Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship BUF.org
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship ~ BUF.org
Community, Compassion, Commitment
June 3, 2020
Reflections on Protests in Seattle
In response to the murder of George Floyd – an inescapable demonstration of white
supremacy culture – many of us would have liked to join protests in Seattle. I have been
pleased to see the public witness action here down by the Bellingham library; I’ve been there
a couple of times over the week and there’s always
more people, day and night.
Seattle, though, is near enough that we have intense
interest in what’s happening, and yet far away when
the miles are multiplied by factors of social distancing.
So today I’m sharing a first-hand account of an ally
who was present. The following is from my son Rick:
Last weekend, I got tear gassed by police three times, then
watched a young woman take out the windows of a cop car with a baseball bat. I was in downtown
Seattle on 5th and Pine. Someone ripped a pine sapling out of the ground for tinder. Both the tree and
the SPD vehicle went up in flames quickly.
Though this scene is seared into my memory, it is hardly unique; thousands of people across the
country were experiencing similar things. We’ve gathered, again, because the police murdered
another black man. This time in Minneapolis, a city I know and love, this time, while kneeling on his
neck for 9 minutes as he cried for his mother and struggled to rasp out “I can’t breathe.”
At the protests, similar patterns emerge everywhere. Though the actions and roles were familiar by
the time I arrived, they were fascinating to watch play out before my eyes. Thousands protested
peacefully: people carried signs, kneeled before a line of cops, marched, listened to impassioned
speakers. A tiny percentage of the crowd destroyed property, some hurled token projectiles like water
bottles at the armored police. And the police held their own line. They mostly stood impassively,
sometimes reacted to the rash actions of an individual, but often escalated of their own volition, using
indiscriminate and arbitrary force against the crowd on multiple occasions. Countless concussion
grenades, many rounds of gas and pepper spray, hundreds of guns visibly at the ready, strapped to
their chests. Ominous weapons.
There is so much rage right now. Rage is part of what drove me to show up, march, and bear witness.
Rage is what I saw in the faces and tears of so many others at the front lines, as we yelled “Black Lives
Matter,” “No Justice/No Peace,” and “Fuck the Police” into the faces of those who have again and
again failed to protect and serve. I bawled “What’s his name?” until I was hoarse. For the first time, I
truly felt the power these chants carry – they help to focus our rage and keep us on message, to
remind us and those listening of why we came. When the police decided to advance up the street,
throwing flashbangs in peaceful protestors’ faces, triggering stampedes and pepper spraying the
stragglers, we would temporarily lose focus as we covered our ears, eyes, and tried not to breathe. But
we would always coalesce again, and as we raised our voices together, re-discovered our collective
strength.
What to make of the violence perpetrated by some in the crowd? There are doubtless agitators and opportunists where the protests happen – people who are there to discredit the peaceful nature of the protest, people too eager to watch the world burn, people there to steal. But there were also people who, you could tell, were absolutely there for the cause, whose anger, trauma, and desperation to have the world LISTEN manifested itself as a baseball bat through the windshield of a vacant cop car. And I, as a part of that mass of angry people, my own anger magnified by being proximate to police violence in a more visceral way than I ever had before, watched enraptured as the police car blazed. Part of me was horrified, asking “what have we done?” as I watched the apocalyptic scene unfold: thousands of people, in masks, watching black smoke and flames billow out of a busy downtown intersection, my ears ringing with the memory of concussion grenades and hours of outraged chanting. But part of me also celebrated as we watched this symbol of power and brutality burn. Because the brutality that brought us here was infinitely more horrifying than a burning cop car. It was a knee on George Floyd’s neck; it was a murder scene. It was connected to the racist murders by so many other unnamed black people by agents of the state. And these killings, too, are just part of our system of racial terror and oppression. Race has a fundamental role in determining the composition and resources allocated to our neighborhoods, delimits each of our opportunities as individuals, and is a major force in structuring our country’s economy and foreign policy, yesterday and today. And so as military-issue vehicles and weapons are deployed across the country this week, the sight of a single police car burning does not horrify me. Seeing well-insured retail windows smashed in downtown Seattle doesn’t bother me nearly as much as knowing underinsured black and brown people are disproportionately being killed by Covid-19, not to mention police. The fact that many people are more horrified by the reactions to these killings than they are to the killings themselves shows how desperate our situation is. Speaking of those who are killed who go unnamed: the most heart wrenching moment