Nancy will explore why we believe whatever it is we believe. And what does it mean to be Unitarian. She will talk about the metamorphosis of her own beliefs. Wanda Jennings, Service Coordinator. Bruce Dowlin, Music.
Margaret Fuller was an amazing 19th-century woman, whose life and thought can inspire us. Elizabeth & Elton will present her words & some reflection. Nancy Harms, service coordinator.
Janine Larsen, our Pacific Northwest District Executive, will speak with us about our vision, as we move into the final years of Elizabeth's ministry. Bill Hoffman, service coordinator.
Each time BUUF members visit with our partners in Mészkõ, our relationship is discovered in a new way. Alan and Mary Schwartzman, and Ed and Irene Rush traveled to Mészkõ last summer. For Mary, it was her fourth trip. Alan, Irene, and Ed were there for their first visit. Come learn how the visit affected each traveler. BUUF choir directed by Carrie Bastian, music.
Creativity consists of looking at the familiar with new eyes. This sermon reflects on what might happen if we were to look at our principles in a new way and read them starting with the seventh and ending with the first.
Rev. Marriner graduated from Harvard Divinity School where she won the Billings Prize for preaching in 1995. She has served congregations in Massachusetts and Texas and is currently the consulting minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth, Minnesota. Jane Hoffman, service coordinator; Elizabeth Greene, celebrant; Will Smith and Carrie Bastian, music.With Valentine's Day coming, remember what Clint Black said, "Love isn't something that you feel, it's something that you do." Beverly Harley, service coordinator; Carrie Bastian, Tom von Alten, Jeanette Ross, Mark Zimmerer, music.
What sorts of secrets do we keep? What effect do secrets have on our lives and relationships? There is still time to type your secret, seal it and get it to Elizabeth! Bev Harley, service coordinator. Cathy Sherman, service coordinator.
As a UU minister, Jackie Kelly serves as the Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor at St. Luke's. Join Jackie as she reflects on how talking with hospital patients, family, staff and CPE students about their relationships with God has influenced her thinking about how Unitarian Universalists might also need a personal relationship with God. Besse LaBudde, service coordinator.
Today, we kick off our Annual Stewardship Drive, focusing for a bit on the material that underlies our vision of love and justice. What song echoes in our hearts, uniting us in joy and connection? Nancy Harms, service coordinator.
If we are socially aware, wishing to respect other cultures and worldviews, is there ever a time when our respect runs into conflict with our sense of justice? If that happens, what do we do? Bill Hoffman, service coordinator.
Hinduism is the oldest living religion in the world, and it embraces many paths to the holy from polytheism to monotheism to atheism. This presentation will explore various aspects of the religion that make this diversity possible. UUs will detect strong resonances with some of our seven principles. Elton Hall, celebrant; Wanda Jennings, service coordinator.
What does it mean to be loyal? Is there truth in that old statement "loyal to a fault"? This is an old-fashioned virtue—do we value it? Bev Harley, service coordinator.
Treasures hiding in plain sight are easy to miss. The profound dynamic threaded through our seven UU principles is one of them. It's a truth too rarely perceived, though it's vital to life itself. Jane Hoffman, service coordinator.
Several members of Jeanette Ross' BUUF Memoir class will share selections from writings out of their own lives. Eric Wallace and Charlotte Tompkins, music; Wanda Jennings, celebrant; Cathy Sherman, service coordinator.
Rev. Keith Kron is the UUA's Transitions Director. Keith was Director of the UUA's Office for Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Concerns for over 14 years, and is a valued friend of our minister. We are delighted to welcome him this morning, as he speaks to us about the importance to each of us of telling our story. Rev. Elizabeth Greene, celebrant. Nancy Harms, service coordinator.
The worship service will feature readings and personal reflections by Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and musical accompaniment by the Common Ground Community Chorus. Mark Zimmerer, celebrant. Besse LaBudde, service coordinator.
It's Easter, when our hearts stray toward the miracles of new life, rebirth—even resurrection! This year, e.e. cummings provides our text. BUUF choir, Carrie Bastian, Sue Langley, music; Bill Hoffman, service coordinator.
Do you need an infusion of hope for the future and to know that the world will be in good hands after we're gone? Our graduating seniors will share their journeys and visions for their futures and ours. Come celebrate their bridging from youth to young adulthood! Beverly Harley, service coordinator.
Our Coming of Age youth will share their statements of faith that they have developed over the years and through the journey of discovery that has been our Coming of Age program for the last nine months. Join in on this celebration of youth and share in the journey with these incredible young people! Wanda Jennings, service coordinator.
Each year, on the of the Annual Meeting, Elizabeth muses on the "state of the Fellowship." How have we been with each other? Have we nurtured souls? Helped heal the world? Practiced generosity? Nancy Harms, service coordinator.
Come celebrate our children on this first annual Religious Exploration Celebration ! Find out what our children & youth have explored this year in their classes. Love, home, and family have been the over-arching themes this year, so join us for discoveries galore for all ages! Mark Zimmerer and Cathy Sherman, service coordinators.
