EverGreene
Reverend Elizabeth Greene
What is it about June that gives us that cheery sense of freedom? For most of us, I would guess it is the many years we spent in school, when June brought that blessed release, that gorgeous feeling of a whoooooole summer stretching out before us.
The Unitarian Universalist congregational year is actually a little like the school year, so it's no mystery why I feel a sense of gleeful anticipation: since I was five years old, I have been a student, a teacher or a UU minister. Love those summers!
After our June 4 end-of-program-year service, we go into summer mode, which means lighter activities and programs for the whole church.
For myself, I go to UU General Assembly for a week starting June 16, in St. Louis, MO. I am our District's trustee to the Unitarian Universalist Association Board of Trustees, and word on the street is that UUA Board members, like the wicked, get no rest during GA. I have seen the schedule of activities and meetings, and figure that I'm going to arrive home a pretty darned tired trustee.
But then I have a month-plus of vacation, to which I am looking forward with all the old wonderful feelings of childhood. My husband Bob's stepmother will visit. I hope to get some clearing out of house and garden done. I will attend a yoga retreat in the Sawtooth Mountains, and will retreat for several days at St. Gertrude's Monastery in Cottonwood, up by Grangeville and Lewiston (ID).
As you may know by now, Bob is running for attorney general of our state, so I will also be making appearances as the candidate's lovely wife at fairs and other summer gatherings. It's a great role reversal for our family, tickling both of us.
Back in the office in August, so you can contact me then if you want to share ideas about the upcoming year or have an issue you need to explore—or if you just want to check back in after the summer. See you then!
Don't Forget Your Flowers!
At our service on June 4 (10 am, with potluck picnic following), we conduct 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.
So he—and we after him—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.
June 4—last Sunday of the program year—Flower Communion—potluck picnic! Don't forget your flower (but it's OK if you do).
Letter from the President
Patti Raino
At our May board meeting we finalized planning for our annual meeting. Please take time to read the Annual Report as it provides a great summation of accomplishments from committees, your minister and your Board. In my annual report I noted how the Board used the information from the 2005 annual meeting strategic planning session activity to help inform and guide our decisions over the year.
Jim Geddings provided the Treasurer's report through the quarter ending in March. I am pleased to report that the Fellowship is doing well. The percent of income received is somewhat ahead of what you might anticipate in the third quarter and expenses a little below.
At the board meeting we also heard a report from Stewardship on the annual canvas. At this writing we have not yet made our goal, but are hopeful we will be successful. There are still members and friends to contact who were not at our "Celebration Sunday" and have not pledged. If you haven't pledged to the operating campaign for FY 2006-2007 we will be calling or visiting with you to see what you can pledge. The Board plans to meet in a joint meeting with the Finance Committee the evening of July 6 to finalize our FY 2006-2007 budget. For all of you that contribute to BUUF through the generosity of your time and or your money, thank you.
Other action at the Board meeting:
- Authorized the sale of a piano that has been in storage outside our facility since we moved from Pierce Park. The proceeds of the sale will be placed in a restricted fund to be used by the music committee to further the music program at BUUF.
- Appointed delegates to represent BUUF at the Annual UUA meeting in St. Louis.
- Determined the composition of a task force that will be asked to look at the attendance disparity at our two Sunday morning services and suggest methods for possible changes that could bring about better equity.
I wish for each of you a wonderful summer. Thank you so much for allowing me to be your President.
Summer Schedule at BUUF
Beginning June 6, Boise UU Fellowship operates on summer schedule.
There is a single service, lay led, at 10 am. Reverend Greene is not in the pulpit during summer months. She is attending UUA General Assembly from June 19 to June 26, after which she is on vacation, and will return to the office on August 8. She returns to the pulpit on Sunday, September 10.
The BUUF office will be open from 9 am to 12 noon on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The office will be closed the weeks of July 2 and July 30.
Jennifer Thrall Thomas, Director of Religious Exploration, is on leave and will be returning in August. Karen Raese, Children's Religious Exploration Specialist, will be in the office on Tuesday and Thursday mornings in June and August.
Summer children's Sunday School consists of childcare for children under five, and a multi-age curriculum for children ages five to ten. Children over are ten are welcome to attend the service with their parents.
The deadline for announcements for the order of service is Wednesday at noon.
