Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Updated and new information between newsletters, from our Sunday Order of Service announcements. The deadline for Sunday printing is 9pm Tuesday. Please bring them to the office or email Nancy Harms at .

OUTREACH

January Plate Recipient: BOISE/MÉSZKŐ ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

When the first lay representatives from the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship visited Mészkő in 2001, we learned that the only college graduates in the village were the Unitarian minister and an engineer for the gypsum mine.

Households in the village of our partner church earn between $250 and $600 per month (based on the IMF exchange rate). Education is one long-term strategy to break out of the cycle of poverty, but going to college means paying tuition and room/board rates of approximately $850 per year. This is beyond the reach of many families.

In 2011 the Boise Partner Church Committee and the board of the Mészkő Unitarian church created the Boise/Mészkő Annual Scholarship Fund to help make it more likely that the youth of the congregation will be able to complete their college education. We hope to be able to subsidize approximately half of each qualifying student's expenses for four to six years.

Students receiving the scholarship will be responsible for maintaining passing grades and will provide a recap of the year. Every student will be expected to pay back to the fund 20% of the total scholarship amount. For 2011/12 school year, the scholarship fund is helping to support four students: Julia Halmagyi (kindergarten and elementary education), Emoke Novák (English and Spanish), Balázs Petho (Physical Education), Éva Szél (Library and Information Science).

Twenty-five percent of BUUF's unpledged January plate offering will go to the Boise/Mészkő Annual Scholarship Fund. If you write "Outreach" on the memo line of your check, or use the envelopes 100% goes to Boise/Mészkő Annual Scholarship Fund.

CCT OUTREACH

The Congregational Care Team would like to connect home-bounders and visitors. Would you like to visit and talk with a BUUF friend or member who isn't able to neither get out much nor attend services regularly?

Or are you a BUUF friend or member who would like to have someone come visit you every once in a while? The Congregational Care Team is looking for people who would like to visit or be visited.

Please contact Debbie Johnson and specify whether you are more home-bound and would like to welcome visitors to your home or whether you're able to get out and visit someone in their home. Cell phone: 440-2972, or email .

For a ride to church or if you can give rides, contact Janette Young, 336-8116 or .

BUUF'S PANTRY

Please keep BUUF's Pantry in mind the next time you go to the store. Canned chicken or ham and fruit and milk would be much appreciated.

CURRENT and COMING EVENTS

WANTED: LGBT and/or Q GUEST SPEAKERS FOR OUR WHOLE LIVES (OWL) CLASS

OWL has just concluded classes on gender identity & expression and sexual orientation. The February 5 OWL class involves a panel of guest speakers, and we are looking for people willing to share their personal experiences and answer questions from curious Junior High Students. The class runs from 9:00 am to 11:00 am before and during the first service here at BUUF. Contact Ann or Matthew at 639-9450 or if you are interested.

FRIENDSHIP DINNERS

Dinner groups will be on the 4th weekend of each month. Please sign up on the sheets by the name tags. The dinners are a great way to meet people in the fellowship and are excellent for integrating new people in the fellowship. We need hosts, so if you can seat 6-8 people at your table, please sign up to host a group. For more information, contact Mary Munson 898-4147 or .

Please join us!

Adult Education offering: The GREAT GATSBY

Register now to reread The Great Gatsby with Debra Smith. The class starts Tuesday, January 31, but there will be an optional viewing of an excellent biography in advance of the class, date TBD. So don't put off your registration. We'll discuss Fitzgerald's masterpiece in the context of today's economic events.

Ever read as an adult a novel you were assigned in high school and did (or did not) read? It can be an enlightening experience. Join Debra Smith in reading The Great Gatsby, and get beyond the SparkNotes. Sign up today.

Read more about this and other Adult Education courses...

NEW TO UU CLASS

This class will offer you the opportunity to meet other newcomers, church leaders, and members. It will provide you with some history, an opportunity to explore your own spirituality, and give you a glimpse into the inner workings of the UUA and of BUUF in particular. New UU class is the first step toward membership required in the Path to Membership approved by the board. Saturdays, Feb 4 & 11; 9:30 to noon. Channing Room, South Wing on the 4th, Raible Room, North Wing February 11th.