at the protest was watching a black woman at the front line urgently trying to start a “say his name” chant for someone who the crowd didn’t know. Several of us nearby tried to pick it up, but the chant didn’t take, and it fizzled out as the protestors latched onto the more recent names who are on everyone’s lips. But the anguish in the woman’s face didn’t leave as she continued to hold the line against the police. I could only imagine that this was the name of someone who’d been stolen from her – a sibling, a lover, a friend, a relative. Perhaps the pain we all feel in this moment was familiar to her, a pain so deep that it drove her to the front of the protest to put herself at risk and yell this name at cops who killed him and so many others whose names go unsaid. Though her loss may have been as profound as the loss of those who loved George Floyd, it didn’t go viral, didn’t make headlines, didn’t get people like me out into the streets. Which brings me to my lasting takeaway from the protest. When the scene began to escalate, a black femme at the back of the crowd authoritatively told all those around that we needed white bodies at the front, where they would be the first to be gassed, hit, or worse, by the who-knows-how-many police who were ready for a fight. Though I and many other white people did spend hours in the rain within a baton’s reach from this line of cops, we need to remember that “showing up” requires more of us. It is on us to intervene before there are protests in the streets, before another one of our neighbors, coworkers, or loved ones are killed. Though this intervention will look different for everyone, it will take all of us. I left the protest hoping that I would have the courage to stand up to racism, violence, and systems of oppression even when I don’t have a crowd behind me, or the enemy is systemic and harder to picture than a cop staring back at me through a riot mask. The beneficiaries of this system must be willing to risk their standing, their fortune, and their bodies to burn it down. This fight is not over when George Floyd’s killers are convicted. It’s certainly not over after an
election. This fight is an everyday, lifelong practice. Though the conflagration on 5th and Pine may
have received a burst of immediate attention, my hope is that many of us left the protest galvanized to
engage in the “slow burn” of this everyday practice for the years to come – and that we may celebrate
as something more beautiful and just rises from the ashes.
Sunday Services Upcoming
June 7 Let’s Face the Music and Dance!
When we’re facing difficult circumstances, artistic expression can help us to acknowledge what is real,
and to cope and to heal. This Sunday we encourage you not just to sit and watch, but to respond -- in
the moment in your own place -- as Carrie Koehnline prompts us to use writing as a way of healing,
Pam Kunz engages us in responsive dance, Andrea Rackl reflects on making music, and Steffany
Raynes guides us in some process-art.
June 14 Choir Finale 2020 On Sunday, June 14, the choir will present the annual “Choir
Finale” service, including wonderful hymn singing, live special music and video recordings of choral
performances recent and past, of ourselves and of others. The service is shaping up to be inspiring
and touching, like a regular “Choir Finale.”
Coming this summer: The BUF Music and Poetry HAPPY HOUR
On ten Wednesdays over the summer, from 5pm to 6pm, June 24 through
August 26, we are offering a new weekly BUF gathering called “The BUF Music
sharing, this gathering will carry us through a summer of inspiration while
staying apart. HAPPY HOUR and Poetry HAPPY HOUR.” Hosted by rotating
music leaders, with opportunities for individual is not for choir, it’s for ALL
BUFsters and friends - no musical skills necessary. You may share and sing
along, or just listen.
Religious and Faith-Based Covid-19 Requirements For Re-opening’
Governor Inslee recently released the Washington Safe Start phased plan for reopening businesses
across the state. As we prepare to move into Phase 2 of the response to COVID-19, it is important that
faith communities get the guidance they need about how to operate safely (click here for a chart of
Washington’s phased approach to reopening businesses).
Fr. Jeffrey Moore (Assumption Parish, Bellingham) and Brian Nelson (Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints), are serving on Whatcom County’s COVID Employer Support Task Force as
liaisons to the Faith Communities sector. The Task Force recently convened so that businesses and
organizations can work together to share procedures, identify challenges in implementation, and
compile information about best practices to ensure healthy and safe operations. Review the “Religious
and Faith-based Organization COVID-19 Requirements” which the Governor issued on May 27.
What to Expect at Virtual GA
, what does our faith ask of us?
At this year's fully virtual General Assembly (GA), we will explore the power, possibility, purpose, struggle, and joy of
finding the path forward together as Unitarian Universalists. During this time of rapid change, the collective practice of
our faith evolves and adapts to follow that path. Whether you're a first-time delegate or a long-time attendee, please
join us at a pre-GA webinar to learn about some of these changes. Members of the Board of Trustees will provide an
overview of some of the changes, along with information for delegates regarding the business sessions.
