EVERGREENE
Reverend Elizabeth Greene
I'm back, from a glorious six months' sabbatical. You'll be hearing much more about it as the program year progresses, but suffice to say that I slowed down significantly. Your generosity in granting me this time has allowed me to reflect much more deeply than usual on all kinds of things, particularly matters of spirit.
I feel different, and the church feels different.
Many people have "stepped up to the plate," volunteering in ways they perhaps had not volunteered before. The Board has been very busy, looking at how we conduct ourselves—in business and as a religious body. Sunday worship was, by all accounts, fulfilling, stimulating and well attended. Religious education kept on with its usual panache-plus-good-organization.
This is all wonderful news to me, because I sense much change in the air, including how we—I, your called minister, and you the congregation—will relate to each other in the years to come. I have been listening carefully to lots of people this past month, and plan to continue doing so, taking in what feels like the new "song" of the church.
I hope that the spiritual depth I've experienced in my sabbatical can help me lift up the values underlying a diverse religious community like ours, with an emphasis on "spiritual" and "religious." I hope that, whatever directions we take, we remember that relatedness—to each other (new and old), to the holy and to the larger community around us—is the key to open religious community.
Let us keep listening. Let us approach each other in this new time with open hearts and spirits. May love guide us.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Sue Philley
The Board has mailed each member and friend a personal invitation to BUUF's Search for the Future workshop on Saturday, September 13 from 9:45 am—4 pm with UUA consultant, Larry Wheeler. Lunch is $4 and potluck salads are welcome! A dynamic free children's program and childcare will be provided. Please demonstrate your interest and commitment to liberal religion and BUUF's future by attending this interesting and lively interactive presentation. For more information, please contact any Board member.
As your President, I appreciate the opportunity to be aware of the broad perspective of what makes BUUF such a dynamic and holy place. For example, it was a joy to watch about 100 of us Boise UU's gather to welcome Elizabeth back from sabbatical—to laugh, to eat, and to sing. It was fun because MANY individuals each took on a little piece of the evening's effort (decorations, drinks, poetry, registration, cooking crew, cleanup and set up) to make it a success. Thanks to Suzanne, Emmie, Wanda, Deb, Karen, Kathy, Ed and Sheryce, Warren, Mitchell, Debbie, Patti, Roger, Charlotte, and the other cooks!
Of course, we mustn't forget the poets who shared their talents. For example, Mike Philley read his Haiku Triplet:
UU Rev is back
A breeze caresses my face
Two energies: Ah!
Elizabeth smiles
Mother quail ushers her young
Each gesture timeless
Sabbatical ends
Sermons spring forth on Sundays
It's amazing!
Twenty-four adults and two lively children, William and Karrie, worked for four hours cleaning our new property this month. Several trips to the dump later, we were all in awe of our good work! (And, several of us realized that cleaning up someone's property who needs help is a great social action project). Amazingly another large group had worked on the main BUUF grounds the day before! A lot of good "connecting" as well as work was done on both of these work parties! Thanks to Bob Wallace and Jannette Young who have joined the Land Steward team! And, thanks to everyone for helping!
If you have ideas for new social groups or would like to join an existing one, be sure to attend the Social Committees Fair at 7 pm Saturday, September 6. How about organizing a Sunday evening potluck? Several of you are caring for elderly parents, like me. I wonder if we should start a coffee morning or support group? These are just two of the good ideas I've heard this week!
Welcome Nancy
Rev. Elizabeth Greene
The staff at Boise UU Fellowship is pleased to welcome Nancy Harms as the new Office Assistant at BUUF. Nancy will be in the office on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings.
RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION
Karen Raese and Cathy Carmen are serving as Co-Directors of Religious Education. The DRE search committee has recommenced their search.
First Day of Children's Religious Education
Karen Raese
Sunday, September 7 is Homecoming Sunday and the first day of Children's Religious Education. The single service will be at 10:00. Children will stay in the service with their families for the first 15 or 20 minutes. When the children and youth are released to classes, RE committee members will be available to assist families in locating the correct classroom. We look forward to being together again.