Aging is really a new experience and something of a surprise for anyone who reaches retirement age so it's is no wonder that so much foolishness is written about its "prevention." There are physical and mental manifestations we could all do without, but a sense of humor helps tremendously, and there are preparations one can set in motion earlier in adulthood. The saddest of both young and senior citizens are those who have no sense of wonder or enthusiasm. Jane Hoffman, service coordinator. Nancy Harms, celebrant.
On this first-Sunday-of-summer-schedule, we have a briefer-than-usual service, starring Flower Communion: everyone brings a flower to put in the community vases, then, at a certain point in the service, we each take a flower back. If you forget your flower, well, Providence always steps in, in the form of other people. Nancy Harms, service coordinator.
Kirtan is the ancient Hindu practice of call and response chanting. While I will talk briefly, the service will be more concerned with being surrounded by the voices of the people around us, and then experiencing the silence that follows. Wanda Jennings, service coordinator.
Do you proudly count yourself among those who are productive and get things done—those who are so conscientious, busy and driven to do good work that you put off allowing yourself to slow down, and disengage? Do you ponder the irony that you don't have enough time to open up to and explore a more spiritually rewarding and less stressful life? If so, have you considered that you–the busy one—may be procrastinating? Yes, drawing on the wisdom of sages like Ellen Degeneres, Eckhart Tolle, Pema Chrodron, Woody Allen and Mark Twain, Bill will turn procrastination upside down and explore how "busy people" can become more comfortable and less anxious about slowing down. Jane Hoffman, service coordinator.
So a Jew, a Muslim, a Christian, and a UU walk into a bar. Well we have the chance to hear what they have to say this Sunday on tolerance. The panel of speakers will be Gene Badesheim, Said Ahmed-Zaid, and Gwyn Reid. Debra Smith, Celebrant. Music by Michael Stevenson, Carrie Bastian and Charlotte Tompkins. Nancy Harms, Service Coordinator.
We live in troubled times. Things are grave, indeed, but lest we start to take ourselves too seriously—as individuals, as a community, as a religion—I think I'll try defying gravity! Beverly Harley, Service Coordinator; Wanda Jennings, Celebrant.
Memories can accumulate importance over the years. Members of the 2010/2011 BUUF memoir group will share stories from their childhoods and youth. Music will range through camp and scout songs to rousing renditions of Sunday School favorites in order to share the joy and further spark congregational reverie. Bob Wallace will provide campfire guitar accompaniment. Besse LaBudde, Service Coordinator; Jeanette Ross, Celebrant
Service and Advocacy are the two feet of social Justice. When we fill backpacks for the Idaho Foodbank or help people at the Capital City Market use their food stamps at the market, we are doing service. Advocacy allows us to address the root causes of hunger by addressing policies that lead to food insecurity. Roger Sherman and ICAN Policy Director Leo Morales will present their thoughts about advocacy, social justice, and our role in the politics of food. Bill Hoffman, service coordinator; Patricia Heeb, Celebrant; musical duet, Roger and Elia Sherman, and pianist, Cees Hoefnagels.
Lance will explore Pioneer Day celebrating the perseverance and dedication of the early settlers. On July 24th many in the west celebrate and honor our pioneer heritage, those who crossed the plains and created many of the cities and towns where we live today. Music by Carrie Bastian and Lance Pittman. Mark Zimmerer, Service Coordinator.
Our values guide our beliefs, actions, and behaviors. They are the lenses through which we see the world and measure our understanding. Beauty is a value that is more than just "skin deep". Join me in celebration of beauty. Mark Zimmerer, celebrant and Nancy Harms Service Coordinator.
The heart is a muscular pump little larger than a fist that moves one million barrels of blood in the average lifetime—enough to fill three oil supertankers. All that and it has its own brain. What does it mean to live with a whole heart? Wanda Jennings Service Coordinator. Besse LaBudde, Celebrant. John Sangiorgi and Susan Nelson Sangiorgi, Charlotte Tompkins, Music.
Dan Hotchkiss, in his book, Governance and Ministry states, "Religion transforms people; no one touches holy ground and stays the same." Bill and Gwyn will use this statement to launch an exploration of the tension between the need for stability in a religious organization's governance and community, and the instability that religious transformation brings. Nancy Harms, Service Coordinator. Gwyn Reid, Celebrant.
Who knew? At least 6 elementary schools in Boise are named after famous UUs. What were they all about? What were some of the virtues that our children might learn from them? Who wants to bet no one knew they were UU's when they named the schools? Jim Lyons and Roger Sherman will explore those questions and more in this service for the curious. Cathy Sherman, Service Coordinator, Wanda Jennings, Celebrant.
Most people will talk about almost anything before they talk about money. Sharon gets down and gets comfortable speaking about one of our culture's well know conversational taboos. Beverly Harley, Service Coordinator. Gail Haldeman, Celebrant.
A look at the other side of Christianity. The First 400 years the religion of Christianity was not what we know today. A look at how Christianity got to where it is today. Wanda Jennings, Service Coordinator.
