Greetings Dear Ones ~

ERUUF was founded 60 years ago in response to a time of major upheaval in our country, out of a great desire to form a religious community where people with progressive views and values could gather freely. Now, 60 years later, we are immensely grateful for the vision and hopes of the 42 people who signed the charter that created this community. 

I am happy to say that today we are a thriving and growing institution of more than 1,300 adults, children, and youth. We have become a well-regarded anchor of justice and care in Durham, welcoming and inviting folks to join us in Beloved Community, and ever expanding the reach of our UU Values through partnerships with organizations throughout the Triangle.

The current state of our country and the world makes the existence of ERUUF more necessary today than ever as a place of care, safety, and progressive values; a place of recognizing our interdependence and responsibility to one another, our neighbors -- wherever they might be -- and our planet.

Thriving means we are not struggling to survive day to day. And, what we collectively do today lays the foundation for our next 60 years of building Beloved Community as we contemplate several important questions:

• How do we continue being a resilient and enduring community that cares for one another: 
  • congregants and our children, 
  • hopeful visitors who enter our doors, 
  • our staff who are tasked with the daily work of maintaining the collective vision we hold?
• What does it mean to be good stewards of what we have now while holding a vision for what we’ll need in the days ahead?
• Recognizing our values of interdependence, justice, and equity, what is ours to do on behalf of the communities and world beyond our walls?

We lay our foundation in response to these questions brick by brick, dollar by dollar. Your pledge today of financial support to ERUUF funds our operating budget for the year to come:

• Resources for the staffing needed in a vibrant and growing congregation; staff that needs to receive fair and equitable compensation.
• Justice and Equity as we work with partners to support community members who are most vulnerable: 
  • Migrant and refugee communities
  • LGBTQ+ communities
  • Black and brown communities
  • Communities experiencing food, employment, and housing insecurity
• Peace and Truth as we increase our awareness and engagement in actions that support Democracy, the separation of church and state, and peacemaking.
• Regeneration and Resilience so we can continue living into our ongoing commitments as a Green Sanctuary Congregation.

May we continue to focus our resources, energy, and hearts on Creating Beloved Community for the Next 60 Years.

In faith and hope, with love and courage,

Rev. Jacqueline Brett
Lead Minister