TIME FOR THE COFFEEHOUSE AGAIN!

The 2nd Saturday Fellowship Fun Night, February 11, at 6 p.m. is an opportunity for members and friends to share their talents in a popular "potpourri" format of entertainment, and for listeners to enjoy an intimate evening of music, poetry, dance, comedy, or storytelling. You provide the entertainment. If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Harms at or 658-1710.

Listeners, mark your calendars now and plan to bring friends along with a potluck dish to share at the beginning of the evening. We'll have a movie for the younger crowd. The only bread you'll need is donations for drinks. We'll have music by members and friends.

THE OTHER BOOK CLUB

Come join us for a lively discussion on books and other topics. We meet on the second Sunday of the month from 7 to 8:30pm.

Our February 12 book is Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by Mario Varga LLosa. We will meet at the home of Dorothy Vanderpool,5129 N Riverfront Dr, Garden City.

Our March 11 book is In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson. We will meet at the home of Eric Wallace, 1387 E Monterey Dr. Boise.

Our April 8 book is Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively. We will meet at the home of Carol Wilke.

If you would like to be on our e-mail list, send your address to Happy Reading in 2012!

CLASSIC BOOK CLUB

The BUUF Classicists will engage in a spirited discourse on Pere Goriot by Honore de Balzac on Feb. 14th at Lorel Case's. Begin reading now so that you can mingle at this illustrious soiree.

NEW UU CLASS REUNION

Have you taken the new UU class in the last few years? We would love to invite you to a potluck reunion on Feb. 18th from 6-9 in the Sanctuary. Let's get together and reconnect for some fun and food. If you have questions please contact Miriam Woito at or 890 6074. Friends and family are welcome as well.

CLEAN UP ON AISLE ONE!

The Interiors Committee and BEC are sponsoring a cleanup and touch-up day at the Fellowship Saturday, March 3 from 10am to 3pm. If you are able to make it for part or all of the time please call Nancy at the office, 658-1710. Bring a sack lunch if you are going to stay for the whole day. Muffins and rolls will be provided in the morning. If you have a squeegee and bucket, please bring them.

We will be sponging the chairs in the Sanctuary, touch up paint in the hallways, washing the windows: inside and out. Thank you, the Interiors Committee.

ARE YOU A STAY AT HOME PARENT?

Want to get together with other BUUF stay at home parents? Come join the BUUF playgroup on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 10:00 until 11:30 in the Fahs room and Playhouse. We'll chat and let the kids play together! All ages are welcome.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

QUILT RAFFLE!

Get your raffle tickets for this year's quilt by the Q-UU-ilters. Here's what you'll win:

Botanica Fantastica: Hand appliqued plants in a contemporary folk style create a botanical fantasy world. Prepare to be amazed. Quilt top by the BUUF Q-UU-ilters and quilting by Jack Jeppson of Real Men Quilters. 75" x 75" and valued at $2000. Tickets available at Sunday services ($5 for one or $20 for five), or contact Harriet Shaklee ( or 371-3634) or Barb Alexander ( or 344-6017). Drawing will be at the BUUF auction on February 4.

HOSPITALITY NEEDS HELP

The Hospitality Committee is co-chaired by Mary Osterman and Janette Young. The Hospitality Committee provides hot beverages and simple snacks to create an opportunity for our Fellowship to connect informally between and after services, as well as for BUUF to be a host to newcomers and visiting guests.

