Annual Stewardship Campaign

Annual Stewardship Campaign: Imagine…

In line with our UUA principles, First Parish members are committed to constantly work to build and live our vision of the Beloved Community, a place where all people are welcomed into the circle of unconditional love. Members empower the church and its ministry in many ways, notably through generous participation in our Annual Stewardship Campaign – the single most important factor in sustaining our ministry representing approximately 45% of our anticipated income.

Our theme for the campaign this year is "Imagine…"

• imagine beloved community.
• imagine a spiritual home where every soul feels welcome, included, known.
• imagine worship that invites, uplifts, inspires, and transforms—every time.
• imagine a community where children, youth, singles, families, and elders are cherished and supported.
• imagine a congregation as diverse & multicultural as cambridge, somerville, & the surrounding neighborhoods.
• imagine a church known far and wide for the power of its witness for justice.
• imagine a church that changes lives.

Together, we have a powerful vision for our church: a multicultural, spirit-filled community that works for justice, fosters spiritual curiosity and faith formation, shares joy, heals brokenness, and celebrates the sacred in all. Every Sunday and throughout the week, we aim to change the world and ourselves for the better. Making our church a dramatically transformative force requires each of us to make a personal commitment to transformation and generosity. We must become change agents, pushing our church and our world toward a new era of radical love for all people and for the world. Doing this will require us all to move beyond our comfort zones.

The goal for the campaign is to increase our annual fund and our pledging households by at least 25% to realize steps we want to take this year to realize our shared imagination.   Read more about the campaign. 

On Sunday, March 17, we will kick off our annual stewardship fund drive where we look forward to broad participation in our services.  We request that members and friends strive to make a fair share pledge to First Parish. The Fair Share Giving Guide provides suggestions that can help you reflect on opportunity and commitment based on your income. This is a guide, not a requirement. We recognize that there is economic diversity at First Parish. Some members are at the beginning or ending of their paid work and earnings may be low. Some members may be unemployed or under-employed. Others are able to contribute more than their fair share. We ask everyone to give as generously as possible. People with limited incomes are asked to make a pledge in the $26 (50 cents a week) to $260 (5 dollars a week) range. A member of the Stewardship Committee is glad to meet with you to discuss your pledge if you have questions.

The Pledge Form can be filled out on-line or the form below printed and returned to the office by mail or fax (617-868-6178) or left in the lockbox outside the church office which is accessible any time the building is open. Or you can save the pledge form to your computer, fill it out and email your pledge to the Church Office.. This form does not accept credit card information. Credit card authorization forms need to be completed, signed (hard copy or electronically), and submitted separately, as we need actual hard copies of permission to charge your card.

To learn more about First Parish finances, please talk to the Treasurer, Finance Committee or Stewardship Committee and we are glad to answer your questions. If your financial circumstances change and you need to change your pledge – either up or down – simply call Carol Lewis (617-876-7772) or email the Church Office.