BUUF News – June 2009

Contents

EVERGREENE

Reverend Elizabeth Greene

A poem I memorized in elementary school has the famous lines (from James Russell Lowell):

What is so rare as a day in June,

Then, if ever, come perfect days.

I don't know about the "perfect" part (I guess he hedges his bets with the "if ever", but June days bring a very good feel for our church. We have had an incredibly busy, productive, and uproarious time. Also a tad exhausting for a lot of people, so the more relaxed summer schedule gives us all time for renewal.

After our cherished traditional Flower Communion service (inter-generational) and potluck picnic on June 7, we go on summer schedule, one service at 10 am, with an all-ages children's program. There are terrific programs scheduled this summer, lay-led, stimulating and inspirational.

I will be in Boston with our Boston Bound youth and chaperons, from June 8 through the 13; in the office on Tuesday, June 16 and Thursday, June 18. I go early and stay late at General Assembly in Salt Lake City, for meetings of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Board, on which I serve as trustee for the Pacific Northwest District of the UUA.

I return on June 30, and am on vacation during the month of July, with my big events being a trip to the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, OR, with my sister, and a cruise to Alaska at the end of July, with family members from all over the world. (Well, my daughter and son-in-law who live in Australia are the primary representatives of the outside-USA "world."

August maintains the summer worship schedule. At the same time, your church staff and hard-working lay leaders get back to work vigorously, planning fun, festivity and satisfying work for the upcoming program year. Our theme for the '09-'10 program year is Living Community. I hope you all will look at what's going on and get involved.)

Happy summer!

President's Message

Sue Philley, Board President

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to use my skills and interests this past year as your President. I have felt honored to be able to help us move our Vision and Mission forward! We Board members are sorting out our individual portfolios and getting ready to embark on new projects and roles for the coming year. The following are some of the actions that your Board is working on now:

• Planning "Living Community," An All Fellowship Retreat - October 3, 2009
• Discussing how we can help build community and provide more opportunities for spiritual growth
• Establishing a Board-Staff Task Force to solicit feedback and ideas on how to best equalize Sunday Services by next January
• Working with leaders to implement the Annual Calendar, Strategic Plan and a new Organizational Chart
• Recruiting a talented planning team for the Combined Annual Budget/Capital Campaign next spring

As you can see, we have lots of positive energy and many good ideas to work with! There are many opportunities for YOU to get involved. Just email or speak with a Board member!

I must also report that our expenses are out-pacing our income this year. Although our current Annual Budget Team has raised more money than ever before, we are facing a substantial deficit that will impact the way we do business. If you would like to learn more or would like to offer suggestions, we¹d love to hear from you! Wishing you a joyful and relaxing summer!

Annual Meeting Report

Many thanks to all 80+ members who attended the Annual Meeting. Thank you for staying throughout. The meeting was very well-run, thanks to Loren Bergeson and Elton Hall. The By-Laws passed with one exception (requiring donations of money AND time) did not achieve the 2/3 vote needed; the vote was 40-33. The lively discussion on how to best encourage generosity shows that we are a Fellowship in transition, and that we must continue to have deep and honest dialogues on matters that concern us in order to build consensus and cohesion in our community. This meeting also showed that congregants valued our new processes and were willing to support them by attending meetings, speaking with By-Laws Committee members ahead of time, etc. It also demonstrated how much our members (including three new members who had completed the New UU class and signed the membership book that day so they could participate) value the democratic process and want to participate in meaningful ways!

Thanks for the Survey!

Thanks to everyone who filled out a survey on May 3. Your input will help us to learn more about ourselves and our fellowship. We should receive the results in late summer or early fall, so we will keep you posted. Thanks to Jay and Carol Wechselberger who coordinated our taking the survey.

RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION

Musings from our Wondrous Wing

Emmie Schlobohm, Director of Religious Exploration

Summer is upon us and another program year in RE has passed—and what an eventful and amazing year it has been! I am eternally grateful to Karen Raese and Cathy Carmen, our past Co-Directors for Religious Exploration, for their wisdom, mentoring, and friendship during this time of transition for me and our RE program. Their gifts are many and our appreciation and thankfulness are without end!