Newsletter deadline remains 12 noon on the third Thursday of the month. Please be aware that newsletter articles submitted to go to the BUUF office to be forwarded to the newsletter editor. They must be received in the office by noon on the deadline date. No one is here to receive late articles!
Enthralled with RE
Karen Raese, Elementary RE Program Specialist
As the 2005-2006 children's Religious Education program year draws to a close, I want to take this opportunity to thank the more than 45 volunteers who have been "guides" (teachers), advisors, facilitators, nursery care providers and special presenters in RE this year. It is a huge but ever so important commitment to our children. Teams in each age group committed to working with our young people the entire year! What a gift! Please take the opportunity to thank your child's advisor/guide/teacher.
Behind the scenes, making much of RE happen, is the competent and dedicated Religious Education committee. They also have coordinated many special events at BUUF, including the Mirror! Mirror! silent auction, Easter Egg hunt and Mystery Guest this spring. I am truly indebted to each of them. This year's RE committee members include Cathy Carmen, chair, Emmie Schlobohm, Gena Delucchi, Angie Tate, Linda Sutherland, Barbara Pinkerton and Sandy Jack. Please join me in extending thanks to each of them.
The RE committee is also busy recruiting volunteers and preparing for the 2006 summer RE program. This year's curriculum will be based on Rudyard Kipling's wonderful Just So Stories. Summer RE will be a multi-age class at 10:00 designed for children 5-10 years of age. Younger children will be in the nursery and older children and youth may join their parents in the service. Children will go directly to the summer classroom. By the time you read this a talented summer RE coordinator will have been hired to enhance our program. This person will provide consistency and will support our weekly volunteers. I look forward to a better than ever summer program and then the start of a new program year in September.
Caring Corner
The Pastoral Care Team
The warm weather seems to draw each of us out into the daylight and fun of the season. We find so many more things to do with our days than we seem to have hours in them. In response to our pre-occupation with and desire to be outdoors, BUUF moves from its regular program year to a reduced summer schedule.
It is especially important during these summer months to remember our community of faith and fellowship with its peaceful, gentle grove and the welcoming arms of the cool buildings and classrooms. We are here to help you celebrate and commemorate. We are your shelter in times of stress and sorrow. We offer peaceful solitude when your world gets too full and a shoulder to lean on when life's burdens are great.
As you face transitions in your life, remember you don't have to face them alone. Pastoral Care is here because we care. Look for our Red Badges of Caring or pick up our brochure from the information kiosk and call us.
Huh to Wow to Come On Boise
Besse LaBudde, Social Action Chair
As I wrote the social action annual report I appreciated all over again that this was the year that we recognized and embraced our power as a force for community influence in social action and social justice issues. In four years we have made even greater strides as we progressed from huh? to WOW! But more about this special year.
The board's decision to implement our minister Elizabeth's request to donate a portion of each month's undesignated offerings had a galvanizing effect on our self image and participation. We have learned that it is possible to be active in social justice issues simultaneously on both the individual and congregational levels. And it's not all about donating and keeping our distance. Our members continue their individual pursuits: to take food to local shelters and the food bank, read with children who are struggling at school, act as big brothers, work on political projects, and even venture so far as New Orleans to help with the clean-up there. These are only a few of the many "good works" generated. My Mennonite friend's referral to us as the Humanitarian Church was more than a slip of the tongue.
Let's Pretend
Besse LaBudde, Social Action Chair
Let's pretend that we are having a glorious end all, over-the-top rummage sale of adult clothing. The clothing instead will go to Corpus Christi House where they are at a seasonal low. Since the homeless population is largely also a transient population the need for basic clothing is never ending. And since there are more male than female clients the need for small and medium size jeans, underwear and shirts is unrelenting. Socks are again low in supply and high in demand. As you switch your closets from winter to summer mode, please put your discards in the Corpus Christi box in the north entryway and I will take them in. After all, Corpus Christi is just steps away from my physical terrorist.....help me get something besides pain from my trips to Americana Blvd!
Boise Hosts 2007 AGM
"Knowledge-Compassion-Commitment" is the theme for the 2007 Annual General Meeting of the Pacific NW District of the UUA, to be held at the Grove Hotel in historic downtown Boise. The keynote speaker will be UUA President Bill Sinkford! Mark your calendars now with February 16-18 and plan to attend for a full program of workshops, inspiring speakers and special events—plus a chance to explore Idaho's capital city. If you'd like to propose a workshop for the conference, please visit the PNWD website for the AGM for more information.
