BUUF News – December 2006

Contents

EverGreene

Reverend Elizabeth Greene

'Tis the season, as we say. One of the poignant stories of this mid-winter time involves a family looking for lodging, being turned away, ending up in a barn where the nine-months'-pregnant wife has her baby.

Families out in the cold... This is not just an ancient story. Here in Boise, men, women and children are homeless, ever at risk of spending freezing nights in cars or even under bridges or trees.

Sanctuary is a program sponsored by numerous religious congregations in our town, providing winter overnight shelter for homeless persons. This program is in dire need of volunteers to keep it afloat. Shifts range from neighborhood monitor, 6-8 pm; through receptionist, about 7 to midnight; through breakfast servers, 5:30-8 am.

Sanctuary volunteers report how moving this experience is, being with people in such very different circumstances than our comfortable middle-class ones. (See article by Rick Groff, in this newsletter.) We UUs, who pride ourselves on embracing diversity, do not run across the genuinely poor very often. Spending time with them is quite different from the idea of "poverty" in the abstract.

So, how about it? This is an ideal opportunity to put our values into action. Can you find time this holiday season? Can you find time this winter? Call Rick Groff at 336-4921.

I hope so! See you at Solstice and Christmas Eve morning, for quiet reflection. See you on Christmas Eve, for carols and the old, old story, and "Silent Night" by candlelight.

Wanda's Wonderings

'Tis the season for joy and love. Find time to take a deep breath and enjoy the beauty and the love. In the spirit of giving I hope you will take the opportunity to give to those less fortunate in a truly helpful way. BUUF is working in collaboration with the First Congregational Church to help feed the homeless in the Interfaith Sanctuary for the Homeless program. We are desperate for volunteers and we only need your help for a short time. Please consider signing up to work during the second week of December. Two volunteers are needed to work in the kitchen each day, one from 6 PM to 9 PM and one from 5 AM to 7 AM. Contact Rick Groff at 336-4921 or rbgroff@cableone.net.

Our Outreach dollars for December will go to support our Partner UU church in Mészkõ, Romania as BUUF donates 25% of the plate offerings (that are not pledges). Mark your checks "Outreach" and 100% goes to our Partner Church.

The BUUF Hoedown brought together fun seekers of all ages. There was laughin' and shoutin' and stompin' and swingin' and grinnin' and twirlin' all in the name of having a good time with folks in our BUUF family.

We are starting the process of becoming a UU Green Sanctuary. The goals for all of us are:

• to build awareness of societal environmental issues among UUs,
• to generate commitment for personal lifestyle changes,
• to motivate UU's to community action on environmental issues,
• to build a connection between spiritual practice and environmental consciousness,
• to build awareness of and rectify environmental injustices, and
• to have you come join the fun on first and third Mondays at 7pm at BUUF.

Do you remember how small and inconvenient the RE rooms were when they were attached to the sides of the sanctuary? Aren't you thrilled with how wonderful all of the rooms in the two new RE wings are? Well, now it's time to pay for them! Yikes! Our mortgage will be doubling to pay for the wings. We are encouraging people to be even more generous as we support our children and our beloved church. Thanks for your generosity.

Delegates to General Assembly are charged to work with their congregations to hold at least one program over the next year to address racism or classism, and to report on that program at next year's General Assembly. What shall we do?

YOU may be one last spark we all need to light the whole world!

enThralled with RE

Jennifer Thrall-Thomas

The month of December is the perfect time to consider the importance of ritual and traditions in our lives. BUUF has a few traditions that we honor and look forward to such as the mingling of the waters, the pansy ceremony, the flower communion, and of course, Deck the Halls. These times are often some of the most remembered experiences in our times together.

A great book to inspire us to create unique and interesting rituals and traditions is The Book of New Family Traditions by UU, Meg Cox. In her book, Meg reminds us of the ten good things rituals do for children; impart a sense of identity, provide comfort and security, help to navigate change, teach values, pass on ethnic or religious heritage, teach practical skills, solve problems, keep alive a sense of departed family members, help heal from loss or trauma and generate wonderful memories. The Deck the Halls extravaganza has certainly done many of these things for me and my family. I love the chaos and the often poignant moments and will always remember with fondness the "five golden rings" in our sing along sessions.

