Provoking Generosity

A resource for the Minnesota Conference UCC

February 2026

A Lasting Legacy of Kindness

As people of faith, we know that no act of kindness is random. Every loving gesture reflects our desire to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Random Acts of Kindness Week and Valentine's Day are perfect reminders to put our love into action! Caring for your loved ones, loving your neighbor, and uplifting our community are all powerful ways to make this time of year meaningful.

One thoughtful way to express that love is by creating your estate plan. An estate plan helps ensure your wishes are honored, provides clarity for those you love, and reflects your values of compassion and stewardship.

Through our partner FreeWill, you can create or update your will in about 20 minutes, completely free and fully secure. You'll also have the option to include a legacy gift to your congregation, MN Conference UCC, United Church of Christ. or another charity close to your heart. A gift in a will is a lasting act of love that ensures your faith continues to shape lives long after your lifetime.

Your gift costs nothing today, but creates a legacy of compassion, justice, and hope for future generations.

Put your love into action with a plan that reflects your values and your faith.

Yours in faith,

Rev. Wendy Vander Hart

Generosity Officer

P.S. I would welcome consulting or visiting to provoke generosity in your congregation. You can schedule a conversation with me using this link.

Promote Planned Giving in Your Congregation

We are pleased to share a toolkit to help you promote planned giving in your congregation. This resource includes templates for email communications, newsletter/bulletin insert, social media post, and pulpit announcement that you can personalize for your congregation. The toolkit also provides links to graphics and customizable Canva templates.

OCWM Special Offerings Webinar for Mission Teams

February 26, 6:30 - 7:30pm CT

Join Rev. Rachel McDonald, Generosity Officer for OCWM and Special Mission Offerings, and Stephanie Moore, Generosity Officer at the Illinois Conference (pictured), to learn how to confidently promote and celebrate wider giving in the UCC. Explore how a yearly cycle of Special Offering gifts provides a curriculum of generosity—already built into your church calendar.

Clergy, mission committee members, and anyone interested in giving will receive an overview of how Our Church's Wider Mission giving works in the UCC and gain helpful tips to bring back to your congregation.

REGISTER

Give to the Emergency Grant Program

The Minnesota Conference UCC soon will launch an emergency grant program to respond to the needs reported by UCC clergy and leaders in the wake of the surge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota. The grant program will support our churches, clergy, and communities in key ways:



• UCC leaders throughout the state have voiced a need to provide food, medicine, rent assistance, and other necessities for individuals and families in their congregations and surrounding communities who are afraid to leave their homes.
• UCC leaders are experiencing first- and second-hand trauma as they are caught in ICE actions as observers. These leaders need immediate self-care activities and intermediate respite in the weeks to come to address their exhaustion and need for spiritual renewal.

These grants will be open to leaders throughout the state, in rural areas, small towns, and urban settings. We are grateful for your support as we help our leaders and congregations navigate the tremendous challenges that ICE has brought to our state.

Give as an individual.



Give as a congregation.

Download a bulletin insert.

The Minnesota Conference UCC equips a courageous Church alive with Christ's transforming love. For more information, visit www.uccmn.org.