BUUF News – January 2010

Contents

EverGreene

Reverend Elizabeth Greene

Here are questions I'd love to see each of us ponder, this coming year: "What does it mean to have genuine ownership in a congregation? If I feel that I am part 'owner' in our Fellowship, how will that affect my attitudes, my feelings, my speech and my actions?"

It doesn't matter if we are long-term members, friends, shorter-term members, or even occasional visitors. If we get something out of the UU church in Boise, we can have pride and gladness that BUUF is here. If we are happy and proud that an embracing faith stands strong in our Valley, we will feel some sense of ownership. If we find that sense of ownership in our hearts, we ask ourselves what it means to each of us.

Maybe it means reaching out to those we don't know, especially the strangers in our midst. Maybe it means committing to bring our children regularly, that they might learn reverence, respect, confidence. Maybe it means deciding to volunteer, if we haven't been: making coffee, reading for a service, cleaning up, teaching, helping on a committee or task force.

Maybe, above all, it means finding the love in our hearts and acting on it. The late Rev. Forrest Church reminds us, "The one thing that can't be taken from us, even by death, is the love we give away before we go."

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

To Whom It May Concern

Judy Frederick

Such a distant phrase that is. It is how we address a missive to someone we do not know: relationships buried in time, distance, or lack of history. So anchored are we in our small experience of time that it is easy to miss the threads trailing all around us. When we recognize a thread and pick it up to weave into our own story, we find ourselves part of a much larger tapestry.

In our peripatetic culture we often find ourselves braided apart from our roots in many ways, both by circumstance and choice. Perhaps that is what we seek when we enter a community such as BUUF—that sense of being part of something larger than ourselves. I suspect it reflects an ancient desire to be part of a tribe.

What to do with this primal drive? We can commit to a tribe, not as a traveler just passing through, but as a weaver who takes up the threads. We do it when we learn and celebrate together and when we come to say goodbye to one of our own. We weave with every conversation held, every meeting attended, and every investment of time, talent, and treasure. The placing of a boulder 'just so'. The grounds mowed, the chairs stacked. Making out a pledge.

Children walk across a bridge and play in a playhouse they did not build. We meditate in a grove of cottonwoods that grew long ago. A simple pasture is now our beautiful grounds. It is a curious evolution.

When we just keep showing up, keep picking up those threads and weaving ourselves into the tapestry, a wonderful thing happens; we find our tribe.

So what will we plant for those who come after us? The ones we will never know?

To whom it may concern ...

Funding Our Dreams and Vision

The Stewardship Committee has exciting plans for the combined capital and annual budget campaign this spring.

We met with Mary Gleason, our UUA consultant, the first of November and generated a lot of enthusiasm and great ideas to celebrate the wonders of our fellowship. Mary will be returning to BUUF the week-end of December 11-14 to talk with a sampling of members and friends to gather information to help BUUF leadership determine financial opportunities and goals for the spring activities.(By the way, UUA is funding Mary's visit for the December week-end study.)

Last June, the congregation overwhelmingly voted to include a capital campaign to relieve the pressure from our annual operating budget by greatly reducing, or possibly eliminating, our mortgages. Wow, think of the possibilities in our vision that can become realities.

Yes, that's our direction and what the Stewardship Committee has been up to. Stay tuned for more exciting developments after the holidays.

RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION

Musings from our Wondrous Wings

Emmie Schlobohm, Director of Religious Exploration

"Throughout your life there's a voice that only you can hear. It's a call to the true value of your life - a call to make a difference that only you can make. If you never hear it, something magical will be lost. But if you hear it and heed it, then your life will become a wonderful romance and adventure. Now is the time. Jump in. Make a splash. Change the world." (As seen on a book in a Starbucks store - no author cited

Lately, the universe has been sending me little packages in various forms. Promotional writings on the covers of books catch my eye. Lead in "hooks" for upcoming radio program interviews make me stop and listen and look them up on the internet when I get to a computer. Memories of what I said when I was 18 pop into my head and resonate. I think someone is trying to tell me something. The interwoven theme of all these messages is one of changing the world by paying attention to inner voices and following my heart. I'm listening and following my heart's lead and it all brings me here to our beloved community.

Our BUUF community is filled with compassionate loving souls who are here because we feel that this is where our people are and this is where we feel whole. We come to be together with each other to change the world one person, one smile, one hug at a time. We are all blessed to have found this community and to be embraced and nurtured by the caring, hard working, passionate, and joyful souls of this sacred place. My heart sings out loud to know that we are on this journey and adventure together!
Namaste

Guest at Your Table Donation

Please return your box and contents or make your donation either January 10 or January 17. The boxes and donations of children and youth will be collected in their RE class. Adults can give their box or donation to Becky Groff at the table in the entryway. Gifts of $100 or more are eligible to be matched, dollar for dollar, doubling your good works!