In the religious exploration/education classes we also have the ritual of lighting the chalice each Sunday. The younger children recite the opening words with the hands gestures; we light this chalice to celebrate Unitarian Universalism. This is the church of the open mind, the loving heart and the helping hands. Together, we care for the earth, and work for peace and friendship in the world. This ritual reminds us each week the true essence of what we do as Unitarian Universalists.

With the many winter holidays upon us, I encourage you to make your traditions and rituals in your homes. How about celebrating the winter solstice with a special dinner of "sun grown foods" such as nuts and fruit? Or how about making it a tradition to attend the solstice service as a family? This year's service is on December 21 at 7:00 p.m. at BUUF.

Any way you choose to create tradition or a ritual in you home is of value. If you need more inspiration, pick up a copy of Meg Cox's book. It is full of wonderful ideas.

Wishing you all a wonderful winter holiday season filled with new traditions and lifelong memories.

The Search is On!

Jennifer Thrall-Thomas

The search committee to find a new director of religious exploration/education met for the first time in mid November. The committee is made up of 10 diverse members and friends of the BUUF congregation. The charge is to recruit and select a lay religious education professional. The process will include envisioning the religious educator position that will serve the needs of the congregation, and resources that will support the religious educator and the religious education program for the future. It is the hope of the committee to find a religious educator who will take the position on July 1, 2007.

It is a big job, and it is in good hands. Cathy Carmen has agreed to co-chair the committee of 10. Elizabeth Greene is the ex officio member of the committee. Wendy Kirkpatrick is the board liaison and other members include Jennifer Thrall-Thomas, Erin Logan, Becky Groff, Roger Sherman, Annalisa Lawler, Val Duffy and Mark Zimmerer.

If you have comments or suggestions that you would like to make known to the committee, please feel free to contact any of the committee members mentioned above.

Deck the Halls

DECK THE HALLS, BUUF's very own welcome of the winter holidays, presented by the Children's Religious Exploration program, will be held on December 3 at 10:00 a.m. Make sure your children are part of this wonderful event and bring them every week. Children should report to their classrooms by 9:30 a.m. on that Sunday to prepare for this program.

Please mark your calendars for the mandatory rehearsal and cookie potluck scheduled for December 2 from 2-4:30 pm.

RE Changes for December

Karen Raese, Elementary Program Specialist

December is another fun-filled and busy time for Religious Education at BUUF. However, due to the holidays, services and RE are a bit different than usual. Our wonderful Deck the Halls is Sunday, December 3 at 10:00 a.m. Children will remain in the intergenerational service (nursery care provided.) All children should be at BUUF in their classroom at 9:30 for final instructions and rehearsal. Deck the Halls rehearsal, decorating activities and cookie potluck is Saturday December 2 from 2-4:30pm.

RE classes will continue with their curricula on December 10 and 17. Some classes will focus on the season and learn about Hanukkah, Advent, Christmas and Sharing. On December 24 there will be one service at 10:00 a.m. and nursery care and an all age RE class will be offered. Christmas Eve service will be at 7:00 p.m. and nursery care will be provided along with an all age activity for those youngsters not desiring to attend the family-friendly service. It is the tradition for families to attend this service together. December 31 will have two services with nursery care provided at 9:00 and at 11:00 both nursery and an all age RE class. Hope to see you here. January will find us back on schedule.

Support the Boston Bounders!

Carol Sevier

No doubt you've noticed the Boston Bounders (the Junior High students participating in the Coming of Age program) around the Fellowship as they've begun their fundraising efforts in earnest. You'll continue to see more of them this month as they entertain you with their music, offer to rake your leaves, and make available to you a variety of items for purchase including board games, peace calendars, cookie mixes, and environmentally-friendly gift bags, among others. Thank you for your support!

