It’s hard to believe we’re coming to the end of another Senior Lunch season. We’ll take a summer break
and look forward to breaking bread together again on September 1 – mark your calendar!
In May, Rev. Josh will offer a brief presentation on end-of-life planning, including a simple questionnaire
to help you reflect on and communicate your funeral wishes. The questionnaire can be kept on file at
the church. He’ll also provide a helpful handout outlining key information to gather for estate and end-
of-life planning.  
For the potluck lunch, which begins at noon in the dining room, bring a Mexican dish in honor of Cinco
de Mayo. See you on May 5.

Join us THIS Sunday, May 3rd for a special Music Sunday as we celebrate the close of our musical program year (September–May). This meaningful service will feature beautiful offerings from our Chancel Choir and Bell Choir, centered around the theme “Songs That Have Shaped Our Faith.”
Together, we’ll sing some of the most beloved and requested hymns in our church—songs like Amazing Grace, I Love to Tell the Story, and What a Friend We Have in Jesus. These timeless pieces carry deep stories, memories, and faith that connect us across generations. Come ready to sing, reflect, and give thanks for the gift of music in our life together.

Join us this Sunday for a special Earth Day morning of worship, reflection, and service. We’ll begin with a brief outdoor service at 10:00am at Boise First UCC—an opportunity to gather in and with creation. Afterward, those who are able are invited to carpool about 10 minutes to Jim Hall’s Foothills Learning Center to help trim and weed as an act of care for our community and the earth. Please bring a folding chair if you have one (we’ll have a few available). If you prefer to stay at the church, you’re welcome to watch part of Canopy of Creation—Tree Equity and Climate Justice and take part in writing Environmental Voter postcards to support climate action.We hope you’ll join us for this meaningful morning of worship and care for creation.

Our beloved annual auction has moved to spring! Join us on Sunday, April 19th at 11am. We’re celebrating the season with Bids & Blooms — an afternoon of generosity, beauty, and community fun. Gift baskets • Handmade goods • Themed dinners • Vacation stays • Event tickets • Lessons or services • Art • Unique experiences. If you can dream it, someone will bid on it! Every donated item helps our ministries, programs, and daily operations blossom! 

Interested in making a donation to the auction? Simply fill our this online DONATION form or email Mary at church@boisefirstucc.org

Online bidding opens on April 12th! Check back for the auction link and more details!

Join us on Tuesday, April 14th at 1pm as we discuss Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom by Ilyon Woo.

This is the remarkable true story of Ellen and William Craft, who escaped slavery through daring, determination, and disguise, with Ellen passing as a wealthy, disabled White man and William posing as “his” slave.

In 1848, a year of international democratic revolt, a young, enslaved couple, Ellen and William Craft, achieved one of the boldest feats of self-emancipation in American history. Posing as master and slave, while sustained by their love as husband and wife, they made their escape together across more than 1,000 miles, riding out in the open on steamboats, carriages, and trains that took them from bondage in Georgia to the free states of the North.

To learn more about upcoming books and bookclub, visit our GROUPS page!

Join us after worship for a thoughtful panel conversation with Frosty Biggs, Rudi Baker-Jambretz, Marta Baker-Jambretz, Jane Buch.

This personal and educational space will explore questions such as:

• What pronouns mean to each of us personally

• Individual members' journeys with pronouns

• Why it matters when others use pronouns correctly

• Why it can be meaningful when cisgender people also share their pronouns

• And other reflections that help deepen understanding and compassion

Come ready to listen, learn, and grow together in love and respect.

Seniors, the April meeting will celebrate Nevada’s Burning Man Festival. Sue Sharp will share her
experiences of the Festival, which she describes this way: radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification,
radical self-reliance and self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace,
participation, immediacy. Come hear what she has to say.
We challenge you to bring a plant-based dish for the potluck lunch, which begins at noon in the dining
room. See you on April 7.

Join us on Easter Sunday as we rejoice in the joy of resurrection with two identical services at 8:30am and 10:15am, filled with uplifting music, a hopeful message, and a warm, welcoming spirit—the only difference being a special offertory from the Chancel Choir at the 10:15am service. Children are invited to come 15 minutes before either service to help flower the cross in the sanctuary. Stay after either service for a joyful social hour, and come ready to celebrate new life, hope, and the beauty of Easter together!

