Dear Friends,
Our Annual Pledge drive for the coming year, 2024, will begin this coming, Sunday, October 8, 2023. To help support our goal of raising $350,000 in pledges we are asking you, a group of approximately 25 members and friends actively involved in The First Unitarian Church of Oakland’s success and future, to make your donation now, today if possible and if not, before Friday, October 6, 2023.
Your Pledge is a Seed Donation which will be combined with others receiving this message. I will announce our Total Seed Donations during the service to “Prime the Pump” of generosity.
I and your Stewardship Team, Debbie Kaplan and Dennis Rowcliffe, are asking two things when considering your pledge.
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Fill out the online 2024 Pledge Form. Even if you have a Sustaining Pledge, please fill out the 2024 form as an indication of solidarity with the congregation.
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Consider raising your pledge. Our goal of $350,000 is significant, 10% more than the 2023 Stewardship Pledge Campaign raised. So please consider increasing your pledge. Not all will be willing or able to do so, and you have our understanding, thank you for your generosity in sustaining your pledge. For those who can and are willing to raise their pledge, thank you for your generosity.
The idea of the Seed Donation is to indicate to our congregation the importance this church has in our lives,
Our goal for this Stewardship Drive will serve to begin bringing the church’s budget back to the level we need to afford the full-time administrator that is needed to move our church forward. We are also planning to hire a nearly half-time sexton, an increased RE director position, and to be able to offer professional pastoral care services provided by one or two of our affiliated ministers. Much of this is still under discussion; the Board is in the process of discernment. And of course the available financing is a major factor in that process.
Again, we are asking you as a key church leader at this time to make your 2024 pledge early, in the next few days, so that we can include it in this batch of Seed Pledges to let our congregation know we are all in this together.
Link to 2024 Pledge Form: https://uuoakland.breezechms.com/form/Pledge2024
Thank you in advance for your consideration and generosity.
Sincere regards, Dave Ruede and your Stewardship Team
Debbie Kaplan & Dennis Rowcliffe