January 2018
Dear MDD Chalice Lighter,
It is my pleasure to announce to you the recipient of the first MDD Chalice Lighter call of 2018. The award goes to the UU Fellowship of Sheridan, Wyoming. That congregation has taken the bold step of contracting with its first minister.
In the spring of 2017, Rev. Kali Hayslett and her wife moved to the area and visited the Sheridan Fellowship. She asked the group if there was interest in using her services, as she was in need of finding a ministry to maintain her ordination. Kali then led a couple of Sunday worships and offered the Fellowship a list of other services she could provide. At its annual meeting, the congregation voted unanimously to offer a half-time contract to Kali at the modest rate of $1000/month, to begin in October of 2017. The Fellowship of 40 members could barely afford this amount and yet it seemed too little to be offering. (Sheridan has a building mortgage payment of approximately $900/month.)
The Sheridan Fellowship has been experiencing an increase in visitors and membership in recent months, perhaps due to Kali’s presence. Thus, there is hope that the Fellowship will grow with a minister’s continuing presence.
The Fellowship is planning to renew Kali’s contract for this year. The congregation would like to be able to increase the minister’s monthly fee to a more equitable rate of $1,300/month, or perhaps more depending upon the response to this call. This Chalice Lighter call will allow the congregation time to adjust to the additional cost of a minister as it takes this leap of faith.
Please be assured that although your donation is processed in the Pacific Western Regional office in Seattle, your Chalice Lighter contributions always go exclusively to MDD congregations. Each of the other districts in the Pacific West Region has its own Chalice Lighters program.
You can submit your donation online. You may also write a check and mail it to MDD Chalice Lighters, 7511 Greenwood Avenue North, #414, Seattle, WA 98103-4627. If you send a check, please write MDD CL in the memo line of your check and on the payment envelope.
Contributions for this call will be accepted through February 26, 2018. Any donations received after that date will go toward the MDD Chalice Lighters Undesignated Fund. Ten percent of each call reimburses regional expenses to administer the program. Feel free to contact me if you have questions, and thank you for your support of our MDD.
In faith,
Victor Ashear, MDD Board President
vashear@uua.org