Stewardship

“Stewardship is about taking care of something we value and enabling it to grow. When we become stewards, we take responsibility and contribute our time, talent and treasure.”

– Unitarian Universalist Association

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Testimonials

In love we gather. In gratitude we give.

You are part of something remarkable. UUSM is more than a congregation — it is a living community of people who show up for one another, who wrestle with hard questions, who refuse to look away from the world's pain, and who believe that transformation is possible. We are so grateful you are part of it.

These are turbulent times. Division, suffering, and environmental crisis weigh heavily on all of us. And yet — this is precisely when communities like ours matter most. As author Margaret Wheatley reminds us, in the face of violent change, we must "gather together with others motivated by the same sense of call... develop strength and capacity as we work hard, struggle, stay together, figure things out, fail, succeed, learn, forgive, laugh, persevere."

That is what UUSM does. We hold complexity. We act without certainty, but with conviction. We understand that hope is not passive optimism — it is active commitment. Together, we have weathered Covid, construction, and upheaval. We have emerged stronger and more resilient. Whatever comes next, we will face it — together.

But sustaining this community requires your support.

Your pledge makes possible the staff who care for this congregation, the programs that feed our souls and serve justice, the religious exploration that nurtures every generation, and the beautiful building that holds it all. None of it happens without the generosity of members like you.

As you'll see from this graphic, we currently rely on a very small number of donors to carry a significant portion of our budget. We are deeply grateful for their generosity — and we also know that a broader base of support will make UUSM more resilient and sustainable for years to come. If you are able to increase your giving this year, even modestly, it will make a meaningful difference.

Our goal is $495,000 — a balanced budget that supports modest staff increases and sustains our programs and facilities. This reflects an average of $400 per member per month, though every pledge, at every level, matters deeply.

Please respond here to let us know your planned contribution for 2025-26. Please complete the process by April 19, so the Finance Committee and Board can finalize the budget ahead of the June Congregational Meeting.

Thank you for being part of this community — for showing up, for caring, and for giving. Your generosity is an act of love, and it carries all of us forward.

With love and gratitude,

Diane Russell
Chair, Stewardship Committee
russell_diane@hotmail.com, 650-483-6386

For support or to answer your questions, please contact any member of the Stewardship Committee. This is a dynamic, caring team of people happy to help or point you to someone who can support you.