Entering the Tent of Abraham
Entering the Tent of Abraham
Among the values Muslims, Christians, and Jews share is a desire to generously extend hospitality and graciously receive it. What are the ways in which we welcome guests into our respective communities and homes? How do we express gratitude when we are guests? Let’s find out by joining together in the spirit of an interfaith Thanksgiving meal catered to by Kabab House and shared in the space of Boise First United Church of Christ (2201 Woodlawn Ave, Boise). All are welcome to share in this celebration of thanksgiving and friendship. We encourage folks to
We encourage folks to RSVP here: DINNER SIGN UP
Advent Study: What Do You Fear? Insisting on Hope
Advent Study: “What Do You Fear? Insisting on Hope
Join us for a 3-week Advent study on Wednesdays, December 3rd, 10th, and 17th at 6:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Together we’ll explore our Advent theme, “What Do You Fear? Insisting on Hope During These Unprecedented Times,” through conversation, reflection, and shared faith.
REGISTER HERE
A beautifully crafted Advent devotional booklet—filled with art, poetry, and reflections—is now availabe for anyone in the congregation to use individually throughout the advent season. There will be a limited quantity of paper copies available at the end of November. You can also access it on your computer and mobile devices HERE. Our Wednesday gatherings will complement the devotional, offering space to go deeper in community as we seek hope and light together.
Hanging of the Greens
Join in the holiday cheer as we deck the halls and prepare our church for the Christmas season! Come help hang the greens, trim the tree, and fill the sanctuary with the spirit of Advent. We’ll share a spaghetti dinner, laughter, and plenty of holiday joy as we get ready to welcome Christmas together.
Please RSVP if you will be joining us for dinner:
RSVP HERE
The Sounds of Christmas
Join us for The Sounds of Christmas, a special musical worship service marking the halfway point of Advent. The morning will feature an organ prelude, the ringing of the full bell choir, and the Chancel Choir sharing beautiful seasonal pieces. Together we’ll lift our voices in beloved carols. Please note: the full bell choir will be featured during this service on December 7 instead of on Christmas Eve, which will include smaller bell ensembles for the 6:30 pm service. The morning will also include a short children’s sermon, a reflection by Rev. Josh, and the celebration of communion as we rejoice in the hope and promise of Christ’s coming.
The Longest Night Service
Join us for a contemplative gathering of readings, ritual, and song as we mark the longest night of the year. This service creates space to honor grief, loss, and disappointment—and to acknowledge that the holidays are not always a season of joy for everyone. We will begin by firelight outside the church entrance before moving into the fellowship hall. This will be an in-person service only.
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.
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!
Alternative Gift Market
Join us at our annual Alternative Gift Market. This year's focus is on housing.
What is an Alternative Gift Market? This is a chance for people to give a monetary gift on behalf of another. This event offers alternative gift ideas outside of the usual retail items we spend money on every year.
This years recipients are: CATCH, Intermountain Fair Housing Council, and Jesse Tree. This event is run in conjunction with our annual Soup for the Soul. So come have some soup and learn more about these three amazing organizations!
Rake Up Boise
Every November thousands of volunteers from local businesses, schools, churches, and neighborhoods join together for NeighborWorks® Boise's Rake Up Boise™ to rake yards for senior, veteran, and disabled neighbors.
It’s more than leaf cleanup—it’s a 40-year tradition of neighbors helping neighbors and one of the Northwest’s largest, most beloved volunteer events.
Be a part of the Boise First team. REGISTER HERE
How to Challenge Christian Nationalism
SOLD OUT
With the rise in calls for political violence against those who identify as progressive—and the growing pressure to marginalize anyone who does not share the narrowly defined faith of Christian nationalism—faith leaders in our community are coming together to respond.
Saturday, November 8th, Boise First will host a free, one-day workshop that defines Christian nationalism from both political and theological perspectives and offers practical suggestions for how we can faithfully challenge white Christian nationalism in our communities.