Eight 75-minute webinars are offered between June 5 and June 18. We look forward to talking with you!
Registration for a specific date is required to attend a webinar.
Register for a Webinar
Fellow GA Fans,
This GA will be different in many ways. In years past, the Webinars conducted by the UUA
Board have been extremely helpful, particularly for first time attendees. However, because
this year’s GA will definitely be different, I recommend that everyone participating sign up
for one of the Webinars. I’ve been to many Gas and I plan to attend a Webinar.
If you have general questions about GA, I’ll be glad to help (lew@usa.net); however, I’ll be
learning about this Virtual GA along with you.
Lew
BUF Annual Highlights
Dear Fellowship Members,
I presented this list of some highlights that occurred over the last year - we were
not locked down the entire time - and thought you might want to see it again, or
for the first time if you missed the meeting. ~ Rory McLeod, President
Last June
GA 2019
The 2019 UUA General Assembly was held in Spokane Washington. We had a number of BUF
members attend and represent BUF: Kara Black, Ron Quinn, Rick Steele, Lew Phiney and Cat
McIntyre.
GA Beth Brownfield and Deb Cruz along with two Indigenous women: Shirley Williams and
Shirly Hardman gave a well-regarded workshop on Truth and Reconciliation.
In September
Our new buf.org website came online. I think most of you have seen it and would agree it is an
improvement over the previous website. Scott Heise is our webmaster - thank you Scott.
Also, the new projector started to be used.
Congregational
November
Kopjafa pole installed in the back courtyard where our future
Meeting
Memorial Garden is planned. Results Announced:
109 Voting Members
December attended the Zoom
Extra giving campaign $17,000 raised to help balance the current meeting.
fiscal year’s budget. All ballot measures
January, 2020 passed unanimously or
We held a Slogan contest to great success. There were many by wide margin,
wonderful and creative entries. Our new slogan - Community, including the 2020-21
Compassion, Commitment - is now on our website and other BUF Operating Budget
communications.
Just before the Bellingham Folk Festival a new flyer rack was Congratulations to new
installed next to the main entry doors. Information about BUF and BUF BOT members
UU-ism in general is now in an easily accessible location. It’s there Sarah Pearson, Henry
waiting for us for when we do eventually reopen our welcoming Ohana and John
doors. Stewart
In March
We started the year with plans to record services and sermons and publish them online. The
necessities of the past few months mooted some of that work, and as you all well know we stream
Sunday services on Zoom, including a virtual coffee hour. As the stay at home restrictions are
lifted, expect us to continue to make our services available over the internet via Zoom and/or
other streaming services
Endowment
We’ve received $64,000 in donations to our endowment fund.
The endowment is now large enough that the interest payments can be put to use. With those
funds we were able to authorize the purchase of a defibrillator.
BUF was also bequeathed a 1/20th share of a house next door to the Fellowship - just behind the
sanctuary. An LLC formed by BUF members purchased the property when it came up for sale
while the new half of the Fellowship building was under construction. It is intentioned that BUF
eventually take full ownership of the property.
BUF AT LARGE
PAUSE, CONNECT, REFLECT & REJUVENATE
We’re starting a new series on how BUFsters are making creative use of their
time. The first in the series is an interview with Colin Goggin, who has run
a popular chalice group for years.
Why Spanish? “I wanted to study a language that I can use in my
normal life. I work as a primary care doctor and I currently see 3-5 patients a
week who only speak Spanish.”
What do you like about the language? “I have struggled with spelling in
English, but Spanish is different. The spelling is phonetic; you can tell how to pronounce the word once
you see the word written on the page. I also like rolling my R's as well as the challenge of putting that
sound into words in a way that sounds natural.”
How far along are you? “I'm a strong intermediate speaker, able to understand 80-90% of what my
patients say in Spanish.”
Any favorite word or phrase? “My favorite Spanish word is rompacabezas. It means puzzle. I love
puzzles, but sometimes find them frustrating. Spanish seems to know how I feel because the word is
created by pushing together rompa, break, with cabeza, head. Puzzles are "head-breakers".
Any word or concept that you find endearing or baffling? “I struggle to conjugate my verbs
correctly and put the right gender on nouns like most native English speakers do. I find it endearing
and a bit tricky the way Spanish uses the phrases me gusta esto or me encanta eso to say, "I like this,"
and "I love that." The literal translations are "that is pleasing me" and "that is enchanting me."
