SHARE:  
An Invitation to Make 
a Financial Difference at Year-end
Dear Members and Friends of UUSS,

This has been a rough, uncertain, and heartbreaking year for so many people, both nearby and around the world.  It has been disruptive to all of us and our congregation. 

However, UUSS has risen to the challenges of this year by staying connected and keeping focused on our mission. 

We pivoted to online services, meetings, small groups and Religious Education. We reached out to isolated members and offered practical support to those in need. We volunteered for election outreach. (Nationwide, and now in Georgia, hundreds of UU the Vote volunteers have contacted over three million voters!)

As many of our neighbors in the Sacramento area have been hit hard by economic harm and racial injustice, we have supported our community partner organizations with gifts of time, talent and money. We have learned from their expertise and followed their leadership.

Even with such vitality at UUSS, we still miss one another's presence--the warm fellowship and hugs, our voices lifted in song or laughter, the shared meals and other sources of reassurance. We long for the day when we can be together safely again in our beautiful home. 
Thanks to your goodwill and your faith, we look forward to that day with confidence.

In thanksgiving for the resilience, care and faith of this beloved congregation, please consider making a special Holiday Gift to strengthen UUSS now and to sustain it for the future.  In particular, we recommend a gift for building loan reduction or to the Heritage Fund (read more in the next box.)  We are fortunate that a few members have offered to provide matching contributions for gifts that are made this month, up to $8,000. Read about it in a box below.

We value and appreciate every act of generosity and support. Every gift makes a real difference, including yours.  However, if hardship makes it impossible to give at this time, please be assured that we understand and are grateful for your presence and good wishes.

Information on how to give is in the section below this one.

Our UUSS Mission says: We come together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world. Thank you for your care and support for one another and for UUSS. In addition to your participation here in so many ways, your generosity will sustain and extend our mission into the new year and the years to come. Thank you!
 
With best wishes for the new year,
 
Roger,  Lucy, Victoria

Rev. Dr. Roger Jones  ~  Rev. Lucy Bunch  ~  Victoria Owens, Treasurer      
 
P.S. --Please make sure your gift is postmarked or completed electronically before Dec. 31 to qualify for matching donations as well as any tax advantages for you. Checks may be mailed to UUSS Holiday Gifts, 2425 Sierra Blvd., Sacramento 95825 or made by credit card at www.uuss.org/donateIf you wish to make a gift of appreciated stock or mutual funds, please contact our Bookkeeper, Michele Ebler: michele@uuss.org or (916) 483-9283, ext. 205.           
Matching Donations to Double Your Gift
How to Give
Due to the generous offers by a few UUSS members, every Holiday Gift will be matched up to a total of $8,000. Many thanks!
Donations received by December 31 will be counted toward the match. 

To make a Holiday Gift, you may send a check in the mail to 2425 Sierra Blvd., Sacramento 95825.
You may also give online right now at www.uuss.org/donate. 
(You do not need to have a PayPal account 
to give with a credit card at the UUSS website.)

Please make a note of either "Debt Reduction" or "Heritage Fund" for your gift. If it is a Heritage Fund gift, let us know if you wish to make it in memory or in honor of a loved one.          
Two options we recommend
for your special gift at the end of 2020 
Loan Reduction
We hope to pay down the principal on our building loans. Our mortgage loan from a bank has an interest rate of 5.25%. In addition, UUSS is making payments on a building loan from the Endowment Trust at 1% interest. Hence, all donations toward paying down the debt will reduce our interest and principal payments in the future. Be assured that your gift will save money for UUSS for years to come.
 
The Heritage Fund
This fund supports improvements to the buildings and grounds and larger one-time expenses that enhance our UUSS Mission. 
Please let us know if you are making a gift to the Heritage Fund in memory of a loved one. Contributions for either Loan Reduction or for the Heritage Fund will be recognized in the permanent Book of Recognition and Gratitude in the UUSS Library according to the donation policy.
Notes about Tax Considerations for 
Charitable Gifts before the end of 2020
If you normally do not itemize tax deductions when filing your tax returns, please note that this year the federal CARES Act has provided for a special $300 deduction for gifts to charities; this may reduce your taxable adjusted gross income.
 
While a required distribution from IRAs has been waived for 2020, it is still possible to make a tax-deductible donation from an IRA. 

If you are fortunate to have mutual funds which have gained in value, you can transfer appreciated shares to UUSS without selling them first and avoid capital gains taxes.  Please contact Michele Ebler as soon as possible if you wish to make a transfer of shares.  Other gifts may be made by sending a check dated before Dec. 31 to UUSS or by making an online gift with a credit card by Dec. 31 at www.uuss.org/donate.  
Wishes and Words of Thanks
Thank you for considering a year-end contribution to UUSS.  Your generosity supports our mission in these times, and it will sustain our mission into the future.  We wish you well, and we miss seeing you in person. With the hope and love of this holiday season, we look forward to better days, when we can be together again.  Blessed be!

UUSS Mission 
We come together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world.