First Universalist Church of Minneapolis

Dear First Universalists,
 
It has been a blessing and privilege to serve this congregation as your Senior Minister. My first seven months here have confirmed what I suspected during Candidating Week last May: this is an energetic and vibrant faith community.
   
And I’m thrilled to announce that on Sunday, February 21, we'll formally launch our Pledge Campaign for the 2010-2011 church year. A "pledge" is the amount of money you anticipate being able to give the church for the fiscal year. Our fiscal year is July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011.
      
The Pledge Campaign is already off to a great start. Your Board of Trustees and Pledge Team have collectively increased their 2010-2011 pledges by 30%. We are on the edge of something powerful, ready to think "ten times bolder" about who we are as a faith community and who we might be. If the congregation follows the Board and Pledge Team's lead, it will take First Universalist to a whole new level. The increased budget will focus on 1) better upkeep and maintenance of our shared church space, 2) adding administrative support so that the Ministers may focus on what they do best: preaching, pastoral care, teaching, and deeper involvement in the community, and 3) reclaiming our role as a teaching church by supervising a ministerial intern.
 
During this year's Pledge Campaign, I hope you will participate in some of the “no ask” pledge events and think more deeply about your relationship to money. I also hope you will stretch yourself in your giving, increasing your pledge as we build a solid foundation to move into the future.  If this is your first time pledging, thank you.
 
I know we're in difficult and uncertain economic times and that some of you will be reducing your pledge for 2010-2011. That's okay, too: regardless of the size of your pledge, you are welcome here.
 
In this letter, you'll find a Pledge Campaign brochure as well as a pledge card. Please take a look, ask your Pledge Team questions, and then return your pledge card by March 28. Together, we can continue to support and nurture our faith community.
 
In faith and gratitude,

Rev. Justin Schroeder