November 04, 2026

Sunday Service, November 8

10:30 AM | Sanctuary & Zoom

Keeping Humanity in the Military

Rev. Sunny McMillan, Rev. Jen Miles & Rev. Tessie Mandeville, worship leaders & Steffany Raynes, celebrant

On November 11, our country will honor Veteran’s Day, and during this year, our country has honored its 250th Anniversary. In these times of searing political division, raging war abroad, and continued injustice on U.S. soil, however, it can be difficult to celebrate such holidays and milestones. In this service, we will lean into the complexity and nuance of our tradition’s history with the military and war, including welcoming Rev. Jen Miles, a UU and U.S. Navy Chaplain, to speak about what she calls “the sacred work” of guarding humanity in our military, as well as our Chalice Choir to sing Three Patriotic Treasures.

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/94745290274

Password: BUF

Calling All Dreamers

“Bring me all of your dreams, you dreamers,

Bring me all of your heart melodies. . .”

--Langston Hughes

What do you dream of? What can you imagine for the future in your personal life, your neighborhood, this congregation, this town, this country, the world? For example, is there an activity that you engage in that brings you hope and meaning? Is there a piece of art that you have created that expresses an aspiration of yours? Have you thought of a way to create connection with your neighbors? Do you have an idea for what Bellingham could do to make its downtown core more vibrant?

In a service on December 27th, let’s share these possibilities in the form of poetry, art, song, skit, prayer, music (and maybe other forms that we haven’t dreamed of yet).

Contact Tom Nicholas or Steffany Raynes via tbw@buf.org the leaders of this service, by December 13th (or sooner!) if you want to contribute.

We’re so glad to have you with us! This guide is meant to provide basic information about our programs and events from September to December 2026. Contact DRE (Director of Religious Education) Lis Epperson at BUFReligiousEducation@buf.org for more information.

Sunday RE (Pre-K through High School)

Begins in the Sanctuary at 10:39 AM. Classes end at 11:45 AM,

PreK -5th graders need to be signed out by their parents/guardians.

Youth Group

6th - 12th grade: meets during Sunday RE as well as other special events.

Building Bridges and Coming of Age require Registration (contact the DRE)

Parent’s Night Out

Friday, November 13, 5:15 PM

Friday, November 13th. Children arrive with their own dinner/having eaten for a craft, popcorn, and a movie. Parents walk to Elizabeth Station for a night out together. RSVP Not Required. Arrive at BUF at 5:15 PM

Other Special Events

Solstice Party - December 19th

Let us gather for the third annual chili dinner as we celebrate the longest night of the year. Please bring along a topping and a side to share. Lantern making and an interactive Solstice Spiral!

Message from the Director of Religious Education

Happy Fall BUF-sters! I have some things I would like to share with the congregation about how Children and Youth Religious Explorers is going this year so far. I think of Religious Explorers as all of our programs that serve our children and youth, including some new ones for this year as I expand my role at BUF.

Firstly, we are finally offering OWL again! Our K-2nd grade class is halfway through and between our coordinators Annie Sorich and Maryann Welch, and our facilitators Emmie Schlobohm, Sarah Pearson, and Ally Wright (with help one day from Erica Miller), everything is going along beautifully. A special shout out to Genia, who lets me pick her brain when I am getting started on something that is new-to-me. Thank you to them, our OWL families, and this congregation for making this dream a reality. 4th - 6th Grade Owl starts on January 10th, and thank you to so many folks who have taken OWL coursework this year so we can offer it. Sign ups are still open to anyone in and out of BUF. We have ten kids signed up! Middle and High School are next, stay tuned! Inquiries contact owl@buf.org. 

Youth Group offerings have grown to include a visit to Lummi Nation, making Rangoli with Debu and his family, and two Youth Cons! Five of our High Schoolers went with me to Youth Con at University Unitarian Church (Seattle) in October, where three youth flew all the way down from Anchorage to join several other area congregations there. Three of our Middle Schoolers are going to Con in Edmonds this November. Youth Con is an awesome place where connections are made and youth deepen their understanding of UU values with workshops, a talent/no talent show, and other fun activities led by youth. I feel honored to witness so many UU youth grow through Youth Con experiences.

Lastly, as our programs grow, so do our needs for folks to work with our team. Please come find me or email me if you are interested in working with our children or youth. We offer training on safety, classroom management, accommodations/inclusion, and more, and you get to work with great adults and kids. We especially need folks willing to commit to at least once a month as a Sunday School helper, in Pre-K, K-2, or 3-6th grade classes. Teens are welcome to volunteer!