Drawing on the disciplines of biblical studies, theology, and peace studies, the workshop will explore realistic and effective strategies of nonviolent resistance within the context of faith communities. Together we will consider topics such as:
Defining white Christian nationalism
Political idolatry
Nonviolent civil resistance
Biblical authoritarianism
Theologies of oppression
The day will be designed for congregants across Idaho and leaders from a variety of theological backgrounds, and everyone is welcome. We hope you’ll join us for this important and timely conversation.
November Senior Lunch
Seniors, join your friends on November 4, when we hear from two Boise First members about ways we
can support affordable housing in our community. They will share their stories of how they got involved and how we can too.
Jessica Ashton will talk about Furnishing Hope. This program gathers community donations to provide furniture and accessories for the newly housed – tangible hope for the future.
Bart Cochran, CEO and Founder of LEAP Housing, will discuss the LEAP Housing Impact Fund (LHIF), a socially focused investment program. People can use their resources to invest in opportunities that create affordable housing.
For the potluck lunch, which begins at noon, bring your favorite soup, side dish, or dessert.
Halloween Celebration
On October 26 our Youth Ministry team will host our annual Halloween celebration for children during our fellowship time. Children are invited to come in their costumes and participate in games and crafts following Sunday school. Everyone is invited to bring Halloween-themed treats to share.
All-Church Congregational Meeting
We invite everyone—members and friends alike—to join us for our all-church congregational meeting on Sunday, October 19th, following the service. We’ll vote on and provide space for discussion around the proposed 2026 budget, and hear a report from the Worship Arts Team on the state of our organ. Your voice and presence are welcome!
October Bookclub
The book for October is "Better Living Through Birding" by Christian Cooper. This book was suggested by Liz. This is about a gay black man's encounter in Central Park with a white woman walking her dog. The library has 8 copies available.
All are welcome to join us! Questions: Reach out to Carol at cmbearce@gmail.com
Ada County Crop Hunger Walk
Join us for the Ada County CROP Hunger Walk on Sunday, October 12 at 3:00 pm at Julia Davis Park (Agriculture Pavilion, between the Bandshell and Zoo). Registration begins at 2:30 pm. Walk a 3-mile loop along the Greenbelt and through downtown, or choose the shorter 1-mile route. This year’s goal is 150 walkers and $25,000 raised to fight hunger and poverty locally and globally. Seventy-five percent of funds go to Church World Service, with 25% supporting the Idaho Foodbank.
Be part of the Boise First UCC team—or make a donation to our team HERE
Order your CROP Hunger Walk T-shirt by September 21: $12.25 (Kids M–L & Adult S–XL) or $14.25 (Adult XXL). Contact Liz Roberts at nodawaykid@gmail.com to place your order.
A Special Homecoming Sunday with Rev. Nancy S. Taylor
We are thrilled to welcome back Rev. Nancy S. Taylor, who served as Senior Minister of Boise First Congregational Church in the 1990s, as our guest preacher on Sunday, October 12th.
Rev. Taylor is the Senior Minister Emeritus of Old South Church in Boston, where she served for 18 years as the church’s first—and only—female senior minister since its founding in 1669. While in Boise, she founded Idaho Voices of Faith for Human Rights, co-founded the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial, and helped establish what is now the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights.
We look forward to welcoming Rev. Taylor back to Boise First UCC and hearing her powerful preaching once again. Please consider inviting friends, neighbors, or former members who may remember her ministry with gratitude.
All are welcome—come share in this joyful Sunday of worship and community!
Budget Town Hall
We’ve heard that many of you have questions about the church budget—how it works, how surplus funds are used, and the specific ways investments have been made this year to improve our building and grounds. Church leadership wants to create space for open conversation, deeper transparency, and clear answers. Join us for a Budget Town Hall where we’ll share a more detailed look at how funds have been spent in 2025 and provide time for your questions.
October Senior Luncheon
Seniors,our luncheons got off to a great start last month. On October 7, we will hear from Ginni Neil and David Cornell who will tell us about a recent vacation.
David says, “Ginni and I became interested in the Road Scholar trip to central Brazil, when we
heard favorable remarks about it by the renowned speaker and impersonator, Janet Worthington.
