Upcoming Events: February 2020

Jan 25, 2020 | News

Community Church Night: Tuesdays, 5:00-9:00 pm

We encourage all members and friends to come and spend time getting to know one another in a casual, fun way. Starting at 5:00 p.m., you’re invited to gather for a potluck dinner. We start to eat at 5:30, so come any time! At 7:00, meetings and the social event will begin. For February, the social event schedule will be:

  • February 4: Character Strength Parenting Workshop.
  • February 4 : Meditation with Science of Spirituality – A free program for both new and experienced meditators who wish to deepen their practice of meditation on the Inner Light”
  • February 11: Sing-Along – Join Eric Lane Barnes for a themed sing-along!
  • February 18: Game Night – Join Nicole Duff for an all-ages game night! Bring a game you love, or learn a new one. All ages and skill levels welcome!
  • February 25: Meaningful Movies Bellevue – Watch a powerful documentary about a relevant social justice issue and stay for a discussion. Snacks provided!
  • February 25: Radical Hospitality: Ideas for Growth—Join Nicole Duff and Aisha Hauser for a crash course in inclusivity.

The Big Questions in Philosophy: Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m.

We have all pondered seemingly unanswerably but significant questions about our existence—the biggest of all being, “Why are we here?” Philosophy has developed over millennia to help us grapple with these essential intangibles. There is no better way to study the big questions in philosophy than to compare how the world’s greatest minds have analyzed these questions, defined the terms, and then reasoned out potential solutions. Once you’ve compared the arguments, the final step is always deciding for yourself whether you find an explanation convincing. Led by Alan Carter.

We Can Do Better Than PSE! Saturday, February 1, 10:00 a.m.

Want to do something significant on climate change? Live in East King County? Join a citizen-driven ballot initiative to convert foreign-owned PSE to a Public Utility District. We need signatures, signature gatherers and your voice to get this on the 2020 ballot! Learn more about this at a Bellevue Kickoff meeting hosted by your Earth and Climate Action Ministry (ECAM ). Bring your friends and family! More info at East King County PUD: ekc-pud.org.

Budgeting Classes for Team Leaders: Sunday, February 2, 12:30 p.m. or Tuesday, February 4, 7:00 p.m.

Have you had questions about the budget for your team? Are the rules around tax implications for the activities your group does confusing? Do you need assistance putting together your budget for next fiscal year? If you answered yes to any of these questions, the Finance Team is here to help! We are hosting an interactive, hands on, working session to help group leaders understand and prepare their budgets for next fiscal year. The class is designed for Chairs, Treasurers, or whomever has financial responsibility for each group at East Shore, although will be open for general Members with curiosity to learn more. The content will include:

  • Review of the budgeting process
  • Tax implications of various activities
  • What needs to be included in group budgets submitted to the Budget Team
  • Review of last year’s ending budget balance for individual groups
  • Review of current fiscal year budgets for individual groups
  • Next steps to create the budget request with your fellow group members with sample budgeting exercises

Community Circle: Sunday, February 2, 12:30 p.m.

What does it mean to “practice love”? We’ve talked about spirituality and community, two other critical parts of our East Shore mission. Let’s explore what practicing love really means. Even if you came to the January Saturday Circle, come again. It will be different! Join us to be in community and share from our hearts. 

East Shore & You: A Prospective Membership Series: Sundays, February 2 & 9, 12:30 p.m.

Rev. Dr. Stephen Furrer and Membership Development Manger Nicole Duff will be teaching a two-part series, East Shore and You. This class is a way for visitors to learn more about Unitarian Universalism and East Shore Unitarian Church, which can help you decide if we are the right congregation for you! It’s a great place to ask questions of staff, members from the Membership Team, and the Board. This class is a required part of becoming a member here at East Shore. Please RSVP to Nicole Duff if you are interested.

Character Strength Parenting Workshop: Tuesday, February 4, 7:00 p.m.

Dhaarmika Coelho, founder and president of Camp Kindness Counts, will speak about evidence-based ways of promoting kindness and positive character development among kids. Her talk will outline strategies for engaging kids in community service, provide concrete examples of how to integrate social emotional learning into families’ everyday lives, and present an overview of research that supports these practices. Childcare is available!

Cooking with Amanda – Ditching Dairy: Wednesday, February 5, 7:00 p.m.