Any other benefits? “In high school, studying a foreign language, French at the time, was such a
struggle for me. Retaining the vocabulary was a struggle and, although I understood the conjugations, it
was always awkward to try to choose words for sentences and conjugate verbs at the same
time. Because it was hard for me, I decided that I was "bad" at learning different languages. Enjoying
the rompacabezas of learning a language as a non-native speaker is exciting, not only because it is
useful in helping me relate to my patients. It allows me to confront a challenge from my adolescence
with a growth mentality.”
Be well,
Bharti
We asked author Bharti Kirchner, a board member, to pen a column both inspirational and lighthearted.
(MWU Edit Staff)
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the June Special Collection Recipient
Intrepid Creators: Carol and Jim Howe
A Parable Of Family Love
Betty Scott
In the Land of Chaos, the art of consuming holds highest priority. Families are torn apart by prejudice and greed.
Children are not encouraged to take care of their elderly. Or learn from the wisdom and mistakes of the past. In
the Land of Chaos, even citizens with brain conditions are labeled Consumers, a misnomer and misology,
evolving out of misguided political hierarchies.
Yet once upon a time, a young man and woman went off to college where they met and fell deeply in love. They
loved each other and the work they shared for seventy years as parents, grandparents, great grandparents and
advocate-pioneers. Love so strong, their spirits return after their deaths to inspire and heal our broken hearts.
Here’s how:
In 1996, the young man and woman, now in their seventies, moved to the northwest corner of The Land of Chaos. For six years, they planted seeds of love, and programs to repair the lives of those they met. They left with a grand farewell to care for their ill sons, and when they returned they saw much work still needed to be done. Here’s what they said in 2013 to a congregation led by Rev. Bond, a parable name if ever there was one. Our white-haired hero stood up from the confines of a wheel chair. With kindness in his blue eyes, a gentle smile and soft voice, he said: “For you to get to know us better, Reverend Bond suggested we write a short biography. It explains that we have worked all our lives to improve education, health care and economies for the under-served. Now, at age 92, I continue to encourage others toward freedom from stigma and away from discriminating against one another’s gender, race, religion, advanced age or brain conditions. We want very much to be a part of the Unitarian religious experience again and look forward to getting to know more of you. “I was a Littauer Fellow at Harvard University in the 1950s. In my career, I worked for the Agency of International Development within the State Department. I served as Program Director in Viet Nam, Assistant Director in Brazil, and Mission Director of the East African community which included Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. We brought education, agriculture, health, transportation, police training, and communication to these countries. I also had the pleasure of working for two years in Colorado with Dennis Hays, the founder of Earth Day. “In 1968, we joined others in founding the National Alliance on Mental Illness. I served as national president. NAMI has helped people with mental illnesses and their families…receive free, up-to-date education, emotional support and advocacy training. During my term as president, I helped the organization raise millions of dollars for neurobiological research. We encourage everyone toward freedom from stigma because of gender, race, religion, or brain conditions.” Our heroine took the mic. She stood little over 5 feet. She was bent forward as though years of hard work weighed heavy on her shoulders. Yet her smile lit up the spirit in her eyes. Strength of purpose resonated in her voice. “We were married 68 years ago in the Methodist church and one of our first decisions as a couple was to leave the church of our upbringing and join the Unitarians. A. Powell Davies, minister of All Souls Church on Harvard Street in Washington, D.C., influenced us because the church offered freedom of thought and acceptance of all people. “As a young parent I worked in Early Childhood Education, helped found a cooperative nursery and taught in Head Start. In NAMI, I spearheaded many of their programs to support children with neurobiological brain conditions. “Recently I’ve experienced that elderly with dementia sometimes do not believe they are ill, similar to some people with mental illnesses. No one wants to be singled out and discriminated against; yet often, peers want to be with peers; that’s human nature. We realize we have a multitude of problems for kind people within the Unitarian church to resolve.” As often happens in the Land of Chaos, the spiritual destinies of loved ones drive family members literally and figuratively down separate highways. So, too, the heroes of our story, their children and grandchildren. In 2013, heartaches deepened and pulled them further apart when our hero died in 2014 at the age of 93. Yet, lo and behold, for two weeks before our heroine passed, at the age of 96, she sat beneath a magnolia tree and walked the track beyond. During the last nineteen months of her life, sequestered and cared for by her son-in-law and granddaughters, they crossed the double doors that allowed them into each others’ sanctuaries. Blessings and healing took place, their story shared to heal and bless us all. Here’s Howe: A photo was taken. She holds a bouquet of magnolia blossoms, her face lit with sunshine, love, and youthful spirit. The memorial card sent us reads: “In Loving Memory of Carol Howe, a woman of strength and dignity, fun loving and quick wit, compassion and care, service and altruism. May her heritage continue through the many lives she has touched. In lieu of flowers, please donate to The National Alliance on Mental Illness.” And in the Land of Chaos, an amazing thing happened. When people in every neighborhood opened their wallets to grab their debit cards with their “you owe me attitudes of disregard,” two butterflies flew out. Block by block, people listened to one another, got down on their knees side-by-side to plant trees, deeply rooted trees of kindness and love in all varieties.