Mark your calendar for January 13 when the Boston Bounders, with the generous help of Sharon Barlow Palm, will serve you a New England feast. Stay tuned for more details.

Pastoral Care Team Report

Barry Hope

The PCT Life Skills Training session was unusual. Based on the gravity of transitions surrounding the event it would have been unusual to have had it any other way. The group gained four new members. Dena Duke, Joanie Bear, Jo Wilsdorf and Joan Bellamy showed their strength of character by merely being oriented during such a serious training session; it was quite a moving experience! The PCT is honored by their combined experience and array of skills. The BUUF PCT remains an intimate group of dedicated individuals who truly care and wish to add a loving and cohesive element to our congregation.

The presenters for the day were Elizabeth Greene, Judy Frederick and Lise' Stewart. Extra empathetic and applicable would describe the fare. Thank you three professionals for sharing your wisdom and knowledge. Color this event an "on the job training" where everyone passed with flying colors.

Call a PCT member if you need an appropriate listener. There is also a request for assistance box in office across from Gerry's desk Seasonal affective disorder, winter and other soul affronting injustices will not stand up to BUUF mustard! Please keep in your hearts our members and friends who bravely faced the political arenas and made such a difference by their presence.

Mészkõ Partner Church News

Cynthia Alleman

November 15 - Today Robert Balint, the Mészkõ minister, sent the Boise Partner Church an email as he sat in the work-in-progress parsonage. Ever optimistic, he reports the dormitory and dining room are finished and that, "Of course they would need to be painted, but that is a piece of cake". Doors, electrical work, and WC are almost finished. He sent pictures that included Ishvan, a youth of the church, bringing in firewood for the parsonage. The Balint family hopes to move back in around Christmas and feels that with this help they will be ready for winter.

Our special monthly offering of outreach money for December will go to the Mészkõ congregation for the completion of repairs to make the parish house livable for the minister's family. It will make the parish house suitable for the congregation to use for meetings and for youth camps, etc. Our contributions let them know they are not alone.

Soon Boise UUs will begin planning for travel to Mészkõ in July 2007. Contact anyone on the Partner Church Committee if you would like join us. Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council Pilgrimage Opportunities at the national level offer tours at other times of the year and also tours to India. Check out their website if this is something that you're interested in.

The next BUUF partner church committee meeting will be on December 12 at 4:30 p.m. in the Library.

Chalice Circle Chatter

Debbie Espen

Small Group Ministry-A U.U. Frontier!

These are the journeys of the Chalice Circles.
Their continuing mission:
To seek out new insights
And explore spirituality,
To boldly go where they have not gone before!

(with apologies to Star Trek)

Our Chalice Circles have gotten off to a good start, gathering 'round the UU flame of inspiration, sharing our stories and learning from one another.

The "Explorers" group (which meets on first Sundays at BUUF following the potluck) will be discussing "changes", their impact on our lives and how we deal with them. The "other" group will be meeting at the same time and will be discussing "curiosity".

To join a Chalice Circle see the schedule below and sign up on the clipboard in the north entrance to the sanctuary. New groups are forming, so there is room for you.

If you are looking for a chance to become more involved with BUUF and to get to know a small group of people better, a Chalice Circle is for you.

Social Action Update

Rick Groff

There many opportunities for putting your faith into action contained in this and other articles in the newsletter. Please consider each of them.

The First Congregational Church has invited our congregation to partner with them the next time they host Interfaith Sanctuary. One person from our congregation would pair up with an individual from the First Congregational Church to be "church volunteers" either in the early morning or evening. The First Congregational Church will next host the Interfaith Sanctuary the second week of December for a seven day period. We will need one volunteer each day from 5 AM - 7 AM to serve breakfast and a smile and another volunteer from 6 PM - 9 PM to work in the kitchen and smile. Please contact me at 336-4921 if you are interested. I will also be soliciting volunteers after services.

