The annual auction is the largest fundraiser benefiting our church operating budget, and it is also how many of us get to know one another through mutual enjoyment of meals, parties, learning experiences, and sharing of our skills and talents. These activities bring communal joy, and the entire process enhances creativity and community in our church in multiple ways.

Each of the hundreds of items are classified either for bidding or signup types of purchase. The bidding process proceeds as for a typical auction – a minimum bid is specified and people enter a bid that must be higher than the previous bid. For some items, a maximum “buy-it-now (BIN)” price is specified, and a bidder may enter the BIN amount at any time to immediately be the winner of the item. The signup process involves a fixed price specified for each item (e.g. each seat at a gathering) and a bidder can “signup” and immediately be the purchaser.

Our silent auction will feature both in-person and online bidding/signup options. In-person bidding/signup at the church will be available on Sunday, April 27 (11:30am – 12:30pm) and Sunday, May 4 (10:00-10:30am and 11:30am - 12:30pm). Online bidding/signup will be held between Monday, April 28, 6:00pm through Saturday, May 3, 3:00pm. Assistance will be available for online and at-church bidding as needed. Auction team members can take payments by check or cash on Sunday mornings. For most purchases, an invoice will be sent to winning bidders by email, and payments can be made by check or online before the end of June.

Reach out to the Auction Team at auction.uucgl@gmail.com with questions and suggestions, or if you are interested in helping with planning

How you can participate now:

Donations:  The first step is to get donations (deadline April 17).  As in past years, these will include social activities both indoors and outdoors, edible delights, handmade art & craft items, gift certificates, and others.  Get more information and ideas at the Auction Table each Sunday from now through April 13 Examples of donations are listed at the bottom of this page. Lists will be available at the Auction Table in the Social Hall each Sunday. To donate an item, you can fill out a paper form or an online donation form .

Creative Collaboration Opportunities:  Would you like to collaborate with someone to offer a gathering?  Are you able to cook a dinner (or parts) but don’t have a venue for guests to gather?  Do you have a house/apartment to host a gathering but want help preparing an entire meal?   The Auction Team can help match people.  

Special Requests:  Is there something you need? This new category lets you describe what you need and specify how much you are willing to pay.  When someone from the church community signs up to provide the service, you contribute the payment for your “special request” to the church.  Examples include:  window washing, power washing a deck, computer assistance of a specific type, a specific kind of help with your garden, a specific type of food, instruction or help for home repair, temporary use of an item such as a power tool or sewing/embroidery machine or log-splitter, music lessons, a poem or song written to your request, instruction to learn a game, etc.  

Attn: Cookie & Cake Bakers:  We're including a cookie sale on the 2nd Auction Sunday (May 4) - cookies to be delivered to church on May 3 or 4. Also, there will be bid sheets both April 27 and May 4 for pre-orders for Mother’s Day cakes and/or 1/2 dozen cupcakes (6) to be available at church on May 11 (Mother’s Day).  If a bidder buys the cake or cupcakes, you will be notified and should deliver the cake/cupcakes to the church on the morning of May 11 (or, if freezable, can be delivered the previous Sunday).  You can sign up at the Sunday Auction Table, or you can fill out an online form to donate cookies for May 4 or an online form to donate a cake or 1/2 dozen cupcakes for May 11.

On-site help will needed on Auction Sundays:  We have a number of volunteer slots to fill during Auction Sundays--April 27 and May 4 (e.g., set-up, general helpers, clean-up, etc.).  You can sign up at the Auction Table each Sunday from now through April 20.

Examples of donations are listed below.  You can be creative with new items.

 Outdoor social events beginning late May:

·         Afternoon or evening gathering at a park, e.g. for a picnic

·         Cocktails or wine tasting

·         Dinner outdoors on the deck

·         Boating on a lake

 Indoor social events:

·         Dinner or cocktails/hors d'oeuvres

·         Home concerts

·         Music nights or movie nights or game nights

 Collections/baskets of multiple items, perhaps organized around a theme, such as MSU, Michigan, music, gardening, arts, crafts, pets

·         Individuals or groups (get together with those of like mind) could fill a lovely basket with goodies for the auction.  Or fill a little red wagon, or a beautiful old wooden box, or some gorgeous container.  Food and drink are good potential items for a collection, but let your collective imagination run wild. 

 Art & Handcraft Goods (made by congregants)

·         Original art or jewelry (e.g. necklace or earrings; paintings; note cards)

·         Handmade craft items, such as potholders or bags, possibly personalized for the buyer

 Edible Delights

·         Meal ready-to-eat or ready-to-freeze

·         Soup that can be frozen for later

·         Baked goods, e.g. pies, cookies, homemade bread

·         Home-brewed beer, home-made liqueurs or wine

 Services

·         Computer assistance

·         Lesson(s) in playing pickleball or other games

·         Instruction in how to do maintenance on a bicycle or car

·         Help with gardening & weeding, or consultation in planning a garden

·         Cleaning out a garage or basement

 Previously owned items

·         Pre-owned Items, such as a beautifully loved but no longer needed gorgeous something from your storage closet, will be considered – contact the Auction Team (auction.uucgl@gmail.com ). In most cases, a photo of the item will be viewable at the auction, and the buyer and donor will make arrangements after a sale for transfer of the item.

 Miscellaneous

• Gift certificate donated by your favorite restaurant or store

·         Opportunity for others to stay in your cottage

Reach out to the Auction Team at auction.uucgl@gmail.com with questions and suggestions, or if you are interested in helping with planning.