Dear Stewards of All Souls,

We had a wonderful party to launch this year’s Annual Giving campaign in October, after a beautiful service with the usual combination of inspiring words and breathtaking music—and a baby dedication, one of my favorite events at All Souls.

During the launch party, we saw video testimonies from people outside our walls who reminded us of how important All Souls is—not just to those of us who come to Church for a regular dose of All Souls, but to the wider world. We heard from Captain Jackson Drumgoole, now commander of a military intelligence battalion. He described receiving hundreds of soccer balls from All Souls when he was deployed in Iraq in 2005, working to build relationships with a people exhausted from living in a combat zone—not to mention his troops, exhausted from being redeployed after very little time at home. They found All Souls’ gesture of support especially refreshing at a time when Iraq had faded in public consciousness back home. “All Souls saw a need and responded—nothing expected in return. No bureaucracy, no politics, just service. I’m not a member, but if I lived in New York City, this definitely sounds like a place for me,” Drumgoole concluded.

We also heard from UUA president Peter Morales, who reminded us of All Souls’ significance as a flagship church in our Unitarian Universalist movement—not only for our many ministries here in New York, but “as a model, as an inspiration, as a resource to all of us… A strong Unitarian Universalism, which you embody, is important in the life of our country right now,” he said.

And United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand expressed her gratitude for this vigorous and vital community of faith “whose impact extends far beyond its sanctuary walls,” making New York and our nation stronger and more compassionate by helping citizens “unite around shared commitments, building strong institutions that bolster our common life.” She concluded, “Please keep All Souls strong!”

These sentiments echo my plea as head of Annual Giving this year. This vibrant congregation is 192 years old, and we are just getting started. Our discipline of gratitude resonates today as a clarion call to faith and justice; we are poised to do great things. In Galen’s words, All Souls has “everywhere to go.”

Let’s go there together. At All Souls, you always belong. Let’s all do our part to keep All Souls’ voice a powerful one for faith and gratitude. New York needs All Souls, our nation needs All Souls; and I dare say the world needs All Souls and our Unitarian Universalist faith.

And All Souls needs all of us. We are making giving as easy as possible this year, through e-pledge, an immediate gift, a pledge you can pay over time, or all at once. Please step up and do your part! Please help keep All Souls strong.

In faith,




Stuart Goldblatt
Chair, Annual Giving Committee, 2011-2012