EverGreene
Reverend Elizabeth Greene
Yeah, it's August again. Still summer, and yet... School starts pretty soon, putting all our many teachers and students on alert. Sunday School starts in September, making August one of the year's busiest for our co-Directors of Religious Education, Cathy Carmen and Karen Raese.
I'm in the office Tuesday and Thursday mornings until the week of the 29th, when we all resume regular office hours. I also attend Board, committee, task force and leadership meetings, plus reading and organizing for upcoming sermons, so August isn't an "easy-livin'" month for me.
At the same time, I don't deliver sermons in August, so have more time for just visiting, an activity I regrettably don't have a lot of time for during the regular program year.
Give me a call, if you'd like to have lunch or coffee, or shoot me an e-mail at . Things are already filling up, and I really enjoy these chances to "just chat," so contact me as soon as you can, if you'd like us to spend some unstructured time together (or structure, if you like—your structure!).
Stay cool!
Em-bracing the Journey!
Em-mie Schlobohm, Board President
OK, I don't really spell my name with a hyphen in the middle, but, as your new president, I do get to do some really fun things this year! And on that note: thank you for entrusting me with this awesome responsibility. I'm honored and humbled by your belief and confidence in me.
After going to Boston with our junior high Boston Bounders and attending the Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly in Portland, Oregon all in a matter of two weeks, I want to talk with you about passion and not just in this newsletter!
What is your heart's passion?
Have you found your calling or passion at BUUF?
One of my callings is our youth. In Boston, our Bounders and their valiant chaperones journeyed through the streets and through the Unitarian Universalist history of the Boston area. It was pure joy to be a part of everyone's discovery of our connections with U.S. history and with other like-minded Unitarian Universalists. The interpersonal bonds made and the memories shared during this trip will hold a precious place in my heart for years to come. You'll see and hear more about this magnificent odyssey in a Sunday service given by the Boston Bounders themselves sometime this fall.
In Portland at our General Assembly, I found that there is so much going on in our larger U.U. community, both at a national and district level, and in individual congregations. There are so many opportunities to do your heart's work locally and globally. Find your passion! We are part of an amazing, vibrant movement that can feed your soul while making a huge difference in our local community, nationally, and in the world.
Please talk with me or any other member of your board to find out what's going on in our beloved BUUF community and who you can work with to find and/or maintain your passion. I'm looking forward to embracing this journey with you for this year and beyond!
Phoenix Rising
Mitchel Bethel
Phoenix Rising is a new health foundation and support group starting Sept 9, 2007 at 1:00pm in the Junior High Room. Diseases take a toll on the individual and the people who support them. What are my options? What choices do I have? Where do I go for support? And how do I achieve the life I want?
These are the issues and concerns we will work with in Phoenix Rising. Support, information and action from knowledge are the keys to controlling your disease and not having it control you. We will look at the issue from conventional to alternative healing approaches, from pro and con to provide the tools and foundation to allow the individual and those who care for them to live the best life they are capable of.
You did not choose your disease, but you can choose your response. Join Phoenix Rising—
For additional information contact Mitchel Bethel at 208-695-7912 or email: .
The Other Book Club
Join the Other Book Club on September 9 to discuss The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard. The group gathers at 7:00 at the home of Erin Logan, 1702 Ridenbaugh in Boise. To RSVP or ask directions, call Erin at 336-4960, or e-mail at .
Religious Exploration Looks Ahead
Cathy Carmen
As the long, lazy days of summer roll by, your new Co-Directors of Religious Exploration, Karen Raese and I, Cathy Carmen, are considering what our program will look like come fall. As many of you know, there are changes a' foot. Beginning on September 9 our Religious Exploration Program will offer classes for Preschool—sixth grade at the 9 a.m. service, with Our Whole Lives (OWL) Human Sexuality class offered for Jr. High youth, grades 7-9 at 9 beginning in late September—early October. Our 11 a.m. service will offer RE for Preschool/Kindergarten and classes for grades 1-3 and 4-6. Jr.High will meet during the 11 a.m. service, with the Sr. High deciding when to meet with input from youth, parents and our youth advisors. Nursery care will be offered at both services. These expanded offerings for RE were requested by the Board of Trustees to better manage the growth we are experiencing within the Fellowship and to balance attendance between the 9 and 11 services.
