Speaking of Green...
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EverGreene
Reverend Elizabeth Greene
Snow on May 22?! Well, yes, and enough that the hills were still white the next day. Hard to believe that summer is basically here.
But it is, certainly in terms of the church program year. We have had our annual Bridging Service, in which our high school seniors knock our socks off by telling us about their lives and ideas. We have had the Annual Meeting and the Stewardship Drive. (Considering the latter, we may all have to come up with creative ideas about how to do the things we want to keep our great Fellowship going.)
On June 6—the first summer service—we will have our traditional Flower Communion, followed by our equally-traditional trek to Little Bridge, to toast our Partner Church relationship. This year, we will travel to the Bridge through our beloved grove, in which a potentially-deadly fire was set on May 16. (It was caught in time to prevent widespread damage.) By all of us walking mindfully through these lovely trees, we once again commit to the land we live on.
I will be in meetings from June 16 through the end of the month, then on vacation during July. Back in August, ready to plan another action-packed, fun-filled year!
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Thanks for the Memories
Judy Frederick
The year is past and now it is time for new faces to join the board. We welcome David Clopton, Bill Reid, and Debra Smith (your new President), and Jane Breckenridge (your new VP). We also say good bye and thank you to Allie Gooding, Miriam Woito, and Sue Philley.
For those of you who have not participated in board or committee work yet, come on and join in. It is the finest bunch of people you can get to know, and believe me when I tell you it is a powerful way to get to know each other. If you feel isolated, join in one of the group activities, a committee, come play in the dirt. I promise you, you will not be bored.
This past year has been a difficult one for me health-wise, and as thing got hard for me, the fine folks on the board just cuddled right around me and helped get things done. That is a spiritual community in action. That is what we are here for, and if I had not been deeply involved with leadership work, I never would have experienced the tremendous gratitude I feel, as well as the love I have been the recipient of.
Thank you, each and every one of you. I look forward to serving on the board this coming year as past president.
BUUF's Summer Worship Services 2010
In an attempt to continue to provide high quality worship services for you all year round we will be making a few changes to our summer programs. We will begin our summer services at 10:00 and they will end at 11:15. We have lined up great speakers from our congregation. We will ask the children to come into the service and listen to a story for all ages before we sing them off to their classes. We know that some of you are out of town during part of the summer but we hope that you will make BUUF a part of your summer activities when you are in town.
RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION
Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer
Emmie Schlobohm, Director of Religious Exploration
June brings a new season to our fellowship, our Boise community, and to Religious Exploration. The month of June is my time to wrap up the program year and put this year's events and endeavors to bed. It's also a time to dream and scheme about all the happenings for the coming program year. July is a time for me to spend time with my family, both near and far, and to take some time away from the daily workings of life at BUUF even though this community is always within me. August blooms and I'm back in the office making things happen for the start of the program year in September.
Religious Exploration for children and youth has a different look in the summer. You can find out about the exciting changes in another article in this newsletter. Although I'm here for support and consultation, the classes are facilitated and coordinated by two amazing individuals who will create a wondrous vibrant atmosphere of discovery and exploration for our children. There was an incredible response by several highly qualified candidates to the call for summer coordinators, and although it was tough to choose from among this "embarrassment of riches", I am pleased to announce that our preschool will be guided by Macy Huberty and our all-ages class will be guided by Shelia Dengler-Shaw. We are truly fortunate and blessed to have these two at the helm of our summer cruise.
In the spirit of summer and all of its opportunities to slow down and savor the moment, I turn to the wisdom of Winnie the Pooh:
"Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known."
Summer Religious Exploration for Children, Youth & You!
This summer, we're bringing back an old friend who's been absent for a while. It is my pleasure to announce that the Story for All Ages will return to the beginning of every service this summer! Our Sunday service will look a lot like it does in the regular program year with everybody of all ages gathering together in the sanctuary at the beginning of the service. Before the children say their affirmation and we sing them out to their classes, we will have a Story for All Ages. If you'd like to read a story to the congregation, please sign up on the clipboard near the coffee urn.
Go Green for Flower Communion Sunday, June 6!
Our first 10am single service of the summer is June 6. Travel green if you can – it'll be a beautiful day!
- Ride your bike and use our bodacious bike racks!
- Park in the Garden City City Hall parking lot on Marigold and walk the gorgeous Green Belt! (Give yourself 15 extra minutes for a leisurely stroll)
- Carpool with your fellow UUs!
