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.

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