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.

Happy New Year!!!

Greetings BUF Families,

Hope you are all having a wonderful New Year! Here are a few things to be aware of at BUF:

Children's Worship

Sunday, January 12, 10:30

Our topic was the same as the Chalice Circle topic for this month, "Expectations." Speical music was provided for our prelude and offertory by Brandon Farnand.

Family Forum: The Children's March

Wednesday, January 15, 7:00 pm (flex room)

In preparation for MLK Day, we will watch the documentary and have a discussion. The Children's March tells the story of how the young people of Birmingham, Alabama, braved fire hoses and police dogs in 1963 and brought segregation to its knees. Their heroism moved president Kennedy to introduce the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a key piece of federal legislation that transformed not just the South, but the entire nation. This 40 minute film contains historical and current footage from many of the participants in this momentous event. It is an empowering message for youth that we have shown in the past to middle school and high school classes. This year we invite all BUF members and friends in 4th grade or older to attend this multigenerational forum! 

Spirit Play Story Box Making Party

Sunday, January 26, 12:00 pm

Our Spirit Play class uses "story boxes" to lead their lessons with Kindergarteners and first graders. We need some new stories! Story boxes contain a variety of items-- sometimes made from felt, pictures, drawings, and other objects. Crystal will select several stories (with specific instructions-- and often pictures of story box items) and ensure that we have the raw materials to make story boxes. YOU are invited to come upstairs to the spirit play room after the service, choose a story and make a box-- Childcare will be provided.

Call for Chalice Pictures

(RE Project for Auction)

The RE Committee would like to create a poster to print and frame to offer to the BUF Auction. You may have seen the beautiful poster that Beth Sobel made for the "Standing on the Side of Love" campaign. It is a patchwork of 180 different drawings of hearts-- and it is beautiful! We would like to create something similar with chalice pictures. So here is what we need: Every child and youth in our program is invited to make a chalice drawing (or collage, painting...)-- the only requirements are that it must be on a white, 81/2 by 11 sheet of paper and it must be oriented as a portrait (not a landscape). There will be some opportunities to make these in class... but we want everyone to participate so pictures can be dropped off at BUF (you can put them in my box or bring them to the RE classroom) from now through February!

Call for Child Musicians

Each month, on the second Sunday, we have a Children's Worship service. For the last few months, Robin Brown has been coordinating children to provide music during the service. Brendon Leonard, Linea Bone, and Brandon Farnand have all provided special music for our prelude and our offertory. I believe that having musicians from our classrooms has greatly enhanced the quality of our worship services! If your child plays an instrument or would be interested in singing for us, we would love to get him/her involved. Please contact Robin Brown at robin440@earthlink.net.

Pageant Photos and Video 

Thank you to all parents and children who helped make our Christmas pageant so successful this (last) year! We were especially lucky to have had Ted Williams taking photos and video. For a sweet moment-- in case you still want to "hold the baby..." you should check out the following links: 

photos - https://plus.google.com/photos/107459299003973388515/albums/5960437627555586289

video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV1ZVWzRyTo&feature=youtu.be

That's it for now.  See you all soon!

Happy Holidays-- December Happenings!

Season's Greetings!

Here is the scoop about what is happening in BUF's Religious Education Program for Children and Youth in December:

Children's Worship

Sunday, December 8, 10:30 a.m.

This worship will be holiday themed with a focus on gratitude. Children in grades K-5 come directly to the flex room instead of starting in the sanctuary. We always take a special collection that we save until the spring when we decide on an organization to receive it. Money that is meaningful to your children is best-- allowance, change from the couch cushions, money they earned... this makes the gift from them rather than from you.

Holiday Craft Night with Bellingham Coop School!

Wednesday, December 5, 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Come make some holiday gifts before our community night dinner!  We will have many fun craft stations set up around the perimeter of the social hall to help us get into the holiday spirit.  If you have a special craft idea that you would like to lead please reply to me or contact Heidi Alford at familyalford@comcast.net

Parents' Night Out: Fundraiser for YRUU!

