EVERGREENE
Reverend Elizabeth Greene
I am on vacation in July, but am coming back on the weekend of July 17-19, to participate in the Maitreya Project's Sacred Relics tour. The Maitreya Project's website says:
A unique and precious collection of more than 1,000 sacred Buddhist relics will be permanently displayed in the Heart Shrine of the completed Maitreya Buddha statue in Kushinagar. Meanwhile, it is the wish of the Spiritual Director of the Maitreya Project, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, that the collection should travel throughout the world to bring the blessings of the relics and the message of loving-kindness to people everywhere.
We were fortunate enough to host this splendid spiritual event a few years ago, and many, many of us were deeply moved by being close to ancient relics, and to reverent people who are devoted to their religious practices and to creating a better world.
They were inclusive enough to ask me to join other clergy and teachers, from many traditions, in blessing visitors. It was one of the most moving events of my ministry.
If you go to the Maitreya website you will find out much information about this wonderful project, and you can find details of the Boise visit. If you come, you will at the very least learn some extremely interesting things about another religion. You will observe the reverence a devout people brings to its spiritual practice. And your soul and heart may be moved.
President's Message
Dale Winke, Board President
I think that it is important to thank Sue Philley, our outgoing President, and Jim Geddings, our outgoing Treasurer for their dedicated service to our Congregation. Luckily, their involvement will continue in other important roles as we move forward.
Sue has left me REALLY BIG shoes to fill, but honestly, I have never been much for used, hand-me-down footwear. As important as leadership is in any organization, and as important as leadership has been the last year here at BUUF, and will be in the years to come, I do believe that the year ahead of us will indeed be your year; the year of the Congregation! As Sue pointed out in her closing remarks last month we have a FULL slate of tasks ahead of us in the coming year:
- A Fellowship retreat for planning a "Living Community"
- Changes to our Sunday Services
- Implementation of new organizational and calendar scheduling processes and the establishment of a Program Council structure that has been years in the making
- And perhaps most significant, a critical and tonally setting Annual Budget Drive combined with a Capital Campaign
And those are just the headlining events. As you well know, there are always a multitude of events and tasks throughout the year at BUUF which garner our attention and commitment, along with a surprise or two.
Leadership can do a lot of things; we can plan, educate, meet, and yes lead—but in the end it takes each and every one of us, through our financial and service commitments, to make it all happen, and to make BUUF thrive. There is no doubt that we have challenges left over from days gone by and some we have yet to find, but we are also full of abundant promise.
I am here to do, to help, to listen, and when needed, to get the heck out of the way. Enjoy your summer. Be sure to attend the great Sunday services. And when September arrives, please, be ready to answer the call when you are asked to get involved!
So say we all!
RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION
Boston Bounders & Library Committee say Thanks!
The Library Committee and the Boston Bounders want to thank everyone for turning out to support our fundraising used book and game sale this spring. You all made it a great success and we appreciate everyone who came by to purchase books for summer reading and those who donated books and items to be sold. We had a wonderful variety of sale goods and we hope you are all enjoying your new books. The Library was able to purchase several new books that will be on our shelves soon. A list of titles will be in the black binder labeled "new titles" next to the Book Return basket and Check-Out Folder. We have new titles for parents and children in the Family section; Mason Olds' book on humanism in America; and a history of the fellowship movement and a volume on small group ministry in the UU section. Thanks again for helping to add new books to the Library's shelves and funds for our Boston Bounders to have a successful trip!
BUUF Youth
Congratulations to Everett Smith and Riley Jacks, their individual soccer teams won the State Championship and went on to Regionals. Elia Sherman Has been cast as Annie In Boise Little Theater's Production of Annie Jr July 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 at 7pm and July 26 and Aug 1 at 2:00 pm. Tickets available through BLT 342-5104 or www.boiselittletheater.org.
COMMITTEES
Adult RE – Study Group
The Adult Religious Exploration Study Group meets on the 1st and 3rd Sundays throughout the summer, at 11:30 in the 1st/2nd Grade Room in the North Wing (with the exception of July 19 when the Buddhist Relics Tour is here). Currently our topic is "Exploring Jesus." All are welcome!