There are 3 key tasks to be done each week for Sunday Service and we would like to have 24 volunteers on this committee (there are already 3, only 21 more needed J) so that each person will only need to volunteer for less than an hour once a month. The 3 tasks are as follows:

1. Make coffee for the 9:30 Service and clean up after the 9:30 service at about 10:45, typically this coffee is enough for both services, but will need to be checked before the 11:15 service as it takes 45 minutes to brew.
2. Provide food for the time between services 10:45-11:15 and after the 11:15 service (This can be purchased or home-made).
3. Clean up after the 11:15 service, typically from 12:30 to 1:15

Training, written instructions and assistance will be provided so that you too can be the "Host with the Most" or the "Hostess with the Mostest"! Please contact Janette Young at or call 208-631-9192 and let me know what Sunday works best for you: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th and which service works best for you 9:30 or 11:15. We really need your help and appreciate your willingness to give your time, talent and resources to make BUUF known for its hospitality and good treats!

TRAVEL BUGS

The BUUF Travel Group meets once a month to enjoy the travels of our fellow congregants. Together, we've explored near and far. One month we shared our favorite day trips from Boise. Other times we have been around the world in exotic places. Perhaps you have a journey that you'd like to share with others? We'd love to hear about it and perhaps see your souvenirs and photos. Contact Patti Nakaoki ( ) or Karen Raese ( ) for more information.

BORN IN 1942? LET'S CELEBRATE!

If you were born in 1942, contact Claudia Fernsworth. Let's CELEBRATE!

Tell us your story!

Our worship and education theme this year is Our Living Stories; Living Our Principles, and we have invited a church friend to share part of their story each week. We hope you have been enjoying the stories you have been hearing each Sunday. We would love to hear your story. Does your story fit the theme of a future Sunday Service? Please contact Val Duffy at 327-0023 or , or Beverly Harley at 891-4303 or .

CHILDREN'S RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHILDREN'S RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK

9:15 Preschool-1st grade: How can we care for the non-humans in our world?

9:15 2nd—6th grades: What will this year's Walk Through Time mosaic represent?

11:15 Preschool: What kind of new family did you learn about today?

11:15 Kindergarten & 1st grade: What are the ways we help others?

11:15 2nd & 3rd grades: What is something new you noticed about an animal when you drew it?

11:15 4th—6th grades: What will this year's Walk Through Time mosaic represent?

Would you like your child to light our chalice?

Every Sunday morning, children from our beloved community are a part of our worship tradition. A big part of that involvement is to be a chalice lighter. Our chalice lighters are 5 years old or older and registered in Religious Exploration. (Forms are available in the classrooms, in the information center in the north vestibule, and from Emmie.) The sign-up sheet for chalice lighters can be found on the table in the north vestibule under the bulletin boards. Questions? Please contact Emmie Schlobohm, your Director of Religious Exploration at 658-1710.

New sign-up sheets are by the classroom doors!

There's a room full of wise and wonderful guides just waiting for you! There are new sign-up sheets for classroom assistants just outside the Religious Exploration class rooms! Those seemingly ordinary pages are your ticket to a journey of a lifetime! Our children are amazing and they can change your perspective or even your life. Sign up for an hour of your time to help a teacher in a Religious Exploration class room and experience the wonder!

Beautiful Decorations from our Holiday Tree Need a Home

We have a box of decorations that came off of our wonderful tree. If you would like to take home holiday stars, beaded ornaments, and other carefully crafted goodies from our Deck the Halls workshop, please find them in the box on the bench in the north vestibule. Any decorations left over by February will be lovingly recycled. Thank you for all your creative energy is bringing these beauties into the world!

Nutritious Snacks Needed for our Children and Youth in Religious Exploration Classes

There's a simple way that you can give to our children and youth in a big way—Snack time! Each week all of our RE classes enjoy sharing a nutritious snack together. Our supplies are getting low again. Some great snacks that you can contribute for our children and youth include Clementine or Satsuma oranges, Goldfish, Cheezits, and dried fruit snacks. Also, please remember that anything with nuts cannot be used due to allergies. If you're looking for a different snack to contribute—try mini rice cakes! We have young people with gluten intolerance and they greatly appreciate enjoying snack time too. If everyone adds a box of snack food to their grocery list and brings it to the beautifully decorated hamper just inside the north wing hallway, we'll be up and running with snack time again with a hiccup!