You can contact Becky at 336-4921 or .

Through advocacy, education, and partnerships with grassroots organizations, the Unitarian Unversalist Service Committee (UUSC) promotes economic rights, advances environmental justice, defends civil liberties, and preserves the rights of people in times of humanitarian crisis.

Sharing your blessings through Guest at Your Table ensures that the UUSC's human-rights work continues and builds its membership. Membership is vitally important because UUSC receives no Unitarian Universalist Association or government support.

COMMITTEES

Coffee Free Worship Services

In an effort to increase the spirituality of our services we are asking that you help us to keep our worship services Coffee Free. (Plenty of time to enjoy hospitality after the service, of course!)

BUUF Needs You!

Do you have experience or expertise in marketing or publicity?

The publicity committee is dedicated to getting the word our about BUUF and its programs. We are a small committee (three people) without particular expertise in marketing or publicity. We want to expand our program, and we could use some guidance and advice from someone with those skills. If you are that person, please contact Jay Wechselberger at 871-3765 or . Thanks!

Program Ministry Council Begins

Cathy Carmen

There are always 1,001 things going on at BUUF and a new way to assist the committees in their good works is the newly formed Program Ministry Council. To get an idea of how it is structured, please see the BUUF website for the organizational chart. It is in the About Us section, under Board & Staff, see the left column under Related Links. The Program Ministry Council appears in purple on both the first and second pages under the Programs heading. Paul Schlobohm and I, Cathy Carmen, are co-chairs of the newly formed council and its vision is: Increase effectiveness of lay ministry programs at the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (BUUF), with a mission of:

1. Provide opportunities for congregational participation
2. Develop creative, functional programs that benefit the church community
3. Enhance the coordination, communication, and collaboration for committees and task forces and
4. Support Team Leaders in their work with committees and task forces.

Now, what does that all mean? Have you ever served on a BUUF committee and needed some assistance in recruiting members? The Program Ministry Council can help! Have you ever wondered how to access and use the talents of another committee to enhance the work you're doing on yours – say, how to do more Social Justice work in the area of Children and Adult Religious Exploration/Education? The Program Ministry Council can help you (and others!) make those connections.

We are currently working to recruit Team Leaders for the six positions on the PMC with a goal of hosting our first meeting in January. If you are interested in getting involved or just want to know more about what we doing, please contact Paul Schlobohm ( ) or Cathy Carmen ( ). We're excited to get started!

HELP WANTED

Be Part of Our Worship Services

Each worship service takes many hands to make light work. Your hands are needed in a small way every once in a while. Please look for the Worship Service sign-up sheet (on the end of the snack table) and help us by being a greeter, a reader, by making coffee and cleaning up, or by being a song leader. Remember, we're all in this together. We appreciate your help. You can also sign up by calling or e-mailing Wanda Jennings at 362-7563 or .

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Voices from the Shelter

Nancy Rice

The Social Justice Plate offering this month is the Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Services. In December many of you made generous donations to the shelter and all were appreciated. In November, you willingly gave many wonderful items for the Family Shelter. Our final gift to this valuable community service will be January plate donations.

Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Services is a collaboration of people of faith and people of conscience who have joined together to shelter and serve individuals and families with children who are experiencing homelessness in Boise, Idaho. Beginning in 2005, Interfaith Sanctuary operated an emergency winter shelter for two seasons and served over 700 men, women and children. In the fall of 2007, Sanctuary was able to purchase a 10,200 sq. foot building in downtown Boise and opened for year-round shelter and supportive services on November 1, 2007. In the first year of operations, Sanctuary served almost 1,000 individuals.

Whether it's a cold winter night or a warm summer evening, the number of nightly residents range from 130 to 145 and have reached as high as 160. We are a community shelter that is operated by only five paid staff and over 60 community and resident volunteers each week! Because of this your generous donations and volunteering is invaluable.

This month, please designate your plate offerings to Interfaith Sanctuary. I guarantee the money is needed and will be used for people who are truly in need.

BUUF ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Our National Survey of BUUF

In May, 2009, many of you took part in a survey of the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship compared with other churches in America given by the U.S. Congregational Life Survey. The results are in and you can view them by going to www.uscongregations.org

You will see a green strip where you can login to access our results. Send an email to to request the login and password.

We think you will find the results to be interesting. Elizabeth will be speaking on the results of this survey in January.

CCT Life Skills Training Pronounced "Big Success"!

