BUUF News – September 2010

Contents

EVERGREENE

Reverend Elizabeth Greene

Did you know that Rev. Peter Morales, our Unitarian Universalist Association president, was arrested last month, as part of Non-Compliance Day (protesting anti-immigration SB 1070) in Phoenix, Arizona? If you go to uua.org, you can read an excellent essay he wrote about the experience. While on that site, search for UU World, find the August update, and read the news story about it.

There is a movement afoot in our Association called Standing on the Side of Love, dedicated to bringing greater justice into the world. If you would like to view a brief video about it, go to the website I've listed at the bottom of this column.

I'm glad our faith tradition is carrying forth Standing on the Side of Love. It makes a public statement about our commitment to making the world better, and it does so by issuing a theological statement of sorts: when we operate from compassion, from a broad love for god and for others, justice and equity will be the results. The 150 UUs who demonstrated in Phoenix speak of the power of non-violent, as-loving-as-possible, communal shows of strength.

I like Standing on the Side of Love as a local slogan, too. Right now, our Fellowship is in the middle of some difficult decisions, about matters dear to the hearts of all of us. (Budgeting and staff pay and benefits, for instance.) I hope you all will come to our congregational meeting on September 12 (potluck at 5:00—don't miss it!), and I hope we will all remember, in our styles of communicating, to speak generously, in the spirit of community and love.

Not just at congregational meetings, though. This is a precious community, going through important change and transition. Transition and change are not easy for us human beings. We can help each other a lot by heeding the words of Amy Carol Webb's song:

(The song is featured in this UUA video, What does it mean to be Standing on the Side of Love?)

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Debra Smith, Board President

If a train traveling at the constant speed of 70 miles per hour leaves the station in Albuquerque, and at the same time a train traveling at the constant speed of 80 miles per hour leaves the station in Chicago, where will they meet?

If you're like me, these "word" problems, or "story" problems, as we sometimes called them, stymied me. For me, numbers belonged in columns, and not in sentences. I always wanted to know, Who's on that train? Who are they going to meet in that undisclosed location? Maybe it's three orphan children going to meet up with their great aunt. And will they be taken care of better than her cats?

But of course, numbers have always played a significant role in stories. Think of Goldilocks with a different number of bears. We'd never learn the concept of contrast and "just right." As a consequence we wouldn't have the Venn diagram. Or what about the fisherman with an unlimited amount of wishes? Where's the story in that? It wasn't until I was in business and had to figure out how much cloth to purchase and when to purchase it that I reconciled with the idea of putting numbers and stories together. That was when I solved for that unknown variable by replacing it with X, and simultaneously invented algebra!

If you'll bear with me, I have a story to tell you, and it involves numbers. Like many stories, it has a poignant ending. Complex and nuanced, like all true stories.

Annual Stewardship Drive

Even though our land has been beset by a financial plague, our Annual Stewardship Drive brought in 279 thousand dollars in pledges of financial support from all of us. History tells us that some of those pledges will not be fulfilled, because of things that happen to individuals and families, and those are stories that we cannot tell here, but we all know these stories because we are a church family. So the board forecasts that amount to be 15 thousand dollars. That's a little more conservative than other years (because the plague continues to beset the people), but less severe than last year. So, this means that we expect to realize 264 thousand dollars with which to pay our people and our bills. We can take pride in knowing that this is 5% better than last year, when the plague was in its height of ravaging the land. Now, there are other sources of income that the board can anticipate, but these are the big ones.

Fellowship Expenses

Our church has expenses, too, and they are currently running higher than our fundraising. They have been for 2 years. To make it easier for myself, I like to put them (some 85 different line items) into 4 categories:

1. Program costs (running Sunday Services, Religious Exploration, Membership, etc.—all of our ministries)
2. Dues we pay to belong to and benefit from the UUA national organization and the local Pacific Northwest District (PNWD)
3. All expenses related to owning and operating a building (mortgage, taxes, maintenance, landscaping, utilities, etc.)
4. All expenses related to the happy obligations of having a staff (salaries, benefits, payroll taxes, professional expenses, etc.)