Starting September 14, we will offer RE classes at both the 9:00 and 11:00 services.
Religious Education Registrations are Due
Karen Raese
It is time to turn in your child(ren's) Religious Education registration forms. If you have not done so, please return your registration forms—either by mail or directly to the office of the Director of Religious Education. We are in the final phases of planning for fall classes and would love to hear from you. Your response will allow us to make plans to accommodate all our children and youth.
Children's Religious Education and You
Karen Raese
Children's Religious Education (RE) at BUUF is essentially a cooperative effort. We rely upon the generosity of parents, grandparents and congregational members to guide or teach classes, advise youth groups, provide nursery care and assist in the classrooms. The Co-Director's of Religious Education provide support, training, lessons and program materials. Please consider how you might share your talents with us. Applications are being accepted for those who would like to work with our RE program as classroom teachers or guides or youth advisors. Please contact Karen Raese or Cathy Carmen, Co Directors of Religious Education.
Jr. High Coming of Age Program
Cathy Carmen
Calling all youth entering grades 7th-9th grades...
This year our RE Program is offering the Coming of Age class as a rite
of passage for Jr. High youth into young adulthood. In our Unitarian
Universalist tradition we ask young people to consider our shared seven
principals, how they apply to their lives and what they believe. From
September—April 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 meetings with one of the Directors of
Religious Education (DRE) and our minister, Elizabeth Greene. The
program culminates in the creation of a personal credo or statement of
faith that is shard with the BUUF community at the Coming of Age worship
service on May 10, 2009. If you or your child is interested in taking
part, please contact Cathy Carmen at 658-1710 by September 10.
Summer Religious Exploration Wraps Up
Cathy Carmen, Co-DRE
Our Summer Religious Exploration Program would like to thank the talented volunteer teachers/guides who shared the wonders of Just So Stories with our young people. Our appreciation goes out to Coston Frederick, Warren Bean, Jeanette Ross, Sharon Barlow-Palm, Parker Butler, Shelia Dengler-Shaw, Liz Own-Brune, Cathy Carmen, Julie Fanselow, Alan Schwartzman and Sherian Allen. We couldn't offer such great classes without you! Thank you.
Children's RE Committee
Angie Tate
The Children's Religious Exploration extends a welcome to our BUUF children, from nursery to senior high, back to another fun filled year of RE!
Volunteer sign-up sheets will be available in the north vestibule through September. Every elementary RE participant will require an adult helper to participate in the classrooms three times during the program year. We've color coded it for you. Simply sign up once on the red board, once on the blue board and once on the yellow board! This will save countless hours of phone calls, support our volunteer guides and comply with our safe congregations policy. You don't need to have a child in the program to join in the fun. Sign up early to visit in your child's classroom!
Additional committee news: Gena Delucchi, shifts from the Children's RE committee to serve on the Adult RE committee after 3 years of good works. Ann Sabin and Mary Bormann have served as Summer RE Coordinators extraordinaire. And, this month we spotlight member Barbara Morledge. Barbara has been involved in the RE program since 1999 as an RE guide or committee member. Barbara has been our Dia de los Muertos chair and offered invaluable service to the committee. This year Dia de los Muertos will be celebrated on, Sunday, November 2, 2008. Look for additional information about this festive event next month.
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! We're Boston Bound Once Again!!
Emmie Schlobohm, Boston Bounder Boss
Ahoy young future Bounders and your most excellent parents!! It's time again for the youth of BUUF to embark on our spiritual, physical, and financial journey to discover our Bostonian roots. All youth entering 7-9th grade and their parents, who are most emphatically encouraged to attend, are invited to an informational meeting about the proposed trip to Boston, MA in the summer of 2009. This edifying meeting will be held on Sunday, September 21 at 12:30 after the 11:00 o'clock service.