Fundraising News
Claudia Fernsworth, Team Leader
New Team Member Needed: Pat Snider has been a diligent team member for two years. We gratefully thank her for her always helpful input and willingness to "do what needs to be done". She will no longer be able to be on the planning team, but plans to be as loyal a helper as she has been since coming to BUUF. So there is room for a new team member. If you are up for helping plan, and working at, our fundraising events- this is the job for you! Meetings are generally on the first Mondays of September, December, January and February at Kathy Hall's home, near the Mall. The next meeting will be September 7 at which will work on details of the November Silent and On-Line Auction and find out what the needs are for the September Partner Church event.
Items Needed for November Silent & Online Auction
We will be accepting donations of services or anything suitable for a Christmas gift—not only the baskets mentioned in the June newsletter. If you can donate an item or service, or if you know of a business that may be willing to donate, contact me at 853- 1526. We will be able to post photos and descriptions of items on-line thanks to the expertise of Matthew Sabin. More later.
SOCIAL ACTION
Habitat for Humanity Build Scheduled for October
Everyone at BUUF should be proud that we have received Certification from the Unitarian Universalist Association for our congregation's work in creating a Green Sanctuary here at BUUF. One of our larger projects was helping the Boise Valley Habitat for Humanity in building their first "green" house. With our continued help they will be "thinking green" in all of their new homes.
Thanks to your generosity, BUUF donated $1000 to the Boise Valley Habitat for Humanity as our April Outreach. If you would like to contribute your time and effort as well, we will need 10 people to help build a home on Saturday, October 10, and again on Saturday, October 17. No experience is necessary. We will also need someone to provide lunch for 25 people (our own volunteers and others) on both dates.
To reserve your space please contact Wanda Jennings @ 362-7563 or .
ReStore sells new and used residential home improvement materials for that summer do-it-yourself project at prices up to 50% below retail. All proceeds support Boise Valley Habitat for Humanity in building affordable housing in Ada County. ReStore is located at Five Mile and Overland. Volunteers are needed to help in the store, and the store accepts donations of new and used building and home improvement materials that are clean and in working condition. Call ReStore at 375-5256.
If you live in the west end of the valley, the Canyon County Habitat for Humanity office, along with its ReStore, is located at 5214 E. Cleveland Blvd., Suite C, in Caldwell, phone 459-1758.
BUUF Helped Paint the Town
On June 13, BUUF's 21-member Paint the Town Team joined effort with some 90 teams across southwestern Idaho to paint the homes of senior and disabled homeowners.
Our fellowship's mission includes making Unitarian Universalism a vital presence in our community. The Paint the Town effort is in its 27 year of extending a helping hand in communities around the Treasure Valley and is an ideal place for BUUF to pitch in and make its presence known.
Members of the BUUF team worked for two weeks prior to paint day, preparing the home for its new coat of paint. When the project was complete, the homeowner and the team were delighted with the result. Team members got to know each other better and had a fun time working together.
Plate Offering for July & August
BUUF has chosen the Boise Bicycle Project (BBP) to receive the July/ August social justice plate collection. The BBP is a volunteer organization described in their own mission statement as "a community oriented effort to promote the personal, social, and environmental benefits of bicycling. It functions as a bicycle recycling center as well as a free educational workspace in a diverse and non-threatening atmosphere."
The BBP provides educational opportunities with hands on experience and
access to the specialized (and in many cases expensive) tools used for
bicycle maintenance. One major focus of the BBP is kids; they provide
children's bikes and helmets at no charge and have hosted several
programs aimed at providing young people with information regarding safe
cycling. Not just focusing on children, the BBP strives to provide bikes
to all people regardless of income and has already provided more than
four hundred bicycles to local refugee and homeless organizations.
The group has a membership option available ($40- $100) which grants access to the tools and space of the shop for a full year, but for those without the means to pay for the services there are alternative options. There are opportunities to exchange service for access, including the Earn A Bike program, where an individual volunteers time in exchange for use of the shop and parts to build their own bicycle.
By salvaging useable parts and recycling the remaining metal the BBP has already kept hundreds of bikes out of landfills. At the same time these parts provide transportation to those who may not have access otherwise, while encouraging bicycling as a viable (not to mention fun, empowering, and environmentally conscious) mode of transportation for everybody.