If you serve on a committee, you know that #1 has been pretty much zeroed out. We have no control over #2. We can opt not to pay our dues, but then we can't call on these organizations when we need their credibility to, say, negotiate better terms for a loan. Or to help call a minister. #3 is pretty much fixed. We can't cut anything there, and if we can, we have.

Budget Adjustments

This leaves us with #4. We have to cut 8% from staff salaries by imposing a furlough of 4 weeks. They won't be working during those furlough times. Sunday Services, Religious Exploration, the Treasurer and Finance Committee—all of these committees have agreed to step into the breach. But the absences will be felt. The Personnel Committee worked with staff, and will continue to do so to try to minimize the impact on the congregation. They have worked diligently, professionally, and collaboratively, but the fact remains that this is a painful cut in income for all 6 members of our professional staff. I am experiencing a 3.5% pay cut and furlough; I can't fathom an 8% cut. If you read my last column, you will recall that the original amount of cut that Personnel was directed to find was 10%. Subsequent increased pledges since that time resulted in this 1 additional week of service. End of story, perhaps. You will be called to ratify our budget at a congregational meeting on September 12 at 6 p.m.

So, to return to our story about the orphans from Albuquerque, and then to make an analogy. For our devoted and hardworking staff, it's like they met the great aunt from Chicago, and she's nice. She treats them better than her cats. But they still miss their mom and dad.

RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION

Coming Home to Children's Religious Exploration

Emmie Schlobohm, Director of Religious Exploration (DRE)

Sunday, September 12 is Coming Home Sunday and the first day of Religious Exploration for children and youth for our new church year. We will have a 9:00 and an 11:00 service beginning with time in the sanctuary with families and our beloved mingling of the waters ceremony. When the children and youth recess to their classrooms, Emmie Schlobohm, your Director of Religious Exploration, and members of the Religious Exploration Committee will be available to help children and families find their appropriate classrooms. We look forward to being together again!

Stand Up & Be Counted!

Emmie Schlobohm, DRE

Religious Exploration registration forms are available and due back!

It is time to turn in your children's Religious Exploration registration forms. If your child was registered last year you will be getting your registration form in the mail. If not, you can pick one up in the Religious Exploration section of the Information Center in the north vestibule. Please return your registration forms – either by mail or directly to the office of the Director of Religious Exploration, Emmie Schlobohm. We are in the final phases of planning for fall classes and would love to hear from you. Your response and information will allow us to make plans to accommodate all our children and youth. If you have any questions, please contact Emmie Schlobohm at 658-1710 or .

Junior High Coming of Age Program Begins This Fall

Emmie Schlobohm

Calling all youth entering 7th-9th grades...

This year Religious Exploration is offering the Coming of Age program as a rite of passage for junior high school youth into young adulthood. In our Unitarian Universalist tradition we ask young people to consider our shared seven principles, how they apply to their lives and what they believe. From October through May, youth are paired with an adult mentor to sort out their questions and perform a community service project together. The group will also have monthly gatherings with Emmie Schlobohm, the Director of Religious Exploration, and our minister, Elizabeth Greene. The program culminates in the creation of a personal credo or statement of faith that is shared with the BUUF community at the Coming of Age worship service on May 8, 2011. If you or your child is interested in taking part, please attend our information meeting on Wednesday, September 15 here at BUUF. If you have any questions, please contact Emmie Schlobohm at 658-1710 at your earliest convenience.

