Totes to Go October 2024

Totes to Go October 2024

School is in full swing and so is WUUC’s Totes to Go program. We support 15 students at Maywood Hills school with food for weekends, when school meals aren’t available. Each month we deliver supplies for four weekends – and a little extra in months with five weekends. Students receive servings of milk, juice, a one-dish meal, cereal, granola bars, fruit, snacks, and a protein food (chicken, tuna & mayonnaise, or peanut butter & crackers).

Each month regular, ‘scheduled’ donors bring items they’ve signed up for. We are so grateful that they fill most of our needs! Toward the end of the month, a “still need” e-mail goes out to the WUUC chat, inviting folks to fill in the gaps for that month’s delivery. We work a month ahead – in other words, food collected in October is delivered for November.

You can help in several ways. Become a scheduled donor for something we need. Make a donation to WUUC with “Totes to Go” on the memo line or envelope. Respond to the “still need” message when you see it near the end of the month. Or help with loading items to be delivered – usually on the last Sunday of the month, shortly after the service ends. Whatever you can do, the school and the children are very grateful.

For questions, comments, or to sign up, contact John Hartman or Grace Simons, co-coordinators.

WUUC Board of Trustees October Update

WUUC Board of Trustees October Update

The WUUC Board of Trustees met on 9/19 for their regular business meeting. There, they discussed some important building and grounds financial information and finalized the Board Goals for the 2024-2025 church year. The minutes for the meeting can be found here. The Board will hold its regular monthly business meeting on the third Wednesday each month. The next meeting is October 16.

President: Jeff Lu

Vice President: Barbara Brachtl

Secretary: John Gamble

Treasurer: Kermit Sprang

Board Members: Azure Forte, Trina Roulet, Kerrie Vespaziani Non-voting Member: Rev. Dan Lillie

News from the WUUC Board

News from the WUUC Board

The new WUUC Board met on 8/30 for a team-building at Jeff’s house, and on 8/31 on a off-site retreat to kick-off our 2024-2025 year. The main objectives of this first meeting are understanding the Board’s roles and responsibilities, and setting our goals for the year ahead. The Board will have its regular monthly business meeting on the third Wednesday each month, starting 9/18/2024.

President: Jeff Lu
Vice President: Barbara Brachtl
Secretary: John Gamble
Treasurer: Kermit Sprang
Board Members: Azure Forte, Trina Roulet, Kerrie Vespaziani
Non-voting Member: Rev. Dan Lillie

Justice & Service Monthly Collection September 2024

Justice & Service Monthly Collection September 2024

This month’s collection helps support the Black Students and Families Fund (BSAFF), along with WUUC volunteers, assists families of students in the Northshore School District (especially those living at Greenleaf, a subsidized housing community) with a variety of needs – from essentials like food, shelter, and monthly bills, to community organizing, leadership development, and support for future dreams.

The Advocates for Social Justice (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 (September 15th). 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.

Letter to WUUC about Rev. Dan’s Sabbatical

Letter to WUUC about Rev. Dan’s Sabbatical

Greetings WUUC community,

As we enter my fifth year of ministry with you here at WUUC, I want to share the news that I will be taking a sabbatical during the 2024-25 church year. This is a normal custom among clergy of all types, and specifically for Unitarian Universalist ministers. In our faith tradition (and in accordance with my Letter of Agreement), a called minister receives one month of sabbatical time for every year of ministry served. This means that this year (year five), I will be taking a four-month sabbatical starting on November 25, 2024, and returning to work on March 25, 2025. My first Sunday worship service back in the pulpit will be on April 6, 2025 (to give me some time to reintegrate back into the community before planning and leading worship again).

I imagine you might have some questions about how all of this will work. Luckily, I’m not having to figure it out alone. I have formed (and been working with) a Sabbatical Team to create coverage plans that will ensure everything goes smoothly while I’m away. There is still some planning to do and details to work out, but our plans are beginning to take shape. 

To share what we know so far, we have created a brochure (attached) with information about the upcoming sabbatical. If (after reading the brochure) you still have questions, bring them with you to church on Sunday. After the worship service (this Sunday 8/18), there will be a Q&A session with myself and the Sabbatical Team to address your unanswered questions. 

I am looking forward to my sabbatical; and also to returning from it refreshed, renewed, and ready to dive back into the vibrant ministry here at WUUC! As much as I’m looking forward to this, I know I will miss you all very much and be eager to see you all again by the time March rolls around. For the next few months, though, let’s focus on getting this new church year off to a good start. 

See you on Sunday!

Rev. Dan Lillie (he/him)

Justice and Service Monthly Collection

Justice and Service Monthly Collection

This month’s collection helps support Common Power Future who believes democracy is more than just a concept. Through their foundational Learn & Earn program, they cultivate a habit of civic engagement and leadership development in college students, enabling them to lead and facilitate positive civic change in their communities.

The Advocates for Social Justice (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 (August 18th). 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.