We Are a Bridge
We celebrate our desires to stretch our wings towards where we wish to fly and soar free.
And thus, we make a bridge.
We affirm our commitment to remain connected to those who are still earth-bound and captive, remembering that a bridge may be a footpath or an umbrella.
And thus, we offer a bridge.
We acknowledge our own desires and also our interconnections with one another.
And thus, we build stronger bridges.
We honor our own hearts and also the hearts of our neighbors, friends, and fellow inhabitants of this ever-perplexing world.
And thus, we are a bridge.
– By Leslie Takahashi
Dear Beloved East Shore Community,
As we begin our third year with Rev. María Cristina, I am filled with hope for the future. I can see how each time we meet, talk, work together, welcome someone new, we are building a bridge to our future. I see new babies, a growing choir, new millennials and young adults, and events growing in size and excitement. I see the increase in justice work from the amazing experience of being in the Pride Parade to hosting Porchlight next month. I only see this trend continuing far into the future as long as we are strong enough bridges to get there.
For years, East Shore has been busy managing changes that at times have felt non-stop… but that time is over. We instead need to begin making a path for our future. That is why at the August Board Retreat, we made making a long-term plan one of our goals for the year. We have already been working with Financial Stewardship and the Finance Team to look at the dollar and cents aspect. We are working with staff and the UUA as we continue to live into our values as we look at the long-term sustainability of East Shore.
In 2027, we will have paid off the mortgage of the Education Building, freeing up more than $100,000 a year. We also hope the sale of the Holly House property will be complete, allowing us to reimburse our Endowment, make needed improvements, and flourish with opportunity.
We are looking at 2025 and 2026 and know we have some budget tightening years ahead of us. As we told you a few months ago, our Operating Budget has taken some large hits and the need to dip into our rainy-day fund (Endowment), has been more than we had hoped. We are also looking ahead and not wanting to make rash decisions with permanent outcomes when it comes to making any budget cuts. We are asking you to help us build a bridge to the future.
For us to reach our goal, we would need each household to increase their pledge by 15%. We know that is not possible for everyone, so we are asking you to reach deep inside your heart and ask yourself if you have faith in East Shore’s future. As Elanor Roosevelt said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Will you dream with me and help us build a bridge to the future?
With Faith,
David Langrock
Board President