Desert Notes September 18, 2025

Last weekend we welcomed Rev. Lydia Ferrante-Roseberry to campus to begin our work with Stewardship for Us, a UU consulting agency that works on….you guessed it….Stewardship! 

Debbe Simpkins has been spearheading this work, and we were both very energized by how many people attended small group conversations, the workshop on Saturday and lunch together afterwards, worship on Sunday, and the summary report she gave after service. We will receive a detailed report (as visual slides!) that we will be sharing with all of you in a couple of weeks.

I want to thank all of you who attended or watched online for your participation. We are always engaged in shared ministry, and Stewardship is a key program in our shared work. Something that stood out for me was the distinction she made between transactional and transformational stewardship. Her emphasis on building relationships and conversations that lead to Stewardship and financial contributions–including volunteering your time and talent–reminded me that the tools of stewardship are more effective when they are engaged in a manner that brings us together. I am excited to see what we can do together this year!

The hiring committee for our new Director of Faith Formation has begun meeting, and the board has lifted the hiring freeze with caution. I am eager to bring someone on board to help us navigate a new program year and support our wonderful teaching staff better. I hope I can continue to count on your support for this work–in funding and in volunteering, both of which will help us sustain a community that is returning to growth.  

In deep gratitude, Rev. Sarah