Yes, we talk a bit differently here on the Congregational Care Team, but our annual Life Skills Training Session on November 7 was definitely a hit with the eighteen people in attendance. We enjoyed excellent interactive presentations by BUUF's own Board President Judy Frederick, multi-talented speaker Cherie Buckner-Webb, and a wrap-up by the Reverend Greene, who'll be glad to see you when you haven't got a prayer.

Of course, she'll be happy to give you one, but the first person to identify the song, singer, and the "Rev. Greene" in the original reference gets a free CCT greeting card, as well as a prayer!

We are happy to welcome Joe Jeffery to our team and to welcome Teresa Wood back, following her California adventure (hey, that sounds like a good name for a theme park)!

Finally, during this holiday season remember that charity starts at home, so please include the BUUF Food Pantry and our Pay It Forward Fund on your gift list.

Partner Church News

Gwyn Reid

The January meeting of the Partner Church Committee will be on the second Monday, January 11 at 5:45 PM (We'll go back to the 1st Monday of the month in February).

If you're thinking of joining the travelers going to visit our partner church in July, please contact Mary Schwartzman right away. (There's more information about the July pilgrimage to Transylvania and Budapest on our website.)

Thanks to everyone who donated to the Balazs Ferenc Heritage Trust as part of the December offertories. We hope to have the total amount raised in time for the February newsletter.

New UU Class Offered Again Soon

Would you like to learn more about Unitarian Universalism? Are you thinking about becoming a member of BUUF? Then the New UU class is for you! This class will offer you the opportunity to meet other newcomers, church leaders, and members. It will provide you with some history, and give you a glimpse into the inner workings of the Unitarian Universalist Association and of BUUF in particular. It will also reveal the many ways you might become involved in the life of this community.

The New UU is the first step toward membership required in the Path to Membership approved by the board. But, even if you don't plan to join right away, the class is fun and informative.

This time around, the class will be offered on two successive Saturdays: January 16 and January 23, 2010, from 9:30 am until about 2:00 pm. For more information you can contact Membership chair, Jay Wechselberger, at 871-3765 or .

Remember the Coffeehouse Beat?

It's time to relive it again here at BUUF for the Fellowship Fun Night, January 9 6pm!

Here's an opportunity for members and friends to share their talents in a popular "potpourri" format of entertainment, and for listeners to enjoy an intimate evening of music, poetry, dance, comedy, or storytelling. If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Harms at either or 658-1710.

Listeners, mark your calendars now and plan to bring friends along with a potluck dish to share at the beginning of the evening. We'll have a movie for the younger crowd. So we'll see you where you can cool it and get with the bits and hip with the illuminations. You'll be on cloud nine and get real gone on the cats that'll perform. And if you get to cookin' you're welcome to like get crazy man and lay on fat city with your own beats. The only bread you'll need is donation for drinks. We'll have an interpretation of the "beat generation" by Blake Olsen. So don't be a cube, make the scene! Turtlenecks, bongos, and berets optional.

Ministry Lunches

The Committee on Ministry

Would you like a little time for casual chat with our minister, Elizabeth Greene? Here's how: the Committee on Ministry sponsors two no-host lunches a month, to which everyone is invited. There is no agenda - you bring your ideas, questions, sharing, or whatever, and Elizabeth is there as part of a convivial luncheon gathering. January times:

Tuesday, Jan. 5, 11:30 AM, Fortune Wok, Glenwood near Chinden

Friday, Jan. 22, 11:30 AM, URS cafeteria (previously Washington Group, even more previously Morrison-Knutson), 1750 Front; cross Broadway from eastbound Connector, enter doors behind fountain

Join us!

Other Book Club

Mark your calendars for the following book club discussion. January 10 we will be discussing the Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. We will be meeting at the home of Kathy McGowan, 3496 Holl Dr, Eagle. Her phone number is 939-7215 for more information.

Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie is our book for February. Watch for date and location of discussion in weekly announcements. The Help by Kathryn Stockett is our book for March followed by Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof in April.

Happy Reading.

Winter and its Comforts

Jeanette Ross

What's special about holidays in the dark? What, far back in human history, has made them holy days? For our December monthly meeting the BUUF humanists considered the ancestry of Christian holiday symbols, and shared those we treasure, irrespective of their most familiar assigned meanings. Jeanette prepared a handout detailing many Christmas symbols and can offer a copy to those interested.

For our next meeting, Sunday January 17, we will open the portal to the future, under the friendly eye of Janus, and talk about whatever we like. You can expect a lively open discussion. We meet at 11am in the BUUF library. For more information, contact Rick Groff or Jeanette.

Classicists Read Maggie

BUUF Classicists have begun reading Stephen Crane's Maggie — Girl of the Streets in preparation for their February 9 discussion. Call Lorel Case (376-3188) for details.

