How to Host
a Diocesan UTO Ingathering
1.
Talk to your Bishop/Diocesan Office
- Not sure where to start with talking about UTO? No problem. Here are some sample elevator speeches to get you started. You can use them as is, combine them, or if inspiration strikes, you can write your own.
- Bring with you an overview brochure to help explain UTO,
- and a grant brochure to show where the funds went last year.
- Contact our staff for information specific to your diocese to bring along with you. We can make a list of every grant awarded to your diocese, share your Ingathering totals since 2000, or provide you with a brochure with the highlights of the last triennium for your diocese. You can also click on the above links to create a list on your own.
- Determine a small budget for ordering materials or printing locally. Currently, we offer a kit for just $10 for 50 people or $20 for 100. A list of all resources available for print and download can be found here.
2.
Ask to hold the Ingathering at Convention.
Get clear on the deadlines and who the contact people are for newsletters, pre-convention information, and liturgical planning. You may not have much say in the actual worship service, but you can check in with people and share materials with them.
- Ask that the Diocese share UTO videos either during breaks at convention or on their social media page.
- Find out if your Diocese has an offering plate or basin special for UTO. If not, you can either order a giant Blue Box or invite a local artist to create one for you.
3.
Promote and Remind
Ideas to include in newsletters and articles:
- Grants to the diocese
- UTO Grant application available
- Reminder about participating in UTO for parishes (and how to get information if the parish doesn’t participate in UTO)
- Information about how to participate in the Ingathering at Convention (or similar) including sending in funds directly
4.
Ways to Give
- QR Code – can be placed in your Convention Materials easy connection to donate online. Be sure to have available the “I gave online” cards during UTO Sunday.
- Text to Give – is another way to help people connect to our online donation service. Simply share that if they text INGATHER to 41444, it will open the online donation page.
- Boxes and Envelopes – are available at the distribution center. Be sure to have extra at your booth!
- UTO Blue Box App – is coming soon!
4.
Plan UTO Ingathering
- Encourage the worship planning team to use the Liturgy booklet to help plan the service. The Ingathering Sunday liturgy is available here as a downloadable and editable document to get you started.
- UTO also has a list of Suggested Hymns to share with your music team.
- Make sure to ask for space for a UTO display in the exhibit area. Think about ways to make your UTO Booth Interactive. You can use the Photo Booth Props with a simple blue background (table cloths work great) and have fun giveaways (tattoos/stickers/etc.) and candy available. You can also have poster boards available for people to write words or notes of gratitude.
- Have Prayer Booklets available, as well as the QR code for people to submit prayers. You can also collect them at the booth and then scan and email them to Heather to put into the system for you.
- Print out Ingathering cards to use in lieu of using checks – see the Diocesan Ingathering Financial FAQ for more information
6.
Collect and Submit Funds
Please send all UTO funds as quickly as possible, but no later than December 15 to:
United Thank Offering
DFMS – Protestant Episcopal Church US
P.O. Box 958983
St. Louis, MO 63195-8983
- Please follow the financial practices of your diocese for handing donations, if you need more information for how to handle UTO funds specifically, we’ve created a handy guide to best financial UTO practices for a Diocese
7.
Follow Up
- Send thank you cards to anyone who helped your congregation focus on gratitude, from Faith Formation to Worship leaders. Any card will do, but if you’d like UTO stationary, it is available here.
- When you send in your funds, we are happy to send thank you cards for you. Please submit your lists to iwatkins@episcopalchurch.org.
- Think about ways to continue to remind people to practice gratitude throughout the year. You can share resources that are created for November and Lent with congregations via your diocesan newsletter and remind people of the grant process deadlines.
Sign up to receive monthly news about the United Thank Offering–current events, grant site updates, and more!
Register Your Parish
Register your parish with UTO to access perks and help us keep in contact.
Keep Connected
Please fill out this form if you are a new UTO Coordinator or if you are transitioning out of leadership.