Support Articles

Reid Hester, HUUC Stewardship Chair

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As with any pledge drive, we have a number of key priorities to fund in our new church fiscal year that will begin on July 1, 2025. But this year is different, and it is special. We have one, overriding priority that will guide our efforts and raise the bar for us as congregation. That priority is our ministerial transition, which we are kicking off just as we kick off the pledge drive itself.

We have sustained and grown this congregation during an era when other UU congregations in the Cincinnati area have struggled. We are now the second largest UU congregation in Cincinnati with if not the largest, then certainly the fastest growing Religious Education program in the city. We are the premiere representative of Universalism in the entire region. We have a lot to be proud of and a lot to be excited about as we seek to bring a new minister into our congregation.

From a financial standpoint, we also have much to celebrate. We have maintained a robust series of fund-raising efforts at the same time that we have successfully competed for grant money to improve our facility. But, there is no doubt that our pledged giving provides the vast majority of the financial support that sustains the daily life of our congregation.

As we initiate the process of recruiting a new minister to lead us in our spiritual journey, we must plan for a number of costs that are not usually in our yearly budget. We are hiring a transition consultant firm to guide us in our efforts, and we must anticipate possible expenses such as moving costs for a new minister joining our congregation from outside of our region. Of course, we would also like to give our existing staff raises to acknowledge their value to us in a time of rising costs. We would like to modestly increase our RE budget, and we would also like to expand our Children’s Music Director involvement in the life of our congregation from eight times a year to every month.

All of these elements taken together mean that we have a big ask for all of our pledging members and friends. We are requesting a 15% increase in pledged giving for the 2025-2026 church year. This increase will raise our total pledge income to $258,000.

If you are new to our congregation, you can learn more about our congregation and our pledging statistics, such as average pledges and Fair Share Giving, by visiting our Stewardship website at https://huuc.net/stewardship/. When you are ready to pledge, you will find the pledge form at the bottom of the Stewardship website or you can go directly to the pledge form via this link: https://huuc.breezechms.com/form/2025-2026-pledge-form.

Many thanks to those who have already pledged, and thanks to everyone in our congregation for carefully considering your level of pledged giving to support the continued growth and vitality of our congregation.

Yours in faith and service,
Reid

Image source: https://tinyurl.com/yum75pr2

Heritage Acres Memorial Sanctuary needs your spare cardboard. If you have any large boxes of at least 2′ x 2′ to donate, please remove the tape and labels, flatten the boxes, and drop them off at Heritage Acres, 796 Locust Corner Rd, Cincinnati, OH, 45245. Put the cardboard to the right of the shed, next to the trash cans.

If you have questions or need to arrange a pickup, contact Patrick Sanders at

Thanks for your support!

Image source: https://tinyurl.com/hn78e72

June 9 – 13, 2025

Discover a vibrant summer at our inclusive Pride Camp! This unique experience offers a safe and supportive space for LGBTQ+ youth aged 13-18 to explore their identities and be in community. Engage in daily yoga and mindfulness practices, immerse yourself in nature, express yourself artistically and foster a deep connection and a sense of belonging within your local LGBTQ+ community.

Key elements:

• Safe & Inclusive: A supportive environment free from judgment and discrimination
• Meditation & Yoga: Mindfulness practices, stress and anxiety reduction
• Social Justice: Learn about LGBTQ+ history and rights & Take action together
• Nature: Outdoor activities, nature walks

This camp provides a transformative experience where young people can celebrate their authentic selves and build lasting connections with others.

To register access the link below:

https://huuc.breezechms.com/form/369319513981

Image source: Canva

July 7 – 11, 2025, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Peace Camp is a week-long day camp with fun daily activities that teach empathy, encourage tolerance, and respect diversity for kids ages 5-11. It is an immersive experience where kids can learn about themselves, the world around them and about each other.  

Key elements: 

• Cooking and baking: Yes! Campers make their own lunches. 
• Nature: Outdoor activities, games, and nature walks
• Self-Expression: Arts, crafts, music and theatre and 
• Meditation & Yoga: Cultivating peace practices like yoga or meditation.

We offer a low counselor to camper ratio, so campers can learn how to connect with one another, to express their emotions, to build community and to navigate conflict.  Our hope is that each camper finishes the week with a greater sense of self, more resilience, and exhausted from all the fun!

REGISTRATION

Kids 12+ can serve as junior counselors (at no cost, while earning service hours!). Junior Counselors are a vital part of our camp experience and are empowered and supported to lead aspects of camp that connect with their interests.  

Kids 5-11 are welcome to attend as campers (cost is $275 or sliding scale with scholarship available!).  There is also a $50 sibling discount for each subsequent child. 

To register access the link below:
https://huuc.breezechms.com/form/369319513957

Image source: Canva

You can support our camps in the following ways:

• PROMOTE:  Share this announcement with friends and families that you think might be interested.
• VOLUNTEER: If you have an hour or a day or the entire week that you would like to volunteer or have a related interest or skill to share, please reach out to Laci at: dlfdhuuc@gmail.com
• DONATE:  Fees from campers cover most of the costs of our camps, but donations make it possible for us to offer youth leadership opportunities at no cost, a sliding fee scale, and scholarships. 
  
  In the case of Pride Camp, donations will make it possible for us to offer additional support and services to an especially vulnerable group of young people.  Your donations are generously accepted.