Your guide on this auspicious journey will be Emmie Schlobohm, working valiantly to follow in the footsteps of Jennifer Thomas, a former Director of Religious Exploration here at BUUF, who created this trip as a way for UU's here in the Treasure Valley to explore the larger Unitarian Universalist movement and connect with UU's in other parts of the country. It is her fervent hope to continue the tradition and she will be more than ably assisted in this endeavor by Cathy Carmen, one of our Co-Directors of Religious Exploration. This special project takes the full program year, September - June, to plan, organize and raise funds for, so come on September 21 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, your humble trip leader, at home at 343-3662.
COMMITTEES
How do You Picture BUUF's Future?
The church of the future—OUR church of the future, how do you picture it? Bricks and mortar, glass and metal; yes, those are options, however, technology may allow and economics may demand additional visions and choices. In the coming days, the Board will be engaging the congregation, and you - looking to shape an answer to this question.
Come join Mr. Larry Wheeler, UUA fundraising consultant and the Board, Saturday, September 13, to focus on and map out our continuing journey together!
In an effort to educate, inform and involve membership and friends, the Board will be putting material out for review. The following article from the UUA Interconnections Newsletter provides an interesting insight into an alternative to traditional physical expansion. It has proven to be a catalyst for Board discussions; we hope that it provides material for much discussion and thought within the congregation as well.
Thank you—Dale R. Winke, VP—BUUF Board
"The traditional way of growing a congregation and spreading the word about Unitarian Universalism is to create compelling worship, dynamic religious education programs, and close-knit community so that people will beat a path to the church door."
- from "Multisite Ministry - Another Way to Grow and Serve", UUA INTERConnections Newsletter, July 15, 2008. The article is available in its entirety at the BUUF Office or online at uua.org.
Library
The BUUF library has had a windFALL of wonderful book donations and new purchases for you to check out. We also have a new list of many of the books in our collection which will make it easier for borrowers and browsers to find specific titles and categories. This is thanks to Don and Annaliese Clarke's many hours of work. A few new offerings are: a special new book enttiled Spiritual Wisdom, edited by our own Dan Bacon and includes readings and meditations to inspire and is found in the BUUF Authors section; Eden's Outcasts (pink dot ) about Louisa Alcott and her father,Bronson; Teacher, Companion, and Guide by E.K. Wikstrom on rediscovering Jesus in a secular world; Sacred Earth (orange dot) about the spiritual landscape of Native America; Muhammad, A Prophet for our Time (purple dot); Wrestling with Adulthood by UU minister, Ken Beldon (pink dot) UU men talk about growing up; These and hundreds more fascinating volumes are waiting for you to explore this fall.
Buildings and Grounds Council Kick-off Meeting
Monday, September 8, 2008 at 7pm
It is time for us to gather as a community, members and friends, to discuss the attention and upkeep of our buildings and grounds; you are invited to participate in the re-establishment of an effective and fully functioning Buildings and Grounds Council. Historically, the Buildings and Grounds Council, has been made up of the Interior Design Committee with the Art Taskforce, Landscape Committee, Physical Plant Committee, and the Maintenance Committee.
After our people, the buildings and grounds of our campus represent our greatest asset, and their care and maintenance should be important to all of us. The agenda of Monday night's meeting will be:
- Defining and understanding the purpose of the B&G Council
- A brief review of what has and has not worked in regards to B&G
- Determining best practices for getting the job done in terms of Council, Committee, Team and Task Force structures
- Formulating a list of priorities
- Formulating a near term schedule
- Plan for a house cleaning and winter prep for the grounds
If you enjoy, have a background, or simply wish to lend a hand building, gardening, and doing maintenance type activities, please, attend and participate! For additional information, please feel free to contact: Dale Winke at 375-7726 or .
Coffee and Hospitality
Due to the increasing complexity of coordinating and providing logistics for Sunday worship services over the last few years, the Sunday Services (Worship) Committee can no longer make coffee for each service, provide other hospitality (goodies to eat), or do after-service cleanup. As a result, Jay and Carol Wechselberger have offered to coordinate a group of volunteers to make coffee, provide goodies, and do clean up on Sundays.
