BUUF News – April 2007

Contents

EverGreene

Reverend Elizabeth Greene

It is spring, and new life is abounding! Besides the fabulous display of daffodils, tulips and flowering fruit trees on Jeremiah's Adventure Garden behind the Transylvanian Bridge, new things are happening in the life of our church.

You all received the "birth announcement" of the Bridge Event Center, our Fellowship's "marketing arm," aimed at letting the larger community know what a lovely place we have for weddings and other celebrations or meetings. Last night at the Board meeting, we heard a report from the Marketing Committee, an amazing group of individuals, who operate at a highly professional level. As a result of what they are doing, we can be even prouder of our congregation than we already are. Come to their Open House, and stay tuned for more.

As you will know when you read the column of our Director of Religious Education (DRE), Jennifer Thrall-Thomas, big changes are afoot in the children's religious exploration program. A church-wide problem is that we have lots and lots of room in Sunday worship at the 9 am service (which currently does not offer Sunday School), and we are overcrowded at the 11 am service. When we offered the primary children's religious education program at 9 am, we had much more even adult attendance.

So, as of this coming fall, we are returning to the old system of the main Sunday School at 9 am and multi-age offerings at 11, with the aim within a few years to offer full children's religious exploration programs at both services. We know this is a big change—in the middle of the big change of having a new DRE—so ask that we all cooperate together to make it work. Feel free to ask questions, and be sure to attend the meetings on the subject.

Happy spring to all of you. L'chaim! To life!

Wanda's Wonderings

Wanda Jennings, Board President

I have an attitude of gratitude this month. Gratitude that spring is here with all of its wondrous beauty. Gratitude for the many blessings I have been given. Gratitude that we have such a fantastic Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Gratitude for an awesome Pacific Northwest District (PNWD) Annual General Meeting (AGM) hosted by our own Fellowship here in Boise. Everyone is extremely proud of our AGM and you should be too.

If you were inspired by the AGM, think how much more you will be inspired by the General Assembly (GA) of ALL Unitarian Universalists. That's right; you have the opportunity to attend GA in Portland, Oregon June 20-24. Registration costs $285 before May 1, but if you apply by March 31, you can volunteer at GA and get your registration paid. Check it out at www.uua.org.

Four delegates will represent BUUF at GA and we would like for you to be one of them. You will vote on important issues and help make decisions on Statements of Conscience and on Actions of Social Witness. The plenary session process is fascinating as we make decisions that affect all of us. If you would like to be a delegate to GA, let me know.

Based on the advice of our Director of Religious Education and our Minister, the BUUF Board made the unanimous decision to return to offering our main Religious Education for children during the 9:00 service. We will begin this in the fall, offering combined classes for grades 1-6 during the 11:00 service and full nursery, preschool and kindergarten programming during both services.

Upcoming events at BUUF include

• preparing for Elizabeth's Sabbatical in the spring of 2008,
• a Night in Venice- our auction fun night on April 21,
• continuing our search for a new Director of Religious Education,
• creating a congregation of generous people as we prepare for our stewardship annual campaign,
• creating a covenant of Right Relationships,
• marketing our building to maximize use and income,
• BUUF's Annual Meeting on May 20.

As we continue to grow in numbers and in the programs that we provide, we need your continued support as you volunteer your time and make generous contributions. Thank you for your gifts which make this church possible!

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

Lunch With Your Minister

As we get bigger and filled with more and more programs, it is hard to find time to spend with your minister. Hence: ministerial lunches, twice a month. Once on the east side of town and once on the west side, our minister Elizabeth Greene and a member of the Committee on Ministry will be available from 11:30-1:00, for no-host lunch and conversation about whatever is on your mind. See you there!

Tuesday, April 10: International Chinese Buffet (west side of Glenwood, very close to Chinden)

Wednesday, April 25: Washington Group cafeteria (connector extension—Park Blvd—east of Broadway; enter doors behind fountain)

EnThralled with RE

Jennifer Thrall-Thomas

Spring has sprung! The daffodils are blooming being closely followed by the tulips. Gone are the days of the crocus. We enjoy the cool mornings and crisp air knowing that the lazy days of summer are just around the corner. There are changes occurring everywhere. Changes in our gardens, in our families as some prepare for their children to leave the nest. Changes in the way we will view our coming of age youth as they move in the direction of adulthood and we are preparing for change in our religious education community.

