Summer Sunday School. Due to lack of attendance, there will be no children’s summer Sunday School program until September.

Green Tip of the Week. Thanks BCUMC, for helping to compost and recycle! Your efforts are showing up in the reduced amount of plastic-bagged garbage going into the dumpster each week. We want to further reduce our expenditures by reducing the dumpster size, so please be even more careful with where you put those throw away items. WE can do even better! Here is a reminder of what goes where:

  • Hot Cups: We are now using 100% compostable cups which go in the big blue compost bin. If you do not see this out during coffee hour or other events, please feel free to go into the kitchen and bring it out for all to use. There is also another permanent compost bin in the back corner of the kitchen, and a small one near the kitchen entry. These bins are lined with compostable bags, not plastic.
  • Small Juice cups: These are also 100% compostable and should be put in the compost container, not recycling or trash.
  • Used napkins and paper towels , paper plates, and bowls: Please compost! We are using 100% compostable white paper goods.
  • Food: Please compost all leftover food, including coffee grounds, except for meat products.
  • Plastic spoons and straws: Do not compost or recycle. This is one of the few things you can throw away in the trash.
  • Clean paper: Please recycle! Blue marked recycle bins are in all the rooms of the church, including the narthex.

Amazing Grace Seminar. The next Amazing Grace Seminar will be held next Saturday, August 23, from 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. This class is the foundation study on being a United Methodist. We begin with God Is Love and end with a healing process as taught by Christ and supported by the Holy Spirit. This class is designed for the curious (who have no desire to join the church as this time), regular attendees and current members. It is also one of the first steps for those seeking membership into BCUMC. Breakfast, lunch and childcare (as requested) are provided. Mark your interest on the Presence Slip or contact the church office to sign up.

Habitat for Humanity. BCUMC will not participate in the Redmond Habitat building project in August due to a shortage of Americorp team leaders. Building will resume in September. We will resume our regular schedule of building the second Saturday of September.

Church painting and carpet cleaning. Can you help clean carpets or paint at the church? Call Carla Woodworth at 425.788.3679 to volunteer or get more information.

College Scholarships. If you are planning to attend classes this fall and are interested in applying for a BCUMC scholarship opportunity, please send us the name of the university, college or technical school you will be attending along with your fall e-mail and school address.

Farewell celebration and reception for Bishop Elaine Stanovsky. The Seattle and Tacoma Districts of the United Methodist Church invite friends of Bishop Stanovsky to a farewell reception at Bellevue First UMC, 1934-108th Ave. NE, Bellevue, today from 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Help for Single Homeless Women. Tonight at 7:00 p.m., Redmond UMC at 16540 NE 80th Street, Redmond, will be holding a forum on the needs of homeless, single women in our community. Arthur Sullivan from ARCH (Regional Coalition Housing) will be here to discuss the need for immediate assistance to single, homeless women and explore ways to help them achieve long-term stability and independence. Many of these women are working women who are forced to live in their cars because of low-paying jobs and other problems. Currently, there are no shelters on the Eastside for single women. Please plan to attend the meeting and let’s see what we can do to help.

Student Exchange. Envision world peace. Have you ever considered hosting an international high school student? The Council for Educational Travel USA (CETUSA) is happy to answer your questions about this opportunity. We have students from Asia, Europe, Central and South America who dream of spending a semester or a year in an American high school. We can match you with a student who will fit right in with your family. Help us take those first steps toward word peace by calling 888.238.8721.

Taproot Theatre’s Big River production is extended through August 23! This production is a musical version of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and it is outstanding! Ted and I went a couple of weeks ago with the Bellamys. I was so impressed that, when I heard the run was extended, I wanted to encourage others to attend.

This is a totally engaging show, filled with high-quality acting, singing, and dancing. You will be hard-pressed not to have your own toes start tapping within the first five minutes! The music for this show was written by the late Roger Miller-yes, the “King of the Road” Roger Miller. Who knew he could also write a full-blown musical full of such infectious songs?

A great family show, also good for a bit of thought-provoking post-performance discussion about prejudice and how we should treat one another. All-in-all, a real treat!

For further information, check it out at www.taproottheatre.org.

Golden Retriever Needs Home. A co-worker of mine sent an email today saying that he and his wife have a friend who is going through a divorce. The friend has three boys and a 3-year-old Golden Retriever (Abby). They had to move to a smaller house and the dog is having a rough time adjusting. Abby is escaping from the yard and needs more room than is available. Their concern is that this is not fair to the dog and their friend hates to have to consider this change, but does not know what else to do.

My co-worker is asking if anyone knows of someone that would like to add Abby to their family. There will be photos that can be emailed to anyone interested. I can also put any interested families directly in touch with the people in the know on this situation.

Thanks,
Ann Rupley


Kennedy Stewart in Oliver Twist. Hi everybody! Kennedy is in Oliver Twist this weekend and we’d love to see some visitors. He is playing the part of Mr. Bumble. It is his first “flirting” role and he has a couple tongue twister songs to sing. At $8, it is a cheap date! The youth of Evergreen Family Theatre will do a great job!

August 14, 15: 7:30 pm
August 16: 3:00 pm
Kamiakin Jr. High, 14111 132nd Ave NE, Kirkland

In Peace,
Terri Stewart