Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

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BUUF News

December 31, 2015

In This Issue
 
Sunday's Service
January 3, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m. 
Fire of Commitment, Fire Communion
Rev Sara LaWall
Rainbow chalice
A justice Sunday sermon connecting with our Plate partner for the month, BUUF's own Partner Church Boise/Mészkő Annual Scholarship Fund. We'll reflect on our own passions and commitments as we join together in a Fire Communion, letting go and setting ablaze those things in our life that no longer serve us and hold us back.

From Your Director of Religious Exploration
Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education is all About Honor, Respect and Love
(lovingly compiled from wise words of fellow religious educators around the country)
Emmi e Schlobohm, Director of Religious Exploration

Who taught you about sex? If you were lucky, a kind, understanding parent or relative told you about "the birds and the bees" and answered all of your questions as you came of age. Some people learned about intercourse in science class or sex education classes. Many found out about "it" from older siblings or peers. Still others learned through hands-on experience.
 
Our Whole Lives is an important program in the life of our congregation. Here at the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, our trained facilitators have been offering comprehensive sexuality education for seventh through ninth graders as a part of the Religious Exploration Program for over 15 years. The Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ developed Our Whole Lives (or OWL as it's known by its acronym) as a sex education program designed for congregations. This vital program is a collection of lifespan sexuality education curricula for six age groups: grades K-1, grades 4-6, grades 7-9, grades 10-12, young adults (ages 18-35), and adults. We have plans to offer the full range soon.
 
Honor your body! This is the central message in the K-1 OWL curriculum. These days, it is essential that children be informed about sexuality from an early age. Children are exposed to sexual images and language through television, movies, computers, magazines, music, and video games. Often these images portray unrealistic and sometimes dangerous messages about body image, gender roles, and promiscuity. Adults often give clues that they are uncomfortable talking openly about sex and so children often get information from unreliable sources like the Internet, magazines, or one another.
 
And along with honoring your own body, honor the bodies of others: Respect yourself and  others. This value is apparent in all levels of the curricula from kindergarten up. But         especially from 7th-9th-grade on in workshops that focus on sexuality and body awareness, gender and diversity, sexual orientation and gender identity, relationships, lovemaking, preparing for parenthood, STDs and abuse of sexuality. Respect privacy, yours and others; learn about and avoid stereotypes; learn good communication skills; choose responsible behaviors; learn about the sexual life cycle, about diversity of sexual expression; learn about power and safety; learn about the effects social media has on intimacy. Learn how to take care of you and those you care about. Yes, this is all intentionally explored in a safe caring environment where we embrace life's most intimate issues in age-appropriate ways!
 
One of the superb qualities of OWL is that a key component is about building relationships. In the lower grades the focus is on relationships between the children and their parents/guardians, so that they can have a healthy, open and honest relationship around these issues. And as the participants get older, including for adults, the conversation more pointedly shifts to communication within the self - preparation for wise decision-making - and with friends, romantic interests or partners and life partners.
 
Sexuality is not a subject to be treated lightly. For that reason, it is important that children and youth understand what it means to have a mutually respectful and mature relationship. Children and youth actually learn how to make decisions, resist peer pressure, and express themselves more clearly. These skills are essential not only when it comes to sex but in all of the challenges that they may encounter as they come of age. We cannot expect youth to be able to "just say no" without affirmation and support from caring adults and peers.
 
Love . Love of self. Love of other. Inclusive of romantic love. Inclusive of friendship love. Inclusive of familial love. And inclusive of that wider love that calls us to honor and respect ALL others, to seek to be justice makers and to be people of wide embrace - ours is an open faith, without creed or final truths. Indeed we often say, as do our United Church of Christ (UCC) cousins that, "revelation is not sealed," as Samuel Longfellow wrote, "... truth and right are still revealed."
 