It is time to adapt to the growth we are experiencing on our Sunday morning programs for our children and youth. I am sure that many of you have noticed that the 11:00 service is full to the brim. There is hardly a seat available on any Sunday. The classrooms are abuzz with wonderful energy and activity. With all this good stuff happening, it is time to tweak the system and stretch the growing edges.

After considering the situation and discussing the opportunities, I feel it is in the best interest to move the full RE program that we currently offer at 11:00 to the 9:00 service hour. With this move, we will begin cultivating an RE program for children at the 11:00 service and expand it over time. This means that there will be full RE as you know it at 9:00 a.m. and the 11:00 will offer nursery, Pre-K-Kindergarten and a combined age class for children at 7 to 11. Over the next three years, an additional class offering will be added so that the 9 and 11 o'clock services mirror each other.

We will be offering a number of family meetings in the months of April and May to discuss the changes and address any concerns that families might have. Please watch the weekly announcements for meeting dates and times. You will also be receiving an early-bird registration form in late April so that we can assess the class numbers for the program year 2007-08 and get things ready for the new Director of Religious Education.

In the words of Charles Dubois: "The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become."

Hippity, Hoppity Easter's On Its Way

Cathy Carmen

It's that time of year we take our celebrating outside to fill our beautiful grounds with children, colored eggs and... books? That's right—this year our annual Easter Egg Hunt, takes on a new twist with all children receiving a book or two in exchange for special Bunny Money-filled eggs. The Egg Hunt will be held for children nursery age through sixth grade on Easter Sunday following the 11:00 service. Every child needs to bring a basket or bag to collect eggs in.

If BUUF members and friends would like to donate age-appropriate books, please place them in specially-marked baskets in the north and south entryways. We are looking for books with the general themes of springtime, Easter and/or Earth Day. So come, join the fun and be a part of creating a new BUUF tradition - Books for Easter!

Summer RE Coordinator Needed

The Religious Education committee is busy planning for our Children's Religious Education summer program based on the UU World Traveler's curriculum. Again this year we will hire a summer RE coordinator. The coordinator's primary responsibilities include scheduling and confirming volunteers, obtaining necessary class supplies and facilitating the chalice lighting opening ritual for each Sunday during the summer. If you are interested in learning more about this position, please contact Jennifer Thrall-Thomas, Director or Religious Education or Karen Raese, RE Elementary Program Specialist at 658-1710.

DRE Search Committee Considers the Landscape

Cathy Carmen

In the past month, the DRE Search Committee has made an extra effort to "get the word out" about the DRE position soon to be vacated in June by our own Jennifer Thrall-Thomas. We talked to visiting DREs from other UU churches at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) we hosted in February. Letters were sent out to other UU congregations in our region that are not in the Pacific Northwest District advertising the opening. We've also encouraged a few of our own members to consider applying for the position. Now the wait is on... this is the hard part for many of us. The wondering stage—a time when a big change is on the horizon, but few details are yet clear. We do know that after 8 years, Jennifer's tenure as the Director of Religious Exploration will end in June. Saying good-bye and thank you to her for building such a strong program is in order. This is one of the best ways to prepare for a successful transition to welcome a new Director - even though there are many unknowns about just who that person maybe. We truly have much to be grateful for. Also, as a committee we are considering what may happen in the event no qualified candidates are found from the pool of applicants. What are our options here and how flexible can we be in meeting the evolving needs of the RE Program? Would having more time to conduct the search improve our chances of finding someone? All these questions are on the table and more. So, stay tuned—we hope to have a better idea of where we stand by early April.

Mother's Day Brunch To Go

Thinking of a special way to treat your mom on Mother's Day? Back by popular demand, the Junior High "Boston Bounders" will be offering a lovely Brunch To Go on May 13. Brunch To Go will include your choice of quiche, assorted muffins, sparkling apple cider, fresh fruit and paper products, if needed, all packed in a pretty bag. This will serve 4-5 people. Reservations must be made in advance. Look for further details and reservation information in the order of service or call Nancy Riley (336-6545) or Carol Sevier (345-7062).