In order for Karen and I to create the best classroom experiences for our children and classroom guides, we need your help—if you have a child(ren) you wish to attend RE in the fall, please fill out one of our purple registration forms now! Knowing the numbers of children/youth and which service you prefer attending, will assist us in creating classes that are exciting, balance and age-appropriate. Where are those registration forms located? The North Entryway at BUUF has forms in the wooden shelves in the RE slot. Forms can be printed off the BUUF website at www.boiseuu.org.
Karen or I will have modified office hours in August. We can be reached on Tuesday and Thursday, 9-12 at 658-1710. See the September newsletter for expanded office hours once the program year starts. And—have a great rest of the summer!
Lots of Volunteer Opportunites
The Children's Religious Exploration Committee is gearing up for another exciting, fun filled religious education program to begin on September 9. We, as committee members are the supporting cast for our co-Directors, Cathy Carmen and Karen Raese as they set the stage for this year's journey. The congregation is needed to make RE run smoothly. Time volunteering in a classroom is always appreciated! Sign up sheets are located on classroom doors. Please consider donating healthy snacks to get the year started out right (no peanuts or nuts please!). The snack hamper is located in the north wing across from the preschool/kindergarten classroom. The RE program offers many ways to be involved; as a classroom helper, by offering assistance with celebrations like Deck the Halls or the Easter Egg Hunt, help in the nursery or serve on the committee. We meet the second Thursday at 7pm at BUUF. We would love to have you! Call Angie Tate at 336-0738 if you are interested or contact one of the following committee members, Barbara Morledge, Gena Delucchi or Amber Stigle.
BUUF Bounders Rock Boston!
Did you see the picture of the Boston Bounders in last month's newsletter?
Did you see OUR youth make a stand, a statement, a difference in a legislative issue about civil and human rights?
Our Bounders arrived in Boston on June 13 and neither Boston nor the Bounders will ever be the same! 13 youth and 8 adults journeyed through the Boston alleys, streets, T tunnels, rivers, bays and UU history for 7 days non-stop, or so it seemed. I don't want to go into too much detail because the whole mob will be telling the congregation about our adventures some fall Sunday, but there were barking crabs with lobster parts, blue men and bananas, Hard Rock eats, gravestones, tombs, boxes with pews, ringing bells, and so much more.
Keep your eyes peeled for the Boston Bounder's service! Our youth will knock your socks off!
Fesztival Fun
Miriam Woito
Mark your calendars for the third annual Fesztival on Sat., Sept.29. 12—4 pm. BUUF is partnered to a Unitarian church in Transylvania. Our Fesztival celebrates the Hungarian roots of their church and ours. The Hungarian Folk Fesztival will include entertainment, activities, and most importantly delicious Hungarian food. Look for volunteer opportunities and be a part of the Fesztival fun!
New Time for Humanists
Sleepyhead alert! Given the new RE schedule, BUUF humanists will meet at 11am the second Sunday of each month. As before, we will meet in the senior high room. Our first meeting, September 9, we will organize topics for the upcoming year. All suggestions are welcome, before, during or after our meeting. Contact Rick Groff or Jeanette Ross for more information.
Don't Miss the Sale!
Harriet Shaklee
Buy two get one free coffee and tea! Don't miss the finale on our summer sale on Equal Exchange Coffee/Tea. BUY TWO GET ONE FREE. That's 3 bags of regular coffee for just $12 (3 bags of decaf for $14) and 3 boxes of tea for $6. This is a close-out sale so get yours while supplies last.
The Chautauqua is Coming!