Thank you for the gift of serving as your DRE. ~Lis Epperson   

The BUF Weekly goes out on Wednesday, so I am writing this column on Tuesday, November 3 - Election Day. By the time you read this, we will hopefully have some answers, and hopefully those answers will bring the good news we've been wishing for, organizing for, waiting for...but at this moment on Tuesday, there is still so much we don't know. I do know one thing, however: No matter the outcome of the 2026 midterms, BUF will be here.

On Monday night, I was able to attend our monthly Taizé service of candlelight singing and contemplation (a rare treat, as I am usually in Seattle on Mondays). At the end of the service, Rev. Tessie Mandeville shared that, eight years ago to that very day, they held the first Taizé service at BUF. As Tessie explained:

It was the first term of our current President, and it was the midterms, and it was the night before the elections, and we said, "We need a place to be. We need a place to land. We need a healing place to be together, come what may." And so, for all these years, we have been voices singing no matter what has been happening around us.

Echoing Tessie's words, no matter what happens around us, and come what may, BUF will remain a place of community, a source of healing, and a beacon of light and hope. Whether in celebration or grief, we will continue to live out our values of Justice, Equity, Transformation, Pluralism, Interdependence, and Generosity, all with Love at the center. Love will continue to be the spirit of our Fellowship, and service will continue to give it life.

As the coming days and weeks unfold, as ballots are counted and results are certified, I will leave you with an excerpt of a prayer shared by Side with Love, the organizing strategy team of the Unitarian Universalist Association - Let Love Lead: A Prayer for Election Day by DL Helfer.

Spirit of all that moves among us and through us 

As elections near, 

help us to let love lead.

Help us recognize that polarization

can also be understood as passion: 

Passion to build something better

that holds all of us at the center. 

Help us to imagine and to foster

a world in which we listen more than we talk,

where our priority is to learn as much as teach;

A world in which we find ways to connect

across the chasms of difference,

making space for revelation to emerge. 

Spirit of love,

help us turn toward love

with the world, with each other, with ourselves—

all the same thing, at its core.

. . . . . . .

Lead us to the love that holds us all and is with us always;

The love that can help us through

the messy and necessary life-altering work

of building movements across beliefs, across difference,

for change that can endure. 

Rev. Sunny, minister

Side with Love’s The Gathering: Declarations of Democracy - Election Round Up

Monday, November 9, 2026 | 5:00 PM Pacific Time

We gather less than a week after election day to reflect on what we know, what we've learned, and the road ahead.  Regardless of what happens on and after November 3rd, we know that it is our sacred call to shape a multiracial, interdependent democracy where everyone can thrive. Join Side with Love's Nicole Pressley, President Sofía Betancourt, musician Glen Thomas Rideout, and other special guests to make strengthen your spirit, make sense of this moment in our democracy, and take meaningful action alongside others! 

See you at The Gathering to strengthen your spirit, make sense of the threats to democracy, and take meaningful action alongside others!  Join us live or watch the recording with others later.

Click Here to Register to Join the November 9 Gathering

Sit with Sunny After the Community Night Dinner | November 11

We are going to try doing a “Sit With Sunny” session after the Community Night Dinner (CND). Sunny will meet in the library with anyone who wants to come for an informal discussion. People are welcome to come with questions that they want to ask, and Sunny may have topics that she wants input from congregants on. It’s a chance for BUFsters to get to know Sunny better and for Sunny to listen to congregants’ interests and concerns. Don’t miss out! The first session is on Wednesday, November 11, and if it seems to be meeting a need, we may establish it as a regular monthly event.

--Tom Nicholas (BUF Board President)

CND (Wednesdays beginning at 5:45 PM) is run by volunteers. If you would like to participate, reach out to Jen Villalva-Cheap at jennifermvillalva@hotmail.com or keep an eye out for the sign-up on the bulletin board in the Narthex

It’s almost time! Our annual fundraiser auction is less than a week away! Here’s the latest information:

• The auction event is sold out! 

• Everyone who has purchased a ticket should have received an email with event reminders. 

• If you don't have a ticket, please do not show up on Saturday. Tickets will NOT be available at the door. 

• But good news: you can still participate online in the raffle and paddle call fundraiser!

• Purchase your raffle tickets! 1 for $5 or 3 for $10. This year’s raffle is all online, so you don’t need to be present to win - you don’t even need to be present to purchase raffle tickets! See the blurb below for more on this year’s paddle call to fund the installation of sound-dampening tiles in the Social Hall.