As UUs, we give our children  and youth roots and wings: foundations in our UU traditions and values and freedom to discover within religious community how to live into their values with a focus on honoring their own lives and the lives of others. "Living our lives congruent with our values is never easy," the authors of Sexuality and Our Faith, the UU companion guide to OWL, write, "but when we succeed, we are rewarded with a sense of centeredness, peace and health." Centered on our UU principles, with the cornerstone - our affirmation of the inherent worth and dignity of every participant - OWL, they write, is "truly a gift of religious community." And so we gather on Sundays to worship - to consider those topics worthy of our precious time - we learn together - about things that are yet unfolding: our whole lives as sexual beings a primary concern - and we work together - among fellow UUs, among fellow religious and fellow non-religious - to build the world we dream about with love as our guide. May it always be so.
 

News From Religious Exploration
Junior High OWL Beginning this Winter!
New and improved OWL curriculum and logistics this year! We'll have three overnight retreats and our Sunday sessions will be after second service and a community lunch gathering. Also new this year, Emmie, our Director of Religious Exploration, will be facilitating a class for parents and caregivers called
Parents and Caregivers as Sexuality Educators. More info will be forthcoming right after the turn of the new year! 


Guest at Your Table Jars: Time to turn them in
Thank you for taking a jar home as a Guest at Your Table. We'll be collecting and counting the jars and their contents starting Sunday, January 3 rd  and ending on Sunday, January 10 th . Please take this time to remember and support the UUSC and the good works they do out in the greater world.


Social Justice January  Plate Partner
Boise /Mészkő Annual Scholarship Fund
Gwyn Reid
January's Plate Recipient is the Boise/Mészkő Annual Scholarship Fund
 
Photo of this month's 'tarpestry'
The Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship has had a partnership with the Unitarian congregation in Mészkő, Transylvania since 1993.  The partner church committees of both congregations work to sustain our global partnership, promoting international awareness, human rights, and a better world.  Over the years, our congregation has participated in a number of initiatives to help better the lives of our partners.  Many of these initiatives have been supported through the Social Justice plate partners program.  Since 2012, the Partner Church Plate Partner has been the Boise-Mészkő Scholarship Fund.

Education is one long-term strategy to break out of the cycle of poverty, but going to college means paying tuition and expenses of approximately $850 per year. This is beyond the reach of many families in Mészkő. One Mészkő scholar who has benefited from the scholarship is Emőke Novák, who in 2014 became the first person from our partner church to graduate from college. Emőke is now working in a call center using her skills in Hungarian, Romanian, English, and Spanish.  She is planning on completing her masters in business administration in International Hospitality and Tourism. The Boise Partner Church Committee is committed to continuing to subsidize expenses for qualifying students of the Mészkő congregation. 

The partner church committee would also like to thank Melissa (Sasi) Chambers for creating the beautiful plate partner tarpestry that honors our partner church relationship.  The tarpestry will hang in the south vestibule throughout the month of January.


 
 
Social Justice Happenings
Red Cross logo
It's time for another blood drive!
The American Red Cross will be conducting our second blood drive here at BUUF.  The date is Monday, December 25th, from 2 until 6 p.m.  You can sign up at the Fellowship. If you'd prefer, our donor page is set up at the Red Cross website, and so you can begin signing up now.  We hope to fill 18 slots, so please don't hesitate!  Sign up today!  Thank you.
Questions?  Contact Debra Smith at debra.smith999@gmail.com



The 12 Items of Christmas Continues through January 3
Last Monday our delivery to the Corpus Christi Day Shelter included many highly desirable items:
Hickory Farms sausages
Warm winter gloves
Socks, socks and more socks!
Cocoa, coffee and tea
Peanut butter and jelly
Toiletries
Thank you to all who've donated.  It's not too late to drop off more supplies.  Staff would surely appreciate getting some thermal undershirts to give to our homeless neighbors!  If you got a gift card this Christmas and you have a little left over, this would be a good way to fully use the value on the card.  


Social Justice Summit Comin g January 30th.
Learn all about how to do social justice work at BUUF!  Meet our Plate Partners and learn what good work they've done with your donations!
 
Saturday, January 30th, join Reverend Sara and the Social Justice Council as we learn of inspiring new ways to "walk the talk" of our social justice missions.  In the morning we will participate in an interactive, family-friendly workshop on finding ways large and small to bring progressive change to our community.  Then, we'll share lunch with our Plate Partners, past and present, and learn what they are doing in the community and how we can strengthen our partnerships with them.  We'll also formally introduce our new Social Justice/Volunteer Coordinator, Sara Olsen-Smith.  The event starts at 10; we'll have lunch at 12, and then participate in "speed-dating" with our Plate Partners until 2.  Please come and participate joyfully in this Social Justice Summit. "Friends, let us pray, but not too long.  Most of all, let us act."


