"The River"
This Sunday
 Oct 28
Dia de los Muertos is a happy celebration to remember our loved ones who have died. Rather than a somber proceeding, we'll follow the example from Mexico which includes festivities, costumes, altars, music, and even picnics.
Feel free to dress (or body decorate) for the occasion. And please bring a memento which has a connection to one of your deceased loved ones: food, clothing, photo, artwork - anything that reminds you of them. You will have an opportunity to share the item you brought and the person who inspired it.

Celebrant: Matt Bianconi
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Souper Sunday following the service.

No CRE this Sunday.

4th Sunday social justice collection will go to Anacortes Family Center 
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This Autumn, Celebrate the History of UU Attitudes and Activism Related to Death
The earliest Anglo-American burials in Puritan North America took place in graveyards, where grave markers often included the motif of a skull, or death head, sometimes with or without wings. These markers, as well as the burial grounds themselves were intended to make people fearful. They were reminders that not only is death always rushing towards us, but that it is likely accompanied by damnation.  But over the course of the next hundred years, the images on grave markers change. The skull begins to morph into more of a face, the teeth lose their points, and flowers spring up where before there crossed bones. Liberal religion both caused and was caused by the transformations that made that such a progression from fear to hope possible. 
Unitarians, Universalists, and Unitarian Universalists have made many contributions to the ministry of death and dying since then.  Mount Auburn cemetery, established in Cambridge in 1831 by prominent Unitarians, represents a key contribution as the beginning of the rural cemetery movement in the United States. In these new “places of repose,” grave markers were artistic, classical monuments presented in the context of a beautiful, cultivated landscape. Encouraged to enjoy the grounds, the public learned to contemplate death in the peaceful context of nature and beauty. The HSL Mount Auburn collection includes the account of Mount Auburn’s establishment by the chair of its board, Dr. John Bigelow. You can also read the moving address given at the consecration of the cemetery by Judge Joseph Story, who was speaking just a short time after the death of his own daughter. Or, take a virtual tour of the cemetery, in the form of 19 th  century engravings.
Unitarians were also very influential in bringing the practice of cremation into acceptance in the United States. The very first minister to preach in advocacy of cremation was the Unitarian Rev. Octavius Frothingham, who preach “The Disposal of our Dead” in 1874. Additionally, many Unitarian congregations established memorial societies meant to prevent the manipulation of distraught consumers by the funeral industry, and many Unitarian Universalist congregations were key in promoting the acceptance of hospice care. 
If you are inspired to learn more, the Harvard Square Library recommends Rev. Edward Searl’s “Teaching the World to Die: Unitarian Universalist Attitudes Towards Death,” available through amazon.
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..
November services
Nov. 4
Speaker: Noemi Ban
Title: No More Hate
Noemi is a Holocaust survivor. The hatred and discrimination that consumed the Third Reich was felt throughout Europe on a devastating scale. Please come and listen to her story of survival in the midst of hate. It's also a personal plea that the lessons of history be remembered forever. Instead of our usual service, this 11/4 hour special presentation will be devoted solely to our remarkable speaker.

Nov. 11
Speakers: Kathy Roche-Zujko & John Chmaj
Title: “ One World” Climate Action/Nature Worship Service
This devotional service incorporates beautiful natural image montages, original modern music, vocals and Mother Earth narration to renew and advance our appreciation of our world. Through the service, Mother Nature explores some of the beauty and mystery of the world we share, then focuses our attention on the climate ramifications of our careless and selfish behavior. Humanity then responds with actions we have already taken, and what each of us can do individually and in community to help heal and renew our relationship to Nature.

First performed in April 2017 at East Shore Unitarian Church in Bellevue, today it features members and friends of SUUF, under the leadship of Kathy Roche-Zujko and John Chmaj, who created this moving service.          

Nov. 18
Speaker: Jon Prescott
Title: Silence
What is the essence of silence? Is it “doing without” noise and interruptions or is it “opening up” to something wonderful? Come and interact with silence. It's a whole new world. Vocalists from Skagit Valley's own Cantabile Chamber Choir will be guest musicians today.

Nov. 25
Speaker: Victoria Poling
Title: UU101 – part 2
Victoria returns with more history and theology to help us understand and more fully appreciate our own religious heritage. If you missed Part 1 in September, don't worry!This series - while thematically connected – is composed of separate sermons. A post-Thanksgiving Day potluck is in the works too, so stay tuned for more details on this delicious addition following the service.
  CONGREGATION-ONLY SERVICES
2018-19 church year

The dates below have been reserved for lay-led services during this year.
Similar to our summer schedule, our members are doing the planning.
However, music & celebrant will be provided.

Several people or teams have already signed up to participate in this community effort. Others are “thinking about it”... why don't you grab one?

We've changed the format and removed the designated themes.
Feel free to choose your topic for the remaining open dates. 

Help, advice, suggestions and even plans from previous services are available just for the asking... see Sally for more information.

Here are the dates.... both open and filled. And thanks to all for your involvement and support.
 
December 30 Jim Heard & Peggy Bissell  New Year's Service
 
February 10  __________________________


March 17 Ken Stern  The Pain of Universalism


May 12 Susan Thayer & kids  Flower Communion


May 26 Sally, Donna & Doris   American Patriotic Songs and Poems
 
June 16 ______________________________


June 30 ______________________________
 
Fall Membership Drive If you have been attending SUUF services and would like to be a member, now is a good time to join our SUUF family. The process is simple, sign the membership book in the office and make a pledge of monetary support for SUUF. As a member you can participate in the church business by voting at congregational meetings and even running for a board position. It takes a family to run a church and our members are the ones who make that happen. Join us this month by contacting Rosemary ( [email protected] ) or Tom ( [email protected] ) or see us at church.

Tom Gillespie, Stewardship Chairman
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 each second Sunday for one hour after coffee hour, for 7 Sundays omitting December, 2018.

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
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:

( Skagituu@frontier still works, but is acting a little crazy again.)
This space awaits a photo or poem or news or reminiscence from you, when you're ready. Email your contributions to the office.
Concert at SUUF, December 7, 7 pm . This is second year for this concert presented by our renters. It was wonderful last year! Bryan Bowers  is a major artist on the traditional music circuit. He has redefined the autoharp and is also well known as a singer-songwriter with a dynamic outgoing personality and an uncanny ability to enchant a crowd in practically any situation.
“Master of the Autoharp, Singer/Songwriter/Storyteller”
Winter’s Return  is a seasonal show celebrating Winter and its diverse festivities. Two world touring duos join forces to form a powerhouse quartet, Pint and Dale, Mike and Tania Opland, Mike Freeman, with hammered dulcimer, hurdy-gurdy, whistle, violin, recorder, guitar, drums, mandolin, and songs that'll bring a bright spot to the darkest winter's day. $20 donation, no one turned away for lack of funds.
Office Administrator, Newsletter : Claire Phillips / [email protected] Hours: Tu. & Th. 12-4 pm Worship Team Leader : Sally Riggers [email protected] Board contact: Rosemary Stevens [email protected]