• The bidding has paused as of noon today and will resume at the Auction with in-person bidding. On-line bidding after the Auction will be possible if there are unbid items or available space at hosted events.

• If you have won an item (either online or in person) you will be able to pick it up on Sunday after the service in the library. If you are unable to make that time, you can email auction@buf.org to arrange pickup at a different time. For non-physical auction items like services or hosted events, donors and winning bidders will be connected via email.

Questions? Contact auctionadmin@buf.org

Help Reduce the Roar in the Social Hall

A Note from the Board about the Paddle Call for the Auction on November 7th

Every year at the BUF Auction, money is raised during “the Paddle Call” for a specific project that has been chosen by the BUF Board. This year, the Paddle Call will attempt to raise funds to cover professionally installed sound dampening tiles in the Social Hall, which will cost about $21,000. This amount is well above the traditional $10,000 ceiling for Paddle Call projects. Accordingly, we have set the goal of raising $21,000; however, if we do not reach that goal, then any funds raised will be put into BUF’s Building Maintenance Reserve fund, which was depleted due to the recent roofing work completed this summer, and will need to be built back up to cover additional roofing repairs in the near future.  Questions?  Email Board members Tom Nicholas or Natalie Johnson (email address in the Breeze directory), or Rev. Sunny at BUFminister@buf.org.

You can donate now to reduce the roar in the Social Hall at the the BUF Auction website at by clicking HERE. Thank you!

The goal is to have weekly gatherings and for the coordinator to be the bridge to the larger BUF community. If you have questions reach out to Grace at tbw@buf.org. You can also find her most community night dinners and most Sundays. Look for YUUP flyers and announcements.  

-Next event is board games after Community Night Dinner the 2nd Wednesday

-Look for a YUUP table at 3rd Sunday potluck and coffee hour

-Karaoke on November 21rst at 5 pm.

Donations Needed for CAST

Donations are needed for our unhoused friends through the CAST program downtown:   Winter hats, gloves, socks,  razors,  small toiletries like soap, shampoo, wrapped toothbrushes.  You can put your donations into the CAST box in the coat room at BUF.

Rooted in Justice, against the deregulation in Permitting Reform

Share Statement Link: https://bit.ly/UUstatementBAAJA

A coalition of UU organizations has issued a statement concerning S.5653 - Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026. This is a statement that several organizations including JUUstice Washington, Side with Love and UUs for Social Justice spent several days to put together in time for getting this out to UU Congregations to encourage them there is a reason to engage with the body politic, right now, beyond the elections.

Please read and if you haven’t written Sens. Murray and Cantwell please do so now, ASAP. The Senate will be voting on this on November 9th so you need to get your letters in in time for our Senators to read them before the vote. Don’t wait till the last minute.

Write our Senators here:  https://www.senate.gov/states/WA/intro.htm. Be sure to let them know that you are writing in concern of S.5653 - Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026. Additional information and talking points can also be found here.

Excerpt of statement leader:

On behalf of Unitarian Universalists of faith and conscience, we oppose the version of Permitting Reform being advanced in Congress as S. 5653, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA) of 2026. It fails to align with our faith teachings and values that call us to hold in love our recognition of interdependence, our need for justice, and our commitment to equity. We find the current proposal favors industry interests over the needs of people, communities, and ecosystems. It perpetuates the structural injustices of environmental racism and strikes at the foundations of the environmental policies that keep our communities safe from corporations more concerned with profit than people and planet. The bill sacrifices the sovereign rights and interests of Indigenous communities, as well as the preservation of sacred and cultural resources, at a time when the climate crisis is already forcing another generation of people from their homes. BAAJA runs counter to decades of Unitarian Universalist Social Witness statements: instead, we say, "But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (Amos 5:24). 

BAAJA shifts away from permitting solutions that respect community needs, democracy, transparency, accountability, and environmental protections. Instead, it functions as a deregulatory push that prioritizes shareholder interests while jeopardizing community agency and prioritizing corporate interests. It locks in fossil fuel use, in exchange for transmission expansion, at the cost of community health and the legal tools impacted communities use to hold industry accountable. The trade-offs are too steep a price.

Full text of statement here. 

Stop the Pacific Link Pipeline!!

Canada has designated the Pacific Link Pipeline as a “project of national interest”. The proposal would move one million barrels of tar sands crude oil per day to a massive new export terminal at Roberts Bank, just north of the U.S.–Canada border, and use Very Large Crude Carriers - supertankers - to export the oil through the Salish Sea.