Earth Day Ideas from the Green Sanctuary

Jamie Montgomery

The Green Sanctuary Committee encourages everyone to celebrate Earth Day April 22. This modern holiday is actually one of two days during the Northern spring set aside for awareness and appreciation of the earth (the other being the Spring Equinox in March). Created in 1970 as a result of growing concern for environmental issues, Earth Day is now celebrated by over 500 million people in 175 countries. Here are some ways in which you and your family can get involved:

1. Spring Clean-Up: challenge yourself to pick up litter around your  neighborhood.
2. Plant a Tree: start a new tradition while caring for the environment.
3. Make a List: help children brainstorm ideas to reduce your family's impact on the environment. (The Environmental Protection Agency website is a great source of information.)
4. Get Outside: go for a walk, hike or ride a bike and simply enjoy the outdoors.
5. Attend an April 22 Earth Day Service.
6. Attend a BUUF Green Sanctuary Meeting on firth and third Mondays at 7 pm

Questions/suggestions/learn more? Contact Wanda Jennings (362-7563, ).

Hey, where's my UU World magazine?!

Mike Chambers

One of the benefits of membership at BUUF is a complimentary subscription to the UU World, the magazine of the Unitarian Universalist Association. The subscription fee is paid by BUUF as part of our contribution to the UUA's Annual Program Fund. According to its website the UU World "aims to help its readers build their faith and act on it more effectively in their personal lives, their congregations, their communities, and the world."

If you joined BUUF within the past two years chances are you have not received your subscription. For this, I sincerely apologize.

As the chairperson of the Membership Committee it's my responsibility to make sure new members' names and addresses are sent to the UUA. During my two years on the committee I was unaware of this responsibility until recently. The good news is that, through the efforts of Jay Wechselberger and Ed Davis, our membership records are now up to date.

Last week we contacted the UU World and were told that this is their busy data entry season and it may take up to ten weeks for our updates to be processed. The magazine is mailed on a quarterly basis and has already been mailed for winter. We have been told that all new subscriptions and address changes should be processed in time for the summer 2007 mailing in mid-May.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. My phone number is 871-5076.

Social Justice Summit

Rick Groff and Roger Sherman

BUUF has an active social justice program. Within the last six months, our congregation has served the low income/no income in various ways, combated a discriminatory constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage, and started the process of becoming a green sanctuary. Our Coming of Age group used their initiative and $100.00 to perform various social action projects in the community.

There currently is little coordination between the various social justice initiatives occurring within our congregation. The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has suggested a model for organizing social justice programs within congregations. If this model was followed, we believe our various social justice initiatives could support each other better and enhance their impact within the community.

On Tuesday, April 24 at 7:00 PM at BUUF, a meeting will be held to discuss organizing our social justice program in accordance with the model suggested by the UUA. Members of the Social Action Team, Green Sanctuary Committee, Welcoming Congregation, and our representatives to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) will be meeting together. However, we would welcome input from other members and friends. Please come and share your thoughts with us.

Outreach helps UVI

Julie Fanselow

This month, our social outreach offering will benefit United Vision for Idaho. One quarter of BUUF's non-pledged collection plate offerings in April will be given to UVI. You can write a separate check marked "social action outreach" and 100 percent will benefit the cause.

Founded in 1995, UVI is a coalition of more than two dozen organizations working together on such issues as human rights, tax policy, campaign finance reform, strong public education, good jobs, and health care reform.

Many people in Idaho have never heard of UVI, but that's because its leadership typically works in the background to help draw organizations together to work on projects and respond to pressing needs. During the state legislature's annual session, UVI plays a strong watchdog role at the capitol—often represented by program director (and BUUF member) Roger Sherman. UVI also works to develop community leaders and nurture new grassroots organizations all across Idaho.

UVI member organizations include the Idaho Conservation League, the Idaho AFL-CIO, Idaho Women's Network, Living Independence Network Corporation, the Interfaith Alliance, Mujeres Unidas de Idaho, the Snake River Alliance, and many others. In 2005, UVI received national recognition with a Leadership for a Changing World award. For more information on UVI and its work, see www.uvidaho.org.

May Friendship Day

Church Women United of Boise will celebrate May Friendship Day with a service that reaches out to women and children of our community and beyond, to those in greatest need. Find out what's being done and how much more is needed!

The service, Friday May 5, at Collister Methodist Church, 4400 West Taft in Boise, begins with a brunch at 10am, with service at 10:30. For more information, request for child care or to help, please contact Jeanette Ross, 378-1217 or .

Sunday Services

Once again we had a productive meeting on March 8, 2007, selecting hymns, choosing a topic for a Sunday that was momentarily topicless, laughing, and figuring out who we were going to assign to coordinate various Sundays so as not to overwork any one person. We are not able to assign all Sundays any longer without overworking some people. Therefore, we are putting out an emergency request for new members of the Sunday Services Committee.