Would you be willing to make coffee or provide cleanup occasionally? Jay and Carol hope to recruit enough volunteers so that each person would only have to volunteer every four to six weeks. Please call Jay or Carol if you would consider helping (a phone call will not automatically commit you, they promise!) Carol's phone is 871-2061, and Jay's phone is 871-3765.
Here is what's involved:
- Before the 9:00 service, start the coffee brewing and put out the hospitality items.
- Between services, a quick cleanup, check the coffee and make more, if needed.
- After the 11:00 service, check for spills on the floor, move dirty coffee cups to the kitchen for washing, and put away all hospitality items.
The plan is for an "early crew" and a "late crew", so no one needs to sit through both services. Please help us make this hospitality service the best it can be for our members, friends, and visitors. Thanks!
BUUF Music Notes
Carrie Bastian
Along with the cooling of Fall, change is in the air for music at BUUF. After years of devoted service, Charlotte Tompkins has decided to step down as music coordinator. It is with deep gratitude that we recognize and honor all she has done to bring wonderful music to our Sunday services for so many years. Thank you, Charlotte!
Consequently, my role at BUUF is expanding. Not only will I direct the choir, but will take up where Charlotte left off in planning and scheduling music for the fellowship. I invite all with musical ability, whether you play the piano or the piccolo, the clarinet or the kazoo (well, maybe not the kazoo— clarinet and kazoo just sounded good together), whatever your instrument, to talk with me about how you can contribute musically.
Whether you are a professional vocalist or just like to sing in the shower, come sing in the choir. Treat yourself to the wonderful experience of combining your voice with others to create glorious sound! BUUF Choir will resume regular weekly Wednesday rehearsals at 7:15 pm on September 3 in preparation for our first performance on Sunday, September 7. Hope to see you there!
Getting to know... the beginning of BUUF's lovely Landscape
Before you 'meet' the plantings along Garrett Street, you should know some of the background of how BUUF's gardens came to be. The process was very Unitarian-Universalist with all-fellowship design parties exploring ideas, elements and potential function of our four and a half acres. Mary Schwartzman has chaired the Landscape Committee almost since its inception , shepherding the process with focused vision and awesome leadership.
First on the landscape scene were the plantings along Garrett St. Mary McGown had designed the initial plan for the front of our building, needed for a building permit. Landscape Committee member and Botanist Maureen Cunningham chose the stock for the entrance to the south parking lot. All of the initial plants were native and xeric/water-wise. Committee member and Master Gardner Barb Merrill installed a variety of plants for the entrance to the north parking lot and along Garrett St.. She comments that these plants are the natural food choices of insects and birds—and they ALL fare better in that environment.
There are three memorial pear trees among the plantings along our north parking lot, called Jim, Laurel and Karl for the people they honor. Another memorial, a Sweetgum tree to honor Ward Hower, was planted at the entrance to the south parking lot. Memorials in our landscape have been cherished gifts while also serving as lasting tributes. It is a lovely tradition. You will find them in just about every area of our grounds. Next month, we look forward to introducing you to The Courtyard.
Congregational Care Team Report
Barry Hope
The Congregational Care Team has had an emotive and productive summer. As I write, our annual retreat is but a few days away. We are fortunate to have Bruce Wehler from MSTI present an in-service on "Care of Cancer Patients". Thank you, David Fitch and family for the opportunity to utilize your commodious pad again!
CCT has been working hard on what we call a "Pay it Forward Fund". The purpose of this fund is to collect and disperse monies to aid members and friends of the fellowship when they are in financial need. The process to determine giving will be:
- Determine the need (food, house or car payment, etc.)
- Research and share with the recipient other community resources.
- Determine if there are other financial problems that will occur in the future that should also be taken care of now.
Process to distribute funds:
- Available members of the Pay it Forward Fund subcommittee are contacted to review data and make a decision.
- When decision is made, Gerry will be contacted.
- Check will be made out to whom money is owed, NOT the person in need.
- If food or gas is needed, a gift card to Fred Meyer or the like will be obtained.
- Because the fund is limited, a limit of $100 per person per year is suggested. In extreme circumstances, the entire subcommittee can decide to override this.
