2026 Governing Board Stewardship Letter to the Congregation
Dear Members and Friends,
What a wonderful congregation we have at PUUC!
What is it that prompts those words? Why all of you, of course! You fill the pews and Zoom room at Sunday services, lingering before and afterwards to chat and fill each others' hearts. Coffee hour is abuzz with conversations; it is a place where newcomers are welcomed, and old friends are made every week?and we have fun together. From Game Nights, to working side-by-side at fundraising activities, singing together, cooking and cleaning up at our Community Suppers, or walking for hunger together with other church communities, the list goes on! More than fun, PUUC is a dwelling place where we can feed our spirits by attending Sunday services, engaging in small groups and Soul Matters discussions, and moving hand-in-hand as one in Sacred Circle Dances. We pool our resources to support meaningful social causes, share sorrows, celebrate happy occasions, and support each other. When many faith institutions are experiencing declining attendance, our congregation is growing and thriving.
But In today's economic climate, everyone is experiencing higher costs of goods and services across just about every category. PUUC is no exception. Maintenance costs, labor costs, utilities, heating oil, pellets, office supplies, plowing and sanding our driveways and parking areas, real estate taxes, all have increased in the past year. Our wonderful old building is just that: "wonderful" and "old," which means that it requires ongoing upkeep.
This year the Finance Committee and the Governing Board calculated a goal of an 8% increase in our stewardship campaign over last year's goal. This increase is to sustain our current work in these inflationary times and to continue to practice our values as an employer. We will again prepare to absorb the $12,000 annual decrease in revenue that will happen in 2028, when the mortgage we hold on the sale of the former parsonage is paid off. We have also committed to making steady increases in our UUA dues so that we can eventually pay our full share.
Please help us to reach these modest financial goals by submitting your pledge cards by April 4, by mail, in the Sunday collection basket, or online on our home page at uupeterborough.org/2025-2026-pledge.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your part in this wonderful and caring community,
The PUUC Governing Board:
Anna Aasgaard Rhonda Barkley Sarah Dengler Bryan Field
Seth McGovern John Saywell Linda Scerbinski
