River of Grass UU
Gift of the Week—January 4, 2008
Who Gave It: River of Grass Unitarian Universalist (UU) Congregation in Plantation, FL
How Much: $9,490.00
Who Got It: Association Sunday, part of the Now Is the Time Campaign
How It Happened: The River of Grass Congregation has only 114 members, but makes up for its size with incredible vision, inspirational leadership, and a deep spirit of generosity. As a member of the Annual Program Fund Committee, the congregation’s minister Naomi King has demonstrated her strong leadership in our Association. When asked to elicit support from her congregation for Association Sunday, she did so with alacrity, and stellar success. In order to inspire members of her congregation to give, Naomi and her partner made a large pledge, and vowed to add $10 for every person who showed up for services that Sunday. She also asked the board to participate in Association Sunday by authorizing the special collection, and by making a leadership pledge themselves.
At the service, Naomi said:
Our congregation’s Board has felt this test of our emergency faithing system, of our connections to this tradition and to each other, was so important that every member of our Board has already pledged their support to Association Sunday. I am now giving from the abundance with which I have been blessed and am now giving until it feels good. That is leadership. Giving until it feels good.
Naomi generated enthusiasm for this special collection by “greening the plate” and talking up the spiritual importance of being generous.
When asked how this small congregation raised so much money Naomi said, “It 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.”
The Association Sunday Program established the title Empowering Congregations for those that gave an average of $50 per member. At $84.73 per member, only River of Grass has attained that honor so far.
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
