December Activities!

Greetings BUF Families,

The holidays are fast approaching. As you may imagine-- there are many things going on at BUF to celebrate them!  Here is what is happening for children and youth in December:

• YRUU (high school youth group) canceling regular sessions until the new year....
• Religious Education Classes and Sunday mornings-- Holiday focus in December, Lessons of Loss in January
• Hogwarts Christmas Banquet-- 12/3
• Children's Choir Rehearsals for Pageant (12/21) and Christmas Eve (6:00 pm service)-- 12/7, 12/14
• Middle School visits Church of the Assumption-- 12/7
• Holiday Craft Night with BCS-- 12/10
• Posada-- 12/13
• YRUU Bake Sale and Shopping for Interfaith Family-- 12/14
• Coming of Age Workshop-- 12/14
• Pageant Service-- 12/21
• Christmas Eve--12/24, 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

YRUU SCHEDULE CHANGE

High school students and advisors are busy this time of year so we decided to temporarily cancel regular meetings from now until January. In the meantime youth group will still meet for fun activities and events! We will announce such happenings here and youth can always find the latest information on the “BUF YRUU Group” Facebook page. If you have any questions you may contact Alicia Alford (lead advisor) at alicia.alford@comcast.net or call/text (360) 510-3908.

Religious Education-- Holiday Focus:

Sunday, November 30-- Wrapping up Hogwarts curriculum: preparing children for Hogwarts report to the congregation and creating decorations for Hogwarts Banquet on December 3. Sprit Play and Middle School meet as usual. I will also be asking children about their participation preferences in the pageant on December 21.

Sunday, December 7-- Holiday gift making-- various craft stations will be set up in the flex room. Middle School visits the Church of the Assumption-- youth should arrive to BUF by 10:00 a.m. (RE Teacher meeting at 12:00 to prepare for Lessons of Loss).

Sunday, December 14-- Children's Worship-- Hanukkah-- stories, crafts, dreidel.... 

Sunday, December 21-- Christmas Pageant-- Spirit of the Christmas Tree. Children who wish to sing in the choir for this service should attend December choir rehearsals! Depending on how many singers we have-- most of the pageant parts will be non-singing parts.... Children wanting to be Mary, Joseph, Shepards, Wise People, Angels, Animals.... Should let me know by (or on) Sunday, November 30th.

Sunday, December 28-- Game Day! RE Teacher Holiday! Various board games will be set out in the Flex room. Substitute RE Volunteers/parents will play games with children on this Sunday. 

Religious Education-- January: Lessons of Loss

Children and youth from k-8 will focus on death, dying, and grief with this wonderful UU curriculum. There are 4 sessions for each age group. Parents are encouraged to think about how their children might respond to this topic. Recent losses might come to the surface. Please feel free to contact me or your child's RE teachers if you have concerns. We have used this curriculum before-- several years ago-- to great effect. Children and RE Teachers alike seemed to really appreciate  the discussions and rituals and unique opportunity to delve into this important topic. We found it to be deep and meaningful but not intense or depressing. I'm hopeful that this will be our experience again. 

RE Sponsored Community Night Dinner-- Hogwarts Christmas Banquet!

Next Wednesday, December 3, recent graduates of the Hogwarts Magical School of Unitarian Universalist Principles (and everyone else) are invited to celebrate at a culminating banquet -- Christmas at Hogwarts! Join us for the RE-sponsored Community Night Dinner, and enjoy some Harry Potter wackiness with your pumpkin juice. The dinner starts at 6:00; cost is $5 per adult, $4 per child, $12 for families with small children.

On that same note:

Wanted: House Elves!

That's right, no banquet at Hogwarts takes place without much hard work behind the scenes, and the same is true at BUF. If you can help cook, set up, or clean up, please sign up on the following link:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4cada82ea64-community

Also, we will need some help with decorating earlier in the day, and possibly advance food prep. I realize some of you might have other things to do during the day, but if anyone is able to lend a hand during the day, please get in touch with Roz Reynolds (mama@mamafoo.net), or golly, just show up any time after 11:00!

Children's Choir Rehearsals

Sundays December 7 and December 14 after the service from 11:45-12:30 (possibly Saturday, December 20...).

