Monday, December 27, 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Once again we get to start over-- or at least hone our direction....  I love the New Year!  I completely buy into all the resolution stuff and ride the wave as long as I can.  This year I am starting some fad diet, going to manage my spending, exercise regularly and re-commit to a spiritual practice.  Wish me luck!  Seriously though, I've been around the block enough times to know that these great intentions will last a while and then I will return to my usual ways.  The thing is-- this is part of my usual way.  Sometimes I take life seriously and I live with great intention and sometimes I slack off and take it as it comes.  My passions ebb and flow like waves, like seasons, like hormones!  And so it feels like the beginning again-- like it did in September, like it will in late spring.  And I will cling to the possibilities and ride the wave as long as I can--hope to see you on the surf!

And in case one of your resolutions this year is to get more connected at BUF, there will be many new opportunities in the Lifelong Learning Program including:


First Wednesday Movie Nights!
This began in December with the movie Flow: For Love Of Water (if you haven't seen it-- I would highly recommend-- intense about the evils of water privatization all over the world-- really gets you thinking).  This month we will show "Bullied" which is a short documentary about the first case where a man successfully sued a school district for not protecting him from being bullied for being gay.  We will show it at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, January 5, after the Community Night Dinner.  We plan on having a movie every month to highlight some aspect of justice-- ecological, social or economic.  It is a way to stay informed and connected at the same time.   

Adult Forums in January!
Bob Keller and the Adult Forums Team has a great line up for you starting up again on Sunday, January 9th with Tim Douglas, "Life After the Mayor's Office,"  January 16, Clara Kelly, "A Flamboya Tree in My Life," January 23, Regina Ryan, "Igniting the Inner Life," and January 30, Laura Clark, "A Wiser Concept of Animals."  Adult Forums meet on Sunday mornings at 9:30, in the library.  Look for fliers at BUF or check the online BUF calendar for more information!


Lifelong Learning Council Meetings
Several sub teams will meet this month to plan for programming and evaluation.  We have a new building and a new program and now we need to know how it is going.  The Support sub team will be meeting soon to plan an evaluation process.  Also, a new team focused on Principles in Action opportunities for kids will meet for the first time to set a vision and start planning for future events.  And if you can believe it, it is almost time to start thinking about our Peace on Earth Summer Camp!  I am always looking for new council members-- please contact me if you are interested!

Our Whole Lives (OWL) for Grades 4-5
Our Whole Lives is a values based sexuality curriculum offered at BUF at various pivotal points in development.  We offer this elementary class to help children develop values around respect and trust in all the various relationships that they are in and to expect respectful relationships in the future.  Informational meeting for parents is Sunday, January 23, at 6:30 in the Library.  Contact Crystal for more information!


Sunday Mornings for Kids
Things are getting back to normal this month however, January 2nd is one service only at 10:30 and will include alternate programming for kids.  Regular RE classes will resume on January 9th!
 

For more information about the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship and/or to link to our online
calendar, please visit our website at www.buf.org

Friday, December 10, 2010

Holidaze... don't miss out on what BUF has to offer this season!

Like many of you, I find this time of year an exciting/exhausting mixture of wonderful traditions and tedious obligations.  This year, I am working very hard in my personal life to find a balance in my coulds and shoulds.  At work, I am spending time tending the fires of many of our beloved multigenerational traditions.  I hope you will be taking part!

December Sundays for Kids
Sunday, December 5
9:15-- Regular RE classes
10:30-- Pageant Rehearsal for Pageant Cast and Children's Choir
11:15-- Regular RE classes

Sunday, December 12
9:15-- Regular RE classes
10:30-- Pageant Rehearsal for Pageant Cast and Children's Choir
10:30-- Youth Choir Rehearsal
11:15-- Regular RE classes

Sunday, December 19
Christmas Pageant-- One Service Only at 10:30!
Actors and singers in the pageant should arrive early at 9:00 a.m.
No regular RE classes (childcare is available for toddlers in the Childspace room)

Sunday, December 26
Children's Worship and Activities-- One Service Only at 10:30! 
No regular RE classes (childcare is available for toddlers in the Childspace room)


Posada
Saturday, December 4, 5:30
This year our festivities included over 70 children and adults enjoying dinner, a beautiful walk with Jose and Maria (on a pony) in the neighborhood, in search of an inn and a rousing party afterwards with Pinatas cookies and cider.  If you missed the fun this year-- keep this event in mind for next year.  It is great fun for kids of ALL AGES!