First Time Chalice Lighters Information
Lighting the chalice for the first time is a very special event in a child's life. Elizabeth and Emmie cherish their time with new chalice lighters and love to get to know them better and introduce them to the congregation. Due to summer time absences for both Elizabeth and Emmie, we'll have veteran chalice lighters for June, July and August. Elizabeth and Emmie look forward to working with first time chalice lighters again starting in September.
Do you Yahoo? Well, the Religious Exploration Committee does.
Starting this summer, the Religious Exploration Committee will be developing a Yahoo group for people interested in playing, exploring, and discovering the world around them with our children and youth. Have you ever thought of joining a children's Religious Exploration class or lending your talents and gifts to Religious Exploration in some way? The Yahoo site will have places where you can see where your talents can be of help and find out where and when you can play. We will have information pages, volunteer sign-up documents, community news, and much more. Keep your eyes directed at your email for an invitation to join our wonderful world of adventure sometime soon. In the meantime, if you're interested in being a part of Religious Exploration as a committee member, guide, advisor, classroom volunteer, or nursery care-giver, please talk with Emmie Schlobohm, Director of Religious Exploration at or 658-1710.
COMMITTEES
The Worship Committee Needs You
Want to join a fun, dynamic committee that makes a great difference at BUUF? Want to help plan and carry out our services each Sunday? Then the Worship Committee is the place for you! We need you and you need us. We meet from 7:00-9:00 on the second Thursday of each month during the program year. This summer we will have a retreat on Saturday, June 12 from 9:00am-1:00pm. We'll have Part 2 of our retreat followed by a Mystery Party on Sunday, August 8. You don't want to miss these! If you can join us, please contact Wanda Jennings at 362-7563 or .
Fundraising News
Claudia Fernsworth
First of all, I want to extend a hearty "Thank You!" to the folks who made the fabulous desserts for the April 17 Chocolate Dessert Extravaganza. Every dessert was excellent. Next, I want to thank the folks who attended the event. And finally, I want to thank those who bought the desserts on Sunday. Thanks to these three groups, and the hardworking event team, BUUF is $349 richer. I am sure the first beautiful, warm and springish day of the year kept many people making the hard decision : attend or work in the yard....
We will again do the "All Silent Auction" in November so start rounding up and saving those new or gently used items you no longer want or need to donate to this event.
Leadership Appreciation
At our Annual Meeting the BUUF Leadership Appreciation Team recognized the following BUUF leaders for their long term service to our Fellowship:
Jo Douglas, in appreciation for your years of making music at BUUF.
You made our heart sing,
You caused our voices to ring,
The music that you share
Brought joy because you care.
Thank you, Jo Douglas.
Mary Osterman, in appreciation of your many years as the co-chair of the Pastoral Care Team which became the Congregational Care Team.
You work quietly behind the scenes,
Fulfilling many dreams,
Helping BUUFers in need
Has been your calling indeed.
Thank you, Mary Osterman.
Rick Groff, in appreciation of your many years of leading the Social Justice Team.
Making the world more just,
You helped BUUFers to trust,
Leading us in an appeal
To help the world to heal.
Thank you, Rick Groff.
Mike Philley, in appreciation of your many years of leading our Adult Education Program.
Creating classes for all,
With variety to enthrall,
Helping us to learn,
And many a life to turn.
Thank you, Mike Philley.
We recognized our Unsung Heroes. You don't see these folks much because they are in the classrooms, busy as our Junior High and Senior High Leaders.
Thank you for guiding our youth,
Helping them to find their truth,
As inquiring in them awakes
We see the difference you make.
Thank you, Youth Leaders.
Sr. High: Linden Boice and Shelly Durkin
Jr. High: Joe Wechselberger, Christine Hanzlik, Lance Pitman, and Anthony
Our Whole Lives or Owl Leaders: Ann Sabin, Matthew Sabin, and Bill Reid
These recognitions were brought to you by our Leadership Appreciation Task Force of Sue Philley, Beverly Harley, Arlene Baldwin, and Wanda Jennings. We feel that it is important to recognize our leaders and hope that you will consider joining in the effort next year to continue to honor those who continue to lead us.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Rainbow Spiritual Retreat is June Offertory Recipient
The Rainbow Spiritual Retreat is BUUF's June offertory proceeds recipient. The Rainbow Spiritual Retreat is an interfaith summer camp for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, their families and allies. It provides four days of water sports, workshops, crafts and interdenominational worship at a nominal cost in an atmosphere that is free from the fear of intimidation or harassment. The retreat is conducted at Pilgrim Cove Camp in McCall, Idaho, (owned by the United Church of Christ), and all meals are included in the modest registration fee.