Children will be rehearsing songs for the Christmas Pageant (on December 21) and also for a song to share at the 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve service. Children wishing to be in the Pageant but not in the choir should check in with Crystal on Sunday, November 30.

Middle School visits: Church of the Assumption

Sunday, December 7 (service at 10:30)

Middle School youth should arrive at BUF by 10:00 a.m. to carpool (or walk) over to Assumption. Coming of Age participants should remember to mark down their points for attending!

Holiday Craft Night with BCS

Wednesday, December 10, 5:00 p.m. 

Come early for dinner and make some crafts in this joint event with BUF and Bellingham Cooperative School. There are always great gift ideas and lots of supplies!

Posada!

Saturday, December 13, 5:00-8:00 p.m.

You won't want to miss this annual tradition! We will share a Mexican feast at 5:00 p.m. then Rev. Paul Beckel will tell the story of Maria and Joseph as they searched for an Inn on the fateful night when Jesus was born. We will wander the neighborhood caroling and acting out the parts of the journey. We will have a 4th or 5th grade Mary riding an actual donkey (pony), with a singing Joseph and "mean" innkeepers. We will then return to BUF where we will be welcomed in for cookies, hot chocolate and pinatas.  It is a truly magical night that children remember for years!  We hope you will join us.  

We still need some volunteers to bring cookies, to set up for dinner and decorate the social hall, and to help clean up at the end of the night and also to prepare the social hall for pinata festivities while the rest of the participants are caroling.  If you can help please contact me!

YRUU Holiday Gift Project

Sunday, December 14, 10:30-2:00(ish)

High School youth and youth advisors should each arrive at BUF at 10:30 a.m. with 4 dozen of the SAME KIND of cookie (someone should bring a couple of kinds of gluten free....).  During the service, youth and advisors will make plates of mixed cookies to sell during the coffee hour.  The group will then take their earnings to the mall (or some other department store) to purchase gifts for our Interfaith Family.  Youth advisors have the specs of the family in need.  Contact me if you have questions!

Coming of Age Workshop: Spirituality, Rituals, Worship

Sunday, December 14, 6:30 p.m.

Youth in Coming of Age and mentors are encouraged to attend this special workshop. We will discuss the essential elements of worship. Youth and Mentors will sign up for providing the worship experience for subsequent workshops and youth will begin to think about the Children's Worship Service that they will lead.

Christmas Pageant 

Sunday, December 21, 10:30

Help Wanted! I will be out of town, celebrating Calley's graduation from college! Dee Dee Marshall will lead the children's choir, Paul will be our service leader, I am working on assigning pageant parts but need someone to direct the pageant, also someone to work with me to ensure we have needed costumes/props.... If you would like to be involved in making this year's pageant great-- please let me know ASAP!

Christmas Eve-- Two Services!

One service will be at 6:00 p.m. and will feature the Children's Choir. The other will be at 8:00 p.m. and will feature the BUF Choir.

I hope you all have a very merry Holiday Season!

Crystal

RE Happenings in November 2014

Greetings BUF Families,

It is that time again for an update about what is happening for children and youth at BUF!

• Note about children starting up front in the sanctuary...
• Martinmas Activities, 11/9 and 11/12
• Children's Choir Rehearsals
• Mandatory Coming of Age Orientation, 11/16
• Challenge Course (date/time TBD)
• Middle School Lock In, 11/22-11/23

Children Starting in the Service on the Dais

You may have noticed that we have had children begin the service up front on the dais a few times. We are attempting to make room in the pews because attendance at BUF has been so high recently-- what a wonderful problem to have! We will be trying this going forward, on all the Sundays that are 1) Not Children's Worship Sundays (when we begin in the flex room already) and 2) When we are not having a fully multigenerational service (like our Halloween service) when they will need a comfortable place to be for the whole time. I will continue my efforts to usher children up front until we all get used to this. Please feel free to sit up front with your child if that would be helpful. If you have questions or feedback-- please let me know!

3rd Anual Martinmas Celebration-- please note the several related activities below:

Sunday, November 9-- Children's Worship Service

Children in grades K-5 will come directly to the Flex Room on Sunday, at 10:30, for a special Children's Worship Service. We will re-enact some of the wonderful works of St. Martin, sing special Martinmas songs, share our own reflections, take/honor our collection of children's clothing and linens for Lydia Place, and take a special monetary collection for an organization to be voted on by the children in June.