Friday, December 13 AND Friday December 20 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

This is the perfect opportunity to carve out some stress free time during this busy season. Maybe you need a date night, to soak in a tub, or you need to do some solo shopping-- whatever your needs are, a kid free Friday night (or two) from 5:00 to 9:00 is (are) bound to help!

 

Your children will be cared for by BUF's high school youth group (including youth advisors)-- youth will provide pizza dinner, organized games, other fun activities, and will wind down with a movie.

You and your children get all this for only $20.00 per child or $35.00 per family! All proceeds go to the YRUU fund and will be used to offset costs for district conferences, and other social and educational activities.

Please RSVP your intent to participate to the office by noon on the day of the event.

Children are welcome to bring pajamas!

Posada!

Saturday, December 14, 5:00-8:00 p.m.

You won't want to miss this annual tradition!  Cocina Sanas (from Community 2 Community) will be taking the lead in creating our Mexican feast. Rev. Lee Bond will be telling the story of Maria and Joseph as they search for an Inn. We will wander the neighborhood caroling and acting out the parts of the journey. We will have a 4th or 5th grade Mary riding anactual donkey (pony), with a singing Joseph and "mean" innkeepers. We then return to BUF where we are 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 16, 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!

Multigenerational Worship Service

December 22, 10:30-- Would You Like to Hold the Baby?

Childcare will be available in Childspace for those who need it.

Hope to see you at many of these wonderful events-- Merry Christmas!

Crystal

November Update!

Greetings BUF Families,

Here are the big things happening for children and families in our Religious Education Program at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship:

Family Forum: Unplug the Christmas Machine, or How to Have the Holidays YOU Want! 

Friday, November 8, 5:45 Potluck, 6:15 Program for Parents-- Kid's programming will be separeate this time!

This workshop was originally inspired by the book Unplug the Christmas Machine and has been reworked with additional material by Heidi Alford. For parents at BUF, this workshop will have a broad appeal to be able to spend time focusing on reducing the stress that comes with the approach of holidays. We’ll talk about the value of tradition and ritual for children from a UU perspective. We will look at your own holiday memories and family traditions and then look at what you want to create for your children.

To ensure there are enough materials, PLEASE register your intent to attend: familyalford@comcast.net

Children's Worship Service: Martinmas

Sunday, November 10, 10:30

Children in grades K-5 begin upstairs in the flex room for worship and special holiday programming during BUF's 2nd Annual Martinmas Celebration!

We will begin our celebration by telling a story about the holiday, children will learn some seasonal songs, and make their own Martinmas lanterns!

As always during a children's worship service, we will take a special collection and we will have a special Children's Clothing Drive. Please bring outgrown but wearable children's clothing upstairs before the service on Sunday, November 10. We will talk about the importance of sharing warmth and resources, and pack the clothes up to be donated.

Martinmas Lantern Parade during Community Night Dinner
Lantern Parade! Wednesday, November 13. Lantern-making (for those who missed it on Sunday) at 5:30, Community Night Dinner at 6:00. Between dinner and dessert, we will take our lanterns outside for a Lantern Parade around Fouts Park, while we sing our lantern songs, led by Robin Brown on her fiddle!--

Christmas Pageant Rehearsal Schedule-- Please mark your calendar!Children's Choir to Rehearse after services on 11/24, 12/1, 12/8, 12/15 and then a run through the morning of the pageant on 12/22.
Each year the Children's RE Program participates in a multigenerational worship service on the Sunday before Christmas. This year we will tell the story of Mary and Joseph's fateful journey to Bethlehem with a musical pageant called, Would You Like To Hold the Baby? All children and youth are encouraged to participate! There will be singing parts as well as acting parts. I will send more information as we get closer to the event.