As the Director of Religious Exploration, I don't have direct classroom responsibilities during the summer, but I will work closely with our summer coordinators. My summer starts with leading our amazing Jr. High Boston Bounders on our pilgrimage to Boston. As summer continues, I'll be working with many people in the RE community and beyond to grow our amazing program as we go forward together. Summer is a time of reflection, regrouping, recharging, and energizing for right now and what's to come. Our young people are our future and we're all responsible for making their time at the Boise UU Fellowship one of joy, self-discovery and spiritual growth. Come be a part of that journey and help me dream and create the future of our Religious Exploration program.

We are a loving community and I am blessed to be a part of it all.

... Where Children are Wise and Adults Can Play

Our young people are a miraculous bunch! They bring smiles, laughter, and joy to us all every week. If you haven't spent time in one of our Religious Exploration classrooms, you're truly missing out on a whole lot of fun, wonder and awe. Your RE program is looking for teams of guides and advisors to lead and follow our youth through the next year of explorations, discoveries and transformations. If you would like to join in on the phenomenon that is RE, please contact Emmie Schlobohm, Director of Religious Exploration at the BUUF office, 658-1710, to find out more about teaching in our classrooms - nursery through high school.

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot ..."

Have you heard a Who like Horton? Seen any sneetches with stars upon thars lately? If you recognized or answered yes to either of these questions and even if you didn't, it's your chance to sign up to teach a lesson in our Dr. Seuss Changed My Life curriculum this summer for RE. Our summer RE programming starts on June 14. Volunteers are being recruited for nursery care and to be a guest teacher in our multi-age classroom. The sign up sheets are on the RE table in the north vestibule. Oh the thinks you can think!! Do you speak for the trees?

Summer Time! Summer Time! Sum Sum Summer Time! Summertime for RE!

(apologies to Sha Na Na)

With the beginning of our summer programming on June 14, all Sunday services will be held at 10:00am. Children, nursery age through 12 can go directly to their classrooms. Our nursery will be open for infants and toddlers while preschoolers and kindergarteners, ages 3-5, have weekly programming in the preschool classroom. Children entering 1st through 7th grade will be together for a combined age class in the first and second grade classroom. At this writing, nursery care providers are being recruited and we are hiring coordinators that will work with the two older classes to provide continuity, structure and facilitate the class activities. If you have any questions, please contact Emmie Schlobohm, the Director of Religious Exploration, at the BUUF office.

Eight Youth Are Boston Bound!

Cathy Carmen

By the time many of your read this, eight Jr. High youth, four chaperones, a trip leader and our own minister will be experiencing a UU pilgrimage to Boston. From June 10-15 we will take in many treasured UU sites as well as learn a whole lot more about our nation's early history. It took all of us and all of you to get there.  Together we raised $5,500 to make this all possible. Thank you for all your support, encouragement and never ending efforts to make this trip happen. We simply couldn't do it without you. Now, stay tuned for our Boston-themed service in the fall when we report back to the community how it all went...

In Gratitude to our Graduates

There is a bridge between childhood and young adulthood. Here at the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship we celebrate the journey over that bridge as a welcoming rite of passage. Last month, several of our graduating seniors crossed that bridge and journeyed toward exciting adventures as a part of our Bridging Ceremony either here with us or in their own way. Our celebration included the gifts of two very special members: Eric Wallace wrote the poem that was read as a part of the ceremony and Lance Pittman created the chalices that we gave to the "bridgers" as tokens of our love and esteem. Our young people are truly phenomenal and we are all blessed to have heard their voices and seen them shine. We would like to take this opportunity to once again acknowledge them and their families at this time of passages, beginnings, and endings.

Our Bridging Seniors and their families are:

• Shauna Geddings - daughter of Eileen and Jim Geddings
• Avalon Owens - daughter of Victoria Owens and Robert Stevahn
• Kristin Raese - daughter of Karen and Craig Raese
• Eddie Simon - son of Susan Reed and Ed Simon
• Heather Smith - daughter of Deanna and Trejchel Smith
• William Smith - son of Debra and Ray Smith

Adult Religious Exploration Study Group

This is not a teacher-taught class, but a facilitated egalitarian sharing religious exploration and study class. Each person brings their wisdom, insight, knowledge and questions, and we will explore and study together.