Join us at Boise First UCC on Saturday, April 4, for an evening of community.
Easter Egg Hunt | 4:30 PM
Bring the kids—and invite a friend or two—for an outdoor Easter Egg Hunt on the church grounds. This is a wonderful opportunity to share the warmth and welcome of our inclusive faith community.
Potluck Dinner | 5:00 PM
Following the hunt, we’ll gather for a shared meal and fellowship. Bring a dish or dessert to share.
Holy Saturday Easter Vigil | 6:00 PM
As the sun begins to set, we will gather on the outdoor patio for a sacred Easter Vigil. This ancient tradition invites us to pause in the in-between space—honoring the quiet of Holy Saturday as we wait in hope for resurrection joy. Through scripture, prayer, and firelight, we will journey together from darkness toward light. Please dress warmly and bring a lawn chair for the vigil.

You are invited to a sacred Ecumenical Good Friday Service on April 3 at 6:30pm at Boise First United Church of Christ (2201 Woodlawn Ave., Boise), offered in partnership with Collister United Methodist Church, Wright Congregational United Church of Christ, Hyde Park Mennonite Fellowship, and the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
Together, we will gather in solemn reflection on the life, suffering, and death of Jesus. This hour-long service will include meaningful music, scripture, prayer, silence, and contemplative liturgy. Good Friday invites us to pause — to sit with grief and injustice — and to remember the depth of God’s love revealed on the cross.
As we journey through Holy Week, this sacred time of remembrance prepares our hearts for the hope and resurrection joy of Easter.
All are welcome to join in this shared act of worship and community.

Join us for a special Maundy Thursday gathering as we remember the Last Supper, when Jesus shared a meal with his disciples and offered the first communion. Bring soup or bread to share if you’re able (not required!) — let your crockpot simmer through the day and come ready for a meaningful meal together.
Our evening will include communion, simple liturgy, and songs. Upon arrival, you’ll be invited to have your hands washed by Rev. Josh in remembrance of Christ washing the disciples’ feet.
Come as you are for this hour of sacred community, reflection, and nourishment. Please bring your own bowl and spoon.

Join us Sun. March 29th at 10:00am as we begin Holy Week with joy and celebration! We’ll gather out front with palm branches and bring back an old Boise First tradition — following the Keener’s donkey around the exterior of the building, waving our palms and singing as we process into the sanctuary from 23rd Street. The Willamette University Choir will lead us in song, offering spirited Palm Sunday music alongside our Chancel Choir as we mark Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and step into the sacred journey of the week ahead. Invite friends and family for this special and festive service. And plan to stay afterward for an all-church work day as we spruce up our grounds in preparation for Easter weekend. Let’s begin Holy Week with praise — and a little holy teamwork!

Interested in becoming a member of Boise First United Church of Christ or learning more about our community? Join Rev. Josh after service for one hour on Sunday, March 22nd. This informal gathering is a great opportunity to ask questions, learn about the history, values, and mission of our church, and find out how you can get involved. Whether you're new to the church, a new member, or just looking for more information, all are welcome. 

Sign up HERE

For the month of March, we are reading “Life after doom: wisdom and courage for a world falling apart” by Brian Mcclaren. This book addresses feelings of despair about the state of the world, particularly concerning climate change and societal instability, by offering a hopeful, yet realistic, guide for navigating these challenges.

The book club meets the second Tuesday of every month in the Fireside Room at Boise First UCC.

All are welcome to attend!

In the 1990s, Idaho saw a rise in AIDS cases, with 170 deaths reported by April 1995, 10 years after the first case was identified. By mid-1995, over 400 people in the state had tested positive for HIV/AIDS. The era was characterized by high stigma, limited treatment options prior to 1996, and the emergence of criminal charges for non-disclosure. Our own Allen Haumann will share about his 32-year career with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare during the 1990s at the senior lunch on Tuesday, March 3. The potluck lunch will begin at noon in the church dining room. All are welcome to attend! 

Palm Sunday Procession Outside!

Join us Sun. March 29th at 10:00am as we begin Holy Week with joy and celebration! We’ll gather out front with palm branches and bring back an old Boise First tradition — following the Keener’s donkey around the exterior of the building, waving our palms and singing as we process into the sanctuary from 23rd Street. The Willamette University Choir will lead us in song, offering spirited Palm Sunday music alongside our Chancel Choir as we mark Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and step into the sacred journey of the week ahead. Invite friends and family for this special and festive service. And plan to stay afterward for an all-church work day as we spruce up our grounds in preparation for Easter weekend. Let’s begin Holy Week with praise — and a little holy teamwork!

