Empowering Congregations: River of Grass in Plantation, FL; and the Fellowship of Huntington, NY
Today we honor two congregations that reached truly empowering levels of generosity on Association Sunday 2007. The River of Grass Unitarian Universalist (UU) Congregation in Plantation, Florida, and the UU Fellowship of Huntington in Huntington, New York, both held such inspiring services and executed such organized campaigns that they were able to raise more than $50 per member! Their stories bear witness to just a few of the many ways that our congregations were able to make the day a profound success, but they have truly distinguished themselves as Association Sunday 2007 Empowering Congregations.
With its 114 members, the River of Grass Congregation is the “little Empowering Congregation that could.” What it lacks in size, it more than makes up in incredible vision, inspirational leadership and a deep spirit of generosity.
The congregation’s minister, Rev. Naomi King, has demonstrated her strong leadership in our Association as a member of the Annual Program Fund Committee. When asked to elicit support from her congregation for Association Sunday, she did so with zeal. In order to inspire members of her congregation to give, Naomi and her partner made a large pledge and challenged the congregation by vowing to add $10 for every person who showed up for services that Sunday. Naomi also appealed strenuously to her board to authorize the special collection and to make leadership pledges themselves. And her dedication resulted in stellar success.
When asked how this small congregation raised so much money Naomi said, “[I]t may simply be the culture of Florida congregations loving our Association of Congregations and especially the River of Grass feeling strongly about our Association. Some of it may just be the Spirit.”
At the UU Fellowship of Huntington, organizers Lois Ann Sepez and Reba Siniscalchi worked tirelessly to energize their congregation on Association Sunday. Because Lois Ann and Reba personally took the initiative to seek out funds from seven individual donors for a matching gift, they were able to raise $10,000 before the service even took place! And they got the ball rolling by each making a pledge to the match themselves.
As Association Sunday approached, Lois Ann and Reba proceeded to promote the day where and whenever they could. They created newsletter articles and bulletin board postings. They placed donation envelopes in every order of service. Then, the week before Association Sunday, they unveiled the ultimate inspiration—the incredible $10,000 matching challenge grant! And on the day of the special service, The Rev. Beth Graham from the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) gave a special sermon complemented by an impassioned message about the importance of the day from Reba Siniscalchi.
Even after Association Sunday, the deeply committed organizing members of Huntington continued their work by executing a mailing, which they themselves financed, to those who were unable to give on the day the service was held. This outstanding effort, paired with a follow-up announcement in the congregation’s newsletter, paid off in a big way. The Huntington congregation raised another $10,000 in addition to the matching gift in an awe-inspiring show of generosity.
Let us celebrate the exceptional commitment of these two Empowering Congregations, their vision for Unitarian Universalism, and the gifts they shared with our whole family of congregations—because we are better together.
Read about the three other Empowering Congregations: First Parish UU in Needham, MA; UU Fellowship of Durango, CO; and the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, NJ.
Last updated on Monday, June 16, 2008.