Join UUA Common Read
Just Mercy cover image
Join BUUF for the UUA Common Read of Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson in connection with our December Plate Partner the ACLU Idaho and their Criminal Justice Coalition. Just Mercy is a powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to fix our broken system of justice-from one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time.
We'll form discussion circles in late January and early February but you can join the UU Justice & Spirit BookClub on Goodreads and start discussing this month! Books available at the book nook this Sunday, at the UUA bookstore, and all your regular retailers--also available as an e-book. (Link)

Spiritual Growth and Learning
Join Our Contemplative Practice Group
Water drop Contemplative practice (commonly called centering prayer).  Outwardly, centering prayer looks similar to mindful meditation, but varies in that it provides a word, phrase, or short reading for contemplation during a period of restful silence.  The health benefits of centering prayer are similar to other forms of meditation.  If you would like to learn more about centering prayer and/or participate in a weekly group, meet in the Balazs (senior high) room on Tuesday mornings, at 9 - 9:30 a.m. Led by Jay Wechselberger.

Mindful Meditation
If meditation is more your style, join the mindful meditation  group that meets Mondays, 6:30 p.m. in the Fahs Room, north wing. Led by Mike Philley and Rick Groff.


Partner Church Update
By Gwyn Reid
Since 1993, BUUF has partnered with the Unitarian congregation in M észkő, Transylvania.  The Partner Church committee coordinates activities that help to sustain this relationship.
Please note some upcoming events planned by the Partner Church Committee.
Sunday Service, January 17 - Partners in Community - Five BUUF members who traveled to Mészkő to participate in the dedication of the new Community House will share insights from their travels and visit in our partner village.
Travel Bugs - February 19  ---
The five BUUF members who traveled to Transylvania in July will share slides and insights from their travels to our partner village and a tour of Unitarian heritage sites.

"Food for Thought" --- A Series of three classes honoring our Unitarian Partners in Transylvania
                Thursday, March 31 (7 pm)---  Unitarian History in Transylvania  
                April 7 (7 pm) ---- Our Partnership --- Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow  
                April 23 (10 am through lunch) ----- The Transylvanian Kitchen   ($15)
More details will be provided in future newsletter articles.

Fellowship Connections

"BUUF Beach Bash"
DINNER and AUCTION - February 6, 6 pm

APPETIZERS & BUFFET DINNER
Live & Silent Auctions
Beach Bash

 
Join us for a Beach Party on February 6, and chase away the winter blues.  We'll provide the umbrellas and the palm trees. Beat the winter chill and enjoy a tropical escape, complete with appetizers, dinner, music and more! In addition to our usual dinner and auction, are you ready to dance, dance, dance?  Our own Julian Jenkins will DJ for us after the auction.
 
Donate an item or service, such as a meal in your home, a cake or pie for a special occasion, use of your cabin for a weekend, a gardening basket, your original artwork, babysitting services, housecleaning, garden maintenance or anything else you can come up with.  Ask yourself what talents or resources you could offer to help BUUF raise funds and build bonds among its members and friends.
 
Volunteers will be needed to help with tasks such as set-up, decorations, ticket-taking, and clean-up.

This is  the major fundraising event for the fellowship. 
Look for future newsletter articles and announcements.



Rev. Sara's Community Office Hours
1st & 3rd Wednesdays  #BUUFbreak
Rev. Sara LaWall
Rev. Sara will hold open office hours out in the community at different coffee houses and other fun gathering spots around town. These meet-ups are meant to be informal and open to drop-ins, a time for beverages and banter with a spiritual bent. Treat yourself to coffee, tea and a snack and enjoy the company of your minister and other BUUFers. Anyone is welcome, this is a great opportunity to introduce a friend or local activist you know to our church. Locations & times vary, check the weekly announcements and Facebook for the latest updates. For those unable to participate, you can join the fun and conversation virtually by posting a comment or photo in the Facebook comment thread and using #BUUFbreak!