On this flower communion Sunday, June 21, 2020, this Father’s Day, this sacred day, please donate generously to NAMI of Whatcom County in honor of Carol and Jim Howe. Along the path, Carol requested these words be sung at her memorial: Joyful, joyful we adore thee. God of Glory, Lord of Love; Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, Opening to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness Drive the gloom of doubt away; Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day. Hymnbooks for All and Upcoming Music at BUF - - - - - - HYMNBOOKS FOR ALL - - - - - - As we continue to meet and sing via Zoom, the BUF staff would like members of the congregation to have the grey and teal hymnbooks at home. The books are on a table just inside the BUF front door for you to come and check out, like library books. You sign for them now, and return them later once we resume in- person singing. Please knock on the BUF front door between 10am and 2pm any Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, and Kathy Wahto will let you in. - - - - - - UPCOMING MUSIC AT BUF - - - - - - We are following our regular spring calendar for choir and music at BUF. One more week of regular Wednesday evening choir rehearsals then a party Tonight and next Wednesday, the BUF Chalice Choir will meet from 6:45 to 8pm via this Zoom link https://zoom.us/j/203732613 to share poetry, to learn and master the Sunday hymns, and to check in with each other personally. On Wednesday evening June 17, the choir is hosting an end-of-year Zoom “Aloha Party.” June 14 Choir Finale On Sunday, June 14, the choir will present the annual “Choir Finale” service, including wonderful hymn singing, live special music and video recordings of choral performances near and far. The service is shaping up to be inspiring and touching, like a regular “Choir Finale.” Coming this summer: The BUF Music and Poetry HAPPY HOUR On ten Wednesdays over the summer, from 5pm to 6pm, June 24 through August 26, we are offering a new weekly BUF gathering called “The BUF Music and Poetry HAPPY HOUR.” Hosted by rotating music leaders, with opportunities for individual sharing, this gathering will carry us through a summer of inspiration while staying apart. HAPPY HOUR is not for choir, it’s for ALL BUFsters and friends - no musical skills necessary. You may share and sing along, or just listen.
SURFING THE WEB WITH KEVIN
FOR INSPIRATION AND LAUGHS – June 3, 2020
We’re sharing our favorite YouTube videos. Send me links, and I’ll consider them for
inclusion soon, as guided by UU Principles of course . . .
A Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship Mid-Week Update feature curated by Kevin Allen-Schmid
Dear BUF,
This week’s American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) newsletter includes the
following statement, which I believe will resonate deeply within our own BUF
community.
On the Murder of George Floyd and the Impacts of Racism
ACDA mourns each and every Black life shortened by the individual and institutional racism that
plagues our communities and country. We acknowledge the hurt, anger, and frustration that many
are feeling as America grapples with the impacts of systemic racism and police brutality in the wake
of George Floyd’s murder.
The murder of George Floyd is a current tragedy that is a reminder of the countless named and
unnamed Black lives lost unlawfully, unethically, inhumanely, and of the history of racism and
threat that continues to diminish the dignity of people of color. It calls us to reflect on that history
and the causes of that racism and how to EFFECT the change that must happen to make the world
just, equitable, and safe, so that the crimes against George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade,
Breonna Taylor, and all the named and unnamed Black Americans never happen again.
We further acknowledge that the history of ACDA mirrors that of the history of America, and we
accept our own complicity in the racism in our past. We continue to re-examine how we are
including and supporting diversity to make it more central to our mission. We seek to move forward
by engaging, listening to, and learning from our Black colleagues so that we can be part of creating
a new and more inclusive future for all.
“Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us.
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.”
----------
For this week’s “Surfing the Web,” I recommend taking 15 minutes to watch or re-watch
“The Seven Last Words of the Unarmed” by Joel Thompson.
Original performance by University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club in 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdNXoqNuLRQ
Performance by Choir of the Salish Sea at BUF, June, 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VphWDDgvgXk&feature=youtu.be
Seven Last Words of the Unarmed, by Joel Thompson
The inspiration . . .