Our talk will share our experience in the central Amazon River region aboard a 30-passenger ship with 15 other Americans and 10 mostly Portuguese-speaking staff, who provided excellent food and learning experiences about the flora, fauna and peoples of a fascinating region.
For the potluck lunch, which begins at noon, baked potatoes will be provided. Please bring your favorite topping, side dish or dessert.
CPC Annual Gathering – Idaho In-Person Watch Party!
The 2025 Central Pacific Conference Annual Gathering will be held online this year, but we’re inviting all Idaho Association churches to join us in person at Boise First UCC to participate together on the big screen.This is a great opportunity for Idaho delegates, clergy, and friends to worship, reflect, and discern the Spirit’s movement in community. Everyone is welcome—whether you’re a delegate or simply curious about the wider church.
Boise First delegates this year are Jessica Aston, Laura Stavoe, Jen Nelson, and youth delegate Abigail Bibbens. The CPC (which includes churches across Oregon, Idaho, and SW Washington) will also be voting on new officers, with several Boise First members on the slate: Vicki Kreimeyer (Moderator-Elect), Steve Scalin (Treasurer), Laura Stavoe (Church’s Wider Mission Committee), and Rev. Josh Lee (Committee on Ministry).
Come be part of this meaningful moment and cheer on your Boise First leaders as they step into wider service!
How to Support Trans Youth: Discussing "American Teenager" With Author Nico Lang
A Q&A and Book Signing with Nico Lang, author of "American Teenager: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era"
Join us for an inspiring and heartwarming event as award-winning journalist and author Nico Lang shares stories from their powerful new book, "American Teenager." This moving work celebrates the resilience, courage, and joy of trans youth navigating today’s challenging world. Guiding the conversation will be Rev. Josh Lee of Boise First UCC. Together, we’ll explore ways our community can uplift and support queer and trans kids — and leave with tangible ideas for creating a safer, more joyful future for all youth.
Free & open to the public — all are welcome! Book signing to follow the discussion.
Come be part of a discussion that will uplift your spirit, connect you with others, and help us all find more ways to help queer kids not just survive — but thrive.
Artistic Interpretation of Scripture Sunday
Artistic Interpretation of Scripture Sunday - Let Your Light Shine.
Artwork due in the church office by September 21.
Scripture: Matthew 5:14–16
“You are the light of the world... No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel...”
You're invited to create and share artwork for Artistic Interpretation Sunday on September 28, inspired by Jesus' call to shine your light boldly.
Art can be anything — painting, poetry, music, dance, photography, woodworking, baking, or beyond. During worship, you may (but don’t have to) share your piece with up to 100 words or 2-minute artist statement. All works can then be displayed in the narthex (front entry) with your printed statements.
Please see Gretchen Weitemier after church or.....
Ready to shine? Sign up using THIS FORM
Bocce Ball Time!
Come Play Bocce!
Join us for a fun afternoon get-together playing bocce in the park. No experience needed! Whether you’re a seasoned player or trying it for the first time, either way, it is a good time waiting to happen. Mark your calendar Sunday, September 21st at 2:00pm. at Kirsten Armstrong Municipal Park.
Fall Kick-Off Sunday
Join us for a joyful start to the season—Sunday, September 14! We’ll kick off a new worship series on Prayer, restart Sunday School, and welcome back our beloved choir (interested singers can come rehearse at 9:00am).
After worship, stay for a potluck (bring what your heart desires) and our annual silent auction—a simple, fun way to support our mission before a bigger auction returns in spring 2026. (Have goods, services, or experiences to donate? Email: church@boisefirstucc.org.)
We’ll also celebrate new members (want to join? Email revjosh@boisefirstucc.org) and enjoy cake and connection!
Plus, we’ll launch a Justice & Witness focus for the fall—a meaningful way to live out our faith together. Come be part of it!
Boise Pride
Pride Is for Everyone Who Believes in Equality
Boise Pride 2025 is coming! Join us September 6–7 as we stand in solidarity and celebrate diversity, inclusion, and love. In these challenging times, your presence alone speaks volumes: LGBTQ+ people deserve equality.
What’s New This Year?
