By Daria Condon (she/her), UTO Board Province VII Representative

Just who is Julia Chester Emery, and why is Jan. 9 entered into the Book of Common Prayer as a Feast Day commemorating Julia?

Julia served as national secretary of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Board of Missions from 1876 to 1916. Julia transitioned this auxiliary into the United Thank Offering.

Eventually, the ministry provided women a small blue box with a slit in the top and encouraged her to drop a coin into it whenever she felt thankful. (Fun fact: the oldest “blue box” we know about is a white pyramid!) Those collections were presented at an ingathering, and the money was used for missions. We still have the little blue boxes, still honoring Julia for her remarkable contributions. Her little blue box has grown into collections which allow for grants for mission and ministry totaling over a million dollars annually. 

Today, our coins of thanksgiving may still be collected. United Thank Offering now accepts text-to-give, mail, online, and planned giving.

Julia’s special day of commemoration helps honor the woman who reminds all of us how a small daily act of thanksgiving may deepen our spiritual discipline and gratitude and help to create new ministries. Her contributions are still significant today and a reason to honor her on Jan. 9.  

UTO Mid-Year Training for Parish and Diocesan Leaders: Saturday, Jan. 10, at 11 a.m. Eastern time

Please join us as we gather to celebrate and give thanks for the life of Julia Chester Emery on Saturday, Jan. 10.  We’ll gather for one hour beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern. Join us for prayers and discussion on the early days of UTO and Julia Chester Emery with the Rev. Erin Jeane Warde, who is working on our UTO history booklet (for release in 2027). 

Please register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/JSd9ZWHURaKjwEOUZqByZw. Register by Dec. 7 at midnight to receive your pre-meeting swag bag in time for the meeting. For those who register after Dec. 7 and want a swag bag, it will be shipped, but we cannot guarantee that it will arrive in time for the gathering.

Agenda:

1. Introductions and welcome
2. Presentations from the Committees of the Board on what you need to know for the winter/spring of 2026
3. Reminder that the deadline to order Lenten materials is Sunday, Jan. 11, at midnight

Diocesan UTO Leaders:

If you are a diocesan coordinator, we’re going to have a special add-on gathering time after the training to learn more about how we can better support and equip you in your role in 2026, so be sure to join us! We’ll stay on Zoom for an extra 30 minutes to share ideas we’re working on and listen for ways we can help support you in your role regardless of whether you are a diocesan staff person or volunteer UTO leader.