This first year of the fund, the Social Action Committee has agreed to allow the Congregational Care Team to be the recipient of October's Social Action plate collection. The Congregational Care Team and the Pay it Forward Fund subcommittee will collect as much information as possible to help people truly in need without being overly intrusive and while maintaining the highest standard of confidentiality. The process should be done as quickly as possible.
Please feel free to call a CCT member. Our names and phone numbers are on a poster in the office area. There is also a drop box for CCt referrals if you have someone on your mind. Enjoy summer remnants, ease into the beauty of autumn.
SOCIAL ACTION
Successful Habitat for Humanity Build in August
Rick Groff reports that the Habitat for Humanity building project in which 14 Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship volunteers participated was very successful and was great fun. The Russian family that will be having a house built for them soon was there, as was the Sudanese family whose home we were building. The Sudanese family was very friendly and enjoyed talking. The Russian family didn't speak English as well so we couldn't communicate with them that much.
This house marks the beginning of Boise Valley Habitat for Humanity's first Green Build, meeting LEED standards which call for being more sensitive to how we build and how we care for the environment as we build.
The Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Green Sanctuary Team and the Social Action Team greatly appreciate everyone's financial and muscular support for this worthwhile project. See another article in this newsletter about how you can help on September 6.
Paint the Town
The Boise UU Fellowship participated this spring in the annual city-wide Paint the Town effort. Paint the Town, in its 26th year, organizes volunteer teams of workers to repair, clean up, and paint the homes of those who cannot do it for themselves. The BUUF team, along with a team of young people who dubbed themselves "We're All Friends" was assigned to repaint the Garden City Senior Center.
One of the goals that is consistently identified by friends and members of our Fellowship is to be more visible for good works in the community. Paint the Town is the perfect vehicle to accomplish that goal. Working for two weeks leading up to paint day, team members bonded over brooms, mops, scrapers, ladders, and brushes. And we had the pleasure of working with the young folks from the We're All Friends team. And we had the great satisfaction of being able to look at the finished product and say, "Wow! Good job!"
Volunteers included Greg Duffy (whose expertise helped your first-time team captain avoid rookie mistakes), Roy Montague, Bill Hall, Rick Groff, John Jacobson, Wanda and Bryan Jennings, Lorel and Loren Case, Janet and Gary Wyke, Grace Jenkins, Sue Stadler, Cindy Catalano and Anthony Trakas, Patrick Aranda, Jason Bell, Claudia Fernsworth, Frank Shuff, and Julie Fanselow. A special thanks to long-time BUUF friend John Verity, who replaced loose and unsightly stair railings with new, safe wrought iron railings.
Social Action Happenings
Rick Groff
Here are some of the anticipated activities that the Social Action Team will be involved in during this church year:
- Team to Work at Sanctuary—On-going if a team can be organized.
- CROP Hunger Walk—October
- Summit on Hunger and Food Insecurity: Healthy Decisions for all Idahoans—October 10 all day (This is not a BUUF sponsored event. However, it is sponsored in part by Idaho Interfaith Roundtable Against Hunger for which BUUF is an Endorsing Body. Information and registration are available on the Interfaith Roundtable Against Hunger website, or talk to Rick Groff at 336-4921.)
- Distribution of Guest at Your Table Boxes - November
- Collection of Hats and Mittens for Whittier School—November/December
- Planning for Legislative Effort - November
- Martin Luther King Jr. March—January
- Workshop on Advocacy—January
- Food Bank Sorting/Food Drive—February
- Lobbying Legislature
- Social Justice Empowerment Workshop—February/March
- Paint the Town—June
In light of the 2008 Election Day, November 4, the Social Action Team offering is fairly light this fall in the hope that you will contribute time and money to your favored political causes this fall.
Learning Lab Will Benefit
Gary Wyke
Learning Lab will receive 25% of the non-pledged plate collection during the month of September. Learning Lab is a nonprofit organization that has served the Treasure Valley and provided high quality literacy education services since 1991. Programs are designed to help functionally illiterate families and adults break the generational cycle of illiteracy and become self-sufficient.