January 6, 8 - 10 a.m. at
The District Coffee House, 219 N 10th St (See Map)

January 20th 2 - 4 p.m. at Rembrants Café in Eagle, 
93 South Eagle Road (See Map)
with Emmie Schlobohm, Director of Religious Exploration
Join us for a chat about Family Ministry.



Scrapbooking Opportunity
 
- History Keepers needs experienced and inexperienced scrapbookers 
to bring to completion a scrapbook record of Dana Worsnop's two years with BUUF.This is a short term commitment. People who would like to be a part of History Keepers would be welcomed, but scrapbookers would be treated as independent consultants, given full credit  for their work on the title page. 

Janelle , 891-6236, Morgaine, 473-0777, and Frank, 631-0953. 


Exploring Pagan/Nature Spirituality
On the Second Friday of the month, as usual, the Exploring Pagan/Nature Spirituality group will be exploring the pagan religion of ancient Egypt, (still followed today by individuals and by members of the Church of the Eternal Source http://www.cesidaho.org/ ). Robert Franklin will be presenting, but, as always, everyone attending can bring appropriate items for the altar, as well as any poems, songs, pictures etc. to share. Guests are welcome!
Bring warm foods for the potluck!

Friday January 8, 7 PM, BUUF Library.


Kick off the New Year with a New Vision:
growing older in your own neighborhood with a little help from your friends. . 

You're invited! JANUARY FRIEND-RAISER for Boise (& Garden City) At Home sponsored by the BUUF Congregational Care Team. 
Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016 Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship - North Wing 
6200 Garrett Street Garden City. 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Free - Open to the Public Refreshments provided. Bring a guest! Meet Boise at Home volunteers and members, learn more about the Village Concept and how we're bringing it to Boise, and raise your glass to a secure, rewarding future at home. 

RSVP by Jan. 21 to Sue Philley, 208-340-9450 or email SuePhilley@gmail.com.  


Plan Now For BUUF's Campout
Save the date - BUUF Camping 2016
We want you to get the jump on planning for next summer and BUUF camping. If you want to join the fun save August  5-6, 2016 for BUUF camping at Ponderosa State Park in McCall.  While you are at it, go ahead and let Julia Pope ( julia.t.pope@gmail.com ) or Mary Stell ( mstellmstell@gmail.com ) know that you want to reserve a spot.  Contact one of us for more details.


Classics Book Club
The Honorable BUUF Classics Club hereby solicits participation in its hearty literary
discussions.  Said gatherings shall commence at 7:00 on the following dates:
Feb 24    Tristram Shandy      at the abode of Marcia Lyons
April 27       Nana                     at Lorel Case's cottage
Speaketh with Lorel Case (376-3188) for additional 
particulars.



The Other Book Club

Come join us for lively discussion on books and other topics. We meet on the second Sunday of the month from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

However please note dates in January/February

January 31, 2016 we will be reading the Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd.  
We will meet at the home of Carol Wilke, 5186 E. Trail Wind Dr.  Boise, ID  83716          761-1769
No meeting Scheduled for February .
March 13th we will be reading  Being Mortal, Medicine and What Matters in the End  by Atul Gawande.  We will meet at BUUF in the Channing Room.
This is a nonfiction selection.  Consider what are our responsibilities to our families, communities as ageing Unitarians'.
We will select a few more books at our January meeting.  Bring your ideas.
If you would like to receive our emails contact me at  erins4960@msn.com
Future Sundays
What's Coming Up

January 10, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m. 
Radical Hospitality #2
Rev Sara LaWall
A second sermon in a series exploring the concept of radical hospitality in our church, our lives and our community.
Sharene Watsen, Celebrant
BUUF Choir, Music




District & Regional Connections
March 5, 2016
Hosted by University Unitarian Church, Seattle, WA

Pacific Northwest District (PNWD)
District Assembly & Annual General Meeting

9 a.m. - Noon
Where Do We Come From? Who Are We?
Rev. Jon Luopa, Theme Speaker

1:30 - 4 p.m.
Where Are We Going?
Pacific Northwest District Board, Facililtating Conversations
on Regionalization and Beyond

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