The topic, for starters, until the group feels ready to move on to another topic, will be "Exploring Jesus from a UU Perspective." Eventually we will extend to exploring Buddha, Muhammed, Quakerism, etc. etc.

The class will launch on Sunday, June 7, at 11:30 AM, following the service. During this first meeting we will decide when and how often for the Study Group to meet.

For further information contact facilitator Debbie Espen at .

COMMITTEES

Spring Campaign reaches "Abundance"

David Ward

The Spring 2009 Annual Budget Drive is nearing completion, and as I write this, we've raised more than $243,000. A testament to the tireless work of nearly 50 dedicated and faithful volunteers. The budget drive officially ends May 31 with a "Celebration Sunday" service at the Fellowship, and at that time we will have raised more money than any previous spring drive at our Fellowship. So I want to personally thank each and every one of you who pledged to fulfill our dreams of "Abundance" at the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

I am absolutely amazed at the job our dedicated Annual Budget Drive Team has done this spring. I am in awe of their spirit, enthusiasm and dedication. They are all shining beacons of light and I want to thank each and every one of them from the bottom of my heart.

2009 Annual Budget Drive Team includes: David Ward, Debbie Johnson, Allie Gooding, Jim Lyons, Mason Morfit, Jane Bunker, Betsy Dunklin, Linden Boice, Sue Philley, Roy Montague, Tom von Alten, Lorel Case, Elaine Durbin, Roger Sherman, Louise Jacobsen, Jim Geddings, David Clopton, Dale Winke, Arlene Baldwin, Sharon Barlow-Palm, Jim Bigelow, Bruce Dowlin, Matthew Sabin, Bob Huntley, Craig Raese, Paul Schlobohm, Lynne Tolk, Webb Van Winkle, Jay Wechselberger, Carol Wechselberger, Loren Bergeson, Marilyn Roan, Karen Raese, Shelia Dengler-Shaw, Jane Breckenridge, Bill Reid, Bob Wallace, Miriam Woito, Claudia Fernsworth, Frank Shuff, Janet Wyke, Al Herring, Rick Groff, Elton Hall, Gwyn Reid, Judy Frederick, Sue Stadler, Rev. Elizabeth Greene.

A Place for You

We are an inclusive religious community—that includes you. To be a thriving community we need everyone to be involved and committed.

It is time for everyone to find a "place in the choir." There are 4 new committees, can you help??

Participation Committee

This committee will look at how BUUFers are involved and active in the fellowship. The committee will publish what each gathered group does in the congregation and "Want ads" that will highlight the volunteer and involvement opportunities available in the fellowship.

Internal Communications

Committee

This committee is in charge of communications to the members and friends of BUUF. They will establish guidelines for those who want to communicate with the congregation.

Publicity and Public Relations Committee

This committee will be in charge of providing a consistent image of BUUF to the public. They will sponsor information booths and create posters about BUUF. The committee will create guidelines for groups within BUUF who wish to give information about BUUF to the public.

Committee for Festivities

This committee will be in charge of whole church gatherings designed to enrich our sense of community through entertaining events.

Hospitality and Food Committee

This committee will be in charge of Sunday morning coffee and other hospitality related activities.

Please contact Miriam Woito at or 890 6074 to sign up!

Fundraising News

Claudia Fernsworth

There will be a Silent Auction of themed gift baskets during the month November just in time to relieve you of some holiday shopping. Start gathering items for baskets now. Get your friends to go in with you to make up a basket. Some ideas are: Ladies Pampering, , Kitchen Items, Bed and Bath, Children's Fun, Gardening Goodies, Homemade Treats, Homemade Cleaning Supplies, Baby Items, Geek Stuff, Interesting Wines, Imported Items, Idaho Items, Handmade Jewelery, Service Certificates, Muffins for Six Months, Soup of the Month, Pie of the Month, Homemade Bread of the Month. You are welcome to create you own theme.

Green Commencement at BUUF

Bryan Jennings

If you weren't at church on Sunday, May 17, you might not know that BUUF is virtually a Green Sanctuary, recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association. The UUA had approved our application, pending only a vote by the congregation to officially request Green Sanctuary status. This vote was taken during our annual meeting, and it passed unanimously. We should receive the certificate that makes it official at the UUA General Assembly in June. We all owe ourselves a big pat on the back.

