UUA wants to run a new ad: please consider donating!

I just received an email from the UUA announcing a new ad it wants to run in the New York Times, USA Today, and the Knoxville News Sentinel. It's about the church shooting in Knoxville a couple weeks ago. The heading reads "Our doors and our hearts remain open." You can see the ad here.

It's partly a public statement of sympathy and support for the victims, partly an expression of pride in how Knoxville UUs have responded, and partly a reaffirmation of UU principles and values. From the end of the ad:

Unitarian Universalists know that our congregations are places where our spirits can be nurtured and we will be lovingly supported on our spiritual journeys. But we are not content to leave our faith in our sanctuaries when Sunday worship has ended. We are called by our faith to help heal our world. And we thank people of all faiths who have reached out with support.

On August 3rd, just one week after the joy and innocence of their Sunday service was defiled by gunfire, the TVUUC congregation rededicated their sanctuary to peace. Inspired by the Unitarian Universalists of Knoxville, Unitarian Universalists everywhere have rededicated themselves to our religious mission: to welcome the stranger, to love our neighbor, to work or justice, to nurture the spirits of all who seek a liberal religious home, and to help heal this wounded world.

We will not give in to fear. We will meet hatred with love. We will continue to work for justice. Our hearts, and the doors of our more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations nationwide, remain open. Unitarian Universalists stand on the side of love. We invite you to stand with us.

It's a wonderful message and a wonderful response to the tragedy. But it will not be cheap to run the ad, and the UUA is looking for help to make sure they can do it. PLEASE consider donating to make sure this message gets out there.

I'd just add one thing: I'd love to see this ad online, too. I keep hearing the newspaper readership is down, and I wonder whether some of the most responsive people might be more likely to catch this if it were online. Note to the UUA, I guess.