Last summer, BUUF friends Amy Stinnett and Janel Gardner took their daughter, Anna Phillips, and two other children to the first Rainbow Spiritual Retreat. "It was a completely fun and uplifting experience," Amy said. "I would recommend it to anyone."
The offertory proceeds from BUUF will be used to provide scholarships to LGBT individuals and/or families who otherwise could not afford to participate. You can find more information about the retreat on its website, rainbowidahoucc.synthasite.com.
Each month BUUF gives 25% of the unpledged offertory proceeds to a non-profit organization that is making a substantial difference in the Treasure Valley. Remember: If you write "outreach" on your check, 100% will go to the Rainbow Spiritual Retreat.
BUUF Events & Activities
Alert from the Grounds:
In the space of one week we have had vandalism to the Playhouse and a fire in The Grove.
A Playhouse window was left open, some outside wooden flowers in window boxes were broken & inside dishes broken and chairs damaged.
Elizabeth is following up with the police on the fire in The Grove. Roy Montague, the builder and keeper of the Playhouse, has changed the lock code on the Playhouse. The new code can be obtained from Gerry.
Please help by supervising children when the Playhouse is open and check anyone on the grounds that you don't know.
Our policy is to be kind to strangers but to let them know that because of safety issues, insurance and past vandalism we cannot allow unsupervised children or people without permission to be on our grounds.
You can also refer them to the beautiful new signs installed by the Landscape Committee that explain BUUF's philosophy & policy.
Thanks for helping care for this magical place.
The Potluck Returns on June 6
Please help us kick off our Summer Worship Services by joining us on Sunday, June 6 for our 10:00 Flower Communion service followed by a potluck picnic sponsored by the Worship Committee. Bring a potluck dish to share and your own dishes and utensils and join the fun.
Flower Communion June 6
Bring a flower, share a flower, take a flower home! That's how the beautiful Flower Communion works at BUUF. June 6 will be the beginning of our summer services, starting at 10:00, followed by a potluck. We'll also go out to our Bridge and drink a toast to our partner church in Transylvania. Consider parking at the Garden City Library and taking a nice stroll down the green belt to save a parking space at BUUF. Bring a flower, your potluck dish, and your utensils. See you there.
CCT looks into the future...all the way to the fall of 2010!
Your Congregational Care Team has been planning its events for the rest of the year. Our annual summer retreat will be on Aug. 21, and once again David Fitch has generously offered his house as the site. CCT Sunday will happen in October, probably on the 3rd, though that date has yet to be confirmed.
We will hold our ever-popular Life Skills Training on Saturday, November 13, 9 am to 4 pm. This is open to everyone and will be included in the fall Adult RE schedule, but it is essential for those who wish to join the CCT or those who would like to find out what we're all about before they commit. Two longtime BUUF members, Judy Frederick and Lise Stewart, will be our speaker/facilitators this year. We are privileged to draw on their experience and expertise, and if you've never attended a workshop with Judy or Lise, we recommend that you put this one on your calendar.
Finally, we would like to thank everyone who answered Elizabeth's call for donations to the BUUF food panty. The shelves had grown a little bare, but they are now groaning under the weight of a wide assortment of fool items and other household necessities, so if you are a little short on food and money, please help yourself to whatever you might need.
Gathering Under Grandmother Tree
Bring a blanket (with a snack, if you like) and join the Treasure Valley Storytellers, under sponsorship of the Landscape Committee, for an hour of stories and interactive fun following our single 10am Service on June 13. This family-oriented program about creatures great and small will include Shoshone and Hungarian traditions. We will begin gathering with a song or two at 11:15 am, with stories beginning at 11:30 in the area of the new fire pit. Friends and neighbors are invited; no charge.
For more information contact Jeanette Ross at or 378-1217.
Partner Church News
Gwyn Reid
Celebrating 17 years of Partnership
On May 18, 1993, the members of the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship voted to join together in partnership with the Unitarian congregation of Mészkõ, Transylvania. We have grown and learned much about each other in the past years. On Sunday, June 6, after the service, the congregation will commemorate the 17 anniversary of our partnership by walking across the Transylvanian bridge and toasting to the ongoing success of this relationship.
Boise Pilgrims to Mészkõ
In 2005, the BUUF partner church committee made a commitment to attempt to have visits to Mészkõ by at least two members of our congregation on a yearly basis. Last year, was the only year we were not able to have BUUF pilgrims (but fortunately Mészkõ minister, Robert Balint and his family, were able to visit our fellowship in November during Robert's year of studies as the Balazs Ferenc scholar at Starr King School for the Ministry). This year, four pilgrims from Boise plus Mike Weiss, will travel to Mészkõ as representatives of our congregation. Please wish Mary and Alan Schwartzman, and Irene and Ed Rush a safe and joy-filled journey.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Partner Church Committee will be Tuesday, June 15, at 4:30 p.m. in the BUUF Library.