Special RE Activities

• Children's Clothing and Linen Drive: We have been advertising a children's clothing and linen drive-- some donations have already come in-- we are still accepting more through Wednesday, November 12. Especially needed: Pillows and pillow cases, Twin sheets, Full sized sheets, Individual room fans, Shower curtains, and bath mats for 4 bathrooms. 
• Lantern Making Activity, Sunday, November 9-- after the Children's Worship service children will be invited to make candle lanterns that can be used during our Lantern Parade.

Wednesday, November 12: RE Sponsored Community Night Dinner... 

• Lantern Making before dinner from 5:00 to 6:00(especially for children who were unable to come on Sunday to make their lanterns).
• Dinner from 6:00-7:00-- the plan for dinner is lentil soup (half vegetarian, half with Italian sausage), assorted breads (including gluten-free), carrot salad, green salad, and cinnamon apples (apples cut into cross-sections, dusted with cinnamon, and baked -- looks like a real "dessert" but is unsweetened.)
• Lantern Parade-- some time between 6:30 and 7:00-- when children have finished eating. We will walk the neighborhood with our lanterns and sing the Martinmas songs that we learned on Sunday

How You Can Help!

• Parent Volunteers, we need a few parent volunteers on Sunday morning so I can give the regular RE Teachers the day off. Please contact Crystal Neva, if you are able to help!
• We need help with dinner prep! This is an RE sponsored event so we are recruiting parents and children who are available to help with cooking. Please go to the following link and scroll down to 11/12 dinner to sign up! http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4cada82ea64-community

Children's Choir Rehearsals

Sundays, in the Sanctuary, 11:45-12:30

Children's Choir rehearsals will continue this month-- we will focus the first one on Martinmas music in continued preparation for our Martinmas Lantern Parade on November 12. Subsequent rehearsals will help children prepare for our Holiday Pageant on 12/21 and for one of our probably two Christmas Eve services-- more information about that coming soon....

Mandatory Coming of Age Orientation!

November, 16, 12:00ish, Flex Room

This orientation is for youth, mentors, and parents. All youth participants should already be confirmed-- mentor selections are well underway. Lunch will be provided!

Coming of Age Challenge Course for Youth and Mentors

Date and time to be determined....

Parents of youth and mentors will receive a doodle from me to come up with a date for this event-- our original date fell through with Camp Lutherwood!

Middle School Lock-In

Saturday, November 22-November 23, 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 a.m.

All middle school youth are invited to spend the night at BUF on Saturday, November 22! The group will eat dinner together, play games, watch movies, make mischief.... This is a great bonding activity for coming age youth as well as the rest of the class. I will send a list of what your youth should bring... to middle school families. Please let me know if you don't hear from me in the next week or so!

October Festivities!

Greetings Parents,

It's that time again for an update about what is going on in Children's Programs at BUF!

We have had a strong start this fall! I hope you are enjoying the RE Minutes at the beginning of the worship services. It is nice to have an opportunity to let the whole community know about the great things your children and youth are doing! I am also enjoying the stories and absolutely loving that our kids don't have to sit through announcements anymore!

Of course the pesky announcements still need to be made so we all know what is going on; so... here is your update for the upcoming month.

Read on to learn more about:

·      RE Registration Update

·      All Church Retreat 10/3-10/5

·      Mandatory Parent Information Meeting for OWL for Children in Grades 4-5—(10/6)

·      RE Sponsored Community Night Dinner and Dia De Los Muertos (10/8)

·      Children's Worship Service (10/12)

·      Mandatory Parent Child Orientation for OWL for Children in Grades 4-5 (10/12)

·      Kids Feeding Kids Sunday (10/19)

·      Middle School Visits Christ the King (10/19)

·      Middle School and High School Create BUF's traditional Haunted House (10/19)

·      Fall Harvest Festival (10/25)

·      Multigenerational Worship Service (10/26)

·      Find Your Place at BUF (10/26)

·      Coming of Age... it's coming!

RE Registration Update

We have had a good response to our Registration push this fall, however there are still many regular attendees who are not registered yet.

It is important for our records that you fill out a registration form for each church year (good from September-June). Please check with Crystal if you are unsure if your child is registered or not!

