United Thank Offering
Why UTO??
By Sherri Dietrich, UTO Board President I was reading UTO brochures a few weeks ago with an eye to revising them and was struck by a serious omission – they all assume that the reader already knows what UTO is, why it’s such a vital ministry, and why the reader should choose to participate. The […]
In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb
By the Rev. Canon Heather L. Melton, Staff Officer for the United Thank Offering Growing up, I anxiously awaited signs of spring. In February, I would watch as some poor groundhog was roused from his winter nap by a group of men decked out in top hats, hoping for an early spring. Then, I would […]
Submit Your 2021 Applications Early!
By Joyce Landers, UTO Vice President The deadline for the 2021 grant applications is approaching. All applications must be uploaded here by Friday, February 26 at 5 p.m. ET. The UTO Board strongly encourages all grant applicants to submit their applications as early as possible. Our UTO Staff Officer, the Rev. Canon Heather Melton, is available […]
Why UTO and Gratitude Are Important to Me
By Maggie Noland, Province IV Representative It is extremely important to live a life of gratitude. Even in our darkest moments, I have found that there is always something to be grateful for. Always. When I was younger, I kept thinking that when I got over whatever unpleasant thing was happening in my life, everything […]
All Saints’ Sunday, Ascension Sunday, or What Works for You?
By Kathy Mank, Financial Secretary In trying to locate a current source of why All Saints’ and Ascension Sundays have traditionally been selected by congregations throughout The Episcopal Church for UTO Ingatherings, I found little, except for lots of old UTO Blue Boxes with dated UTO slogans and prayers and the infamous UTO basin. In […]
Coordinators Newsletter
By Sherri Dietrich, UTO Board President The UTO Board and staff are always looking for better ways to support our UTO coordinators in their important work of promoting participation. We currently have a Facebook Group for UTO coordinators to share information and receive updates throughout the month, but beginning in March, we will begin putting […]
Caritas
By the Rev. Canon Heather L. Melton, Staff Officer for the United Thank Offering Caritas is the Latin word for Christian love, sometimes further defined as the Christian love for all of humanity. Often people go on to define it as selfless love of others. Still others have used it to mean compassion or charitable feelings. […]
Epiphany: Carrying the Light of Christ into the Darkness
By the Rev. Canon Heather L. Melton, Staff Officer for the United Thank Offering Epiphany is a wonderful liturgical season that sometimes gets lost between the bookends of Christmas and Lent; however, I think Epiphany is a really important moment to engage with, particularly in relation to the practice of gratitude. There are some really […]
Hope for the New Year
By Sherri Dietrich, UTO Board President The beginning of a new year is always hopeful, and if there’s one thing we all need after a year of pandemic life, it’s hope. We’ve all been waiting and hoping for so long already – for a vaccine, for time with friends, for hugs from grandparents, for life […]
Submit Your 2021 Applications Early!
By Joyce Landers, UTO Vice President The 2021 UTO Annual Grant Application and supporting materials are available now at episcopalchurch.org/utogrants. The focus for this year’s grant applications is Recovering with Love and Gratitude: An Episcopal Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Local Contexts. The United Thank Offering is accepting applications in two categories – sustaining ministries and innovative […]