On this Homecoming Sunday, celebrating the beginning of our "regular" program year, we rejoice in community, even as we pause to remember 9/11/2001. Don't forget to bring water from your summer places. Music, choir, directed by Carrie Bastian. Nancy Harms, Service Coordinator.
Elizabeth will preach her annual "humor sermon," in which she delves profoundly into the religio-intellectual-social implications of humor. Or—well—maybe it's her excuse for telling jokes from the pulpit? Carrie Bastian, Michael Stevenson, Music. Bev Harley, Service Coordinator.
Walt Whitman is called "The Bard of Democracy," for giving voice to the (once upon a time?) egalitarian aspirations of our country. He came from a family of progressives and embraced the causes of social justice, and yet in his poetry he often takes a stance of classic Buddhist "detachment," as described by and exemplified by Rabindranath Tagore. Did Whitman ever reconcile detachment and his yearning for social justice? Can we? Dr. Laura Rushing-Raynes, soprano, Music Besse Labudde, Service Coordinator.
How many of us actually pay attention to the act of listening? Do we listen to nature? Each other? Ourselves? There will be good listening, as Elizabeth and the choir explore the subject. BUUF Choir, Music. Mary Hester, Service Coordinator.
In this incarnation (official incorporation in 1961), the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship has been in our Valley for 50 years! Join Elizabeth and several of her inter-faith colleagues, as she shares our history, and they share blessings. Will Smith, Music. Cathy Sherman, Service Coordinator.
Our Junior High youth once again journeyed to Boston this past summer on their bi-annual pilgrimage. Come hear from this crop of Boston Bounders about their adventures in Beantown and beyond. Child Dedication. Beverly Harley, Service Coordinator.
"Twenty back-and-forth trips to Zimbabwe over the past two decades have led Richard to reflect about his place, and that of other privileged people, in the larger world. He'll use an example from his experience with Zimbabwe Artists Project to help ground some of the conclusions he has drawn." Nancy Harms, Service Coordinator.
The lively and colorful Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead, fascinates us Norteamericanos, who tend to be pretty "Protestant" in our attitude toward death. Come join in a more unfettered celebration of our beloved dead than we are accustomed to. BUUF Choir, Music. Bill Hoffman, Service Coordinator.
The fathers of our Board vice president Judy Holcombe and our minister Elizabeth Greene were career US Navy men, and close friends. Their daughters will reflect on their lives, in honor of Veterans' Day. Wanda Jennings, service coordinator.
We Unitarian Universalists pride ourselves on our diversity. Is this entirely justified? Are there any "categories" that we do not feel compelled to embrace? How do we deal respectfully with genuine difference?
This day is dedicated nationwide to memorializing the transgendered person who have died because of their gender. Emilie is a local trans* person and friend of BUUF. She and Elizabeth will reflect in an appropriately memorial way, and Emilie will share hopeful parts of her life. Nancy Harms, service coordinator.
For many of us Chaucer's account of a group pilgrimage to Canterbury was our first knowledge of this practice. Most of us have never been on a physical pilgrimage, but while the custom has waned in the Western world, some Eastern religions still maintain the practice. And then there are spiritual pilgrimages which are universal and usually private, and while not physically arduous, they are nonetheless demanding. Today several members of the congregation will speak of their spiritual journeys to Unitarian-Universalism. Val Duffy, Service Coordinator. Nancy Harms, Celebrant.
It's time again for our annual tradition of Deck the Halls Sunday! Our children and youth will share stories of the season from their unique perspectives. Join us for a celebration of exploration and discovery of the season! Skits, singing, music, music and more music, along with treats and cookies . Music and more: Mike Lemieux, Cees Hoefnagels, Mary Schwartzman, and other special guest performers. Val Duffy, Service Coordinator
Bells are a prominent Christmas symbol: silver bells, sleigh bells, steeple bells. They call out, but to what are they calling us? Come explore this question on this mostly music Sunday while the choir and BUUF musicians share the joy and music of Christmas. Beverly Harley, Service Coordinator
Three of our very long time church members (Bob and Alan date back to the '70s, Emmie since the early '90s) are Jews, and will share their memories of family Channukah celebrations. Mary Hester, service coordinator. Rev. Elizabeth Greene, celebrant.
This annual favorite is a reflective service celebrating light's return and pondering what we want to leave in the darkness and what to bring into the light. About an hour long, it's very appropriate for children who can sit relatively quietly for that long. The nursery will be available for parents who find it necessary to be with their children somewhere besides the service itself. BRING HOLIDAY GOODIES FOR THE FESTIVE PARTY AFTERWARD!
What gifts do we bring to the Divine Child, inside us and in others? How hard a journey are we willing to undertake to see that our gifts are given well? Nancy Harms, Service Coordinator
The early Quakers considered silence to be a direct path to God. This was a radical idea in its time. Silence remains a radical idea today. In our culture of Blackberries, cell phones, the Internet, high-definition TV and continual bombardment of advertising, cultivating silence – as opposed to consuming products – is a radical idea. But it can connect us to – and keep us on – the path we're supposed to be on. Join Rev. Elizabeth Greene for this simple service.
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