Chalice Circles 
Chalice Circles are a wonderful opportunity for people to participate in deep meaningful sharing in a small group setting. People in chalice circles report feeling intimately connected to the members of their group and more connected to the congregation overall.  Last year we started a chalice circle especially for parents that continues to meet monthly on first Fridays. This winter we will be starting several new groups that will meet on different days, at different times and will be more heterogeneous in terms of membership. I strongly encourage you to consider participating! If you would like to participate in a chalice circle, or would like more information, please let me know (Crystal Neva, uuneva@gmail.com)!

Hoping to See You Soon, Stay Warm!

Crystal

Fall Update 2013!

Welcome Back to BUF!

I sincerely hope that you had a wonderful summer!  I don't remember ever having such a beautiful July in Bellingham. It was an amazing time to stay in town and revel in all the Northwest has to offer. I had some magical moments in nature-- the reward of making it to Oyster Dome on a sunny day can't be compared! And I also had some very cozy times at home with family and friends. 

     Our trip to Denver in June was bitter sweet. We spent time with extended family, mourned the passing of Peg's father and I went to medical appointments with my brother. If you know me, then you know I spent a lot of time pondering deep questions about meaning, mortality, and purpose.  At one of my favorite shops in Denver, I found a beautiful book of Day of the Dead traditions and activities. I was inspired to bring these ideas to BUF and we will explore them in October. My experiences with family made me think about ways to support you and yours and how to let the strength of our community hold us as we journey. I look forward to us being together this fall!  Please consider participating in any or all of the following: 

First Community Night Dinner

Wednesday, September 11, 6:00 p.m.

Community Night Dinners resume! There is a new team coordinating dinners this year-- watch for menu announcements and more in the Midweek Update. Dinner costs $5.00 for adults, $4.00 for children and $12.00 for families with small children.

Family Forum and Potluck: 

Religious Education at Church and at Home

Friday, September 13, 5:30 dinner, 6:15 program

This year we will be experimenting with a new program called Family Forums-- they will usually happen on the second Friday of each month. Some forums will be for adults only while children have other programming; some will be for the whole family.  This first forum will be multigenerational! We will begin with a potluck meal in the social hall, families with children in the same classes will be encouraged to eat together and discuss ways to live UU principles as a family.  We will then move upstairs where our program will introduce you to the theme and structure of RE this fall and also explore and encourage ways to bring UU rituals and traditions home.  Each family will create an alter box to bring home that can be used to augment your religious traditions. ALL families are welcome!

Multigenerational Ingathering

Sunday, September 15, 10:30

Be sure to bring some water that represents some aspect of summer journeys to share in our annual water communion ceremony!

First RE Sunday!

Sunday, September 22, 

Classes begin-- This will be an important Sunday for your children to participate in to set the tone for the fall theme-- UU History as told through the stories of UU Superheros! The teachers and I are looking forward to seeing everyone!

Middle School Con-- 9/27-29

Friday, September 27-29, Vashon Island!

Last year we sent our first BUF contingent to Middle School Con.  I accompanied 5 youth on a wonderful UU adventure and am really hoping we have enough interest to send a contingent again!  Please let me know if your son or daughter is interested in going... I will send registration materials to middle school families as soon as I have them!

More Information Coming Soon...

All Church Retreat (SAVE THE DATE)-- 10/4-6

OWL for grades 7-8 Parent Orientation-- 10/1

Family Forum: Dia De Los Muertos-- 10/11

Fall Harvest Festival-- 10/19

Halloween Carnival Celebration-- 10/23

Multigenerational Worship-- 10/27

Summer Programs for Children at BUF

News For BUF Families

We are wrapping up another year at BUF.  I hope you found inspiration for your lives, made meaningful connections, and feel supported in your efforts to raise your children with a sense of wonder, purpose and moral responsibility.  There are a few things for you to be aware of as we move into summer mode:  

Children's Special Collection for NSEAEach month, during our Children's Worship Services we take a special collection that we save all year until June.  In the spring we start thinking about what kind of service or organization we would like to support.  This year the children talked about the importance of cleaning up streams and caring for the forest and the animals that live there. We took a vote on June 2nd and we decided to give the money to the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association.  The children raised $100.85.  The letter we will send to NSEA is attached.

