Spring has sprung around Bellingham! I hope you are enjoying the mild weather, the blooming flowers and the longer days. There are a few things of special interest for BUF Families that I want to make sure you are aware of-- read on to learn about:
- Easter Egg Dyeing (after Community Night Dinner)-- 4/1
- Lettered Streets Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt at Fouts Park, 4/4 at 10:00 am
- Easter Egg Hunt-- 4/5
- UU History Film Series Part 4: Universalism-- 4/8
- Children's Worship Service-- 4/12
- Coming of Age Workshop: Dealing With Failure-- 4/12
- RE Sponsored Community Night Dinner (A Local Feast) and Film-- Viva La Causa: The Story of Cesar Chavez and A Great Movement For Social Justice-- 4/15
- C2C Partnership Celebration-- 4/19
- UU History Film Series Part 5: Evolution-- 4/22
- Memorial Service for the BUF Van-- 4/26
- UU History Film Series Part 6: The Hundred Year Waltz-- 4/29
- Coming of Age Retreat-- 5/1-5/3
- Spring Youth Conference-- 5/1-5/3
- Farm Worker March for Dignity-- 5/3
- Children's Worship Service-- 5/10
- RE Sponsored Community Night Dinner-- Theme TBD-- 5/13
- Coming of Age Recognition Service-- 5/17
- Everybody's Birthday-- 5/24
- Send Off Service and Celebration for Andy and Crystal-- 5/31
- Teacher Appreciation Breakfast and Recognition 6/7
- Multigenerational Worship--Bridging (Recognition of Graduating Seniors)-- 6/14
- Multigenerational Worship-- Flower Communion-- 6/21
- Summer Childcare Begins-- 6/28
Easter Egg Dyeing (after Community Night Dinner)
Wednesday, April 1, 6:45 p.m., Social Hall
Join us for our annual Easter Egg Dyeing tradition. BUF will supply dye and decorations. You bring 1 dozen (or how ever many eggs you wish to dye) hard boiled eggs.
Lettered Streets Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt at Fouts Park, April 4 at 10:00 a.m.
BUF Children's Easter Egg Hunt
Sunday, April 5, 10:30 a.m.
BUF kids will participate in an Easter Egg Hunt and play outdoor games at Fouts Park during their regular RE hour. Kids start in the Sanctuary with parents, as usual.
UU History Film Series Part 4: Universalism
Wednesday, April 8, 6:20 p.m.
This film documents the development of Universalism from the early German and English Priests to John Murray-- including the explosion of Universalist churches in America during the first half of the 19th Century.
Children's Worship Service
Sunday, April 12, 10:30 a.m.
Children in grades K-5 will participate in a special worship service just for them. Children will begin in the Flex Room (not the sanctuary) and will be taking a special collection for a charity to be determined by them in May.
Coming of Age Workshop: Dealing With Failure
Sunday, April 12, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Flex Room
Coming of Age youth and mentors will participate in a special workshop on dealing with failure led by Anna Ringsred, olympic speed skater.
RE Sponsored Community Night Dinner (A Local Feast) and
Film-- Viva La Causa: The Story of Cesar Chavez and A Great Movement For Social Justice
Wednesday, April 15, Dinner at 6:00 p.m., Movie at 6:45 p.m.
Come for a wonderful local feast prepared by Roz Reynolds and her team of helpers. Then join us, in the library, for a multigenerational movie event to learn about the inspiring work of Cesar Chavez to help us prepare for participating in the Farm Worker's March for Justice on May 3.
BUF and C2C Partnership Celebration
Sunday, April 19, 12:00 noon, Social Hall
The whole congregation is invited to stay after the service on April 19 for a delicious lunch prepared by Christopher Griffen. We will be reporting back to the congregation about the important work of our partner organization, Community to Community. Youth and older children are especially encouraged to attend in order to learn more about social justice work in our community. We will have a special table with sign making supplies-- children and youth will be invited to make signs to carry in the Farm Worker's March for Dignity on May 3.
UU History Film Series Part 5: Evolution
Wednesday, April 22, 6:20 p.m., Library
This film follows both movements through the late 19th and 20th centuries-- from biblical oriented religions to our non-credal movement.