All Church Retreat

Friday, October 3-5, Camp Kirby

Our Whole Lives (OWL)—Values Based Human Sexuality Curriculum for Children in Grades 4-5

Considered by many parents to be the single most important thing we offer our children! This 8-week curriculum gives 4th and 5th grade children age appropriate, accurate, and relationship based information about puberty and sexuality. Don’t let your child miss out on this great opportunity—come to the parent meeting to find out more!

• Mandatory Parent Information Meeting—Monday, October 6, 7:00 pm

• Mandatory Parent Child Orientation—Sunday, October 12, 6:30-8:30

• Class Sessions for Children—Sundays from October 19 through December 7 from 6:30-8:00

Children’s Worship—Hunger In Our Community

Sunday, October 12, 10:30 am

Children in grades K-5 begin upstairs in the Flex Room for a special worship service just for them. We will have these monthly on second Sundays. Children play music for each other, interact about things that matter, and participate in a special collection.  We collect money all year long in a jar and in June we vote on an agency to donate our money to.

Kids Feeding Kids Sunday

Sunday, October 19, 10:30

Children will help bring up the food collection this week in honor of our efforts to supply the Bellingham Food Bank with at least 1000 units of baby food during the month of October. This ritual is especially effective and meaningful if the children and youth of the congregation actually bring food on this day! Food donations can be brought any time and left in the baskets by the front doors.

Middle School Church Visit-- Christ the King!

Sunday, October 19, (arrive at BUF by 10:30 am) to carpool over in time for their 11:15 service.

Our middle school class always incorporates church visits in their curriculum to explore many faith traditions and ponder the role religion plays in our lives. This is one of the most interesting and memorable aspects of my UU education when I was that age. I hope your youth can make it!

Haunted House Creation!

Sunday, October 19, 12:30-3:00 pm

Middle school and high school youth are invited to create our traditional haunted house! We will operate the Haunted House during the Fall Festival and the Sunday before Halloween! All youth are encouraged to participate!

Multigenerational Worship-- Strangers as Guides!

Sunday, October 26, 10:30

BUF members and friends of all ages will worship together in this festive holiday service! All BUFsters are encouraged to come in costume and participate in our annual costume parade!

Find Your Place at BUF

Sunday, October 26, 11:45...

This event happens concurrently with coffee hour. Leaders/representatives from BUF's programs, groups, and committees .. host a table in the social hall to give people more information about their group. Be sure to check it out!

Coming of Age...

This is an extracurricular program for youth in grades 7-8. Our program begins with a Mandatory Orientation for Youth, Parents and Adult Mentors on November 16th at 12:30 pm.  Parents and eligible youth will receive a special invitation to participate with a request of a commitment by mid-late October. How will I know your son/daughter is in 7th or 8th grade and is potentially interested? Why he/she will be registered in our program, of course!

Hope you enjoy this beautiful season!

Cheers,

Crystal

Getting Ready for Fall...!!!

Greetings BUF Families,

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer! BUF will continue to be on summer mode until September but I have a few announcements and reminders for you now so you are fully informed about RE happenings!

There is a lot of information here-- pay special attention to:

• Children's Choir Rehearsal-- 8/27 & 9/3
• Back to Church Pool Party-- 9/6
• Middle School Conference 9/26-28 (registration form attached)

New Minister is Here!

Rev. Paul Beckel has arrived in Bellingham and begins work today to get ready for an exciting new year at BUF!  He will be in the pulpit on August 31st but will likely be at church on most Sundays in August if you want a chance to chat with him during coffee hour!

I Will Be Traveling in August...

Usually I spend the month of August hard at work, preparing for the fall. This year, I came back in July to get prepared early so that I can take a trip of a lifetime! I will be gone from mid August until early September in London and then on a Bike and Barge trip in Holland-- yes, I feel incredibly blessed!

Fall Theme-- UU Principles

You may have heard the rumor that we will be offering our Hogwarts curriculum again this fall for children in grades 2-5.... I'm pleased to confirm that the rumors are true! Once again, BUF will be home to a Magical School of UU Principles-- children and adults will be wandering the halls in robes and hats learning the magic within us that keeps us true to our values and ideals. Our Spirit Play class will also be studying our UU "promises" through engaging stories while Middle School youth will begin the year exploring religious themes introduced in the popular show-- the Simpsons.