This committee is an integral part of our fellowship. While it requires commitment, the time entailed is only one 2 hour meeting a month during the regular year, a summer "retreat" (this year on June 9, 2007, from 9:00am–3:00pm), and coordinating approximately one service every two months (sometimes more frequently when we have fewer people). Coordinating a service helps a person meet new people by lining up volunteers to be greeters and readers, and involves being an important part of the service by helping to select readings and contemplations. It also involves being at the fellowship on the designated Sunday, usually for both services, or until the coordinator knows all volunteers have arrived and that the necessary tasks will be completed. At the end of these Sundays I always feel happily productive.

If you would be willing to coordinate, but are not able or ready to attend the meetings, please let us know. While this arrangement is not ideal, it is functional, and with summer quickly approaching, followed by a new year that will include Elizabeth's sabbatical, it would be greatly appreciated.

Please call or e-mail either Kit Brown (343-8706, ) or Gail Haldeman (761-4604, ) to inquire as to how you could be of help.

Our Minister's 2008 Sabbatical

Debra Smith

One of my favorite plays, Our Town, ends with the stage manager looking up at the night sky, and reflecting on the hard work we do in any given day:

...Yes, it's clearing up. There are the stars—doing their old, old criss-cross journeys in the sky. Scholars haven't settled the matter yet, but they seem to think there are no living beings up there. Just chalk... or fire. Only this one is straining away, straining away all the time to make something of itself. The strain's so great that every sixteen hours everybody lies down and gets a rest.

As a culture, we Americans do not honor rest. And yet, science tells us that rest is essential to our creativity, our memories, and our health. To that end, Unitarian Universalists have a long tradition of acknowledging the restorative power of rest, by requiring that our ministers take sabbaticals. At her 20th year of service, Elizabeth is overdue for her second sabbatical (the first was in 1995), which will begin January 17, 2008, and conclude August 1, 2008.

In 1995, our congregation functioned smoothly enough that the members entered into a contract to purchase the very property on which we now make our home. This reflects true lay leadership strength and unity.

A special task force has been convened to ensure that committees are well-led, that vital pastoral duties continue uninterrupted, that we maintain a high level of worship, that volunteers and staff are appreciated, and that good communication—so vital—is maintained. That task force is composed of Kit Brown, Elaine Durbin, David Fitch, Elizabeth Greene, Gail Haldeman, Elton Hall, Karen Raese and Debra Smith, who agreed to chair the committee.

We welcome your ideas, comments and concerns. The official Sabbatical '08 Handbook will be available toward the end of the summer.

More Newcomer Greeters Needed!

While the "regular" greeters hand out Sunday Orders of Service, newcomer greeters pay special attention to visitors. Our goals are to assure that first time visitors to BUUF feel very welcomed and informed. (They're given a newcomer packet of brochures and any information they request.) We direct them to sign the guest book and assist them with "guest" name tags and also point out the "welcome to BUUF" coffee mugs. The labels and mugs are to help all of us identify newcomers, to meet and welcome them, to make their visit satisfying.

Newcomer greeters serve only 15 minutes a month. As well as being a great service to BUUF, it's fun and satisfying. Call Sandy Layser (376-8579.)

Humanist Group

Sunday, April 8, at 9:00 am the Humanists group will meet in the Senior High classroom.

We will listen to a recording by objectivist psychologist Nathaniel Branden: "What are our Spiritual Needs?" In this talk, he explores the meaning of spirituality, the misconceptions about it, and the use of the term "spiritual" in Ayn Rand's writings. Based on his many years of practice and reflection, Dr. Branden presents his own understanding of our spiritual needs and their role in our development.

Green Film Festival

In Honor of Earth Day, mark your calendars now for BUUF¹s Free Green Film Festival starting at 12:30 p.m. (after the second service) and finishing about 2:00 pm on three Sundays in April in the Junior High Room. These films will be shown, followed by a lively interactive discussion:

April 8: Who Killed the Electric Car?

April 15: Kilowatt Hours; Green is the Color of Money (about the Banner Bank Building, the first and new Platinum LEED building here in Boise) Each 50 minutes.

April 22: Is God Green? (The PBS documentary featuring the Vineyard Church) Sponsored by the BUUF Green Group. Questions? Contact Sue Philley at 378-1714.

Invitation to Newcomers

Would you like to:

• Learn about Unitarian Universalism: its history, traditions and beliefs?
• Learn about Boise UU Fellowship, about the structure and activities of the Fellowship, and ways to become involved?
• Meet others who are new to BUUF; make connections through activities and sharing spiritual journeys?