Memorial Service for the BUF Van
Sunday, April 26, 5:00 p.m., BUF Parking Lot
Well friends, I am sad to say that our beloved van has reached the end of it's life. We have enjoyed the van immensely. We were able to put our own stamp on it by painting it back in 2008, it has taken high school and middle school youth to cons, transported C2C youth to their events, transported food and goods to BUF retreats and other events-- all in all-- it had a good life and it served us well. Our high school youth will lead us in a good bye celebration before it rests in peace at Z Recycling. All interested parties are invited to our send off celebration.
UU History Film Series Part 6: The Hundred Year Waltz
Wednesday, April 29, 6:20 p.m., Library
This film documents the century-long courtship of our two movements that culminated in their merger in 1961. It follows us through our first half century and discusses where we may go from here.
Coming of Age Retreat
Friday, May 1, 6:00 p.m.- Sunday, May 3, 10:30 a.m. at BUF
Coming of Age youth and mentors will spend the weekend at BUF with an all day retreat on Saturday in the woods (location TBD). Youth will participate in many activities that will prepare them to share their credo statements with the congregation on May 17.
PNWD Youth Conference, Spring 2015
Friday, May 1-Sunday, May 3
High School youth are invited to participate. Check with Alicia Alford for more information about this year's con.
Farm Worker March for Dignity
Sunday, May 3, 11:45 a.m. (after the worship service)
ALL BUFsters of ALL AGES are invited to join our partners from Community to Community, as well as the people who grow our food, for this annual march. We will leave right after the service and walk to Cornwall Park with the signs we made on April 19th. We will join the farm workers and supporters who marched 19 miles (from Lynden) earlier in the morning to celebrate with them. If you are able, please make a potluck dish and drop it off in the entry way at BUF-- your dish will be transported to the park after the service.
Last Children's Worship Service of the Year
Sunday, May 10, 10:30 a.m. Flex Room
Children in grades K-5 will participate in a special worship service just for them. Children will begin in the Flex Room (not the sanctuary) and will be voting on a charity to share the special collection they have been collecting all year with.
RE Sponsored Community Night Dinner-- Theme TBD
Wednesday, May 13, 6:00 p.m.
Coming of Age Recognition Service
Sunday, May 17, 10:30 a.m.
Fourth and Fifth grade students as well as all middle school and high school youth are invited to join the congregation for this special worship service to honor the work of the youth involved in Coming of Age. We will discuss the developmental Identity Crisis that occurs in our youth as well as the Midlife Crisis that many experience in later years. Our youth will share their personal credo statements. This is one of the most inspiring services of the year-- you won't want to miss it!
Everybody's Birthday
Sunday, May 24, 11:45 a.m.
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!
Send Off Service and Celebration for Andy and Crystal
Sunday, May 31, 10:30 a.m.
Andy and Crystal will lead this thoughtful and musical service. We will share how our experiences as staff members at BUF have shaped us into the people we are today as well as share our thoughts about the current moment in BUF's evolution. Celebration to follow.
Teacher Appreciation Breakfast and Recognition
Sunday, June 7, 9:30 a.m.
Our RE Teachers work hard all year providing religious education to our children. This breakfast is a chance for me (and you) to thank them for the efforts. If you would like to help with the breakfast, please contact Crystal. Even if you aren't able to help-- please take a moment to find your child's teachers over the next few weeks and thank them! RE Teachers will also be recognized formally in the worship service.
Multigenerational Worship--Bridging
(Recognition of Graduating Seniors)
Sunday, June 14, 10:30 a.m.
BUFsters of all ages are invited to join us for a multigenerational story about the Sea Child Thing and celebrate our graduating seniors as we send them out into the adult world.
Multigenerational Worship-- Flower Communion
Sunday, June 21, 10:30 a.m.
BUFsters of all ages are invited to join us for a new take on an old tradition. We will have our annual Flower Communion service to celebrate the end of the church year.
Summer Childcare Begins
Sundays, June 28-September 7, 10:30 a.m.
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.
Well-- that's it for now! I hope to see you at many of these wonderful events and activities!
Crystal
