2025 Stewardship Campaign:
Building on Strength
Despite the evidence that folks are increasingly allergic to “church” – the word and the institutional expression of it – all signs suggest a deep spiritual hunger persists. It’s too grand to say that UU is the secret sauce everyone is privately craving, but there’s definitely something attractive about the big-tent, no-dogma approach – especially the way we are practicing it these days.
Something exciting is going on at NSUC. Everyone can feel it. The heart of this place is bursting out of its chest. The services, a “distributed ministry” model, guided by the roaring engine of Alison’s talents and the creative contributions of the Sunday Service Team, have found a groove.
People “circle round” at the end and stay circled round; they walk out into the sunlight full of hope. People who used to attend are gingerly coming back. (They notice that some things have changed – Hey, there’s a washroom on the main floor! The grounds are spruced up. The boiler’s working. Clearly, a commitment is being made to the home we have here and now.) They head downstairs for sandwiches and re-establish ties with their old campadres. They pick up the threads of what they just heard, and felt, upstairs. They look forward to the little “Think Again” emails on Wednesdays that remind us of the best ideas from last Sunday’s service.
We are building back up.
And that’s all awesome. But there are still bracing realities to be faced as we ease into pledge-drive month.
It’s no secret that our revenue is down from a couple of years ago – how could it not be? A fair number of people left! That said, those who stayed have been generous, and we’re all immensely grateful. Average pledges are up, even though net revenues are down. So it’s with gratitude and humility we’re approaching you again this year with the subject nobody wants to talk about but actually isn’t that bad, and is very important.
Your stewardship team is again made up of the members of NSU’s board. (By the way, this isn’t some burden they begrudgingly took on. They’re happy to do it. It’s the best way to have meaningful conversations with all of you.) You’ll soon be getting a phone call from one of them. It’s not a shake-down: think of it as a check in. You’re invited to share your thoughts and think aloud about what you can afford to contribute.
No one can predict the future of this faith, or this congregation, fifty years out. Or even five years out. All we know is that everyone involved in this endeavour believes we have a shot, and we’re giving it everything we’ve got. In our best moments we’re making magic. In our worst moments, we’re learning. In all moments we’re refining a vision for a sustainable life for a new generation of North Shore spiritual pilgrims who are so deserving of a community that will enfold them its arms.
We hope you’ll agree it’s a vision worth investing in. Please fill out our online or paper pledge form to indicate the amount you plan to donate in 2025. This will help us plan our Budget for the new year.
Thanks.
Barrie Forbes, Board President
Brian Funt, Board Treasurer
Elain Duvall, Board Member & Stewardship Coordinator