RE Registration

Registration packets will be sent to you in the mail in the next week or so. If your child or youth will be attending religious education classes this year (or providing childcare) he/she needs to be formally registered in our program. PLEASE return registration forms promptly so we can plan appropriately for the fall. Completed forms can be mailed back in the envelope provided or placed in the box outside my door. 

CHILDREN'S CHOIR REHEARSAL

Wednesdays, August 27 and September 3, 7:00-7:45 pm

The BUF Choir is beginning rehearsals to get ready for ingathering on September 7th. Dee Dee Marshall has offered to lead a children's choir this year and would like to begin in time to get kids involved in our first service!!! If your child likes to sing-- bring them to BUF for these evening rehearsals-- children will begin with adults in the sanctuary. Childcare will be available for the duration of the adult choir rehearsal....

BUF FAMILY BACK TO CHURCH POOL PARTY!

Saturday, September 6, 9:30-11:30, Bayside Pool (in Fairhaven)

This is a fun way to get back together after the summer! Come swim with your BUF friends and get ready for a new year! All registered children and their families are welcome (registration materials will be available just in case you haven't registered yet)!

INGATHERING

Sunday, September 7, 10:30 am

Join us for this multigenerational worship service and participate in our annual Water Communion ceremony! All members and friends are invited to bring a bit of water that represents a significant moment from your summer to share.

LOCAL FEAST: RE SPONSORED COMMUNITY NIGHT DINNER

Wednesday, September 10, 6:00

The Religious Education Committee will be hosting one dinner per month this year! Help us kick off this wonderful new tradition by attending our Local Feast in September when we honor the delicious bounty of our fertile community. 

FIRST RE SUNDAY

Sunday, September 14, 10:30 am

Children and youth begin in the sanctuary with their parents. We will have a Teacher Dedication ceremony before children and youth are invited to their religious education classrooms.  

MIDDLE SCHOOL CONFERENCE

Friday-Sunday, September 26-28, Camp Selth (Vashon Island)

All UU middle school youth in the Puget Sound area invited to participate in this fun weekend of Swimming & Boating, (w/ certified life guards) Archery & Challenge Course (w/ certified leaders) Day spa, Campfire, Capture the flag, Rocket-making, Tie-dying, Talent/No Talent Show, Temporary Hair-dying (with special permission), Nail polish, Sock Monkey-Making, & Worship!  BUF has sent youth to this conference for the last two years and it has been a HUGE hit with our youth and helped them build relationships with each other-- feel connected to our larger movement and make new friends. Please DO ask your youth about participating in this activity. BUF has some sponsorship money and so does the conference so don't let the cost deter you. Questions can be directed to me or to Indigo Lewis (the DRE on Vashon Island indigo@grasspants.com). REGISTRATION FORM IS ATTACHED!

SAVE THE DATE: BUF COMMUNITY (ALL CHURCH) RETREAT!

Friday-Sunday, October 3-5

You won't want to miss this year's retreat!!! This will undoubtedly be a really great opportunity to get to know Rev. Paul Beckel and his wife in a relaxed and informal setting. And of course, as always, it's a great time for children and youth to be free and safe in nature with the full support of your BUF village.  Mark your calendars now... more details will be coming soon!

That's it for now, I look forward to seeing you in the near future!

Crystal

Summertime, and the Living is Easy...

Dear Families,

It was a great year with much to celebrate! Children learned about UU Superheroes and got many history lessons in the process, monthly family forums supported parents and helped connect them with other members of the congregation, leadership development was expanded, our library continues to get organized, adult forums were strong, affinity groups healthy, new ministry teams formed, chalice circles were revitalized, adults learned about ethics and the meaning of life from the perspective of the Bhagavad Gita and Aristotle, poetry enthusiasts studied Sharon Olds, Going Within Workshops were well organized and well received. BUF successfully brought a variety of programming to a majority of constituents! Hooray!