But now the work begins! This is commencement season for schools around the country, and in a way, this is our commencement as a Green Sanctuary, not the end, but the beginning. We have graduated from three years of projects and paperwork necessary to prove ourselves "green," and, as with graduating seniors moving into the real world, we must now use our status and accumulated knowledge to really make a difference. We cannot just hang our certificate on a wall and rest on our laurels. We have to "become the change we wish to see in the world." BUUF might have the highest percentage of Toyota Priuses in any church parking lot in Boise, but that is not enough. We have to use the recycling bins sitting around our facility, and beyond that, not create as much material to recycle. We must keep an eye on waste and excess, copy on both sides of the paper, remember to use nontoxic, biodegradable cleaning fluids, turn off the lights...and the computer, the DVD player, the copier, etc., etc. We must find ways to avoid the piles of paper plates, Styrofoam cups and reams of dead trees that were in evidence as we voted to request Green Sanctuary status.

We must continue with "green" learning in both our children's and adult RE offerings. We must take this thinking to our homes, our workplaces, and out into the world. We will be working on more "green-build" houses with Habitat for Humanity this summer, and will publish opportunities for volunteers as they arise. We have taken monthly plate offerings for Habitat for Humanity and the Peregrine Fund and will soon be collecting for the Boise Bicycle Project, projects that are not only green but have much to do with social justice.

Many of you have good ideas to add to our Green Sanctuary, so please let us know, and if you are willing to head up a work group to make things even greener, we welcome your effort!

Chocolate Dessert Extravaganza Update

A very gigantic "thank you" to the over 30 cooks who contributed their many delicious and varied chocolate desserts—you allowed BUUF to have over $600 more to help pay down the mortgage. And of course, "thank you" to the people who helped set up, run and especially clean up after the event and who also helped with the sale of the "leftovers" on Sunday April 5. Special "thanks" to those who loaned their cake stands and beautiful serving plates. Not to be forgotten are the people who actually bought the tickets and desserts. Many thanks to you also. The remaining items were taken to the Booth Home and school for young pregnant and new mothers.

Help Wanted

Let's Chat

Meet, Greet, and be Merry. First impressions are important. The membership committee is forming a team of Welcome Chatters - Individuals who can welcome visitors who have questions, who will enjoy their stories, and who can share information enthusiastically about BUUF and UUism. Are you a good host or hostess; would you like to know why people come through our doors, would you like to share in the first step of their journey?

If you are interested in being part of the team, please contact Nicole Silvester at 520 401 7018 or e mail OR Jay Weshselberger at 871 3765 or .

And we invite you to come to a picnic Saturday, June 13 in the BUUF backyard at 12:00 for a chat of our own.

Help Wanted! Greeter Coordinator

You may have noticed that someone greets you and hands you an order of service each Sunday morning, regardless of which door you come in.

Someone is needed to be the Greeter Coordinator. Lots of folks want to be greeters. Your job will be to contact these folks and get them scheduled for each Sunday. Please help!

To apply, contact Wanda Jennings at 362-7563 or .

The Worship Committee Needs YOU!

Making our worship services meaningful may be the most important task for volunteers at the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Now you can be a part of making that happen! The Worship Committee needs YOU! Please join us!

Together we plan and coordinate the Sunday Worship Services. It's a little like producing a play, making sure that all the parts come together, and enjoying the feeling that you made it happen.

We meet on the second Thursday of each month, plus we will have a retreat and a PARTY this summer.

Contact Wanda Jennings at 362-7563 or .

SOCIAL ACTION

Safe Schools Coalition is June 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:

• Providing skill-based training for educators and youth
• Raising awareness about the issues faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth
• Providing support for Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) and other high school clubs focused on human rights and diversity

This year ISSC had a number of significant successes. Last November, ISSC held a Youth Night for 80 LGBTQ youth and allies from the Treasure Valley. The event was planned and run by student leaders. Students built relationships, learned skills to address bullying, and experienced a level of safety and comfort that is rare for many of them. In April, ISSC presented a Youth Leadership Workshop for 12 student leaders from five area high schools who learned skills for goal setting, developing club membership, communicating effectively, and sustaining their club year to year. ISSC also sponsored a film event that explored how gender expectations limit the lives of all teenagers.