Bryan Jennings
Friday, August 3 at 7:30 PM the New Old Time Chautauqua will visit BUUF with an entertaining and educational presentation on the theme of "An Inconvenient Truth." Hosted by BUUF Green Sanctuary and narrated by Howard Patterson of the Flying Karamazov Brothers, this event is billed as "A Show for the Whole Family" and "The Global Warming Slide Show a la Vaudeville with Music, Juggling and Magic!" All are admitted free, but a $5 donation is suggested for the benefit of the Blackfeet Tribal Boys and Girls Club of Browning, Montana. Be there or be square!
Summer outreach helps older students
Julie Fanselow
For July and August, our social action outreach offerings will benefit the El-Ada Community Action Partnership. El-Ada provides a wide variety of services to low-income people in our community.
One program that especially needs help this time of year is El-Ada's effort to help pay back-to-school fees for needy middle and senior high school students. Teens are often left out of back-to-school drives focusing on younger children, but their needs are even greater. (If you've sent a teen or two through school, you know these activity and class fees can really add up!)
Twenty-five percent of the July and August offering plate collections will help El-Ada fund this cause, as well as its other projects, which include a Garden City food pantry. If you write social outreach in the memo of your check, 100 percent will help El-Ada Community Action Partnership.
Have you ever wondered whether your favorite justice organization could be the recipient of BUUF's monthly social action outreach offerings? If you'd like to nominate a cause for consideration, write a brief letter about the group and what it does, and give it to social justice chair Rick Groff (or email him at ). Thanks to everyone who helps BUUF reach out to our community and the wider world through these monthly outreach offerings!
Committee Fair Sunday, September 9
Want to be a Super Hero? We are asking Committees, social groups, chalice circle groups, and anyone with a volunteer opportunity at BUUF to come prepared to answer questions on September 9. Committees and groups are asked to provide at least one knowledgeable person to staff a table/area to explain 2007-08 volunteer opportunities and answer questions. Handouts and other information on activities are welcomed! Please contact Wanda or Sue by September 1 to reserve a space so your group is represented.
We are asking EVERYONE to prepare to be a Super Hero by signing up for your passion at our Committee and Volunteer Fair on Sunday, September 9 following the 10:00 service. While the potluck is being prepared and eaten you can be learning about BUUF's many committees and volunteer opportunities.
New Chalice Circles will be forming at this time, giving you an opportunity to join in this spiritual endeavor. Chalice Circles are small (4 to 12 people) groups which meet once monthly (or more frequently if desired). They may be Focus Groups (such as the Single Parents Group) or may cover random subjects chosen by the group. Chalice Circles are not Religious Education courses. They are ongoing opportunities for mutual ministry.
You may also sign up for Adult Religious Education Classes at our Committee and Volunteer Fair.
Contact Wanda Jennings 362-7563, or Sue Philley 208-340-9450 cell, .
August Sages
Tom von Alten
In the aftermath of annual convocations, the BUUF Senior Sages will hear from participants of the UUA's General Assembly, the American Humanists Association annual meeting (which was in Portland also, just before GA), and perhaps the UU Musician's Network (the first week of August, in Florida). We haven't figured out which Thursday will be which, or who will be who, so stay tuned for that.
We'll meet the 2nd and 4th Thursdays, Aug. 9 and 23, at the Kopper Kitchen (2661 Airport Way), 9:30am, over a cheery, no-host breakfast. We have an email list and a phone tree to remind folks of coming programs. Contact Tom von Alten at 378-1217 or to get on it, or with your topic or speaker ideas.
Calling All Quilters
Harriet Shaklee
We're organizing a group of quilters to make a shared quilt. Join forces with other BUUF sew-ers to create a beautiful quilt for our BUUF auction in February, 2008. If you're interested, contact Harriet Shaklee at 371-3634 or . We'll meet early in September to choose a pattern, color scheme, fabric, and develop a plan of action.
An Invitation: Vanishing Ice
Wine and Cheese Reception
Photo Exhibit, Poetry Reading and Sound Installation
Saturday, August 11, 2007, 7—9pm
Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Science meets art in this multimedia experience at BUUF. Kim Philley, poet, Tim Wright, musician, Lydia Burkhalter, photographer, and Corby Sawyer, environmental stylist, document our melting glaciers in this unique art event.
See the two-page flyer for more information.