Ash Wednesday at Boise First UCC

Mark the beginning of Lent in ways that fit your day and your spirit. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40 days before Easter, a season of reflection and renewal in the Christian tradition. The ashes—made from last year’s palm Sunday—are placed on our foreheads as a public and personal reminder of our shared humanity, our need for grace, and our hope for transformation and new life.

Ashes on the Go

• 8:00–10:00am – Drive up to the church entrance at 22nd & Woodlawn to receive ashes from Rev. Josh without leaving your car.

• 12:00–1:30pm – Rev. Josh and Christian faith leaders will be in the Idaho Capitol rotunda, offering ashes to anyone inside.

Evening Worship

7:00pm at Boise First UCC – A 30-minute service centered on healing and wholeness, with music, prayer, and the imposition of ashes.

Please join us for this year’s Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper! If you haven’t attended before, you may know it by its other name, Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, which is celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday. Years ago, many Christians made pancakes to use up their stock of eggs, milk, butter, and fat in preparation for Lent. At Boise First, we celebrate with pancakes, fun activities for all ages, and King’s Cake, which is decorated with typical Mardi Gras colors – purple (for justice), green (faith), and gold (power) with a small doll stuffed inside. Whoever finds the doll will enjoy good luck throughout the year! 
 
To participate, please RSVP  here.  We still need help with set up and clean up - you can sign up to volunteer on your RSVP form.
 
For questions, contact:
Elaine Mayo  ElaineReeder.mayo@gmail.com
or Laura Stavoe laura@boisefirstucc.org 

The book for February is "James" by Percival Everett.  James is a 2024 novel by Percival Everett that retells Mark Twain's Adventures of Huccleberry Finn from the perspective of the enslaved man, Jim, who is renamed James in this version. The book follows James as he escapes slavery to find his family, joining Huck on a journey down the Mississippi River, and is acclaimed for giving Jim agency, intelligence, and a powerful voice, earning numerous awards, including the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. The Library! had numerous copies.  
The bookclub meets the second Tuesday of every month. All are invited to attend! If you have any questions, contact
Carol Bearce,  cmbearce@gmail.com

Seniors, the February meeting will celebrate Boise’s Anne Frank Memorial. Our own Ellen Albus has
been involved from the beginning. She will talk about our church’s historic involvement with the Idaho
Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial and the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights and her current role
with the Center. We will also learn how we can be involved in the Center’s programs.
For the potluck lunch, which begins at noon in the dining room, bring a dish you would serve to your
valentine (and not just desserts!). See you on Tuesday, February 3. Also, are you able to stay after lunch
and help with clean-up? Email Elaine Mayo at elainereeder.mayo@gmail.com to volunteer.

Idaho Women's March 2026 

It has never been more urgent to raise our voices and stand together.
Join us for the 2026 Idaho Women’s March on Saturday at 1 pm in front of the state capitol.

The march will begin with live entertainment, powerful speakers talking about women’s education, reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ rights, followed by a march around the Capitol building, a symbol of our collective strength and unwavering determination to fight for our rights.

• This is our time to speak out.

• This is our time to stand up.

• This is our time to march.

Save the date. Spread the word. Show up.

Together, we are the power that drives change. Join your friends from Boise First! Meet at the corner of 8th and Jefferson between 12:30-12:45.

Christmas Eve at Boise First UCC

Celebrate the wonder of Christmas with us! Both candlelight services will include beloved carols, a children’s moment, and a Christmas message from Rev. Josh.

 6:30 p.m. Service – A joyful celebration featuring our Chancel Choir and a small Bell Choir ensemble.

 9:00 p.m. Service – A spirited candlelight gathering filled with carols, community, and special music from Becca Taylor and her sister, as well as a festive musical contribution from Diana and the Eric Ellis Family.

Between services, from 7:45–8:45 p.m., enjoy cookies and warm drinks during a festive social hour in the Fellowship Hall. Childcare for ages 5 and under will be provided during both services.

This year’s Christmas Offering will support furnishing a room at the new Interfaith Sanctuary facility—helping create a warm, welcoming space for neighbors in need.

Invite your friends and family to come share in the light, music, and hope of Christmas!