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On this Thanksgiving Day, I want to take a moment to speak directly to the heart of our community. Today is a day of gratitude for many, but for others it can be a day of loneliness, grief, or quiet hurt. For LGBTQ+ people who have been rejected, excluded, or made to feel unwelcome at the tables where they hoped to belong, this week can be especially heavy.

So hear this clearly:
You are beloved by God.
Your life is sacred.
Your truth is a gift.
And you are not alone.

As an Open and Affirming movement, we hold space today for every person who is struggling. And we invite you—wherever you are—to help build the kind of community we all need. Check on your friends. Reach out to the people you love. Send a message, make a call, or offer a place at your table. A small gesture can remind someone that they are seen, valued, and held.

This is what ONA community looks like: choosing love, again and again, especially when the world feels loud with fear and division.

We are grateful for you—your leadership, your prayers, your courage, and your commitment to a church where every person is affirmed and welcomed at the table. Nearly 1,950 ONA congregations now carry this message of belovedness across the country. Your witness matters.

And as you reflect on what you’re grateful for, we invite you to support this movement that supports so many. A few reminders as we near the end of the year:

1. Individuals: Join the Sustaining Circle

Sustaining Circle members commit to a monthly gift that provides steady, year-round support for our work. Monthly giving helps us plan ahead, respond quickly to urgent needs, and build long-term movement resilience.
And right now, every new monthly gift is being matched up to $250 through 11/28—we’re already close to reaching the match!

Click here to join.

2. Congregations: Become a Sustaining Church

Sustaining Churches give once or twice per year—often in June and December—to help keep our coaching, training, and resources accessible for the churches that need us most.
We encourage congregations to include the Coalition in your annual budget, and to share our ministry in your newsletters and worship materials.
Becoming a Sustaining Church is simple: fill out this brief form, and we’ll add your congregation to the growing list of supporters. A suggested gift is at least $1 per active member a few times each year, though many give more as they are able.

Every contribution makes a meaningful difference.  Click here to Signup.

3. Give to Our 2-for-1 Matching Grant

We are also blessed with a 2-for-1 matching grant: for every dollar given, a generous donor gives two more—tripling your impact, up to $10,000 raised.
A $25 gift becomes $75.
A $100 gift becomes $300.
A $1,000 gift becomes $3,000.
These gifts directly strengthen the coaching, training, and support that congregations across the country rely on.

Click here to donate now. 

With gratitude,
Rev. Derek Terry
Acting Executive Director
Open and Affirming Coalition
United Church of Christ

Let’s keep this movement alive and strong.