Hanukkah Celebration
Wednesday, December 8, 5:15, 6:00
We celebrate Hanukkah during our Vespers Service and then again at our Community Night Dinner.  Who can resist the magic of holiday food, stories, songs, dreidels and other traditions.  Come light the Menorah with BUF!

illUUminations!
Wednesday, December 15, 5:00, 5:30, 6:00
illUUminations is a Unitarian Universalist holiday that we have been celebrating at BUF since 2008.  It is a special celebration of our chalice as part of the traditional festival of lights.  It was inspired when a child asked his parents-- how come we celebrate everyone else's holidays-- why don't we have a holiday of our own?  And it was true-- in most UU congregations we honor Hanukkah-- the Menorah lights and the star of David, we celebrate christmas-- the North Star that led the wise men and the lights on trees, we mention the yule log and its endless fire and we give thanks for the returning light of the sun.  And so the parents of this child got together with members of their congregation and they created the holiday illUUminations-- to celebrate our light in these long nights of darkness-- the light our our chalice and the unique spark in each of us.  Come to BUF at 5:00 to make or decorate a chalice.  Carry your chalice into the Vespers service at 5:30 and hear the mythological story of illUUminations and then join us for a special blessing of the chalice at our Community Night Dinner at 6:00!

Christmas Pageant-- Spirit of the Christmas Tree
Sunday, December 19, 10:30
Pageant participants should arrive by 9:00 a.m.

Solstice Celebration
Wednesday, December 22, 6:00
Community Night Dinner will include a special Solstice Blessing!

Christmas Eve Service
Friday, December 24, 8:00 p.m.
***  There is no childcare for this service.  The nursery in the back of the sanctuary will be open to parents and children who need a quiet place.***

I wish you all peace and laughter this holiday season.  May it be a time of remembering what matters most in your life and a deepening commitment to integrity in the New Year!

  

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

November already, ah how time flies....

Tis the season to express gratitude, which is not hard, as I feel grateful for a good many things.  I feel grateful to have a full time job that I love-- especially in these uncertain times!  I feel grateful for our beautiful new building that I get to work in and for all the possibilities that it opens up for programming.  I feel grateful for my caring community of friends and my wonderful family.  And I was recently reminded in our Gather the Spirt (multigenerational water curriculum class) that I am also incredibly grateful for clean drinking water, flushing toilets, forced air heat, and the basic freedoms and human rights that I take for granted every day.  I'm glad that I belong to a community that helps inspire my ideals and challenges me to live up to them.  I'm glad to be in a community with all of you!

If you are reading this- it means that you have found my new Blog and may I say that I am also grateful for that!!!  I am hoping that this blog will be my new way to communicate the kinds of things that I used to include in our newsletter (thoughts and musings, what's happening for the month in children's programs, new adult programs and spiritual growth classes...).  My what's happening list will not be all inclusive but will hopefully highlight some important themes and events.  Check out my next post-- it will give you the scoop about November!

Lifelong Learning Highlights for November Include:

Coming of Age Kick Off!
Every other year, the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship offers a Coming of Age Program for youth in 7th and 8th grades.  Youth are matched with adult mentors in the BUF community to help them explore their emerging religious and spiritual identities.  The program culminates with a recognition service on May 15, 2011, when the youth get to read their credo statements to the congregation.  This year we begin with an orientation on November 14!

Guest At Your Table
The Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship actively supports the work of the UUSC (Unitarian Universalist Service Committee) by participating in the Guest At Your Table program.  We encourage all members and friends to place a small box on their tables and to contribute money to it at each meal to signify helping people around the world who are less fortunate than us.  Money is then donated to the UUSC for appropriate disbursement.  Expect to get your boxes on November 21st!

Adult Forums
Adult Forums include brief presentations by members of the larger community on various topics of interest followed by questions and answers and general discussion.  These programs happen on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in our Library/Conference room.  November topics are:  11/7-- Darrell Hillaire, "The Great Coming Home: Life at Lummi Since Boldt", 11/14-- Monem and Iman Salam, "Being Muslim in America: It's Not an Oxymoron!", 11/21-- Marie Marchand, "How My Mind and the World Brought Me Here", and 11/28-- Chuck and Dee Robinson, "Kindling the Future of Books."  Hope you can make it to one or more of these exciting programs!

Christmas Pageant Rehearsals Begin
All children and youth are encouraged to participate in our Christmas Pageant on December 19 at 10:30. Children can participate by being in the choir or by playing parts in the pageant.  Rehearsals begin after the one service 10:30 on November 21.  Rehearsals will run from approximately 11:30 to 12:15.