2-26-2023 Order of Service

Forward thru the Ages

Sunday, February 26, 2023, 10:25 am

Online on Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/738363620
Passcode: BUF

Zoom by phone, for audio only: (346) 248-7799
Meeting ID: 738 363 620
Passcode: 306220


In a house which becomes a home, one hands down and another takes up the heritage of mind and heart, laughter and tears, musings and deeds.
Love, like a carefully loaded ship, crosses the gulf between the generations.

— Antoine de St.-Exupery


Gathering Music                        Improv, Andrea Rackl, piano

Welcome                                     Rev. Paul Beckel

Prelude                                       Spring Song, by Victoria Sabo

Chalice Lighting                         Rev. Mel Hoover

Covenant

Singing Together                       #358, Rank by Rank – Kjerstie Nelson, song leader

Verse #4, by Rev Kendyl Gibbons

Never from that summons swerve; Hark the prophets’ living chorus!
Truth and freedom still to serve, Show the present path before us.
As we dream, so shall we dare; Hands to service, hearts to prayer.
Clouds of witness call us on, That a nobler day may dawn.

Children’s Focus                       “Who Moved my Cheese?”

Children’s Blessing

On Identity &  Process              1700s – 1900s – Rev Paul

2000s and Current Proposal – Rev Rose

Singing Together                        #297, The Star of Truth (tune of #34)

Next Steps for the UUA, and for BUF – Lew Phinney  

Sharing our Gifts                       Far From Earth, by Victoria Sabo

Singing Together                        #1050, Jazz Alleluia

Benediction                                 #646, “The Larger Circle”

Singing Together                        #155, Circle ‘Round


Afterward

If you’re with us on Zoom today, please stay after the service for our online coffee hour. If you’re here in person, please join us downstairs for coffee and conversation.  

If you’re new, we’d be grateful to have you provide us with contact information so we can let you know what’s happening here. There are buff-colored visitor contact cards in the pew racks, and in the entryway, that you can drop in the collection basket. Or provide your contact information HERE. 


Contributions payable to “BUF” may be sent to:
1207 Ellsworth Street, Bellingham 98225

For info about donating online (credit card or PayPal), by automatic bank transfer, or via phone apps, see the “give” button in the upper right-hand corner at buf.org or contact the office: (360) 733-3837 / admin@buf.org


Announcements

Link to the Article 2 Commission – Report and Proposal:
            https://www.uua.org/files/2023-02/article-II-study-report-2021-23.pdf
[or google “UUA Article 2”]

 Some questions to consider for next Sunday’s conversation:

  1. Over the past 200+ years of Unitarianism, Universalism, and UUism, have our values changed? If so, how? If not, has our prioritization of values changed?
  2. Has our relationship to these values changed? Perhaps moving from abstract toward more urgent and hands-on?
  3. Has there been a shift in our thinking, speaking, and doing from individualist toward communitarian? If so, is that important enough to express in new words?
  4. How do you feel about this process?
  5. What else do you need to know about the Article 2 proposal, how it came to be, and where it goes from here?

 

Streamline your Monthly Contributions through Electronic Funds Transfer.
Would you like to make sure that you do not miss any of your monthly contributions? Set up an automatic electronic funds transfer (EFT) of your regular charitable donations. Kathy Wahto BUF administrator can assist you. If you would like to give more for a select organization, you can send an additional check just for those organizations. This system ensures that every organization gets the funds. Thank you so much for your generosity.

 

The BUF auction doesn’t have to end quite yet!
There are spaces remaining in festive gatherings that were donated by BUF members. This link will take you directly to the catalog grid to read more about the open events. http://togetherauction.com/buf/catalog2/filter/17;jsessionid=rtwy6346q301dafnia4lvg0a?4

Still open:

  • 16 spaces Barbara’s garden party, August 19, 2-5pm ($30)
  • 4 spaces – San Juan Wine Sunset Cruise with the Board, August 3rd, 6:30pm ($50)
  • 4 spaces, Carl and Pete’s Sehome Hill Garden Party, May 20 at 2pm ($25)
  • 3 spaces, Rod’s Coaching Life Stories (three 90 minute sessions) ($50)
  • 3 spaces, Naomi’s Tarot Card Reading Party, date TBA ($10)
  • 3 spaces, Kara’s Wine Tasting with Live Music in the Forest, July 16, 3pm ($30)
  • 1 space, Beth’s Storyline of Objects, date TBA ($40)
  • 1 space, Murray and Claire’s Beer Tasting with a View, July 29, 6pm ($35)

Call BUF at 360-733-3837 or stop by the BUF office to sign up and pay!

 

PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT
Friday, March 3. Enjoy an evening out with other BUF parents while your child has fun with other UU kids! Drop your child off upstairs in the flex room at BUF at 5:30 and walk to nearby Elizabeth Station with other parents for a couple hours of dinner, drinks and conversation. While you relax, we’ll serve the kids a dinner of mac and cheese, veggies and applesauce, with cookies for dessert. Afterwards we’ll have age-appropriate games and art projects. All children between 1 and 12 years are welcome and will be under the care of myself (Genia@buf.org) and our teenage childcare providers. Please contact me by Wednesday, March 1 if you plan on participating so we can plan for food and craft supplies. To help cover the cost of childcare and dinner we suggest a donation of $10 per child, or $15 per family, but everyone is welcome no matter what.

 

BUF Bus to Choral Arts Northwest production: “Considering Matthew Shepard”
Sunday March 19, bus leaves at 2 pm. This dramatic oratorio depicts the story of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay student at the University of Wyoming who was murdered in a 1998 hate crime. BUF Music director, Kevin Allen-Schmidt, says “Though the story is sad, the music unfolds gently, and affirms our common humanity with exquisite beauty and thrilling power. I recommend this show to anyone 12 and older.”

Fifty BUFsters going on a road trip together will be a bonding experience that all will treasure. $20 gets you a seat on the bus! Participation is also open to the wider community, first come-first serve. RESERVE A SEAT ON THE BUS by March 1- at https://buf.breezechms.com/form/buf.breezechms.com329299 Concert tickets are separate from the bus reservation, so buy concert tickets via the Edmonds Center for the Arts website. The ticket price is “pay-as-you-can,” anything from $0 (yes, zero) to $40 per person. You must reserve your concert tickets in advance. If we don’t have 40 bus seats reserved by March 1, we will cancel the outing and refund those who paid bus money. People may still go to the concert by their own transportation, of course.