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OUR MISSION:
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For every individual searching for spiritual meaning, Berrien Unitarian Universalist Fellowship provides a welcoming and caring religious community dedicated to diversity of thought, social and environmental justice, and peace for all.
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Your donations help us build
a more loving and just community.
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April 7, 2024
your weekly newsletter of
events & issues
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You are welcome here.
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Coming up: Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 10:30am
Feldman Farewell Service
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Join us this Sunday as we bid farewell to our beloved friends and community leaders Sandy & Larry Feldman. The Feldmans are moving to California to be near family, and before they go, we want to honor their significant contributions to our community and to our fellowship. Julie Williams will share her admiration for the Feldmans and especially their courage as they confronted various challenges in recent years.
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Charles Long will share his work with the Feldmans on forming a PFLAG chapter in Berrien County, which eventually led to the formation of the OutCenter in Benton Harbor. Gloria Weberg will share a little about her work with the Feldmans on the Race Relations Council and Calling All Colors program. And finally, Dave Sarra and/or Joanne Krettek will talk about the Feldmans’ work in forming the All God’s Children (multiracial) community choir. In addition, there will be an open microphone toward the end of the service for those who want to share their own memories or sentiments regarding the Feldmans. We hope to see you there! Even if you have never had the opportunity to work with the Feldmans, you will learn a lot from their story about community action, inclusion and progress on local social justice issues.
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To join BUUF’s Sunday Service via Zoom, please click this link; Meeting ID: 973 1741 4085; Password: 354882. If you have trouble getting connected please contact Beth LaFleur (269-932-8598). To minimize background noise, please mute yourself unless you are speaking. Please leave your camera on; we love knowing you are there.
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We enjoy being in fellowship with you wherever you are.
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Drum Circle
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Last Sunday BUUF reverberated with the sounds of drumming after potluck. Drum Circle meets monthly and is open to all.
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Please join Harvey Johnson's Green Team for a Fellowship Spring Yard Clean Up
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at BUUF this Saturday April 13th from 10am-3pm. Come for an hour or so and you can help spruce up the BUFF property. Pizza and beverages will be provided.
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Cottage Meetings: Creating BUUF Together
We are entering BUUF's annual pledge season for the next church year, July 1st, 2024 - June 30th, 2025. As part of this year's pledge campaign there are opportunities to meet in small groups at the homes of various BUUFers to chat about BUUF, its mission, and how BUUF can help us actualize our shared hopes and dreams.
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- Monday, April 15th, 6:30-8pm, at the home of Scott Frankel and Laurie Myers,
4224 Sawyer Rd., Sawyer
- Wednesday, April 17th, 6:30-8pm, at the home of Liz and Mike Goodwin,
4494 Tanglewood Trail, St. Joseph (off of M-139)
- Tuesday, April 23rd, 3:30-5pm, at the home of Gloria Weberg, 1751 Lakeview Avenue, St. Joseph
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Cabaret! Celebrate the End of BUUF's
Pledge Campaign: Saturday, April 27th, 5:30-8:30 pm
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Enjoy a buffet dinner and cabaret style entertainment at BUUF by BUUF members. Everyone is welcome to attend and perform—read a poem, sing a song, perform music, or present a skit--all sorts of performances are welcome.
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Suggested donation: $10 per adult, $5 per child (12 and under), or $30 per family. There will be a collection jar at the event. Dinner buffet, dessert and soft drinks will be provided. Feel free to BYO beverages.
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This year's fundraiser is a plant/bake sale called May Market. It will be Saturday, May 18th, from 9 AM-1PM, at BUUF. There are many ways to help. Some things need to be done now, others not until April or May. We really need all hands on deck for this to be successful. Event goals are to increase awareness of the importance of pollinator plants, raise money for BUUF's operating expenses, and have a lot of fun working together for the betterment of our community.
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CLICK HERE to see what is needed and indicate where you can help.
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May Market
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Peace, Lisa Marie Fuller (Plant Sale) 269-470-7379 & Laurie Myers (Bake Sale) 708-606-0391
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- Harvey Johnson: Two weeks from today we will have a service featuring Earth Day and native plants.
- It's almost that time again: join the mowing team at BUUF! Please let Harvey know if you are interested. We take turns on our fabulous electric riding mower. Fun in the fresh air and you're helping beautify BUUF.