Learning Lab programs include Preschoolers and Parents as Partners Family Literacy; Adult Basic Skills (including GED preparation); and English Language Learning. Students learn through interactive, individualized computer curricula and one-on-one study with the staff of teachers and more than 60 trained volunteer tutors.
Low literacy has been directly linked to poverty, unemployment, welfare dependence, school failure, juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect, poor health, and social isolation. With year-round classes, Learning Lab helps functionally illiterate adults reach their educational and personal goals, teaches parents how to support their children's development, and prepares children to enter kindergarten educationally and emotionally ready for a lifetime of learning success.
IIRAH Webmaster Needed
Rick Groff
Remember voting to become an Endorsing Body for Idaho Interfaith Roundtable Against Hunger (IIRAH) at the annual meeting last spring?
Have you checked to see if we are listed as an Endorsing Body at their web site? We aren't. The reason is that a volunteer is needed to update and make changes in their web site. I don't think that it would take a lot of time. If you know enough to administer a web site, then maybe you could be the person to update and manage their web site.
Please contact Rick Groff at 336-4921 for more information or to express your interest.
Wider Community
Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life
James Hollis, distinguished Jungian analyst, author and lecturer, will speak at BUUF Friday evening and Saturday, October 24 and 25. He will address the importance of soul work in the second half of life, a period when many of us begin to reflect on paths taken and opportunities lost.
Adulthood is rarely the respite of stability we expected. Despite our best intentions, we may find ourselves in periods of boredom and discouragement. By remaining attentive to what the psyche is attempting to reveal, however, individuals often discover a creative source of wisdom that endows this later time in our lives with new meaning.
Friday's lecture, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m., costs $12.00. Saturday's workshop, 9:30 - 4:00, costs $75.00. The workshop provides a more intimate setting for discussing individual concerns.
Idaho Friends of Jung is the sponsor of this event. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at Spirit at Work bookstore (710 N Orchard). For more information call 344-9368 or email .
BUUF ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
Fesztival Celebrates Transylvanian Region
Gwyn Reid
The third Fesztival, a celebration of Transylvanian, Hungarian and Romanian cultures, comes to the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Saturday, September 20 from 1 to 6 pm. The event includes food, music, arts and crafts, cultural displays, cooking demonstrations, story telling and other performances. BUUF long has been partnered with a centuries-old Unitarian church in Mészkõ, Romania, and in the last few years several Boise UUs have made repeat visits to the Transylvanian region.
We hope our celebration will give Idahoans a good look at the true nature of a wonderful part of the world.
Fesztival will include Hungarian music, story telling and other entertainment, displays on the history of Transylvania and demonstrations of chimney bread making. The celebration features a wide range of ethnic foods, many prepared with recipes from Mészkõ. Among the authentic arts and crafts will be handmade embroidery, lace work, and pottery. New this year: Rigo Jancsi (chocolate mousse torte) and a new craft project for children.
This is a great opportunity to eat, drink and be merry—but, more importantly, to learn about a rich and fascinating culture that is thousands of miles away. In previous years we had a number of visitors from Transylvania, Hungary, Romania, and other countries in Eastern Europe hoping to meet others from the region.
Admission to the Transylvanian Fesztival is free. Food, drink and craft items will be for sale.
Fesztival Needs Volunteers
Gwyn Reid
This is a great opportunity for us to show off our wonderful building and grounds and to raise money to help fund our congregation's dreams and to help with the projects of our partner church in Mészkõ
We really need all hands on deck to make this event a great success! So in addition to encouraging friends and neighbors to attend, please volunteer to fill one or more of the many Fesztival volunteer opportunities the week before, during, or after the event. We have something for everybody including some jobs that would be ideal for youth or children. Please say "Yes" when asked, or call Claudia Fernsworth at 853-1526 to volunteer. She'll help you find your perfect assignment.
