Alone we can do so little.  Together we can do so much.”   Helen Keller

“We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give.”  Winston Churchill 

Dear Members and Friends,

We invite you to participate in this year’s annual pledge drive for our Fiscal Year 23-24 Operating Budget (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024).

In 1825 a group of Unitarians began gathering informally in the Manchester area. They started small, only a handful of women and men who met regularly in a parlor on the west side, and were soon joined by others from three surrounding communities. Within the next twenty years, this group of liberal religious people had formed as a formal church community and purchased their own building, eventually inviting Universalists to join them. Many influential leaders of the city in the mid-1800s called this community their spiritual home, including mayors and selectmen who influenced the development of industry and labor, growing Manchester into the economic hub of this state, which it still is today.

And there were challenges. In 1911, fire claimed the first building where our forebears gathered. But they did not let that stop them. They raised funds for a new building and just three years later in 1914, even as the world was watching the unfolding of what would become the Great War, a new building was completed and dedicated, which is our building in which we still gather today. This building has been a liberal religious icon in the community ever since. Many of us know we are recognized throughout this community by our “beautiful stone building.”

As we enter our annual pledging season, it is energizing to be writing this letter out from under the worst of the Covid pandemic and during a time of great growth for our church. There is much to look forward to.

Membership is growing as old time members have reemerged enthused to be back, and new folks show up regularly getting to know the ways of our services and activities. There is truly a dynamic feeling reverberating through the church these days. 

Finally, a hearty thank you for joining in this effort. 

There are several ways you can make your pledge (and we ask you make your pledge by April 5).

• Although we will hope that you are able to increase your pledge to meet the church’s needs, your current pledge will continue if you do not complete a pledge card. We will need to know your method of payment. Please notify Chris Monroe, our collector, of preferred credit card or payment information, or,
• In order to make a new pledge or change your existing one, mail pledge cards to UU, or,
• To pledge online, please use the following link:  2023 UU Manchester Electronic Pledge

Please be assured that all pledge information is confidential.  Thank you very much for your help in making Manchester UU a vibrant spiritual home!  We are all stewards of Manchester UU.

Your Finance Committee,

Web, Jefferson, Chris, June, Jennifer, and Brian