"The River"
This Sunday
February 17
Speaker: Victoria Poling
Celebrant: Peggy Bissell
We Owe Our Faith to a Kindergarten Teacher
Elizabeth Peabody is best known today as one of the founders of the Kindergarten movement. But did you know that she was the glue that held early Unitarians, Transcendentalists, and other liberal and radical religious Congregationalists together? She also ran a bookstore in Boston, published a Transcendentalist journal, and hosted Unitarian discussions for women. Without her, we likely would not have a UU movement today.

Please join us for this interesting third installment in our 5-part series called "UU101". The five sermons are not connected to each other, and are especially helpful to anyone interested in knowing more about our religion or are considering joining the Fellowship.
For the Children:   Children's Religious Education will follow the service on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sundays of each month.

Also the smaller babies room now was a speaker system installed. If you should need to leave the service, you can still hear everything in there..
Mid-year Pledge Drive through February
The situation:
We lost a significant pledge, about 5% of income, when Garth resigned
Expenses increased by some $2,000 when the board hired bi-weekly custodial services and raised the office manager’s pay.
Annual church expenses are about $52,000, $1,000 weekly.
We are about 50 strong, members and friends.
It costs $20 per person each week to open the doors and “have church”.
Please consider increasing your 2018-2019 pledge by February 28, using a pledge form.
Larger donations in the Sunday plate collection are a good option, but only a pledge is “budgeted”.
The church leadership council will agree on a revised budget at its March 6th board meeting.
Please call Ken Stern to discuss: 360-202-4660
Family Night Out February 16, 5:30 pm-8 pm Jorge Manzanera, Ken Stern, and Doris Brevoort will come to watch the kids. Ken will bring apple cider and pizza. There will be a movie, chess and coloring.
The Pleasure of a Winter's Ev e  
                            by Nancy B. Miller

Rhythmically, the white mist flows from the horses nostrils.

The geese noisily call as they take flight from the snow covered fields.

A flock of hearty birds sing with a clicking sound as they pass by.

The trees are decorated with pure white snow to better see the uniqueness,

The imperfections that creates their history and their beauty.

Smoke flows horizontally from the chimneys and and drifts gently
over the frosted branches.

The wood pile stands as a brave protector against the winter's cold.

I am filled with a serenity-a peace-and gaze in grateful awe at
This moment in evolution, this moment that I play my part on the stage of life.
Happy February birthdays!!! Best wishes to Eileen, Pete, Ken, and Russel V. and any others celebrating your special day this month.
February 2019 service
   February 24
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Peter Luton
Celebrant: Jorge Manzanera
The Glory of Friends and Friendships
What makes someone a friend? They are the people who really listen to us without judgement or defensive dismissiveness. Dr. Luton will speak about how congregations are, at their core and at their best, such places... sanctuaries in which people are allowed, yea invited, to connect with their soul and share their most core hopes, dreams, fears and commitments. A miracle happens when we feel genuinely listened to, heard, seen, and affirmed as someone with inherent worth and dignity.  

Nancy B. Miller is offering an interactive class on the 7 principles based on Rev. Bruce Davis , "A String of Pearls", An introduction to the UU Principles and Purposes. This class will be on the 2nd Sudays following coffee hour.
It began Oct. 2018 and will continue for seven second Sundays omitting the second Sunday in Dec.

February canceled due to snow. This will be the topic for March. Our Fourth Unitarian Universlaist Principle
"We covenant to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning." It is this search that we will explore together. Please join us.

"Free" search for truth and meaning means that I will consider many and diverse possibilites. But "responsible" search means that I will only claim the truth that is a really true for me. I will only claim the meaning that is authetically meaningful for me. In the context of the covenant or loving commitment you have toward yourself, it means leveling with yourself. It means being willing to separte from that which no longer provides meaning even if it is hard to do so.

How is it that we can create communities where a diversity of philosophies and theologies are valued?

What are these values Unitarian Universalists strive to live by and how do they interact with your evolving search ?

The UU's Seven Principles and Purposes came out of conversations in 1961 and were edited in 1984 (they continue to be revised at intervals to ensure their vitality.)

Please come and share your current thoughts on how you feel connected or not to each of the 7 Principles as they are each individually discussed.
Looking forward to your sharing and connecting.
May you be blessed with wisdom,
Nancy B. Miller
General Assembly is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association. Attendees worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association through democratic process. Anyone may attend; congregations must certify annually to send voting delegates. The 2019 General Assembly will be June 19-23 in Spokane, Washington.
The Covenant Circle discusses periodical and book and news. Lately the topics have centered on major socioeconomic issues of the times. The discussion is lively and the spirit is convivial.

They meet every Thursday afternoon at 1:30 at Haggen on Division Street, except the second Thursday of the month, when they convene over lunch somewhere at 1:00. Call Joy Lindberg (360-424-8090) for further information.
New email address:
This space awaits a photo or poem or news or reminiscence from you, when you're ready. Email your contributions to the office. Thank you Nancy for the poem!
Office Administrator, Newsletter : Claire Phillips [email protected] Hours: Tue. & Thur. 12-4 pm
Worship Team Leader : Sally Riggers [email protected] Board contact: Rosemary Stevens [email protected]