Sunny Notes: 02.18.26 - The Spirit of Generosity

In Article II of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Bylaws, Generosity is listed as one of our six shared Unitarian Universalist values—along with Justice, Equity, Transformation, Pluralism and Interdependence, all with Love at the center. The full description of Generosity in the section on “Values” states: 

Generosity. We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope. We covenant to freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources. Our generosity connects us to one another in relationships of interdependence and mutuality. 

As BUF's 2026-2027 Annual Stewardship Campaign launches this week, we are lifting up the value of Generosity through this year's Campaign theme: “Generosity for New Beginnings.” Yes, the Stewardship Campaign is a dedicated time of celebration and commitment of our time, our talent, and our treasure to BUF. But it is much more than that.

It also is an opportunity to “cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope.” And BUF's members and friends have already begun this cultivation through your sharing (in both "Getting to Know You Meetings" and the recent Envisioning Sessions) of what you love about BUF and what you hope for BUF's future. You all have spoken up about supporting our growing number of youth and families, our music program, and our social justice; about providing for the beauty and maintenance of our building; about increasing the accessibility and inclusivity of our spaces; about potential increased staffing hours and volunteerism to support it all. I and your Stewardship Team and BUF's leadership are listening. 

A blog post by “Stewardship for Us”—an organization that helps UU congregations thrive through inspired stewardship—explains that “the invitation around the value of generosity is to practice living with a spirit of abundance and possibility, and to share our many resources to build the common good.” That is our hope for this year’s Stewardship Campaign and budget creation—that we approach it not from lack and scarcity, where programs, projects, and staff hours are on the chopping block, but instead raising money and nurturing our time and talent from a place of abundance and possibility; a place where we listen to what you have said about what you love about BUF and its potential future; where we take your gratitude and your hope, and we shoot for moon. 

Here’s to fun and a fruitful 2026-2027 Stewardship Campaign filled with time, talent, and treasure! 

— Sunny, minister