The Social Action Committee is looking for some committee or group within the congregation to sponsor and provide participants for our March social action project which will involve hunger. March is a down month for The Idaho Foodbank, which is why this month was chosen for this social action project. This project can be as big or small as your group wants to make it. It could involve a massive food drive in conjunction with a monthly outreach donation for The Idaho Foodbank; sorting of canned goods at The Idaho Foodbank; a discussion of the policies that drive/prevent hunger in the United States; or a presentation by a representative of The Idaho Foodbank regarding the services they provide. If this is a project that your team, committee, or group can get behind, please see me.

Dining Room for Homeless

On November 3, 2006, the St. Vincent de Paul Society began serving dinners to the poor and homeless at St. Paul Baptist Church on Bannock and 14 Street. Coordinating with the Interfaith Sanctuary, the Society plans to provide meals on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, while other downtown churches step in on Wednesday and Thursday. St. Vincent de Paul's latest effort replaces the popular Garden City Dining Room, which, unfortunately, closed in August when the Community Christian Center became unable to donate space.

BUUF's trusty crew (Patty and Jenna Raino, Lorel and Loren Case) proudly dished up the first meal at St. Paul's, and BUUFers will continue to work the first Friday of each month. In fact, Jennifer Thrall Thomas has volunteered Coming of Age groups for January and February. Anyone wishing to help with BUUF's efforts should contact Lorel Case at 376-3188.

An Evening at Sanctuary

Rick Groff

Before 7:00 P.M., homeless people began to arrive on foot from the surrounding neighborhood. They gathered at the First Congregational Church and waited to be let in.

At approximately 7:00, I started checking in guests. Some individuals were raggedy and unkempt while others were clean shaven and reasonably dressed. Most were men between the ages of 30-55.

After I checked people in and greeted them, a volunteer gave them their personal sleeping gear in a marked black plastic bag. With few exceptions, they were sleeping directly on the floor with only blankets and/or a sleeping bag for a cushion.

There were 4-6 women and they had their own quarters in a separate room upstairs, away from the men.

A young man that I will call Jim started talking to me and it became apparent that he was considering suicide. I finally convinced him to be counseled by Will Rainford, shift manager.

There were a few tables and chairs in the social hall near the kitchen where the men visited, ate Smack Raman, drank coffee and cocoa prepared by church volunteers, or played card games. After 9:00, guests were allowed to spread their sleeping bags in the hallways in addition to the library and the social hall. The inside of the church looked like a giant sleep-over.

Guests are no longer admitted after 10:00 and the remaining bright lights were dimmed as much as possible.

Some men started moving around to get away from loud snorers and Jim moved out into the hallway across from Will and me.

From 10:30 on, it was quiet and I chatted softly with Will. At 11:30 P.M., the graveyard shift supervisor came to relieve Will and me. He and Will discussed the events of the evening and I went home.

Caps, Gloves and Mittens

Besse LaBudde

Caps, gloves, and mittens could almost be a children's rhyme, but they are truly items of need and comfort on cold Idaho winter days. Many of Garden City's children go to Whittier School where they often appear without caps or mittens or proper shoes. Each winter we collect mostly new caps and mittens or gloves to augment our year long collection of good, clean used clothing. Please place your caps and gloves on the lines in each entryway. The filled lines are the very best Christmas decorations we could hope to create!

Supporting Equality

Jim Geddings

BUUF once again showed its leadership in promoting social justice and equality in Idaho by its outpouring of support, in both time and money, to the campaign to defeat HJR2, the constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships. During the campaign over sixty BUUF members stepped forward and volunteered their time for the campaign to defeat the amendment. The total monetary contributions collected from BUUF members and friends totaled over $1,200.00! BUUF members and friends also placed fifty "Idaho Votes No" yard signs throughout the community.

If you are interested in helping out in the continuing efforts to promote social justice and equality for the LGBT community please contact Jim Geddings at 853-0822 or, even better, consider joining the Welcoming Congregation Committee. We meet on the second Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m. here at BUUF. Help us to help Idaho!

Vestibules, Committee Display Space

Interiors Committee

The vestibules will be available for Committee Display Space on a limited basis.

