Building and Grounds (BAG) Committee

Building and Grounds (BAG) Committee

Your BAG committee has been using your reserve account to good use this summer and fall.  Come in the back door and you’ll see a new concrete walkway.  No more repairs and staining the worn cedar there.  To your left, atop Portable 1 is a new one piece rubber roof.  Turns out the slope of the roof lets conventional shingles leak.  P2 is steeper, no new roof needed.  Lastly check out the windows at the second level of Deitzler Hall.  A number of windows that leaked water vapor between the dual panes have been replaced and well as May’s window in the office.  Next up, replaciing the electric lights control panel.  

A reminder, our building will be 25 years old this coming year.

New Member Bios: Ben Lu, Marilyn Schmitt & Toren Koppenol

New Member Bios: Ben Lu, Marilyn Schmitt & Toren Koppenol

  • Marilyn Schmitt
    • Marilyn was raised in California and moved to WA state with husband Randall in the early 70’s. We have two grown children Allison and Robert. Before retiring, Marilyn was a Home Health Occupational Therapist for Evergreen Health covering the Snoqualimie Valley. Marilyn enjoys gardening for polinators, caring for the humming birds, weaving, playing with Cali our very spoiled  cat.  We live on beautiful Lake Margaret in Duvall.
  • Ben Lu
    • Ben moved from Silicon Valley in California to Lake Sammamish in Washington this spring. He has no regrets about leaving the hectic pace of tech startups to spend more time hiking with his parents, taking care of his cat and dog, and exploring a more spiritual side of life. Ben enjoys books, games, hikes, bikes, cooking, climbing, and most recently getting way too obsessed with disc golf.
  • Toren Koppenol
    • Toren is a self-trained mathematician in the field of foundational systems and schematic spaces for developed theories. He enjoys philosophy, physics, game design, world religions, poetry, Zelda, and teaching. Toren volunteers in the religious education for children classroom.

2024 Holiday Happenings at WUUC

2024 December Holiday Happenings at WUUC at Sanctuary/Ditzler Hall

We can only make all these events happen with the wonderful volunteers in our community. Please click on the link below to view a description of all the holiday events and sign up to participate in person and/or contribute items for the events.

Here’s the link to volunteer: Holiday Happenings sign-ups

Decorating the Giving Tree and Ditzler Hall, Potluck 12/1 11:30 a.m.
Our Giving Tree will be set up and ready for decorating.   Gift tags from Friends of Youth will be available.   Enjoy some additional decorating of Ditzler Hall to kick off the holiday season.   Bring a potluck offering to share with the community.  

Crafting and Children’s Gift Shopping, 12/8 11:30 a.m.
Simple holiday crafting and art activities will be available for the enjoyment of children and adults alike.  We will also offer the children an opportunity to choose small gifts to wrap and give to their family members and friends.  After they are done, it is open to the rest of the congregation to “shop”.   Gift items are all free.  Please bring new or gently used unwrapped giftable items to church on or before 12/8.  If before 12/8, put gift items in a box in the church office by the desk in the far back corner that will be labeled for the “Children’s Gift Shopping.”   

Cookie Exchange and Neighbors in Need Gifting Project, 12/15 11:30 a.m.
Please bring 1-2 dozen of your favorite holiday cookies for exchange.  Include a list of main ingredients with your cookies to accommodate a variety of dietary choices and for allergy awareness. Gather with others in our community to assemble care kits/packages for neighbors in need in our geographic area. Watch your email for a list of things that we’ll be asking people to bring to put in the kits. Cards with holiday wishes can be written as well during this activity.    

Solstice Labyrinth Walk, 12/21 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The labyrinth is an ancient symbol that has been used by pagans and Christians alike. To walk the labyrinth is to walk an inner journey of contemplation and reflection. The walk has three phases: the walk in, outer circle to inner circle; the center is the deepest place of the heart and light;  the journey of return, inner to outer circle. Come enter the darkness and walk toward the inbreaking of light.  The WUUC labyrinth path is lined with luminarias: decorative winter holiday lanterns made with paper bags, which are partially filled with sand and a lit tea candle.  Once set and lit, they glow with a unique warmth and beauty in our sanctuary.

All Community Brunch, 12/22 11:30 a.m.
After an all-music Sunday worship service, enjoy a delicious pancakes/eggs/sausage/fruit brunch with others in the community.  Vegan options will be available.   

Carol Singing for All Ages, 12/24  3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Enjoy singing familiar holiday carols with Johnna Ebanks and Terry Levitt leading and accompanying the singing.   

Christmas Eve Service for All Ages, 12/24  4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Our Christmas Eve service will be filled with music, story, time for reflection, and our traditional lighting of candles at the end of the service.  

Burning Bowl Service, 12/29 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., then Potluck after Service
The beginning of the calendar year is an opportunity to let go of the old and set one’s intentions for the new year. There will be four altars set for that purpose: a burning bowl to burn away the old, water to symbolically cleanse one’s self, oil to anoint one’s self with intention, and candles to light to give the hopes light and the fire of commitment. Come and “cleanse the chambers of the heart,” to make room for the new.   Bring a potluck offering to share with the Community.