Then the "New UU" Class is for you. Beginning Monday April 9 at 7 pm at BUUF, running consecutive Mondays April 16, 23, 30, and May 7 and 14. Free. Materials provided. To register contact Jay Wechselberger, 884-3791. or e-mail . Class co-hosted by Jay Wechselberger and Debbie Espen. (If you are considering officially joining BUUF on our next Joining Day in May, it is heartily recommended that you take this course.)

Green Santuary Team Upcoming Meetings

The Greene Sanctuary Team will meet on the first and third Monday's of each month at 7:00 at BUUF.We will meet on Monday, April 2 and 16, and May 7 and 21. Everyone is welcome to join us.

Senior Sages

Tom von Alten

Every 2nd and 4th Thursday, this loosely age-affiliated group of BUUF members and friends meets at the Kopper Kitchen (2661 Airport Way) for lively discussion and a no-host breakfast. Our guest speaker on April 12 will be Professor Will Rainford of the BSU School of Social Work. His topic is sure to be provocative: "Shame of the City: Boise's failure to serve people who are homeless."

On April 26, we'll have another guest from BSU, Dr. Uwe Reischl of the College of Health Sciences, speaking on "Why is it so difficult to discuss health insurance reform?"

Richard Tarnas at BUUF

April 27 & 28

Is the collective unconscious undergoing a profound transformation that drives and confuses humanity today? Richard Tarnas believes so and explains why in his new book Cosmos and Psyche: Intimations of a New World Order.

Richard Tarnas received international acclaim for his The Passion of the Western Mind, a powerful and profound overview of the history of Western thought. Now he breaks new ground in a controversial new book that challenges our understanding of history at its very foundations, suggesting a synchronistic connection between the structure of the world and the psyche that pervades it.

"Ours is an age between world views," Tarnas writes, "a transitional era when the old cultural vision no longer holds and the new has not yet constellated." He uses the word "constellated" deliberately, because he thinks we can grasp what is happening through a new understanding of the collective unconscious in which cosmos and psyche are intimately related. Tarnas will explore such ideas and show how we are moving from an old world view to a new one in these disturbing but exciting times.

The two-day conference will be held on Friday, April 27, 7-9 p.m., and Saturday, April 28, 9am–noon and 1:30–4:30pm. The Friday session will lay the foundations of Tarnas' work and views through a presentation and question and answer period, followed by a book signing. The Saturday session will deal with main ideas in Cosmos and Psyche, inviting participants to look at history in a new and challenging light. The Friday night session will be $10 for those who pre-register and $15 at the door. The Saturday session will be $40 and $50 respectively. Pre-registration for both days is only $40.

All activities, including the two-day conference will be held at the Fellowship. For more information, vist www.psychessalon.com (or see the registration form in the PDF version of this month's newsletter.

Summer Camp for UUs

Eliot Institute, the Northwest's much loved UU summer camp, has sessions in June, July and August (and over New Year's. More on that at another time). The July session (at Seabeck on the Hood Canal) is full for this year, but space is available for the late June session (on Lake Okanagan in BC) and for August at Seabeck. Come see what all the fuss is about!

Visit EliotInstitute.org or call 206-374-2497 to learn more.

Announcing Family Town Hall Meetings...

to discuss 9 and 11 o'clock RE for fall 2007

All are welcome!

If you have questions or concerns about the changes in children's religious education for the fall of 2007, please attend one of the following town hall meetings scheduled below. Childcare will be provided.

• April 26 7:00 p.m.
• April 29 following the 11:00 service at 12:30
• May 1 7:00 p.m.

Elevator Speeches:
Journaling Your Way To Clarity Adult Religious Education Class

In an Adult Religious Education class in spring, 2006, members wrote their "elevator speeches," in response to the following hypothetical situation: if a person gets on an elevator with you, notices your flaming chalice pin, asks about it, and you only have a few floors to explain the Unitarian Universalist faith, what do you say?

Elevator Speech—Jennifer Thrall-Thomas

I was drawn to Unitarian Universalism when my husband and I were searching for a religious community for our family. I have found it to be inclusive and embracing, and I was especially attracted because of the acknowledgement that there are many paths to the hold and that one path may be too narrow to define the divine. In addition, UU core values call one to work for justice in the world, and that matches one of my own values. Unitarian Universalism is a dynamic religion that requires acceptance, thought and action throughout ones life.