We would like to limit each vestibule to one table each Sunday for your committee needs.

There will be a sign-up sheet in the main office literature rack starting Dec. 1. The tables should be manned at all times and taken down by the end of Sunday. We appreciate your cooperation in trying to accommodate our variable needs to inform each other but, also provide a safe, welcoming space entry/exit. As long as this system works, we will avoid using the back of the Fellowship Hall for displays.

Bamboo Flooring in the Fellowship Hall

Erin Logan

Monetarily we are not quite ready to install our new floor. But, we are very, very excited about the product we have recommended to the Board for installation. We have recommend Terragren Synergy bamboo flooring. If  you would like to know more about this product you can start on the internet. We hope to put together a large display of the flooring after the first of the year. We think you are going to love this flooring as much as we do. In the meantime if you want to know more just ask Dale Winke, Sarah Bratley, or Erin Logan and we will be happy to talk to you about Interiors vision for the Fellowship Hall floor.

Hook, Line, Sinker and Chair

Erin Logan

I often tell my children that life is 10% brilliance and 90% maintenance. I don't want to discourage them so I stretch the truth a little because as we all know life is really 1% brilliance and 99% maintenance. They insist that they will never do any maintenance.

Yeah, right.

Recently there has been quite an uproar at how dirty our Fellowship Hall chairs have become. The buzz is that 'it's those charter school kids'. I helped clean the chairs last summer and I'm in the process of getting the chairs cleaned now and so I'm here to tell you that all of us are contributing to this mess. Sure some chairs definitely have whole hand prints (kids) but mostly we are talking spilled coffee and dessert messes. Luckily, being the queen of maintenance that I am, I'm offering up a few simple solutions:

1) Abstinence, just say no! Refrain from drinking coffee during a service. It is a known fact that Elizabeth's sermons can cause spontaneous spills on one's lap.

2) Own up to your spill. Acknowledgement is the first step to maintenance heaven. Wipe down the chair with a clean damp, warm cloth. The chairs are factory stain resistant and are a cinch to clean off (for now).

3) Friend don't let friends spill and walk. Call them on it, and then help them clean it up.

If I can prevent one less spill next week, then I've done my job. Love you all!

Opportunities in Membership

Melissa Chambers

The great ideas just wouldn't stop coming during the most recent meeting of the Membership Committee. There are so many things we need to do to and we need help to do it.

Here are the things we want to get out of the Oh, That Would be Nice stage and into the Yeah! We're Doing It Now! stage:

• Create a picture directory with member biographies and occupations/trades
• Create and maintain a "This I Believe" page on the BUUF website
• Create opportunities for social interaction
• Explore the benefits of a mentor program for new members
• Organize, edit and publish members' stories
• Explore opportunities for a BSU on-campus presence

Can you help with any of these? The nice part is that you could take charge and organize any one of these tasks without having to become an official, full-time participant on the Membership committee. (Of course, we wouldn't turn you down if you wanted to join us!)

Please contact any person on the Membership Committee if you have an interest. We are Cindy Catalano , Melissa and Mike Chambers, Elaine Durbin, Debbie Espen, Ellen Morfit, Steve Thomas, Bob Wallace, and Carol and Jay Wechselberger.

Sign up for the New UU Class – Don't Put It Off Any Longer

Unitarian Universalist societies come in a great variety of shapes and sizes with a wide range of programs and special interests. The essence of each is as unique as the people who comprise the congregation, but there are common concerns and fundamental principles that hold them together. As Marjorie Achley says, "Perhaps you have been looking for a church where:

Your doubts are not ridiculed.
Your guilts are lightened.
Your griefs are comforted.
Your joys are celebrated.
Your children are taught all religions.
Your talents are nurtured.
Your concerns are shared.
Your reason is honored.
Your friendships are deepened.
Your love of art and beauty is expanded.
Your need to serve others is fostered.
Your need to laugh is encouraged.
Your individual decision is treasured.