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

BUUF Can Shine at Gay Pride Festival

BUUF will again be participating in the Boise Gay Pride Festival on Saturday, June 20. This is an excellent opportunity to communicate to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community that BUUF is a safe, welcoming spiritual community for LGBT people.

The day will start at 10:30 am with a rally at City Hall.

The parade follows at 11:30, and will proceed from City Hall to Ann Morrison Park, a distance of slightly more than one mile. The Welcoming Congregation Committee will have representatives at the rally with a rainbow-colored BUUF banner to muster BUUF members and friends to march together in the parade. We are hoping to have a significant presence in the parade and have been providing opportunities for people to sign up to participate. For more information, contact Louise Jacobsen, .

BUUF also will have an information booth at the Festival (noon to 6 p.m.) in Ann Morrison Park featuring face painting. If you are interested in helping with the face painting, contact Sandy Layser, 376-8579. If you are interested in being there to talk to people about BUUF and UUism, contact Marilyn Roan, 424-9526 or . To help with booth setup and take-down, contact Jay Wechlesberger, 871-3765, or .

Recent Social Justice Plate Collections

A check for $624.46 was sent to the Idaho Human Rights Education Center, which was the recipient of the January 2009 social justice plate collection. The Idaho Human Rights Education Center describes its mission as follows:

"promote respect for Human Dignity and diversity through education and to foster individual responsibility to work for justice and peace."

Our congregation donated $864.13 to The Community Center (TCC) as a result of our February social plate collection. It has been providing a safe, inviting place for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and allied community to gather for 25 years. It offers free meeting space for all LGBT organizations and has an impressive lending library. It also has published Diversity news magazine, which is distributed statewide, for 25 years.

The youth chose the Peregrine Fund for our March social justice plate collection and a check for $678.64 was sent to them. The Peregrine Fund is a Boise-based organization that works nationally and internationally to conserve birds of prey in nature. The Peregrine Fund has twenty projects across the globe that are engaged directly in conservation work as well as educational programs to increase the survival of many birds of prey species.

BUUF ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Flower Communion

We share our much-loved Flower Communion, based on Czech Unitarian minister Norbert Capek's brilliant concept: Capek wanted to have the religious, loving ties symbolized by traditional bread-and-wine communion, but without the Catholic overtones.

As he did, we'll bring flowers to church, put them in riotous bouquets in front of the chancel, then when the time comes, we come forward and each person takes away a flower that someone else has brought. Many of us bring more than one flower, so that newcomers and those who have forgotten will be able to partake. We figure it's like life: sometimes you have just enough; sometimes you have a little extra, which you can share; and sometimes your hands are empty and you need the love of friends to fill them again.

Love and Protect your BUUF Pianos

Sometimes you might be tempted to place an object on top of one of our beloved pianos. Please don't!

The pianos are not tables and the prospect of spilled food or liquid on either the surface or inside the piano's mechanism brings shivers to those of us who realize how easily they could be damaged. Likewise putting items on top of the piano can scratch the surface or hurt the covers. To help remind everyone each piano now has a notice requesting that no objects be placed on top. Thank you for your cooperation.

Sage Drama

Tom von Alten

The Senior Sages will consider two very different dramas this month. On June 11, a showing of Ayamye, "a moving, life-affirming film that proves sustainable solutions to crisis are not always complex," describing the work of the Village Bicycle Project in Ghana. On June 25, Chuck Lauterbach will talk of Aeschylus and the Oresteia, the birth of soap opera, and the dawn of justice in Western Civilization. We can probably find a CLE if a lawyer shows up.

The BUUF Senior Sages meet at 9:30am on 2nd and 4th Thursdays at the Kopper Kitchen (2661 Airport Way) for a no-host breakfast and an interesting conversation. All are welcome, and no reservation is needed. Contact Tom von Alten at 378-1217 or for more information or to be added to our reminder list.

We're Excited!

All BUUF members and friends who live west of Boise are invited to a gathering at the Flying M coffee house in downtown Nampa on Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 4:pm. We all love BUUF but would like to get together in Canyon County on a regular basis. Will it be a Chalice Circle, a monthly fun gathering, an alternative to driving into Boise one Sunday a month? What form we choose will depend on what our group decides. We have been talking around this issue for a long time and it's exciting to finally take the opportunity to get us together.