DATE/TIME LOCATION ACTIVITY COORDINATOR(S) NOTES
December 1
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Ditzler  Hall/SanctuaryDecorating the Giving Tree and Ditzler Hall PotluckAnn Lu Giving Tree will  have gift tags for  Friends of Youth
December 8
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Ditzler  Hall/SanctuaryCrafting and Kids’ Gift  ShoppingJan Radoslovich Invite congregation  to bring items for  kids’ gift table
December 15 
11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m.
Ditzler  Hall/SanctuaryCookie Exchange and  Homeless Gifting ProjectJan Radoslovich  and Rachel EddyInvite congregation  to bring cookies for  exchange
December 21
4:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m.
Ditzler  Hall/SanctuarySolstice Labyrinth Walk Ann Lu and Tevina  Flood
December 22 
11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m.
Ditzler  Hall/SanctuaryAll Community Brunch Jan Radoslovich and Tevina FloodServing: pancakes,  eggs, sausage, fruit
December 24
3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Ditzler  Hall/SanctuaryCarol Singing for all Ages Johnna Ebanks and  Terry LevittCookies and hot  cider available
December 24 4:30 p.m. -5:30 p.m.Ditzler  Hall/SanctuaryChristmas Eve Service for all AgesRachel Eddy
December 29 10:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m.Ditzler  Hall/SanctuaryBurning Bowl Service and  Potluck after ServiceRachel Eddy Tevina Flood
Justice & Service Monthly Collection: October 2024

Justice & Service Monthly Collection: October 2024

This month’s collection helps fund the Na’ah Illahee Fund which supports and promotes the leadership of Indigenous women in the ongoing regeneration of Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest. Their work addresses climate and environmental justice, food security and food sovereignty, civic participation, youth leadership, and advancing regenerative economies from a personal to systemic level. The Na’ah Illahee Fund serves as a bridge builder, facilitator, and resource partner as we work to catalyze a movement toward positive futures. We are deeply committed to honoring and revitalizing the wisdom and practices rooted in Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Traditional Ecological Knowledge, ensuring a sustainable and vibrant future for generations to come.

The ASJ Committee thanks WUUC members and friends for their generous support of our monthly special collections, which take place during services on the third Sunday of every month (November 17th). Instructions for giving are posted during the service, and you can also donate anytime at https://onrealm.org/wuuc/-/give/now, or by sending a check to WUUC at P.O. Box 111, Woodinville, WA 98072. Please make checks out to WUUC and write “ASJ Special Collection” in the notes. Visit wuuc.org/collection.

New Member Bios: Ben Lu, Marilyn Schmitt & Toren Koppenol

New Member Bios: Tracye Hirasawa, Karrie Meyer & Jonathan Koepennel

  • Tracye Hirasawa (and Hannah)
    • Hello! I am a mother of one, my dearest Hannah. We live in SW Everett with Hannah’s Dad, Scott, our orange and white kitty, Emmett, and our Chiweenie dog, Max. I work as a substitute teacher, currently, at Hannah’s school. I was raised Unitarian Universalist, and my first UU church was in Memphis, TN, on the Mississippi River. Most of my childhood was in Boise, ID and the Colorado Springs, CO area. Over the years, I have explored other religions and have circled back to my UU roots. I love music and singing and Wordle and movies and the sound and smell of rain! I hope to get to know more of the WUUC congregation!
  • Karrie Meyer and Jonathan Koppenol
    • Karrie and Jonathan live near Mill Creek and have three children: Toren (16), Livia (9) and Theo (5) and one beta fish (Mr. Fishy). Jonathan works as a Director of Software Engineering for North America for the New Wave Group. Karrie used to work as a software engineer but now homeschools their children. She enjoys writing fiction, pilates, embroidery, reading and cooking. Jon likes watching sports, biking and sailing.


WUUC Postcard and Letter Writers Do Their Part to Get Out the Vote and Defeat I-2117

WUUC Postcard and Letter Writers Do Their Part to Get Out the Vote and Defeat I-2117

WUUC volunteers were working on two fronts this fall writing letters and postcards to Get Out the Vote in key swing states and to help defeat I-2117.  Initiative 2117 is on the Washington State ballot this fall and, if passed, would repeal the State’s Climate Commitment Act- landmark climate legislation passed by the State Legislature two years ago.

WUUC volunteers joined the Sunday evening letter writing and postcard writing group at Duvall, organized by Betsy MacWhinney.   The volunteers helped the Duvall group write 2100 letters for Vote Forward, 1000 postcards for the Environmental Voter Project, 500 postcards for No on I-2117, and 1,000 postcards to swing states.  The WUUC volunteers are:

Cora Goss-Grubbs, Carol and Coenrad Taylor, Hilarie Cash, Pam Green, Dawn and David Blomberg, Tami Petrie and Betsy MacWhinney.

WUUC volunteers also wrote over 2,000 postcards to help defeat I-2117 in four postcard writing sessions at WUUC and in their own homes.  Volunteers who wrote No on I-2117 postcards include:

Beth Kress, Susan McBain, Steve Jung, Grace Simons, Kathy Fosnaugh, Lanny Commeree, Cora Goss-Grubbs, Barbara Brachtl, Johnna Ebanks, Leslie Morton, Stephana Ditzler, Pam Green, Lou Ann Maxwell, Charlotte Benson, Hilarie Cash, David Locke, Donna Johnson, Dawn Blomberg, Laurie Rockenbeck, Margaret Rockenbeck, Azure Forte, Stephanie Young, John Hartman.

Thanks to all the WUUC volunteers for their time, effort and good cheer.