Then you have been looking for the Unitarian Universalist Church. These are our aspirations. If they are yours, come join and help us achieve them."*

You may be new to Unitarian Universalism or to a particular congregation or you may have not participated for a long time (*Polly Laughland Guild).

This is your opportunity to learn more and make new connections. The NEW UU Classes begin Tuesday January 23 at 7pm and run for four consecutive Tuesdays (Jan. 23, 30, Feb. 6, 13) here at the Fellowship.

To register or to get more information please contact Steve Thomas at 342-1196 or email Steve at (please put New UU in the subject line).

Holiday Feast for the Mind!

Mike Philley

Life is all about balance. As we approach the holidays, lets balance traditional feasting and celebration with tempting food for our minds. Take a look below at two fascinating lectures by distinguished authors (with Q&A and book signing) sponsored by BUUF's adult education program. Both authors illuminate the importance of spirituality and social conscience in realizing a just and sustainable world.

In Search of the Lost Feminine: On Friday, December 8, from 7-9 p.m., you're invited to a book reading, signing, and lively discussion of a new book, In Search of the Lost Feminine, by author Craig Barnes. His astonishing treatise explains the mysterious disappearance of ancient cultures in which women and the environment were at the center, a loss that has dramatically influenced 3,500 years of Western history. Delving into the historical questions posed by the best seller The Da Vinci Code, Barnes traces the archaeological and societal forces that shaped our current culture of misogyny and glorification of war, with surprising revelations at every turn.

Refreshments will be served. There is no registration fee, however we suggest a donation of $5 to help cover our expenses. For more information call Mason Morfit or Jane Bunker at (508) 424-8025.

The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community: Mark your calendar for Friday, January 19, from 7-9 p.m. in the sanctuary. David Korten, author of the international best seller When Corporations Rule the World and co-founder of YES! A Journal of Positive Futures will speak about the choices facing humanity if we are to realize a just and sustainable global society. His most recent book, The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community, weaves history, science, economics, politics, and spirituality into an empowering vision of possibility for the 21st century and beyond. Korten was a featured speaker at the Unitarian Universalist Association's 2006 General Assembly in St. Louis and will lead a Great Turning panel and community dialogue at the 2007 GA in Portland. The registration fee is $10. To register send your check to the BUUF office or stop by the adult education information table at the rear of the sanctuary. For more information, phone Mike Philley at 378-1714.

Classic Readers

On December 6, 2006, BUUF Classicists will gather to discuss Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. Call Lorel Case at 376-3188 for details.

Return of Ministry Lunches!

Rev. Elizabeth Greene and the Committee On Ministry

Mark your calendars! Elizabeth and the Committee On Ministry are resurrecting the popular practice of two no-host lunches a month, where everyone is invited, to chat about anything we might have on our minds. (Elizabeth sometimes poses a question.) Hoping to lure all you workers, we hold one on the east side of town, and one on the west.

Tuesday, Dec. 12, 11:30-1:00, International Chinese Restaurant, Glenwood close to Chinden.

Wednesday, Dec. 20, 11:30-1:00, Washington Group cafeteria, Park Blvd just past Broadway. (Enter by the fountain, park, and go into the doors closest to the fountain.

We have had excellent conversations about all kinds of things—hope to see you there.

The Other Book Club

Harriet Shaklee

Join BUUF members and friends for the Other Book Club on December 10 to discuss of A Black Englishman by Carolyn Slaughter. The group meets at 7pm at the home of Judy Quattrone, 308 W. Thornberry in Boise. Call 395-8856 to RSVP. For those who like to read ahead, the meeting on January 14 will feature Body and Soul by Frank Conroy.

December Sages

Tom von Alten

Our Senior Sages meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month (usually) at the Kopper Kitchen on Airport Way, for a no-host breakfast and a variety of thought-provoking presentations and discussions. All are welcome! (We do not check birthdays, which is how I snuck in.)

This month, we have just one meeting, Dec. 14, at 9:30am. The topic is "Whistle While You Work?" John Harms tells of the blighted life of a whistleblower.