Coming Home Fair for Religious Exploration

Religious Exploration Committee

Come home to the "Home Where All Belong," as our theme for this year says. Join in on September 12 between services and continuing after the 11:00 service with a fun and festive fair for all ages! Your Religious Exploration Committee invites you to find out more about religious exploration for children and youth and how you can be a part of it all. Share your passion with us! Who are you and what are your gifts? Are you a lover of art or a creator of music? Do you love to play or create spiritual space or practices? Are you an uber organizer, a web wizard, or a deadline diva who loves to wrangle words? How about a facilitator of family fun, or a captain of coordination, or a super celebrator? If you answered yes to any of these questions or we've got your curiosity cooking, please come play with us and find out what it's all about.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! We're Boston Bound Once Again!

Emmie Schlobohm, Boston Bounder Boss

Ahoy young future Bounders and your most excellent families!! It's time again for the youth of BUUF to embark on our spiritual, physical, and financial journey to discover our Boston roots. All youth entering 7th through 9th grades and their parents or guardians, who are emphatically encouraged to attend, are invited to an informational meeting about the proposed trip to Boston, MA in the summer of 2011. This edifying meeting will be held Sunday, September 26 at 12:30 following the 11:00 o'clock service.

This trip was created as a way for UUs here in the Treasure Valley to explore the larger Unitarian Universalist movement and connect with UUs in other parts of the country. This special project takes the full program year, September – June, to plan, organize and raise funds, so come on September 26 ready to fill your sails, minds and hearts with a vision of how to make it all happen. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Emmie Schlobohm at 658-1710.

RE Committee

"Focus on the Family." Hmm. Do we really have something in common with James Dobson? I am sure he will agree that a religious community can be seen as an extended family, and a very important one at that. In our case, "family" defined, of course, by using the UU seven principles as guidelines. Why, then, do we sit in our own "one-room-classroom" (the sermon) as adults and send our children off, merrily segregating them by grade levels? And what does this have to do with the '10 – '11 program year?

This summer, the RE Committee created a broad, long term vision statement, looking to a future that facilitates relationships between generations. We concluded that the first step is, indeed, focusing on families: our family connections. What is your child doing? What are you doing? What is the best way to serve them, and you, to create the best possible human beings we can? What's the point of RE? Making People!

And, with a nod to Dr. Dobson, that's where you'll see the RE Committee this year. We DO want to focus on family, to make our children the best people they can be. Stretching boundaries. Creating an extended family. Connecting with a broader peer group. Together, exploring who they are and who they want to be. Most of all, we want to give our children a spiritual grounding. And what better way than to facilitate these connections?

To Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, or Not ...

We are seriously considering discontinuing our printer cartridge recycling program. The companies we had worked with are no longer taking cartridges as far as we can tell. This program started as a fundraiser for the Boston Bounders and didn't have much of a return over the years. We have been glad to be a drop off point for our community, but we really need to find a local recycling source who will pick up or someone who is willing to pack them up and ship them off on a regular basis. Does anyone know of a local source or a community member who is willing? If your answer is yes, please contact Emmie Schlobohm at 658-1710.

COMMITTEES

Save Money, Save a Tree, Get Your Newsletter Electronically!

Wanda Jennings

I have been putting off getting my newsletter electronically because I like the paper one sitting around where I can look at it to check the times of an event, or to see who is speaking on Sunday, or to finish reading one of the articles. However, with the budget cuts that are needed at BUUF I have decided that stopping my paper newsletter will help save trees, save money, save paper, and save staff time in printing and mailing my newsletter. I will need to get in the habit of checking my computer when I need to find out what's happening at BUUF and I will also have less paper to clutter my house. It's the right thing to do.

I hope you will join me in this important decision by sending an e-mail to . Every month you will receive an e-mail telling you that the newsletter is available with a link to BUUF's website

A View From The Bridge

Jolene Schow

It's been a busy summer filled with events of all kinds. We're happy to say that we're adding some dollars to the coffers and some visibility to the community through BEC. We've hosted several groups previously unfamiliar with BUUF, our grounds, our community, and who we are. Some of our visitors have been a BSU management retreat, several weddings including a very festive Bosnian event and one of 250+ people. The Idaho Women's Charitable Foundation held an event, and many varied activities are booked for the coming months.