Sage Epiphanies

Tom von Alten

The BUUF Senior Sages begin their umpteenth year of jolly semi-monthly get-togethers, on January's 2nd and 4th Thursdays (the 14th and 28th this month), for a 9:30am no-host breakfast at the Kopper Kitchen (2661 Airport Way). If you've ever been, you know it's interesting, unpredictable, and generally irreverent. January is so unpredictable, we can't tell you what's scheduled. Yet. But stay tuned. Or just take a flyer and show up for the $1.99 breakfast special. Got something to say? Give Tom a call (378-1217) or email ( ) and get with the program.

Designs of Faith

Paintings by Mark W. McGinnis

January 17 – March 4, 2010, (meet the artist, 12noon, January 17)

Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Gallery

Mark W. McGinnis is an artist and writer recently relocated to Boise, Idaho from the Southern Black Hills of South Dakota. He was a professor of art for 30 years at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The research orientation of his work has led to projects on a range of subjects including science and philosophy, literature of India and Japan, religion, economics, foreign policy, nuclear weaponry, American Indian history, and explorers of the "New World." His projects have been featured in over 125 solo exhibitions nationwide. He has published five books.

Designs of Faith is a project consisting of 12 essays and 12 canvases that explore 12 religions from an artist's perspective. The series includes Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Baha'i, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, the Dreaming of Aboriginal Australia, Hopi Religion, Ifa Divination of West Africa, and Inuit Spiritualism. In addition to the twelve 92" x 79" canvases, twelve preliminary studies were created on 20" x 17" paper. This showing consists of 11 of the original preliminary studies and one print version (Baha'i).

This exhibition is a companion to the Art, Religions, and Values Class the artist is presenting at BUUF Jan. 21- Mar. 4, 2010.

"A CAJUN NIGHT"

Get out your pen! Mark your calendar!

The AUCTION is coming... The AUCTION is coming...

Live and Silent Auction

Featuring a New Orleans Banquet and Music
Saturday February 6, 2010
Doors open at 5:30

Tickets go on sale January 10. They are just $20 each— ($25 after Jan 31)

Get them at the BUUF office, or from Gwyn or Bill Reid, Patti Nakaoki, Becky Groff or Claudia Fernsworth

This is our biggest fundraiser, so invite all of your friends and family.

Of course, help is needed—from food prep to clean up to decorations—so be sure to check the North Vestibule for the sign up sheet, or call Claudia Fernsworth at 853-1526

Donations are also needed. If you frequent a restaurant or gym or store, or if you can do any service such as child watching, cook a dessert, muffins, pies, a meal or whatever, cut hair, massage feet or bodies, fix a bike, knit or crochet or,sew, teach a skill, build a dog house or play structure, give a tour, go shopping, etc.—just fill out a donation form found in the North Vestibule. Donation request letters are also found there.

If you have any questions, Call Claudia at 853-1526

Some of the auction items we already have:

• Certificate from Cascade Raft and Kayak
• Tickets to "Boise Baroque Orchestra" from The Nampa Civic Center
• $50 Gift certificate from 3-D Framing
• A cookie bouquet from Cookies by Design
• 10 tickets to Reel Theater discount locations

Peace, Propaganda & the Promised Land provides a striking comparison of U.S. and international media coverage of the crisis in the Middle East. Through the voices of scholars, media critics, peace activists, religious figures, and Middle East experts,  the Peace, Propaganda & the Promised Land documentary raises questions about the ethics and role of journalism, and the relationship between media and politics.

"I cannot recommend this documentary too highly. Peace, Propaganda & the Promised Land should be required viewing for every student, for every taxpayer... for every citizen in the United States." – Robert McChesney, author of Rich Media, Poor Democracy

"...the film really enlightened me ...[it] will clearly be a priceless educational tool." – Cecilie Surasky, Jewish Voice for Peace

UUJME will show this film, with Discussion following, at our meeting (open to everyone) Saturday, January 30, 4-6 PM in the Jr. High Room. Please be prompt!

PNWD & UUA

PNWD District Assembly

An Invaluable Resource for You and Your Congregation

February 19-21, 2010
Hilton Hotel, Bellevue, WA
Register soon at www.pnwd.org.

Come to the annual gathering of UUs from throughout the Northwest. Be educated and inspired to walk out into the world shining the message that our lives matter and our actions make a difference!

• See and hear Grammy award-winning entertainer Bill Harley
• Meet Rev. Peter Morales, the new UUA President
• Meet with hundreds of other Northwest UUs
• Share knowledge, experience, and resources
• Learn new skills and expand your understanding of UUism at stimulating workshops
• Be a delegate and participate in making district decisions at PNWD Annual Meeting

Above all have fun learning, laughing, and worshiping with new UU friends. For more details and on-line registration, visit the Pacific Northwest District website.