Crystal's Summer Schedule

I am officially off after Father's Day until the beginning of August. I will be checking email infrequently and keep a folder of all your great ideas to consider more formally in August. Cydne will be available to you but will be working reduced hours during July.

Multigenerational Worship and Flower Communion

This Sunday, June 16, is Father's Day and the official end of our church year.  We will be celebrating Fathers and have our annual Flower Communion. Please be sure to have each person in your family bring a flower for our special ritual. 

Summer Sunday's and Childcare

There will be no formal Religious Education Classes from June 16 through Labor Day.  There will be wonderful worship services coordinated by Melanie Rieck. Summer is often a wonderful time to experience BUF because of the ingenious variety of inspiring speakers we get to be exposed to.  And you can feel confident that your children will be well taken care of when you decide to participate in worship services.  Children will begin in the worship service as usual and then be invited to a time of supervised activities.  This year I have scheduled 3 childcare providers each Sunday.  The childcare leads this summer are Sarah Robertson, a young adult in our community who is dedicated to working with children and Molly Pearson, a lifetime member of BUF and senior in high school who has had childcare and teaching experience in our Hogwarts program this fall.  These young women will be helped by our experienced childcare providers: Tor Sacco, Behah Thurn, Annika Rauch, Ben, and Haley Holmgren.  The leads will provide some structure each Sunday that will include a chalice lighting and a story.  Children will then have options for what to do with the rest of the time. If the whole group is interested they may sometimes walk over to Fouts Park to play. Childcare ends promptly at 11:45 each Sunday-- please get your children before going downstairs for coffee. 

Save the Date Middle School Conference 2013September 27-29, 2013 at Camp Sealth on Vashon Island
Join 70 other UU 6th, 7th and 8th graders from around the Sound as they enjoy a weekend of fun, sharing and living our UU Principles.  Sponsored by Liberal Religious Educators Association’s Puget Sound Cluster Cost $120 before August. 31 or $135 after August 31 includes meals all day Saturday, breakfast & lunch Sunday, lodging, all camp activities: Archery, Boating, Talent Show!
For more information please contact your Director of Religious Education or Lori Fernholz-Hartman at dre@tuuc-wa.org or 253-476-2799 Final registration deadline Sept. 6, no exceptions. Half-scholarships are available for early birds only. 

Last year was the first year BUF participated in this conference. It was without a doubt a big hit with the 5 youth who attended.  I will send registration materials for this as soon as I get them-- Please let me know if your son/daughter is interested so I can arrange for a chaperone!

Save the Date for BUF's All Church Retreat

October, 4-6 at Camp Kirby!

More information to come!

Two New Programs for Parents: Parent Chalice Circles and Parent Forums! 

I have been talking with Roz and Kathleen and the Religious Education Committee and have decided to augment the wonderful First Friday Potluck program they began last year. Next year, beginning in September, we will have First Friday Potluck and Parent Forum/ Kids Movie Night! One or more ongoing chalice circles for parents will also be formed (but scheduled to meet at another time).  For those who may not know, Chalice Circles are closed groups of 10 or so individuals who gather at a specific time each month to share their thoughts on a particular topic.  Facilitators are provided with a session plan that includes a chalice lighting and closing as well as a topic with some questions or some other kind of centerpiece activity.  Sharing is typically talking stick style (with each person holding the floor for a distinct period of time). 

I have created a short survey to find out about your interest in chalice circles and also to find out which forum topics would be of interest to you. PLEASE click on the link below to fill out the survey-- it shouldn't take more than 5-10 minutes. THANK YOU!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VLTMCX6

I hope you all have wonderful summers full of sunshine, smiles, and great adventures!

See you Sunday,

Crystal