All of this has been in addition to all regular Fellowship events, weddings within the Fellowship, Memorials, Anniversary Parties, and other Fellowship celebrations.

We hope you'll spread the word that Bridge Event Center is a great space to hold events. For more information or if you're planning an event, contact Cathy Carmen or Karen Raese, BEC Event Coordinators, at 891-8081 or check out www.bridgeeventcenter.com.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Safe Schools Coalition is September Offertory Recipient

The Idaho Safe Schools Coalition (ISSC) is a partnership of community organizations, school and government agencies, churches, youth, parents and educators. Its mission is to help schools become places where every family can belong, every educator can teach, and every child can learn, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Some of the ways ISSC accomplishes these goals are:

Networking and helping to build and maintain state-wide Gay-Straight Alliances and other school clubs focused on human rights and diversity

Fostering partnerships and raising awareness with community organizations

Providing support, resources and training to schools, educators, students, families, and other organizations serving LGBTQ youth

Organizing events and trainings for LGBTQ youth and their allies to teach self-advocacy, reduce isolation, and develop leadership skills

In the past year, ISSC has grown tremendously. Its annual student-led "Youth Night" event for LGBTQ youth and allies from the Treasure Valley is a continued success, averaging 80 youth in attendance. Additionally, ISSC has conducted two more "Youth Leadership Workshops" for student leaders from high schools around the state to learn skills for networking, goal setting, developing club membership, communicating effectively, and sustaining their clubs year to year. ISSC also sponsored a community event, the first high school gay prom – Pride – and funded three youth members to attend national conferences.

25% of BUUF's unpledged September offertory proceeds will be donated to ISSC. If you write "Outreach" on the memo line of your check, 100% of that amount will go to ISSC.

Hunger/Food Supply Task Force

Rick Groff

The Hunger/Food Supply Task Force will meet at 6:30 pm in the Channing Room on Monday, September 13. We will usually meet on the first Monday of the month, but the first Monday of September is Labor Day. Please come and participate. Our guest speaker will be Kathy Gardiner, Director of the Idaho Hunger Relief Task Force. Kathy is probably the most knowledgeable person regarding hunger issues in Idaho. She met with our group last fall and gave us ideas that resulted in many of our projects. If you have questions about the meeting, please contact either Sheila Ames at 629-0321 or Rick Groff at 794-2505, co-leaders.

We would like to thank the congregation for your generous donation to the Idaho Foodbank Backpack project. You donated $1,778.56 to the March, 2010 social justice plate collection! This will supply backpacks containing weekend food supplies for seven Whittier students for the entire school year.

We need a leader. The Social Justice Team is leaderless. There are five social justice committees/task forces. However, we need a team leader to coordinate activities and to respond to social justice issues not included in our current initiatives.

Fresh Produce Needed

Got extra produce? Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Garden City is accepting produce to give away on Wednesday or Saturday mornings at their food pantry. If you have produce to donate, go to Vineyard Christian Fellowship at 4950 North Bradley Street between 9:00 am and 10:00 am. For more information, contact Sheila at .

BUUF ACTIVITIES

BUUF Adult Education Program, Fall 2010

We have an exciting new lineup of classes for the fall. Take a tour of Jeremiah's Adventure Garden, learn how to manage your financial life in harmony with your personal values, prepare for the next 20 years completely unlike the last 20, study Universalist theology, or throw some pottery.

But wait, there's more! Check out the full set of offerings, and download a registration form from our Adult Education page.

Partner Church News

Gwyn Reid

The four travelers from Boise (and one from Boise via Albania) spent five days in Meszko in July. They stayed with families of our partner church, visited neighboring historical sites, attended church service, and participated in a community celebration. They will share their experiences at a Sunday service in October. The next meeting of the Partner Church committee is Monday, September 13th at 545pm.