Troubled by the continuous onslaught of killings of black men, Atlanta based composer Joel
Thompson conceived “Seven Last Words of the Unarmed.” Inspired by Joseph Haydn’s “Seven Last
Words of Christ,” Joel set actual words from seven innocent victims of brutality to music.
The music . . .
The last words and/or correspondences of each
victim spoke to Joel deeply, and he chose those that
could be aligned with the structure of Hadyn’s work.
Each victim’s words are set in a different musical
style, and Thompson also incorporates a secular
French renaissance tune, “L’homme armé” (The
Armed Man), into the composition.
The collaboration . . .
Dr. Eugene Rogers and the Michigan Men’s Glee
Club joined forces with Thompson to cultivate,
premiere and record the piece, which has received
critical acclaim and been the source of much
conversation and awakening since its premiere in
2015.
The words . . .
I. Kenneth Chamberlain Officers why do you have your guns out?
II. Trayvon Martin What are you following me for?
III. Amadou Diallo Mom, I'm going to college.
IV. Michael Brown I don't have a gun! STOP!
V. Oscar Grant You shot me!
VI. John Crawford It's not real.
VII. Eric Garner I can't breathe.
Community Connections at BUF—June 3, 2020
CHILDREN’S and YOUTH PROGRAMMING
Thanks to all our RE volunteers!!
Normally we would be hosting a Thank You Breakfast for all of our
teachers this June to show our appreciation for all the time and energy
they pour into our young people. Unfortunately, this year our Thank You
is limited to verbal recognition during this Sunday’s morning service, but
we are no less grateful! Even though the building has been closed these
last few months, with the help of several volunteers we still have been able
to offer programs for our youth and children, helping them feel connected and supported through this
challenging time.
RE Lessons for children
Beauty is this month’s theme, and how appropriate it is as spring has emerged with all its colors and
fragrance, and we soak it all in after many weeks of being shut in. This Sunday we’ll be looking for
beauty in unusual places and create some of our own using materials found in nature.
Our RE program is not limited to Sunday mornings, but is geared for exploring values and spirituality
every day of the week. RE lessons are sent out Sunday morning with activities to keep your child
hopeful and curious about the world around them. If you wish to receive these lessons and aren’t on
the mailing list please contact Genia, the Director of Life Long Learning, at genia@BUF.org. They are
geared to 2nd-to 6th graders but can be easily modified for all ages.Wednesday Night Children’s Chapel Join us for our Children’s Chapel every Wednesday night at 7:00. Tonight, we will get a jump on Sunday’s lesson about creating beauty where we can, with the story “Something Beautiful”, read to us by Drew Betz. Amy Van Auker will lead us in playful singing and we’ll share the highlights (and low points) of our week. If you need the zoom link, please contact our Director of Life Long Learning at genia@BUF.org. Youth Group The topic of discussion for this Sunday’s YRUU meeting at 4:00 will be the protests being held across the country (and world) against racism and police brutality. We’ll debate the role of violence vs. non-violence in effecting lasting, systemic change, and how our UU principles might guide us during this time of national soul searching. On Wednesdays at 4:30 we have a casual time for youth to chat and share about their week. If you aren’t on the zoom invite list please let Genia know at genia@buf.org. We would love to have you there. ADULT PROGRAMMING Birthday Month Zoom Meetings Birthday month groups are holding meetings offering support and connection via zoom. If you haven’t been contacted by your birthday month facilitator and would like to be added to these gatherings, contact Genia at genia@BUF.org. Zoom Volunteer Opportunities Sunday services held via Zoom broadcasts require a technical support team working behind the scenes to ensure the broadcast functions smoothly. Volunteers are needed to learn how to host the Zoom Sunday morning services, and/or for learning how to monitor the Zoom chat room that accompanies these services. These are two distinctly different responsibilities. Volunteers can choose either role or both. Being a Zoom host—overseeing the entire Zoom operation of the Sunday service— Is more complex than being a Chat Room host—being present in the Chat Room and releasing informational messages on cue. We are requesting volunteer support from the BUF congregation to give those now performing these functions occasional breaks. The commitment is minimal and will be warmly appreciated. Friendly training with hand-written instructions is available for both roles. For more information, please contact: Jeff Copeland (Zoom Sunday Services hosting), Jeff.Copeland@gmail.com, and Rod Haynes (Zoom Chat Room hosting), Limerocker1@yahoo.com. Jeff Copeland / Rod Haynes Dear BUF Friends, I’ve had a few requests for Fair Trade items but there is a minimum order of $75 for free shipping. So we need to engage enough interested parties if they’d be interested if we place an order? We need a commitment to repay and to socially distance when the order comes in....people can come to a local address in Bellingham for pick up & drop $ in the mail slot. Also please check in with me if you are interested in purchasing any of our existing inventory! Thanks- Sent from BUF Fair Trade and Susan Thurn
Erascism Minute from May 31 Service:
Hello, I'm Cat McIntyre, a member of the BUF Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team.