We also need to borrow some equipment for Fesztival (to save on rental costs). If you have any of the following, please contact Gwyn Reid, 336-1536 by September 10:
Folding Banquet Tables (6' or 8'), food processors, rice cookers, free-standing heavy-duty canopies that are easy to set up (such as those used at Saturday market and Art in the Park), large ice chests.
Friendship Dinner!
It's Suppertime! Come join your BUUF friends for an intimate dinner in someone's home on Saturday, September 27.It is a great way to get to know people better. Sign up on the clipboard and someone will call you to bring a dish and enjoy lively conversation. Contact Wanda Jennings at 362-7563 or .
A Fun Social Evening
Want to join some of the many social activities at the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship? Come to our Fall into Community Fun Fair in the courtyard 7pm Saturday, September 6, hosted by the Chalice Circles and the BUUF Social Groups. We will have a fun evening of entertainment, desserts and getting to know each other. You will have a chance to talk to Chalice Circle leaders, the knitters group, and our book clubs. You might find some friends to start a new Women on the Verge group or a new Chalice Circle group, a bowling club, a singles group, a young adult fun group, or any other social group you would like to have at BUUF. Some of the Chalice Circles include Single Parents, Phoenix Rising Health and Healing, Curious Explorers, Cool Group, the Eggheads, Men's Group, and the Saturday Morning Group. Child care will be available.
Mark your calendar and plan to come join the fun as we return from our summer travels and begin socializing in the new church year at BUUF!
For more information contact Wanda Jennings at 362-7563 or .
Senior Sages
Tom von Alten
The Senior Sages meet at 9:30 on the second and fourth Thursday mornings of the month, at the Kopper Kitchen (2661 Airport Way) for lively discussion over a no-host breakfast. We don't check ID, you just need that time of the morning available. Our regulars and occasional guest speakers have things to say about history, travel, politics, religion, and more. Do you have something on your mind? Come share it with us. All are welcome, no reservations required. Call Tom von Alten, 378-1217, for more information, or to be added to our reminder list.
What have 80 people at BUUF discovered that you haven't (yet)?
These 80 people have discovered the companionship within Chalice Circles, small groups who meet regularly for a little more than just going to the services on Sunday. They are making connections, growing friendships, sharing stories, talking about intellectual and spiritual topics, and having a good time, too! Don't be left out. If you haven't connected with a Chalice Circle yet, give it a try. There are several groups to choose from (see the list below), or you can start your own (contact Wanda Jennings 362-7563 or ) And be sure to check out the Chalice Circle tables and have some snacks at Fall Into Community at BUUF on Saturday, Sept. 6.
Curious Explorers: Meets first Sundays at BUUF. Contact Wanda Jennings, 362-7563, . New members welcome!
Phoenix Rising: Health & Healing. Meets 3rd Sundays at BUUF. Contact Mitchel Bethel, 695-7412, . New members welcome!
Saturday Morning Group: Meets 3rd Saturdays, 10 AM. Contact Julie Fanselow, 859-9006,
Single Parents: Meets 2nd, 3rd & 4th Sundays at BUUF. Contact Lisa Johnson, 484-1797 . New members welcome!
1st Thursday Evening Egghead Group: Meets 1st Thursdays, 7PM. Contact Jay Wechselberger, 871-3765, . New Members Welcome!
Men's Group: Meets 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 7PM. Contact Lee Stigile, 921-8433, . New members welcome!
Everyday Spirituality & Meaningful Rituals (The Cool Group): Meets 2nd & 4th Sundays at BUUF. Contact Carol Wechselberger, 871-2061, or Debbie Espen, . New members welcome!
Other Book Club
BUUF book lovers: Join the Other Book Club to discuss the book by Michael Chabon, The Amazing Adventures of Cavalier and Clay. We meet at 7pm on September 14 at the home of Erin Logan, 1702 Ridenbaugh Street in Boise. For questions or directions call Erin at 336-4960.
Autumn New UU Course
Do you want to learn more about Unitarian Universalism?
Do you want to learn more about BUUF?
Do you want to make connections and find ways to become involved?
(Also, if you are thinking about joining in membership, this course is highly recommended!)