Dairy products often contain surprising amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol, and come from cows forced to give birth frequently. We’ll talk about the many alternatives to dairy that are available these days, we’ll taste samples of some commercial products, and make some simple cheese alternatives of our own. Amanda Strombom, President of Vegetarians of Washington, gives regular cooking classes to support those interested in moving toward a plant-based diet and learning new ways of preparing food avoiding animal products. Each class focuses on a different aspect of going veggie, whether it’s on specific food groups, on a particular health topic, shopping or even holiday cooking. Plenty of samples to taste are always provided. A nominal charge of $5 per class helps us cover the cost of the ingredients and materials. Register online or at the door.

Faith Action Network’s Advocacy Day: Thursday, February 6 in Olympia

Join a carpool going from East Shore to Olympia for Faith Action Network’s Interfaith Advocacy Day in Olympia, February 6. FAN is a diverse coalition including East Shore and over 150 other faith communities across Washington State that partner for a just, compassionate, and sustainable world through community building, education, and public action. Advocacy Day offers an opportunity to advocate for social justice causes that are important to you. FAN arranges workshops on issues on its legislative agenda and on best practices to advocate with your legislators, and schedules meetings with your Representatives and Senator. Register here beforehand so that FAN can set up appointments for you and others from your district with your legislators. Contact Jane Sisk for more information and to join the carpool.

Humanist Discussion Group: Thursday, February 6, 7:30 p.m.

The topic will be “Who Was the Real Jesus?” Led by John Thompson. Here are some readings to prepare for the meeting:

We typically have about eight people at each meeting, and we welcome newcomers.

Mindfulness and Presence in Communications: Second Mondays of Each Month, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Being more mindful immediately improves the quality of your life, as well as the lives of those around you. Often people think you must meditate for hours a week, or have an intense practice, but not so! In this class you’ll learn some creative and immediately useful techniques to bring mindfulness into your life every day, with minimal effort. This monthly class, led by Brett Hill, is packed with information and practices gleaned from working with founders of mindful-based practices such as Hakomi, Loving Presence, and Matrix Leadership Workshops.

East Shore LIVE Presents Acapellapalooza!: February 15, 7:30 p.m.

The award-winning Bellevue Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society presents a pitch perfect smorgasboard of a cappella vocal entertainment! Featuring groups Northwest Mix, Vocal Vintage, Under the Radar, The Big Time and Shine! This is not your grandparents’ a cappella: these groups represent some of the most exciting and freshest vocal harmonies in the region. Show tickets $18/$23/$5 online or at door.

Women’s Perspective Movie & Potluck: Sunday, February 23, 5:30 p.m.

All those who identify as women are welcome to a movie night and potluck. Bring your favorite dish to share and watch “It’s Complicated.” Jane (Meryl Streep) owns a bakery and has 3 grown children with an ex-husband, Jake (Alec Baldwin).   A decade after their divorce, an innocent dinner between them turns into an affair.  At the same time, she develops a relationship with her recently divorced architect (Steve Martin).  Could love be sweeter the second time around?  With whom?  And how does Jane stay true to herself?   It is genuinely a funny comedy at the same time raising issues about following your own compass. Doors open at 5:30, meal at 6:00, and movie promptly at 6:30 p.m.

What is Affordable Housing: Monday, February 24, 6:30 p.m.

Join us in January and February to begin a conversation about how we as individuals and as a community can shift the narrative about housing and examine ways that we can contribute to local solutions. This series incorporates film, conversation, and presentations from people in our region to explore the complexities of our housing crisis. Hosted by Carrie Bowman.

Radical Hospitality: Ideas for Growth: Tuesday, February 25, 7:00 p.m.

In June, ESUC Members voted on a budget for growth… but it doesn’t just take money. It takes everyone to learn about and practice Radical Hospitality! We will use a video series to launch a discussion on how to Repel Fewer Visitors, Help New Comers Become New Members, and to Close the Revolving Door. We will also be using a multicultural welcoming handout to ensure we are being fully inclusive. Help us help East Shore! Led by Nicole Duff and Aisha Hauser. Please register here.

Meaningful Movies Bellevue Presents “Sonic Sea”: Tuesday, February 25, 7:00 p.m.

Oceans are a sonic symphony. Sound is essential to the survival and prosperity of marine life. But man-made ocean noise is threatening this fragile world. Sonic Sea is about protecting life in our waters from the destructive effects of oceanic noise pollution. A suggested $5 at the door.

Fourth Wednesday Book Club: Wednesday, February 26, 7:30-9:00 p.m.

Please join us to discuss The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister on Wednesday, February 26, at 7:30 pm in the Library. Emmeline lives an enchanted childhood on a remote island with her father, who teaches her about the natural world through her senses. What he won’t explain are the mysterious scents stored in the drawers that line the walls of their cabin, or the origin of the machine that creates them.