Did you know there are 860 Unitarian Universalists in the Central Midwest District who believe in the power of our faith and want to share it with others? They are Chalice Lighters and each year they donate $30 to help three churches in the district fulfill their mission to included more people in Unitarian Universalism.
Chalice Lighters began in the spring of 1996 by the district’s Growth and Support Committee. Since then over $43,000 has been donated for eight churches in the district. A Chalice Lighter is an individual who pledges to give a minimum of $10 three times a year for a specific project related to membership growth.
Just last fall over $5,800 was raised for the Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church in Racine, WI. In order to reach out to people with physical disabilities in its community, it held a capital campaign to install an elevator and an electric chair in its historic building. Chalice Lighters helped Olympia Brown reach its goal.
In 1997 the Unitarian Church in Hobart, IN, used its Chalice Lighter Award to launch a three-year, area-wide publicity program in Northern Indiana. In 1998 Emerson Chapel in Ellsville, MO. used its Chalice Lighter award to hire a Chapel Coordinator to reach out and welcome its many visitors. In 1996 a new church start in Chicago, Church of the Open Door, received the first Chalice Lighter award.
Each church in the district may apply for a Chalice Lighter Award. Chalice Lighters from small churches support larger churches and Chalice Lighters in larger churches support smaller churches in their efforts to bring more people into Unitarian Universalism.
Chalice Lighter Awards are given for the following:
- initiating a new congregation;
- acquiring or enlarging meeting space for an existing congregation;
- hiring professional staff;
- for outreach or public relations and publicity programs.
The Growth and Support Committee, using specific criteria, decides which applying church receives the Chalice Lighter Award.
If you believe in the power of Unitarian Universalism and want to share it with others, become a Chalice Lighter. It just might be the best tax deductible money you give all year. See Bette Sikes or Richard Pardo for more information.