The next New UU course begins Wednesday evening, September 24, 7pm at BUUF, and runs for the next 3 Wednesdays. The class is free. Child care will be available if needed. Please contact Jay Wechselberger at or 871-3765.
Remember Your Water!
Don't forget, during your summer travels, to take a small container with you to collect water samples from the various places you visit. Why? Because on Sunday, September 7, we will be celebrating our Water Communion: the Mingling of the Waters, when we pour our containers of collected water into a communal bowl.
"We think the joining of the water is symbolic of the rejoining after being apart (and is) symbolic of our sharing faith coming from several different sources. This is our holy water, so to speak," says UU Rev. Craig Roshaven.
So don't forget to collect water and to bring it with you to BUUF on September 7!
Welcome Back, Elizabeth!
Elizabeth has returned from her Sabbatical and is now working in her office. She will conduct the Sunday Service on September 7th at 10:00. Bring your waters from your summer travels for the Mingling of the Waters Ceremony.
Elizabeth was roasted with a Poetry Slam that included limericks and haikus. Two samples:
Elizabeth went on sabbatical,
Now that was something quite radical,
She left us alone,
You could hear us all groan,
In fact, some were even quite madical!
There once was a minister of BUUF,
Who picked a fine time to leave us aloof,
Did she take time out?
And was she devout?
We'll wait 'til she shows us the proof!
BUUF Camping Trip
August 17, 2008
Here is what I overheard,
50 Campers said these words:
BUUFers trek to Ponderosa Park,
Some play Scrabble in the dark.
Flingo golf, kayaking, biking,
Campfires, s'mores, family hiking.
Robert got to light the fire,
Burning marshmallows, he won't tire.
Trey likes camping, it is cool,
For the twins, mud's their foot stool.
Swimming, log rafting in the lake,
A convivial community we make.
Smell the campfire smoke and pine,
Sharing meals, together we dine.
Enjoying the laughs of Mike and Mary's,
Picking thimble and huckleberries.
We all took some friendly walks
We had many friendly talks,
Two Anthonys share a name,
Apples to Apples is a fun game.
Crows sound the morning alarms,
We all succumb to nature's charms.
Relaxing, reading, fancy free,
Rejuvenating as cowboy coffee.
Awesomely awesome, fun, fun, fun,
Exuberance from everyone.
Next summer we'll camp again,
We hope you will join us then!
Wanda Jennings
PNWD & UUA
Chalice Lighter Program—A new year, new challenges!
Dale Winke
Friends, there is no denying that time are tough for some, and life is filled with more uncertainties than usual. As a result, many have cut back on their charitable giving, and quite honestly, that is a mistake! I am not trying to be cavalier, but these are the times when we must rise to the challenge and help those that really do need it. The UU Pacific Northwest District's Chalice Lighter Program is in place to help congregations and groups in need, by pooling the contributions of more than 1,400 in the district. If you are not a Chalice Light currently, you should be!
Up to three letters (or emails, if you prefer) a year will come your way telling you the purpose of the call and asking you to send in your pledge of at least $10. Each call will go for the purposes described in the letter, so you will know exactly where your money will be going to work. Your only obligation beyond fulfilling your pledge 2 or 3 times a year is to keep the district office informed of any change of address. Now, isn't that beautiful in its simplicity?
Chalice Lighter grants are intended to help congregations by providing funds to implement a significant part of their growth plan and may be used to:
- secure or increase professional religious leadership
- help a congregation secure, improve or furnish a building
- reach out to the community to attract new members
- initiate a new congregation
- fund any other creative program to facilitate growth
The Boise UU Fellowship is seen as a leader within the district, and participation in the Chalice Lighter program is vitally important. Our involvement and your participation is key. If you have questions, please, stop me and ask. Otherwise, I ask you to please, take the time and sign up. Now is the time we need to engage the world and the challenges presented. What we wish for individually we can achieve collectively; today is the day!
Note: Because grant eligibility is based on percentage of church membership, couples who enroll as Chalice Lighters are treated as two individuals and are expected to send a total of at least $20 for each call.
