. If you miss out on one activity, you have a chance to be part of another that will lift your spirit and send you refreshed into your work and into the world with joy. Your presence makes these programs successful, and encourages visionaries to keep on making them happen.
Similarly, when we envision next year and the years beyond, and put before us the programs and possibilities for the Stewardship Campaign and the possibilities for our Capital Campaign, we are asking you to think together about the promise of our faith as we embody it in our programs and community. These campaigns, as well as our ongoing congregational life, ask us to imagine as broadly as possible what the seven principles of our faith send us to do.
In the past fifteen months, through the every Sunday shared offerings and other offerings — your generosity has helped fund 8 local, 2 national, 2 denominational and 4 international programs serving others, an estimated total of more than $30,000. This is a fine beginning.
I hope everyone will support the Stewardship Campaign to the best of your ability. And, believe me, we know that financial capacity is different for everyone -- all our circumstances wax and wane with our families’ circumstances. We ask, though, year after year. There are some who experience expansive increase just as others are feeling a pinch. And, so, we ask. I hope that especially the one hundred fifty people who have joined the church since the last capital campaign also will join in thinking ahead to the future beyond next year with Capital Campaign planning.
This is what a responsible, vital, forward thinking religious institution does – it cares for the needs of its congregation, shares with others, and plans for the needs of the future. As always, I thank you for being as generous as you always are. Unitarian Church of Evanston
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