Roberts Bank terminal is a 50-minute drive from here and the supertanker traffic will pass by within a few miles of our coast. Tribes up and down the coast, including Lummi Nation have opposed this pipeline and the supertanker traffic it will bring to our waters.

Vessel traffic studies since 2015 have repeatedly warned against supertanker traffic adverse impacts on our environment, including that of our salmon and Southern Resident Orcas. There are extreme issues with major spills, air pollution, water contamination, impact on endangered and sensitive species, noise, vessel safety, impacts to local tourism and recreational economies and so much more. Governor Ferguson and Director Sixkiller (WA Dept of Ecology) have responded in disappointment.

Sign the petition here and pass it along to friends and families: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/oppose-the-pacific-link-pipeline-and-supertankers-to-protect-washington-state/

On October 27, Recovery Café Bellingham began its operations from BUF's Social Hall. If you missed previous more detailed announcements about this partnership, please see Sunny Notes from October 7 (https://www.buf.org/sunny-notes/recovery-cafe). The Café will be renting the BUF Social Hall, Kitchen and Library on Tuesdays through Thursdays, with Café hours from 12:00pm to 4:00pm (and staff access from 10:00am to 6:00pm for preparation and cleanup). Founded in Seattle in 2003 to provide long-term recovery support, Recovery Café is a drug- and alcohol-free space offering meals, accountability circles, and support for anyone in recovery. 

We also offer our congratulations to Recovery Café Bellingham for its receipt of a 2026 Peace Builder Award from the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center for their work "providing a safe place for people from all walks of life to come together to build trust, belonging, and hope.” CLICK HERE to watch the 2-minute Peace Builder Awardee video highlighting the work of the Cafe and its Manager, Amy Kenna.

By partnering with Recovery Café, BUF once again has an opportunity to be a part of providing vital services to our Bellingham community in an effort that both aligns with our values and provides crucial rental income. Questions? Please feel free to reach out to our Administrator, Alison, at BUFadmin@buf.org, or Rev. Sunny at BUFminister@buf.org.

Linda Clarke, a member of BUF for many years, was a wonderful friend and an inspiration to us all.  Despite having lost a leg in a childhood accident, Linda managed her life quite well even maneuvering cheerfully through the snow at times. She wasn't afraid to laugh at herself.  Since she was very committed to her family she moved from Portland to Bellingham to support her daughter and granddaughters. She was a career teacher and a beloved member of BUF for many years, helping to organize "Dining With Friends," and belonging to a Chalice Circle. She loved sea kayaking, painting and playing the mandolin. She was devoted to her longtime companion, Lynn. Those who were close to Linda knew her as a caring, considerate and cheerful human being. She was always positive and she had a way of making everyone around her feel good. She will be greatly missed.

Could Use a Bag or Two of Leaves?

We have many bags of leaves right now. If you would like a bag or two (or three or four) for your mulch. Let us know at grounds@buf.org.

CPR/AED/First Aid Training

Saturday, November 14

1 PM - 4 PM | Social Hall

With many thanks to those who signed up already, we have met the minimum for our CPR workshop to run, but there is still room for you!! 

If you would like to learn and/or refresh your skills in CPR/AED and first aid training, please send an email to safety@buf.org.  The cost is $25 - bring a check or cash with you on Nov 14.  

Note:  At this training, we are concentrating on the events and emergencies that are most likely to happen at BUF; taking this training will not result in Red Cross Certification.  Please join us!

Fellowship Offer: Scooter

As we shared in the Alohas section of The BUF Weekly last week, we are saddened by the passing of Linda Clarke. Linda’s partner, Lynn, has asked whether there is anyone at BUF who might need Linda’s scooter (see attached photo). If you or someone you know might like this scooter, please contact our Congregational Administrator, Alison, at BUFadmin@buf.org or by calling the front office at (360) 733-3837.

Reading the Ramayana Before Seeing the Movie 

We will have a Zoom book group discussion of the Ramayana every Thursday at 8 PM for an hour. Our first meeting will begin on October 15. No previous notice is required. Just follow the Zoom link on the homepage at buf.org and use the password BUF.

All Hindu Indians learn the story from childhood, but very few Americans have the name of the epic or its hero, Rama. It is the story behind Diwali, the Festival of Lights.

As India becomes more connected to the global world, both as a people and for commercial reasons, it is necessary to recognize the values that drive its people. Those values come from this epic. So, it is extremely relevant now that we at this spiritual institution understand the sacred text of the Hindus.