Call Sharon at 463-9983 for info.

Naming the Cosmic Process,

BUUF Humanists

Together. That seems to be an impulse behind the ideas of Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow. How do we talk about the Big Picture in a way that could (might, anyway) include believers and nontheists, pragmatics and mystics, factuals and enthusiasts? Could a metaphor hold us together?

Dowd suggests that, since metaphors pretty much hold us together already, it's worth a try. He favors nesting boxes of creative powers, which is a little too boxy for some of BUUF's humanists. Can we try cascading implications? Swarming behaviors and ideas? How about the Cockroach Advantage (she with hard shell, quick reflexes and high level of adaptability will best survive?) We ran out of time before we found consensus.

Next month's meeting, June 14 at 11am (yes, 11am) in the library, will be an idea potluck. Bring what interests you, ready to share.

Partner Church News

We received a nice, informative letter from Reverend Robert Balint in April. In addition to news of the church, Robert shared that he was selected as the future Balazs Ferenc scholar at Starr King School of the Ministry in Berkeley. The Balint family will spend a year in Berkeley while Robert studies (hoping to specialize in practical theology, congregational organizing, and social issues.) The visit will also allow them to travel to Boise and to Lynchburg, Virginia (the partner of Csegez, Robert's other congregation). Congratulations also to Robert for completing his final year in Sociology. It has been a busy year in the life of the Mészkõ congregation and the Balint household.

Please plan on attending the special celebration of the 16th year of BUUF's partnership with Mészkõ immediately after the single service on June 7. Look for more news regarding planning for Fesztival in the fall.

We are disappointed that, for the first time in six years, we will not have anyone from Boise travel to Mészkõ this year. A trip is planned for 2010. If you're interested in joining, please contact Cynthia Alleman.

The partner church committee currently meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6pm.

Letter from Rev. Robert Balint

Excerpted from Rev. Robert Balint's message from Mészkõ dated 4/24/09

Dear friends,

It is warm here. Finally spring arrived—people are working in the fields. It's kind of a resurrection after this long winter we left behind. We had a nice Easter time, when we celebrated the resurrection of the spirit of love, justice, and goodness; the rise of our dreams and hopes, the feeling that no matter how hard life is, no matter how many struggles we go through, it is worthwhile to dream and hope. It is our heritage: after Good Friday Easter comes. It must be more than a teaching; it must be part of our life. And it was.

I wish you the same. I wish you a strong hope in your dreams, in your purposes.

A new leadership was elected at Mészkõ's general assembly....Novak Gyorgy was re-elected to be the lay president, Szell Gyula, and Halmagyi Piroska, too. The new leadership is engaged in some projects that are related to the Ferenc Balazs' Historical Preservation Project: 1. renovation of the church tiles 2. building a new, and larger community house. We visited all the families, and asked them about this last topic. Only two percent refused to participate at this project. So as soon as possible we will start work. The first project is already on its way. We started the work a week ago. The south part and the circular part of the roof are already done. The members were very active and helpful.

If we will get the support from the Rigips company (the mine above the village), we will have to start to build the community house. We are still waiting for their answer. Meanwhile the women learned three comic plays. The performance took place a month ago. The community house was more than full. It was a real success. But as the women confessed to me, the best part of all was the rehearsal time, when they were together and laughing a lot. It was a good experience. They have never done something like this before. The start was hard, for only two persons wanted to participate, but as we evolved more and more found it interesting, and finally 9 women participated in the plays. And they loved it. They already have two invitations for a performance: one in Kovend, and one is Csegez. I have to tell you that these hours spent together formed a real strong spirit of the group, of the community.

Other Book Club

The Other Book Club welcomes you to join their book discussions at upcoming meetings at 7pm in the BUUF library:

June 14: The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan

July and August: no meeting. Happy summer reading.

September 13: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

Ribbet! Ribbet!

Jolene Schow

Joy to the World
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me

Jeremiah was and is a bullfrog who lives happily in his garden at BUUF. If you and your family haven't explored/experienced Jeremiah's Adventure Garden (JAG) we hope you'll find an opportunity to discover its enchantments.

Begun in 1997 by Patrick & Jolene Schow, JAG has grown from the once weed-laden flat pasture into the work-in-progress you see today. Did you know the pathway up through "Crabapple Allee" leads to "Frog Court" and then through the "Butterfly Forest?"

