"The River"
This Sunday
January 19
 Speaker: Pippa Breakspear
Celebrant: Doris Brevoort
Music: Sally Riggers
Junkies Like Me

Pippa Breakspear, M/Ed., CDP,CC talks about addiction and compulsion, what causes and sustains it, her own journey of recovery and what she’s learned from her clients over the last twenty years as a drug and alcohol counselor.
Addiction is so much a part of our culture now; it comes in many different flavors. How do we love and respect those in our lives (which sometimes includes our own selves) who struggle with this, while being supportive but not enabling? This is a treatable, not curable condition that millions of people deal with. Let’s normalize it more, shame and judge a little less and talk about it more openly with kindness and compassion.  
We are opening the Fellowship early on Sunday mornings -- 9:15 AM -- for simply socializing and for regular meetings of various groups and committees. Enticements will include fresh coffee, snacks, and cheer.
You are all specially invited to a workshop led by Pema Lisa Antoniotti, who was an amazing speaker at SUUF last September. This "Winter Renewal Mini Retreat: Reclaiming Meditation and Prayer" will take place at Fir-Conway Lutheran Church, on Saturday, Jan. 18 (1-4pm), 18101 Fir Island Rd., Mount Vernon. The theme will be that there are many forms of prayer and meditation; in this workshop she, and her co-presenter Rev. Chris Lee-Thompson, will guide people to connect with their own practices. It is for all theists, atheists, non theists, polytheists. Pre-registration is encouraged at JoyfulPath.org or by calling 608-220-5254. Suggested donation $25, but any offering gladly accepted.
Upcoming Services
    
January 26
Build Your Own Theology
Speaker: Doris Brevoort
Celebrant: Jorge Manzanera
Music: Tate Cohan

Doris will share with us the fundamentals of the “Build Your Own Theology” curriculum that is the basis for a series of classes she is currently leading and which continues through June. Once you know more about this different approach to religion, the very interesting way to figure out what you believe and where you want to go on your own spiritual path, you may want to join your fellow members who are already going down their paths in this comfortable group setting.
New poll shows mental health and homelessness are at the top of the list of 
concerns for WA voters for this 2020 legislative session(Croscut Poll). TASA
(Theater Arts for Social Action) brings this issue home to Mt. Vernon in a new
drama production called “There’s no Place
like Home” @ the Lincoln Theater, February 15th
6:30-7pm silent fundraising art auction; 7pm the show starts. Ticket price for
the event is by donation.

As your Christian Mission, I’m sure your staff and congregation would be interested in this important and present issue. Stella Ireland who brought us $40 and a Bus Ticket last year is again script writing, producing, and directing this reading drama. She has interviewed many homeless people to discover a variety of
life-histories and predicaments that face our homeless population. We in the general population are often too busy to take notice but Stella’s riveting real-life stories will surely grab your attention. The drama is followed by a panel discussion by community leaders seeking solutions to this issue. 
All donations from the preshow silent art auction will benefit the Skagit Valley College Second Chance Garth H.Arneson Memorial Scholarship.
Joan
Cross, TASA joaninbhutan@yaho.com
Dear friends,

Thank you for visiting Skagit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Mount Vernon during the last part of 2019..... we appreciate your visit! Whether you were a guest from out of town, new to Skagit Valley, or simply new to our Fellowship, we hope you had an enjoyable day with us and will join us again in the year ahead. 

If you have any questions about SUUF's Sunday services or events, Children's program, community involvement, or would like someone from our Membership Committee to call you with more information about the Fellowship,please call our office at 360-419-9014, or email skagituu@gmail.com

Our website at www.skagituuf.com  gives current news and information about upcoming services and events, and you can hear recorded excerpts from previous Sunday services there. 

Each week the SUUF Sunday service at 10:30am includes a visiting UU Minister, a speaker from the Fellowship, or a
guest from the broader community. We welcome your participation and look forward to getting to know you 
better.

With very best regards for your health and peace in 2020,

Doris Brevoort
for the Membership Committee

Skagit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
500 W. Section St.
Mount Vernon, WA 98273

email:   skagituu@gmail.com
phone?  360-419-9014 
BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON—THE BROADS ARE BACK TO MT. BAKER PLANNED PARENTHOOD FOR THE ANNIVERSARY OF ROE V. WADE!
THURSDAY, JANUARY 23RD
The Broads return to Bellingham to celebrate the Anniversary of Roe v. Wade with an evening of their signature snarky, sexy, and fearless comedy, in support of Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood. A great night of great laughs for a great cause!
“Laugh-out-loud, knee-slapping, roll in the aisles funny… well worth putting on your ‘must see’ list… side splitting, provocative, and politically pointed lunacy.”
— THE VIBE, LOS ANGELES

Happy January birthdays!!!  Best wishes to Lily, Dundas, Yolanda, Jim, Joy, Bethany, and any others celebrating your special day this month.
Contact Book The office will be sending out an updated contact book this month via email. If you have any changes to address, email, phone, please email SUUF at skagituu@gmail.com, or if you would like to be included in the contact book, send your info. This information only goes out to those of you who are listed in the book. The email does not go out to the entire members and friends email list.
This space awaits a photo or poem or news or reminiscence from you, when you're ready. Email your contributions to the office.
Covenant Circle meets Wednesdays.
We are living in a time both fascinating and terrifying. Please come and add your reflections as we discuss magazines, books, the news, and life.

Every Wednesay afternoon at 1:30 at Haggen on Division Street in Mount Vernon. Call Joy Lindberg (360-424-8090) for further information.
SUUF email address is skagituu@gmail.com. Our old Frontier address is no longer working.
Soup-er Sunday fundraiser has a new goal - pay off the mortgage on our building! Beginning in October, 2019 , soup money will go to separate mortage payoff account.
Hearing at SUUF Amplified earphones are available at the back of the hall for those wanting to better hear the service. Also we are equiped with a hearing loop system similar to what was recently installed in the Lincoln Theatre. SUUF's loop was installed by Jim Brown and Dundas Winn. Jim passed away a few years ago, but our thankfulness for his donation remains.
For the children   CRE with Maddie Schleif Sunday 10:30 am.
The smaller babies room has a speaker system installed. If you should need to leave the service, you can still hear everything in there..
Soup-er Sunday 4th Sunday each month. Stay after the service for a delicious bowl of soup and bread $6. If you would like to help make soup contact Greg Sherman at 360 421-0633 or gregorysherman@gmail.com
 " Build Your Own Theology". First Sunday after coffee. SUUF will be having a series of discussions based on the UU curriculum,
Our first meeting was after church on the first Sunday in November, Nov 3rd at noon. (Circle of chairs = meeting!) All are welcome to hear about the curriculum, which is available from the the UUA website Bookstore). I suggest that the study group meet once a month for 9 months, until next June to work through book One of the curriculum. We will break down the curriculum into monthly units, suggest some readings and journaling, if people wish to do so (writing, art, song, whatever!),
and discuss our own thoughts and feedback on the topics.

People are welcome to check this out-- no "obligation"!  Monthly meetings with be open to all, as is the basis of our UU theology-- with caring, curiosity, faith-seeking, and respect!
Call Doris, 360-336-3453 for more information.
Office Administrator, Newsletter : Claire Phillips skagituu@gmail.com Hours: Tue. & Thur. 12-4 pm

Worship Team Leader : Sally Riggers suufmusic@gmail.com

Board contact: Jim Heard james.heard@skagituuf.com