I joined the Black Lives Matters Team at BUF three years ago, precisely because of experiences such
as those we all have seen playing out recently:
Ahmaud Arbery, shot to death, while running,
by vigilantes in Georgia;
Brionna Taylor, shot eight times by police in
her Louisville KY home; and
George Floyd, asphyxiated by a police officer
kneeling on his neck for over eight minutes in
Minneapolis.
Am I shocked by these stories and images? No.
Why?
Because these are familiar tragedies. Black people
in America are always in danger from the very system
that is supposed to protect us akk. When these injustices
result in death, and are caught on film, they make the
news because they have shock value. But they are simply
extreme cases of the daily mistreatment that black
people, especially black men, experience in America.
I am not shocked because I have endeavored, with Black Lives Matter, to listen to black people
when they tell their experience, and to learn as much as I can about the deep injustices in my nation.
Cory Booker, a black politician I much admire, says, "If America hasn't broken your heart, you
don't love her enough."
I do love America, and my heart has been broken deeply by what I now know about America's
structural racism. As Cory Booker says, "It takes great love of country to point out and to act to end
institutionalized racism in America...We cannot allow our inability to do everything about the
problem of racism to stop us from doing more than we are right now....If we are not changing, nothing
will change."
I can not ignore, excuse or deny these familiar tragedies, because ignoring, excusing and
denying them will not stop them happening again and again.
All these deaths and the anger they generate across the nation pile on top of our current
experience of coronavirus. The disease has revealed, in stark relief. the inequities in our health care
system, our economic system, and our criminal justice system
This eracism minute has already gone on more than a minute. But, I believe I am not alone in
being broken hearted by what's been going on in our county.
Please join us at our Black Lives Matter zoom meeting this week on Monday, June 8, at
6:30pm to further explore these matters.Humanitas: Via its phone line and website, Humanitas continues to receive requests for modest
amounts of financial assistance. Usually, individuals apply directly. But occasionally, other faith-
community programs invite us to lend aid to clients they have already interviewed. We recently helped
three persons whose needs had been assessed by the local branch of a national Christian organization
called Love, Inc. www.whatcomloveinc.org. From them, we learned about 'Larry,' who required a very
specific eyeglass prescription due to degenerative eye disease. He'd had an exam, but the eyewear
totaled $229 and the order could not be placed until the bill was paid in full. Despite being homeless,
Larry had managed to save $100 toward the glasses. With quick contributions from Hope House at
Assumption Catholic Church, Hillcrest Lutheran, and Humanitas, the balance was paid, the order was
placed, and Larry will be better equipped to cope with impaired vision.
~The Humanitas Team, www.humanitasministry.org, 360-224-5604
Lummi Food Bank: Lummi Food Bank is operated and staffed by members of Lummi Nation’s
Commod Squad. It is a commodity food program for low income Tribal and non-Tribal people who live
on the reservation. BUF collects both financial and material donations (see the red shopping cart in
the foyer); however, a financial donation allows the Commod Squad to purchase needed food items in
bulk, like beans. They also provide food stuffs like milk, cheese, peanut butter and vegetables. When
available, it also provides food for pets. The Commod Squad also provides nutrition educational
activities for LFB clients; including gardening for fruits and vegetables. Each Thanksgiving and
Christmas holiday season it provide food baskets to the Lummi Community.
~ Native American Connections Committee
Family Promise: In early May, The BUF Family Promise Team recently served the 2 families staying
in place at 1st Christian Church by providing home made dinners. Thanks to: Erica Mallin, Murray
Bennett, Claire Lending, Isa Werny, Barbara Davenport and Bharti Kirchner for your delicious dinners!
