Dear Chalice Lighter,

Thank you for being a stalwart donor to Chalice Lighters! Your donations this year have funded a $5,434 grant to the Woodinville UU Church to provide online service streaming capability. A $9,959 grant to the UU Fellowship of Fairbanks for construction of an accessible emergency exit ramp for their sanctuary has also been awarded. In the 2019-2020 church year you provided $49,487 to help PNWD congregations, as detailed in the Chalice Lighters annual report.

This is your Winter Call, again dedicated to supporting PNWD congregations struggling to survive in the wake of the coronavirus. Why, despite evidence of need, have we not received more applications for these funds? Some have told us that while operating virtually, the challenges of signing up the requisite percentage of their members as Chalice Lighters has been a deterrent. In response, the PNWD Chalice Lighter team and board have agreed that only 20% of members need to be Chalice Lighters in order to apply for pandemic relief grants, rather than the standard 30%. This should put applying within the reach of every PNWD congregation. Others have said that they are “treading water” and overwhelmed. To help, we have further simplified the application. Others have not yet experienced budget shortfalls, but fear problems in the coming months if online or deferred worship services fail to attract new members to replace attrition. Consequently, the deadline for applications is extended until all funds collected for this purpose are disbursed.

Does your congregation need help to recover and thrive again?  If so, you can help! Please encourage your leaders to apply for a Chalice Lighter grant, and volunteer to help with the application or to sign up Chalice Lighters to meet the 20% requirement. The abbreviated “Chalice Lighter Pandemic Relief Application” form is available here. The form details award criteria and instructions. We will review requests and make awards expeditiously as applications are received. Think creatively about not just surviving, but strengthening your outreach!

Please make your Winter Call contribution now to further build the pandemic relief fund! Donations will be accepted through February 28, 2021.

  • Make a one-time gift of $20, $50, or $100 online at the PNWD giving page.
  • Mail your check, payable to “PNWD Chalice Lighters” to PNWD Chalice Lighters, P.O. Box 567, Brighton CO 80601. Include the PNWD-CL designation and congregation on your check.
  • Donate to multiple calls now to save time later.
  • Choose to have your gift deducted monthly from your credit card or bank account using the PNWD automatic giving page.
  • Consider becoming a Chalice Lighter “Angel” by contributing an amount in excess of $1000.

Sincerely yours,

David P. Cauffman, PNWD Chalice Lighter program coordinator
pnwdchalicelighters@pwruua.org   

Finer points: Direct costs to administer the call are reimbursed from donations before grants are issued. More of your money will go toward the grant if you opt for emailed call letters and contribute online.

Applications to receive the full proceeds of a Chalice Lighter call, or for Technology grants, may also be submitted at any time. Those received before Feb. 1, 2021 will be considered for the Spring Call. All forms, with instructions, may be found online via the PNWD Chalice Lighters web page.

Questions? Please contact pnwdchalicelighters@pwruua.org. Thank you!

P.S. Strengthen fellow UU congregations in your district who are struggling to survive the hardships of the pandemic with your Chalice Lighter contribution today!