- Katharine Lion: After having a bout of shingles with ongoing nerve damage, I urge all of you to get the Shingles vaccine, if able. You do not want this kind of pain!
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Climate Café:
Thursday April 18th at 6pm at BUUF
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The first "Climate Café" vegetarian pot luck supper will be at BUUF on Thursday April 18th at 6pm. The group's new format encourages folks to enjoy a meal and conversation regarding climate change topics. What's going on with the climate crisis in here in Michigan the rest of the country and the world? Everyone is encouraged to bring their positive and negative news to share and any anxiety! As always, kids are welcome. The environmental film 204 will be shown by Harvey Johnson after the meal. Invite your friends. BUUFers and community members are all welcome.
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From the Climate Corner
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Check out this article on
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- Joys and Concerns are shared with subscribers who receive Announce by email.
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Whether your joy & concern is spoken or unspoken, we hold you in our hearts.
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Ongoing BUUF Opportunities
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New Moon Womyn's Circle
- 6:15—9:00, each month
on or around the new moon
- Contact Lisa Fuller lmfuller0116@gmail.com to be added to our email list.
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Writing Group
- Every other Monday at Noon at BUUF
Bring your lunch, notebook, and favorite pen.
- Contact Patrice Grant at astilbe531@gmail.com or Leanne Thomas, BUUF Office Admin, office@berrienuu.org 407-488-4057 for more information. Janice Zerfas is also leading this group.
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Euchre, Anyone?
- Thursdays at 3:30–5:30pm at BUUFers' homes
You do not need to know how to play. We will teach you.
- Contact Leanne Thomas, BUUF Office Admin, office@berrienuu.org or 407-488-4057 for more info
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Small Group Ministry
- 6:30pm, first Monday of the month
- The curriculum is always mind-opening and enchanting. This is a friendly way to get to know other interesting BUUFers—as well as yourself! For details contact our
DRE Brett Maccani dre@berrienuu.org
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Salvation Army Soup Kitchen
in Benton Harbor
- 9:00am—1:00pm, first Saturday of the month
233 Michigan St, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
- Feel free to come for all or part of this opportunity to be of help. Contact Leanne Thomas office@berrienuu.org or Rev. Jim McConnell for info.
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BUUF Caring Committee
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If you need help, please contact Leanne Thomas, Office Admin, at 407-488-4057 or office@berrienuu.org
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Your request will be met with respect and confidentiality.
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Application forms are available in Fuller Fellowship Hall in the cubby behind the visitor's table.
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For a copy of our Members & Friends directory,
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which includes our leadership roster,
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Beautiful BUUF: Maintenance
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If you're handy, please take a gander at the list in the above link and see if anything sparks your interest. If you would like to lend a hand indoors or outdoors, please contact Leanne Thomas, BUUF Office Admin, at 407-488-4057 or office@berrienuu.org.
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BUUF on the World Wide Web
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Did you know BUUF has a hearty online presence? BUUF members are invited to visit and become familiar with BUUF's website, facebook page, private facebook group and YouTube channel. These platforms provide information about BUUF governance, upcoming events, discussion of various topics and an opportunity to view previous services and messages.
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Being familiar with these online locations will help you participate more fully in BUUF activities and share information with others who might appreciate our BUUF community.
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For information about upcoming events, visit, like, and follow BUUF on Facebook at
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You are welcome here.
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Everyone is welcome here. You are welcome here regardless of your age, your race, your income, your religion, or the gender with which you identify. You are welcome here regardless of who you love, who you vote for, the regrets that burden you or the mistakes you have made.
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In this safe community we support each other in the sacred task of Becoming, celebrate the transcending mystery of life, and rely on the transforming power of love. Here, we revere the words of the great teachers such as Jesus, the Buddha, and Confucius. It is however, the task of every UU to be their own Buddha, their own Jesus, their own Confucius. It is our work, as a community to walk with each other along the spiritual pathways that lead towards happiness, compassion, and Life fully lived. And, while we are a safe harbor where there is solace and healing, we are also a launching pad from which we are propelled into the tumult of life to live courageously, justly and lovingly.
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In this sacred place we create the structures that lift up the down trodden, set the captives free, and heal the broken hearted. Here we have learned that to be fully human is to be fully divine and that with a little help from our friends we can each tell our own unique story.
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We honor all religions.
This is a religion of religions.
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Whatever path you choose,
we're going to walk with you.
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