District Conference Planning Committee
Help Needed! Currently a BUUF planning committee meets every four to six weeks to make preparations for the big UU district conference, to be held at the Grove Hotel in Boise next February. The committee needs someone to take the minutes of these planning meetings. Be part of this major event, which will bring hundreds of UUs from four western states to Boise. If you're willing to help take minutes—even if just occasionally—please contact Eric Wallace, phone: 433-0706, or email: .
Humanist News
Jeanette Ross
We who insist that humanists have an important message and role within UUism have a special opportunity next year. We can offer a workshop at the regional AGM. Can we? Should we? What shall we do? Meet with us at our next schedule time, 9am June 11. If you need child care, contact Jeanette Ross (in the BUUF directory) by June 4.
BUUF Camping
Karen Raese
BUUF members and friends will come together July 14-16 to camp at Ponderosa State Park. While camping reservations have been already been made, there generally is room to add families and individuals wishing to join us. Please contact Karen Raese at to indicate your interest.
Gay Pride Parade
Besse LaBudde
Each June there is a group of UUs who march as a show of solidarity in the gay pride parade. In the light of the upcoming vote on the gay marriage amendment, we are urging UUs to don their maroon t-shirts and march under our BUUF banner on June 10. The time and gathering point is not available at newsletter press time but it will be passed on as soon as available. This is an intergenerational social justice opportunity. I'll see you there, crutch in hand.
UUA's Statement on Supporting Immigrant Rights
Delmar Stone
The UUA issued a statement in support of immigrant rights on April 13,2006. The statement, made by the Rev. William G. Sinkford, President, is grounded in the Association's commitment to immigrant rights and justice and equality for all persons and is directly tied to four of the Association's seven principles:
* The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
* Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
* The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
* Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
For more information on the UUA and immigrant rights go to the UUA website.
Vestibule Redesign
Interiors Committee
After the Interior Committee lead "vestibule workshop" it was determined that the vestibule areas were to be utilized as "transitional space"; clipboards, signup sheets, and informational materials are now located in wall mounted racks in the North Vestibule.
For temporary displays that require table space, the vestibules, in most circumstances, will no longer be used. All temporary displays will now be located in the rear, southwest corner, of the sanctuary. We ask that all temporary displays be set up prior to, and then removed at the end of, the Sunday services, by a member of the respective committee or individual. If there are any questions, please feel free to contact any of us on the Interiors Committee.
We wish to thank you for your cooperation and efforts in this regard. Please be mindful, this process is ongoing, evolving, and seeking solutions that satisfy individuals, committees, and the community as a whole. We would appreciate any and all feedback to assist in this goal.
Senior Sages News
BUUF's sagacious elder statesmen and stateswomen, not to mention a few hangers-on, convene two mornings of most months for breakfast and mental stimulation. The sessions are at 9:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays in the banquet room of the Kopper Kitchen on Airport Way. Everyone is always welcome.
Thursday, June 8—"Talking Turkey" Nuralima, who traveled in Turkey just a few weeks ago, recounts some of her adventures and impressions.
Thursday, June 22—Margaret Marti of The Cabin (formerly The Log Cabin Literary Center) describes their educational and literary programs, including the summer writing camps, Writers in the Schools, and the Readings and Conversations series.
Book Club News
This month, BUUF's Other Book Club takes on Gilead by sometime Idaho author Marilynne Robinson. The discussion begins at 7 p.m. on Sunday June 11, at the home of Harriet Shaklee, 906 Marshall St. (off Emerald opp. Morris Hill cemetery). Open to all. Old and new readers alike, RSVP: 371-3634 or hshaklee@cableone.net. We also invite you to bring some ideas for the next five or six books.
Eliot Communications
Gretchen Meyer
Unique Eliot opportunity! There is still room at several camps! The August Eliot at Seabeck experience is an intergenerational UU community filled with music, comedy, laughter and fun, in addition to all the other regular Eliot features like excellent programs for children, youth and adults as well as afternoons and evenings of interesting activities such as swimming, boating, tie-dye, dancing, games, and singing. Bring musical instruments and all your ham-it-up talent to share. There's lots of need for audience as well. If you can't come in August, please consider the early July Naramata camp or think about Winter Eliot in late December. There's no better way to bring in the New Year. Registration information at www.eliotinstitute.org or (206) 374-2497.