The BBP accepts bikes and parts both functional and fixable. Donations are accepted on Mondays and Wednesdays (women's wrench night) from 6 to 8pm and Saturdays from noon to 4pm at their new location, which will open in July. Donations made to the BBP are tax deductible, so if you have a lonely or neglected bike sitting around consider giving it a chance to feel the wind in its spokes again. Because just as every body deserves a bike and every bike deserves a body!
BUUF ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
Cool Group Chalice Circle
The Everyday Spirituality and Meaningful Rituals Chalice Circle meets the second and fourth Sundays at 11:30 throughout the summer. (It is nicknamed "the Cool Group" because we always say "that was so cool" afterward!) Our goal is to incorporate meaningful rituals into our lives to enhance our spirituality. Newcomers are welcome.
Chapter of UUJME Forming
A BUUF chapter of the Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East (UUJME) is forming, with the goal of "working for a peaceful and just resolution of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, including a settlement affirming the equality, dignity, freedom and security of all peoples involved" and to educate ourselves and the community. See www.uujme.org for information. If you are interested in participating, (we need at least two other people to form a chapter!) contact Debbie Espen at with UUJME in the subject line.
Sage Quotations
Tom von Alten
Posterity doesn't always remember things the way they actually were, and we're left to sort out the remains. This month, BUUF's Senior Sages will consider two of our more durable sources of wisdom, and the baggage they've been made to carry. On July 9, Bob Olson will talk about Bart Ehrman's book, Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why, and on July 23, Cal Peterson will talk about the 85 essays signed by "Publius," which we now know as the Federalist Papers.
The Sages meet at 9:30am on second and fourth Thursdays at the Kopper Kitchen (2661 Airport Way) for a nohost breakfast and a lively discussion. All are welcome, and no reservation is needed.
BUUF Mom's Night Out (aka, "The BUUFonttes) is back!
Need a break from the kids? This is a great opportunity to get out of the house, treat yourself to a nice dinner (no dishes!), and meet with other BUUF moms once a month.
We'll be rotating between "fine dining" and "casual dining," 4th Tuesdays at 6:00PM at a location to be determined by the group.
We're on Facebook! Check us out and join in to get invitations to each month's scheduled activities. (If you're not a Facebook member, please let us know, and we'll make sure you get the information for planned activities.)
Contact People:
Deanna Crowder @ 208.713.7781 or , or Julie Morgan @ 208.371.1271 or .
Come join the mommas of BUUF for the revival of BUUF-MNO! Next meeting July 28, 6pm, location TBD.
What Does It Mean to Be a Humanist?
BUUF Humanist Group
At the June meeting, Bill White had us all thinking about this question as he presented his ideas about humanism, the interaction of science and religion, and the future of our species. Please join us as we continue to explore what it means to be a humanist during our monthly meeting at 11:00 AM on Sunday, July 12, in the Junior High class room, which is next to the library. During the meeting, we will prepare for our Sunday service presentation August 16. Please bring your readings, poetry, personal thoughts and experiences, music, art, and anything else that for you answers the question of what is humanism/a humanist. The BUUF Humanist Group meets on the second Sunday of each month at 11:00. Those wishing to join our email reminder list or desirous of more information may contact Rick Groff or Jeanette Ross.
Our Cosmic Story
Jeanette Ross
Those who would like to prepare for a visit to BUUF this fall from authors Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow will find volumes in the BUUF library and in records of an original RE class offered in the past program year. I developed a fall series, "Our Sacred Place" and a spring unit, "Habitat" based on an exciting new field of interest in the UUA.
In February 2006 I was inspired by a workshop at PNWD, presented by University Unitarian Church of Seattle. Their class used National Geographic and other science-based resources plus popular accounts by Brian Swimme and others, including Dowd and Barlow to create a sense of belonging to the cosmos. Puppetry, pantomime, and a 'passport' for intergalactic travel were just a few of the innovative ideas for a team of teachers.
This program encouraged me to support our Walk Through Time with a similar class with local focus. Members of the landscape committee and other volunteers have participated in our own version of this program, uniting sacred stories from many cultures with snapshot views of evolutionary science and hands-on activities.
