Thank you so much to the many generous supporters of our canvass, both longtime members and those who are just starting on the path of recognizing the value of this congregation to your own life. We also want to thank Rev. Danie, who jumped in with both feet, and has already shown us what a terrific leader they are. Another big thank you goes to both Sue Stewart Greene, President, and Bruce McPherson, for contributions.
We still have a significant number of congregants who haven’t gotten around to making a pledge yet. There’s another whole follow up team in the wings organizing to take over making those individual phone calls reminding and helping the slowpokes to help us wrap this up. (I can use this word because I’ve been on that list in the past.)
Like the rest of the world, we’re still catching up after covid. There are more visitors and congregants coming, either in person or online. The financial commitment of each pledging unit is going up. We’re at an inflection point, a transition. We have work to do. There are many hurting people out there in Hamilton and area – for instance, loneliness is at an epidemic level, especially with young people. We can actively invite others to a place where they can feel welcomed, where kindness matters, where you don’t have to leave your brain at the door, or accept any dogma. In order to reach a different demographic, to be truly inclusive, we need to expand our reach, and that costs money. Let’s do this. We can make it happen.
Imagine the future – where our congregants come from more diverse backgrounds, have different lived experiences, have a wider range of incomes, and speak different languages. Wouldn’t that be magic?
Every time we need to grow, we don’t actually have the funds to do it, whether it be to call a full time minister for the first time, or move to a bigger building or make a paved parking lot. This is when we need faith. If we can make, or get near to our goal of $310,000, we’ll have done amazingly well. More importantly, we’ll have demonstrated that we’re willing to ‘put our money where our mouth is’ which is to (drum roll) MAKE A COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY. Every contribution, every commitment, no matter the size, adds to the grout, the strengthening of our congregation, our community of liberal minded people as we show our open hearts and our helping hands.
With gratitude,
Ginny Megin, Leslie Brunskill
Canvass Co-chairs