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Spring Into Action!

Each Spring, life renews itself as part of the cycle of nature. Each Spring, as part of the cycle of the Fellowship year, we participate in our canvass campaign, making promises to each other -- and to the community that we form together -- concerning our intentions to support this Fellowship and its work to shine the light of liberal religion further into our own lives and more broadly throughout our region. These promises of financial commitments (or "pledges," as we call them) make it possible for the Fellowship as we know it today to continue: they pay for our staff salaries, for our building expenses and mortgage payments, and they provide the funding for the many activities and services that we offer our members and the general public.

 In short, this Fellowship is here because we are willing to support it. We do so collectively, with each of our households sharing what it can. Each pledge, large or small, is deeply appreciated. Each pledge makes a difference. Each pledge empowers our Fellowship to do more work on behalf of our religious tradition celebrating freedom, reason, tolerance, and love. Each pledge enhances our ability to achieve our congregation's goals: (1) growth in numbers and diversity, (2) a stronger sense of community, (3) enhanced personal and spiritual growth, (4) a model religious education program, and (5) transformative social action. I know that this work is far from finished in our region and community, just as I know that it is not complete in my own life.

 This community, the Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship, is a valuable resource for that work. Within southern Illinois, it is literally unique (though, as I note below, we are working to change that!). Speaking personally, I am glad that I can contribute to its support. I hope that you, too, find gladness in your heart as you support our community as generously as your financial situation allows. 

Our collective support will make it possible for the Fellowship to pursue new and exciting efforts in the coming year! For instance, we have already begun to assist in the formation of a new Unitarian Universalist presence in the Mount Vernon area, even as another new Unitarian Universalist group has just begun to meet in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Here in Carbondale, we are working to strengthen and increase our college-age group here, to develop new opportunities for youth participation and interaction, and to  increase the amount of resources dedicated to social action efforts.

 At the end of March, we will celebrate our first anniversary in our new building. Over that year, we have begun to understand what a resource our new building can be, capable of hosting a fundraising dinner for Tsunami relief, a fundraising concert for the AIDS/Africa project, and Dr. Rajmohan Gandhi's presentation. I know that we have only begun to understand the opportunities that our new space offers us, and am confident that the coming year will bring even more meaningful events and programs.

 As we enter this new season of Spring, and as we enter the Fellowship's new canvass campaign, I invite you to consider your pledge, and to think about the difference that it makes to you, to the Fellowship, and to southern Illinois. I thank you, in advance, for your individual generosity, and for the wonderful collective generosity of which it is a part!

 Yours in gratitude, (signed) Bill S.