by Rev. Bill Gupton
Pledge season is in full swing at Heritage. Have you made your commitment to support HUUC in the coming church/fiscal year (beginning July 1)? Each year, members and friends of Heritage Church are asked to support our congregation and its work by “pledging” an amount that works for their household. Collectively, we share – as we say each Sunday during our Outreach Offering – from our abundance, to build the operating budget that will keep Heritage active and thriving during 2024-25.
We know that the upcoming church year will be a challenging one – if for no other reason than what is going on in our nation and our world. HUUC is a sanctuary, in every sense of the word, in these difficult times – which is why Jennifer and I want to share in the stewardship of this special community. Now more than ever, you and I (and folks we haven’t even met yet) need Heritage Church. Our long-serving, hard-working Stewardship Chair, Reid Hester, has asked for an increase in our giving in the coming year, and my family is honored to be able to increase our pledge by 16% for 2024-25. Won’t you join us?
If you missed our annual Stewardship Sunday service this year, you missed out on some great music, moving and heartfelt testimonials, and more. You can watch that service here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCk8v_y3pfI for some inspiration. Then go online at https://huuc.net/stewardship/ for the easiest pledging experience you’ve ever had!
And remember – being part of a Unitarian Universalist church means that:
(1) there aren’t any “tithes” or membership fees
(2) we don’t tell you how much you have to give (but we sure hope you’ll give as generously as you possibly can)
(3) our budget – including our staff salaries and program funds – are dependent on your contributions, not on some higher ecclesiastical authority, because we are an autonomous and independent congregation
(4) you participate in determining our funding priorities through the budget-building and budget-adopting process.
Which means that each and every member of Heritage Church should plan to attend and participate at our Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 2, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the sanctuary (and on Zoom). Mark your calendars now, be part of the democratic process, and support Heritage Church!
In the Love that is the Spirit of this church – thank you.
Blessings,
Rev. Bill