We'll continue! Those with particular specialties or interests are urged to contact Jeanette Ross or our RE Director, Emmie. You can contribute and learn something new at the same time; for instance, you can experience your body as a timeline of earth's history.
New Star in Landscape!
Congratulate John Jacobsen on his new status as Master Gardener. This is no small feat: it took 16 weeks (October 16 to March 23) of half-day school. That, plus 50 hours of volunteer time at the University of Idaho either working outside in the landscape or four hour shifts in the office answering questions and diagnosing plant or insect problems from samples people brought in. He had to attend at least three workshops, but he went even further and did four: fruit tree pruning, grape vine pruning, xeriscaping, and the Idaho Horticultural Symposium.
Before he started the Master Gardener program, John had been an important force in BUUF's landscape, attending committee meetings and being part of the work of maintaining our landscape. With these added credentials, he is all the more valuable. (Note: he is also incredibly patient in sharing info and offering solicited advice) Well deserved kudos to you, John!
Ribbet! Ribbet!
Jolene Schow
Jeremiah was a bullfrog
He was a good friend of mine
I never understood a single word
he said
But I helped him drink his wine
Leap, run, walk, stroll, meander, lollygag, or just sit around. During your exploration, you might hear some of the critters that live in Jeremiah's Adventure Garden (JAG). It's the home of ducks, crickets, butterflies, earthworms, red-winged blackbirds and even bullfrogs. What others do you see or hear? Please send me your list ( ).
After you cross the Troll Bridge into JAG, go to your left and you can "go round the Mulberry bush" (OK, it's a tree). Sing the mulberry song, make up your own words, name the tree, or just look at the fuzzy buds.
There is a lucky clover patch by the bench so that you can look for a lucky 4-leaf clover. They are hard to find, but when you do, you'll be lucky for life if you keep it! In the meantime, don't you think you're lucky just being outdoors and enjoying the beautiful grounds at BUUF?
It won't be long until the butterfly forest will be blooming. When it does, notice there are white, pink, lavender, purple and dark purple flowers—16 different varieties showing diversity in nature. They're all the same kind of plant, but all different. Think of this when you look around at people in your life and think of the beauty this diversity of people brings to the world. Wouldn't it be boring if we all looked the same? And when you're in the garden, watch for all the different kinds of butterflies and birds drawn to the fragrant flowers.
Answers to puzzles in last month's newsletter:
- Who lived on Privet Drive? HARRY POTTER
- What does the maze spell out? The name of the garden -- JEREMIAH
- How much does the tunnel at the end of the maze weigh? ABOUT 2000 lbs. -- A TON!
- What do the roses and pyracantha in the Briar Patch have in common? They are both very thorny, they both have berries that the birds like, and they protect birds and small creatures that can crawl into them, away from predators.
- The waterfall is named Twin Falls because Patrick Schow (who helped design the garden) grew up in Twin Falls.
Things are "hopping" in Jeremiah's Adventure Garden this summer, so have FUN exploring!
WIDER COMMUNITY
The Buddhist Relic Tour is Returning
BUUF will again be the venue for this popular tour, organized by the local Eclipse Foundation and through the Bridge Event Center.
July 17, 18 & 19, 2009
Friday 7pm Private Opening Ceremony
Saturday & Sunday 10am to 7pm Public Viewing
Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, North Wing
6200 N Garrett, Garden City, ID 83714
Event Coordinator LiAnne Hunt, Eclipse Foundation (208 629-6363, email:
For Information Contact Marrissa Keith at (208) 344-4345 or .
Websites: eclipseweb.org, maitreyaproject.org
No entrance charge, donations welcome
Rainbow Spiritual Retreat
Pilgrim Cove Camp in McCall, Idaho
A safe spiritual weekend for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, questioning and allied people of faith sponsored by the United Church of Christ and co-hosted by the Metropolitan Community Church. Individuals, couples, families, children and youth of the LGBTQA community will join in meals, morning worship, a variety of workshops, discussion and reflection groups, swim, canoe, kayak, sail, evening worship and campfires, and fun activities.
$75 family of 4- parent(s)/youth, $65- per couple, $50 per individual
To register or for more information: 344-5731 or http://rainbowidahoucc.synthasite.com/