Chalice Circles

A Chalice Circle is a group of 8 to 10 people who meet once or more per month. The focus of the group may be general or have a specific focus or affinity. Chalice Circles provide a social and support network, a place to make friends, to have their needs for acceptance and affirmation met. Chalice Circles promote and facilitate spiritual growth, providing opportunites to search and grow through learning together and supporting one another. Plus they can be a lot of fun!

Both members and friends may join Chalice Circles. If you have any questions, if you would like to visit one to check it out to see if it is for you, or if you wish to start a new group, email Debbie Espen at .

No Meeting in Sept for UUJME

UUJME (UU's for Justice in the Middle East) will not meet in September, but we WILL have a booth at the Idaho Peace Festival, Saturday, Sept 11, 1 PM to 5 PM at Capitol Park, 601 W Jefferson, Boise. There will be musicians, speakers and booths. Hope to see you come by our UUJME booth!

We will have our next meeting the Second Saturday in October, 4 PM at BUUF.

The Other Book Club

September 12 - We will be discussing Half the Sky by Nicholars Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn. We will gather at the home of Kathleen McGown, 3496 Holl Dr., Eagle at 7 P.M. 939-7215

October 10 - We will be discussing The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba. We will gather at the home of Carol Wilke, 5186 E. Trail Wind Dr., Boise. 761-1769.

November 14 - We will be discussing The Women by T.C. Boyle. We will gather at the home of Verna Roberts.

Books for December, January and February are Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky, Secret Scripture, by Sebastian Barry and The Lonely Polgamist by Brady Udall.

Happy Reading!

Westward Ho!

The Boise Master Chorale, with special guest cowboy poets Willis Carr & Scott Rhead present a concert in the BUUF courtyard, Sunday evening, September 26, at 6pm. The grounds will be open for picnicking beforehand.

Part of the proceeds will benefit the Idaho Food Bank, and food donations will be welcomed as well.

Tickets available for purchase at the door, online or call 344-4794 for more information.

Sage Home and Where the Heart Is

Tom von Alten

Elton Hall brings a report of his experience at this year's General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, held in Minneapolis to the BUUF Sages on Thursday, September 9. Several large issues garnered consensus, and there was tension over making a statement about Israel and the Palestinians. A thousand attendees joined the 3rd largest Pride Festival in the U.S.

In Thursday, Sept. 23, the Director of the Interfaith Sanctuary, Jane Sorrells, will speak to us about their (and our—several BUUF members are regular volunteers) work to help the homeless in our town.

We meet on 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 9:30am for a no-host breakfast and lively discussions at the Kopper Kitchen (2661 Airport Way). Newcomers are always welcome! Contact Tom von Alten at or 378-1217 for more information, or to be added to our email reminder list.

The Classic Book Club

The Classicists will discuss The Deerslayer by James Fenimore Cooper on October 7 at Lorel Case's home, 8925 Stynbrook Drive. All readers are welcome.

PNWD & UUA

Become a Chalice Lighter for Our District

The Chalice Lighter program provides grants to congregations in the UU Pacific Northwest District funded by the 1400+ members enrolled as Chalice Lighters. These grants aid in providing professional leadership, signs and landscaping, new flooring, start-up support for new congregations, elevators for accessibility, chairs for a new sanctuary, and many other needs. This fund helped us install our new flooring in the Sanctuary in recent years. To apply for funds, a church needs to have 30% of its members (for BUUF that's 86 people) enrolled as Chalice Lighters. BUUF needs some more Chalice Lighters to spread this useful glow throught the Northwest. A maximum of 3 calls a year with a minimum of $10 donation per call will help us and other congregations to meet goals of our growing church homes. Please keep the light glowing in our District by joining Chalice Lighters. Brochures can be found in our chair seat pockets with more information and application forms. You can mail in your forms, give them to Janet Wyke, leave them in the office to be mailed or go to the PNWD website to enroll on-line. Let's keep the chalice lit.