Make your way through Privet Maze (What famous character lived on Privet Drive?) and see if you can figure out what the maze spells. [Hint: look at it from above, like you're a bird]. Can you crawl through the tunnel and guess how much it weighs?

Along Chelan Drive or behind the maze you can look at the "Briar Patch" and see why it's a safe haven for birds and critters small enough to enter. But watch out—it's not called a briar patch for nothing! It's an area where nature teaches us that there are dangers in nature, but beauty also. What do the roses and the pyracantha (that big bush that's not a rose) have in common?

Next on to "Twin Falls Waterfall" which adds a joy for your ears as well as a place that birds love—especially the resident ducks. There's a reason we designed it and named it for a town in Idaho. You'll have to ask us or wait until next month's newsletter to find out the answer, but what's your guess?

The original "Grandmother Tree" that started the entire grove of trees we now enjoy had to be cut down many years ago, so she was laid across the "creek." Practice your balance as you cross "Grandmother Bridge."

Lots more fun things are planned—bird's nest fort, a leap-frog loop, a big "creature," a snake bridge into the grove, a stepping-stone bridge—to name a few.

This is an ongoing project, so watch for changes and we'll keep passing on garden tidbits.

Book Nook Closed for Summer

The Book Nook will be closed this summer. Look for its grand reopening in the fall, when the new regular BUUF worship schedule resumes. In the meantime, have a wonderful and well-read summer!

PNWD & UUA

Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly, A Meeting of Congregations

June 24-28, 2009, Salt Lake City, Utah

General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. General Assemblies shall make overall policy for carrying out the purposes of the Association and shall direct and control its affairs. Plus they have many interesting, challenging, educational, and spiritual programs. You will be amazed by how wonderful GA is and how it will change your life. You could even be a delegate representing the Boise Unitrarian Universalist Fellowship!

This is the closest General Assembly will be to Boise, so this is your chance to attend this exciting event with Unitarian Universalists from around the world. Go to uua.org for more information.

WIDER COMMUNITY

LIVING IN THE FIRE OF CHANGE: Sacred Activism and Social Transformation

June 12 & 13, 2009, Egyptian Theatre in Boise

Join a conference and community forum with James O'Dea, Andrew Harvey, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Sequoyah Trueblood, and local leaders and activists working for social transformation. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Sustainable Futures, a local organization educating women from the East Boise Work Release Center in Green Jobs and helping to address the issue of glass waste by recycling glass into reusable wares.

Please contact Mali Leach for more information and registration questions (

Rainbow Spiritual Retreat

Pilgrim Cove Camp in McCall, Idaho

A safe spiritual weekend for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, questioning and allied people of faith sponsored by the United Church of Christ and co-hosted by the Metropolitan Community Church. Individuals, couples, families, children and youth of the LGBTQA community will join in meals, morning worship, a variety of workshops, discussion and reflection groups, swim, canoe, kayak, sail, evening worship and campfires, and fun activities.

$75 family of 4- parent(s)/youth, $65- per couple, $50 per individual

To register or for more information: 344-5731 or http://rainbowidahoucc.synthasite.com/

Biking to BUUF? Mind the Greenbelt gap!

Julie Fanselow. Map by Tom von Alten

Do you ride your bike to BUUF? The north side of the Boise Greenbelt will be closed starting May 26 for repairs between Wylie Lane and the Garden City footbridge. The closure is expected to last until late June or mid-July. The City of Boise is not officially recommending an alternate route during the repairs, but here's the best option, as researched by your biking buddies on the Green Sanctuary Team:

Heading northwest from downtown Boise to BUUF, cross the Veterans Memorial Parkway bridge to pick up the Garden City Greenbelt on the south side of the river. Follow the path to 49th Street in Garden City, then ride southwest on 49th to Alworth Street, then north on Remington Street back to the Greenbelt. (When you head home from BUUF, the detour starts by turning south onto Remington at the footbridge onto the island at the east side of the Fairgrounds.)

An alternative: Cross the river at Main Street in Boise (just west of the Shilo Inn) and take the southside Greenbelt past Joe's Crab Shack, as well as the Garden City Senior Center that was beautifully painted by BUUF's "Paint the Town" team last summer.