Last week, one of our families moved into permanent housing. Joan and Bruce Mackay contributed two
truckloads of furniture to this sweet mom and her two children. Our next week of service is August 9-
16. If you’d like to volunteer, contact Ann Stevenson at 360-738-7083 or ann.v.stevenson@gmail.com
To volunteer, contact Ann at ann.v.stevenson@gmail.com
~ Family Promise TeamEVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Summer Office Hours at BUF BUF Board of Trustees and Officers
Building Closed till further notice due to Rory McLeod, President • Murray Bennett, Vice
Covid-19 Emergency President • Melissa E. Swift, Secretary • Sky Hedman,
Treasurer Angie Lindquist, Trustee • David Curley,
Phone messages and emails checked Trustee Rod Haynes, Trustee • Debbie Boots, Trustee
regularly Bharti Kirchner, Trustee • Rev. Paul Beckel, ex officio
Minister’s Schedule
Tuesday through Friday
AT A GLANCE: BUF WEEK ACTIVITIES AND MEETIN
Wednesday, June 3 Sunday, June 7
10:00 am Staff Zoom meeting 10:30 am Zoom Worship Service
12:00 pm Writers Group 11:30 AM Zoom Coffee Hour
4:30pm YRUU 4:00 pm YRUU
7:00 pm Children’s Chapel 7:00 pm RE Committee Meeting
Thursday, June 4:
7:00 pm Board of Trustees Monday, June 8
6:30 pm Black Lives Matter Program
Friday, June 5: No events or activities Meeting
Saturday, June 6: No events or activities
Summer Publication Schedule for BUF MidWeek Update: June 3, June 17,
July 1, July 15, July 29, August 12 and August 26. Then we will revert back to once weekly, as
of Sept 2. Deadline for publication in MWU is the Tuesday before publication date.
BUF's website is BUF.org.
Contact us by email at admin@buf.org.
Contact us by phone at 360-733-3837.
Sign up for our online newsletter, the Midweek Update at
https://wp.buf.org/news/communication-sign-ups/ Sign up for BUF
News Digest at https://wp.buf.org/news/communication-sign-ups/
(photo by Carol Sheppard Photography)SUNDAYS, SPECIAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES Sunday, June 7 June 7 Let’s Face the Music and Dance! When we’re facing difficult circumstances, artistic expression can help us to acknowledge what is real, and to cope and to heal. This Sunday we encourage you not just to sit and watch, but to respond -- in the moment in your own place -- as Carrie Koehnline prompts us to use writing as a way of healing, Pam Kunz engages us in responsive dance, Andrea Rackl reflects on making music, and Steffany Raynes guides us in some process-art. Meeting ID 738 363 620 https://zoom.us/j/738363620 Phone: (669) 900-6833 11:30 am Zoom Coffee Hour in the Social Hall 4:00 YRUU via Zoom Sunday June 14, 2020 June 14 Choir Finale 2020 On Sunday, June 14, the choir will present the annual “Choir Finale” service, including wonderful hymn singing, live special music and video recordings of choral performances recent and past, of ourselves and of others. The service is shaping up to be inspiring and touching, like a regular “Choir Finale.” Meeting ID 738 363 620 https://zoom.us/j/738363620 Phone: (669) 900-6833 Sunday June 21, 2020 June 21 Flower Communion We will make a real (not virtual) flower mandala – together! On Saturday, June 27, I will have a large cloth set up outside BUF (with a rain canopy if needed) and you can come place your flower onto the mandala. This opportunity will be available for several hours so that social distancing can be easily accomplished. If you prefer to not get out of your car, you’ll be able to drive up to a table and set flowers there for me or another collaborator to place upon the mandala for you. The flower communion is an annual tradition practiced in many forms in UU congregations around the country. Calling our minds to the theme of “transience,” we take this time to recognize and appreciate the beauty in the flowers we bring in that moment – knowing that our time with them is passing.
To enact this truth of the transience of all that we love, we’ll construct a mandala by placing our flowers together into a circular shape on a large piece of fabric. Then we’ll fold it up, carry it down to Whatcom Creek, and tip the flowers into the creek. When I say “we,” sadly, I mean “me” as the only one who will be at BUF on Sunday. I’ll lead the 10:30 service on Zoom, then, well before 11:30, I’ll have to fold up the mandala myself and carry it to the creek. You might be there, though! There is plenty of room on either side of the creek below the waterfall so that we can all watch the flowers trickle past toward the sea and remember the loving appreciation that we’ve bestowed upon the flowers we brought. Maybe you can attend the service via your phone and wave to one another, masked and from a distance. But there will be no suggested gathering, nor anything I’ll say that will be heard over the music of the rushing waters. Meeting ID 738 363 620 https://zoom.us/j/738363620 Phone: (669) 900-6833
You can also read