Now is the time of year when I begin to look to the future, as there are many wonderful things to look forward to. Rev. Paul Beckel will arrive August 1^st and I will already be hard at it to prepare for fall programs! Children will study UU Principles in the fall with the very popular BUF Hogwarts curriculum. You won’t want to miss the BUF Community Retreat (a getaway for people of all ages to Camp Kirby), it will be a great way to get to know Paul—Save the date now, our retreat is October 3-5.  Middle school youth should also save the weekend before (September 26-28) for Middle School Con on Vashon Island!

For now, enjoy the lighter summer schedule, I look forward to seeing you in the fall!

Cheers,

Crystal

Spring Update for BUF Families!

 Greetings BUF Families,

The church year is quickly winding down but the fun isn't over yet! We have a few more things to look forward to before we settle into our breezy summer schedule. Please join us for any or all of the following:

Candidate Week: Ice Cream Social and 

Cookie Potluck!

Saturday, May 10, 2:00-3:13 (followed by an adult question and answer period from 3:15-5:00)

The Ice Cream Social and Cookie Potluck is a multigenerational event allowing time for socialization and fun with BUF families and our ministerial candidate. It will be immediately followed by a time for parents, RE Committee members, and RE Teachers to meet with Reverend Paul Beckel to learn more about his philosophy of religious education and his work with children and youth. BUF members will be voting on May 18 to welcome Rev. Paul Beckel to BUF, therefore this event will be especially significant for members, however all families are encouraged to attend!

Candidate Week: Time for All Ages

Sundays May 11 and 18, 10:30

Reverend Paul Beckel is looking forward to meeting our children on the Sundays that he will be with us. We will have a Time for All Ages both Sundays so he can introduce himself and give the children a chance to get to know him. I hope you will come to church on these Sundays-- it will be a great way to get a sense of our future!

Family Forum: Will Writing for Families

Wednesday, May 14, 7:00 (flex room)

Andrew Heinz, a local estate attorney, will talk with us about the basics of estate planning-- especially for young adults, including trusts for minors, nominating a guardian, and beneficiary designations on life insurance and retirement accounts. Mainly, he is looking forward to answering your questions about such matters. This event is hosted by the RE Committee-- as always all interested adults are encouraged to attend!

Graduating High School Seniors: Bridging

Sunday, June 1, 10:30 am

Every year we have a Bridging Ceremony during the first worship service in June to welcome new potential adult members into our community and/or send them off from childhood into adulthood with our love and best wishes. By senior year, some of the teens in our midst have stopped attending BUF for various reasons, though they may still consider themselves to be Unitarian Universalist and still feel connected to this congregation. If you know of someone who should be bridging with this year's group of seniors, who is not an active member of our youth group, please contact Crystal Neva ASAP!

Everybody's Birthday

Sunday, June 1, 11:45 am

Join us for this fun, multigenerational, annual tradition where everybody gets to eat cake! Birthday cake, that is-- we have tables set up during coffee hour for each month of the year-- adult and child participants head to the table with their birthday month and they all decorate a cake together. Once decorated, we light a candle and sing happy birthday. It is so fun to revisit your table group each year to celebrate together! Gluten free cupcakes will be available for those with dietary restrictions.... Volunteers are needed to make cakes and frosting-- contact Crystal if you can help!

Children's Worship

June 8, 10:30 am

Children in Kindergarten-5th grade begin in the flex room for a special worship service. This is the service where we will vote on a recipient for our special collections that we have taken all year. It is also the last RE Sunday-- children will have a chance to say goodbye to their RE Teachers in preparation for the summer season.

Aloha: Send Off For Rev. Lee Bond

Sunday, June 8, 11:45

We will have a going away and thank you party for Rev. Lee after the service on June 8. Hope you will join us in sending him off in style!

Flower Communion

Sunday, June 15, 10:30 am

This multigenerational worship service and our annual flower communion will be Lee Bond's last day in BUF's pulpit. Each person is invited to bring a flower to the service and will go home with a different flower.

Summer Childcare at BUF

Sunday, June 22-August 31, 10:30

During summer Sundays, children begin in the sanctuary with their parents. After the opening sequence, they are invited upstairs for "supervised activities." We staff Sundays with High School and Middle School youth and provide care for children ages 3-11. Summer sessions include a chalice lighting and check in, games and/or art activities. Younger children are asked to stay with their parents-- we have a comfort room in the back of the sanctuary for your convenience. More information will be available as we get closer to the summer session.