Please contact Debu at tbw@buf.org with any questions.

Click here for event details and to register or visit www.regeneratewhatcom.org/whatcomevents/.  Space is limited! Pre-registration strongly recommended. Sponsored by Regenerate Whatcom. Suggested donation of $10 to $25, no one turned away for lack of funds. 

We are all story weavers and co-creators of culture. And we are in a civilizational transition. The stories that have scaffolded civilization are no longer fit to carry us forward.

We are called to transition from domination, individualism and separation to integral partnership, interdependence and homecoming.

Join author and kinship facilitator Samantha Sweetwater for an evening of ritual, storytelling, embodiment and inquiry. Explore new stories, concepts, practices and ways of being a True Human. Discover your unique thread in a story big enough to carry us through these troubled times — an emergent and ancient tapestry of remembered kinship and care for each other and the Earth. Gain vision, language, practices and strength to guide your life and work.

A true story answers life’s essential questions…

Who are we?

Why are we here?

How can we create a world where we all belong?

What does it mean to be human when the biosphere we depend upon unravels?

How we live into these questions will determine what futures we create. 

TRUE HUMAN BOOK

True Human: Reimagining Ourselves at the End of Our World is a companion through the collapse of one world and the emergence of another — one rooted in biospiritual wisdom, sacred reciprocity, and embodied participation in Life. It’s flying off the shelves, and highly recommended by respected authors, philosophers and influential minds across the world! Bring your copy of True Human. Samantha will be signing books after the talk.

ABOUT SAMANTHA

Samantha Sweetwater is a philosopher, transformational facilitator and soul mentor. She is the founder of One Life Circle, a ministry of remembering, and author of True Human: Reimagining Ourselves at the End of Our World.

Staying Healthy this Fall and Winter

Virus season is in full swing, and we are aware of a confirmed case of COVID within the congregation.

Please help prevent the spread of illness:

•     Update your immunizations for flu and COVID and consider getting the RSV vaccine if you haven’t already done so.

•     Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 30 seconds after using the bathroom, before touching food, and as often as possible.

•     Use hand sanitizer frequently. Assume everyone you touch is ill and assume everything you touch has been touched by someone ill. Consider keeping sanitizer in your car, purse, or pocket.

•     Please stay home if you have a runny nose, cough, sneezing, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or have been exposed to someone who is ill.

If you have been sick recently, please wear a mask if you come to BUF, erring on the side of safety.

Back-up masks are available in the Lobby, and hand sanitizer is available throughout the building.

We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in keeping our congregation and staff healthy!

A Few Friendly Reminders About Being Together In Our Building

Parking: Members and friends, please reserve use of our parking lot for new visitors and those with mobility challenges. Parking is available in the North Coast Credit Union lot (Sundays only) as well as available around Fouts Park and the former school administration building. Note: Fencing around the school building is in place along Ellsworth Street, but you should be able to parallel park along it as well any available spots between the school building and the fire station.

Fragrance-Free Facility: BUF strives to be a fragrance-free environment for those in our community who have fragrance allergies or chemical sensitivies. Your care and consideration are deeply appreciated.

Alison, Congregational Administrator, bufadmin@buf.org.

How to Submit to the BUF Weekly

Submit content via email to tbw@buf.org (submissions sent to mwu@buf,org will continue to reach us). Content must be received by noon on the Tuesday prior to the distribution on Wednesday. If you wish a graphic or photo to be part of your submission, please send it earlier than the deadline (you can send the finalized content later) because of formatting considerations. Try to limit your blurb to 200 words. If you have a submission that is lengthier than 200, please contact tbw@buf.org so a possible accommodation can be made.

Find the BUF Calendar Online

For BUF events and meetings, visit buf.org/calendar. To see whether a room or space is available, visit buf.org/rentals. To reserve a room or space contact Alison, the Congregational Administrator, at bufadmin@buf.org.

Text to Give

You can donate to BUF from your phone by sending a text message to 360-345-3933.

Text “$10” to donate $10 to the collection basket

To give to a specific fund, text the amount followed by the keyword. Example: “$10 humanitas”

Keywords: humanitas, sejc, taize, cnd, fair, retreat, and uplift

You may also indicate the frequency with which your gift is processed. If no frequency is indicated in the text, your gift will be processed as one time gift. The options are: weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, yearly. Example “$10 humanitas monthly”

You’ll need to do a little setup and provide your account information the first time you do this, but after that, it’s just a text message.