Sage Plan & Build
Tom von Alten
The Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho (COMPASS) is in the process of updating their "Communities in Motion" regional transportation plan, with the public comment period running through June 18. For the first meeting of the BUUF Sages this month (Thursday, June 10), we'll take a look at the draft plan and discuss the premise of the plan, its assumptions, and the planning and funding priorities. (You can get a head start with the information at www.compassidaho.org.)
On Thursday, June 24, Jim James will be our guest, to tell us about his work organizing volunteers and building houses with Boise Valley Habitat for Humanity. BUUF volunteers joined Lutherans from several area churches this winter to work on the most recent build on the west bench.
We meet at the Kopper Kitchen (2661 Airport Way) for a no-host breakfast, and the program starting at 9:30am. Newcomers are always welcome. Contact Tom von Alten ( or 378-1217) for more information.
Humanists Cut Loose for Solstice
Jeanette Ross
After a thoughful May discussion, the BUUF humanists agreed to let go of Reason (at least long enough to relax and eat) with a celebratory potluck at Municipal park Sunday, June 20. We will gather and raise a plastic fork at the Silver Maple picnic area, between noon and 3pm. The humanist-friendly are invited to join us! For additional information contact Jeanette at 378-1217. Ask Rick Groff to get on our email reminder list.
Oh, that May discussion: Several of us brought quotes and anecdotes from a favorite historical figure. Baruch Spinoza, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, Rachel Carson and Gore Vidal (plus that cigar in the punch bowl, Friedrich Neitzsche) all provoked lively responses. Gene Barrett will extend this conversation at our July 18 meeting with an introduction to the men and women who have contributed to our understandings of human health.
Summer Concert in the Courtyard: Four Shillings Short
Friday, July 2, 7pm, Enjoy world folk music in our lovely courtyard by acclaimed San Francisco duo Four Shillings Short, namely Christy Martin & Aodh Óg Ó Tuama. They will serenade us with Indian ragas, Celtic airs and more, singing and playing over 20 different instruments from the sitar to the Renaissance crumhorn. Tickets go on sale June 6 and will be available each Sunday before and after the service up until June 27. Concert proceeds benefit the BUUF general fund. Tickets are $8.00 advance purchase and $10.00 at the door. Questions? Contact Patti Raino or Carrie Bastian. More info on Four Shillings Short? Go to: www.art.net/~4ss/index.html See you on July 2 (doors open at 6:00 p.m.) with your low back chairs, blankets and picnic dinners for a delightful evening of music from around the world.
Classicists Set Slate
At its April meeting the BUUF Classic Book Club chose its volumes for the 2010-2011 program year. As is their custom, members drew from an envelope of classic novels suggested by the Boise Public Library staff. All were pleased by the variety and readability of the selections, and all encourage any book lover to read one or more of the chosen books and join a spirited, literary community.
- Oct. 7 - Deerslayer by Cooper
- Dec. 2 - Sense and Sensibilityby Austen
- Feb. 16 - Cry the Beloved Country by Paton
- April 18 - Collected Stories of Edgar Allan Poe
Lorel Case (376-3188) can be contacted for more information.
Mingling of the Waters – September 12
Mingling of the Waters is a fall welcome back tradition at BUUF. As you go off on your summer travels bring a small amount of water from places you visit and join us in mingling the waters on Sunday, September 12. We'll start with water from many previous Minglings of the Waters. Each of us will add to it in a ceremony that helps to remind us that we are all connected with the world and that we have now come back to A Home Where We All Belong.
General Assembly of the UUA
General Assembly, A Meeting of UU Congregations will be held June 23-27 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Join thousands of Unitarian Universalists from around the world and experience wonderful worship services, actions of social witness, terrific speakers, and hundreds of entertaining programs and informative workshops. Hotel space is filling quickly: register online at UUA.org. Please contact Judy Frederick, Board President, if you plan to attend.
Did you know...?
Did you know that the irises, which are now in glorious bloom along the street side of the north parking lot, were donated and are carefully tended each year by our members, Jim and Jan Kosglow?
— History Keepers
Did you know that the newsletter is NOT produced using Microsoft Word or Publisher? Our editor uses an older software program, but more professional program, Adobe's PageMaker 7.2.
Did you know that the online calendar (which is what's used for the newsletter calendar insert) is maintained by our office staff and not the newsletter editor? Good to know.