On Sunday, Sept. 7, we won’t meet in our building. Instead, we’ll Be the Church by:
Attending the Interfaith Service at 9 am, Mainstage @ Ann Morrison Park
March in or attend the Pride Parade (email Rev. Josh if you want to march)
Volunteering at our Booth in Ann Morrison Park (1000 S. Americana Blvd).
Volunteer Sign Up
We need volunteers to help setup, staff and take down the booth. Multiple shifts are available - You can sign up HERE
September Senior Luncheon
Seniors, we’ve missed visiting with each other over the summer. We look forward to the first Senior Luncheon of the season: Tuesday, September 2 at noon in the dining area. If you’re a regular, we look forward to seeing you again. If you haven’t attended before, please join us – you’ll learn a lot about your church family.
In September, Georgia Girvan will teach us some folk dances. Whether you’re an expert dancer or have two left feet, no one will be left out of the fun. For the potluck lunch, bring your favorite western style food to share.
Exploring Membership Gathering
Join us after worship on Sunday, August 24, for a one-hour Exploring Membership gathering! We’ll serve lunch and offer a chance to learn more about who we are—our church’s history, values, our denomination, how we’re structured, ways to get involved, and more. You’ll meet some of our staff and leaders, connect with other newcomers, and have space to ask questions in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Whether you're ready to join or just curious, we’d love to have you! RSVP by email church@boisefirstucc.org.
All Church Camp
45 people have already signed up! Join us for a joy-filled weekend at beautiful Pilgrim Cove Camp on the shore of Payette Lake in McCall! From August 15–17, we’ll gather for a time of fun, connection, and renewal in nature. All ages are welcome — this is truly a camp for everyone! Enjoy water activities, hikes, worship, devotionals, campfires, s’mores, yoga, crafts, and more. You can check out the camp agenda HERE
Registration is now open: REGISTER
Back-to-School Sunday with "All Are Welcome" Sarah Inama
Join us for a special Back-to-School Sunday service on August 10th as we bless our children’s backpacks and celebrate the start of a new school year with kindness, inclusion, and community!
We’re honored to welcome Sarah Inama, a former West Ada school teacher who made headlines after being told to take down her “Everyone Is Welcome” sign in her classroom. Sarah is a passionate advocate for creating safe, welcoming spaces for all students. She will join Rev. Josh for a meaningful conversation about what it means to be a good neighbor and how we can teach our children to live out the values of acceptance and kindness.
Sarah will also read a children’s book during the service and lead a “Be Kind” bracelet-making activity during social hour!
If you have an “Everyone is Welcome” shirt, be sure to wear it that day!
Bring your backpacks, your friends, and your open hearts as we start the school year grounded in courage, compassion, and community!
Women's Retreat at Pilgrim Cove
The Annual Women’s Retreat is our gathering of women from across the conference who come to camp to retreat, relax and have a wonderful time in the splendor of the mountain beauty. There will be bible study, worship singing, and presentations planned with ample free time to enjoy the lake, the outdoors, time with friends and much more. Come and see old friends and make new ones in the wonders of the outdoors. You can find more information and register here on the Pilgrim Cove Camp Page.
Church in the Park
On Sunday, July 6th, we’ll be holding a special outdoor church service at 10 am at Ester Simplot Park in Boise, gathering at the pavilion. As part of the service, we’ll be celebrating the sacred act of baptism, whether by full immersion in the pond or sprinkling—offered for adults, teens, and kids alike. If you or someone in your family is interested in exploring baptism, we’d love to talk with you about it. Email Rev. Josh at revjosh@boisefirstucc.org to start the conversation.
Boise Public Library Pride Month Community Resource Fair
We have been invited to participate in the Boise Public Library’s Pride Month Community Resource Fair on Saturday, June 28, from 11am to 6pm at the Downtown Library.
This event is a powerful opportunity to share who we are and connect with the LGBTQIA+ community. If you're interested in taking a shift to help staff at either table, please reach out to Rudi & Marta Baker-Jambretz at magnificentmind@gmail.com.
Canyon County Pride
Our church is showing up with love and affirmation for Pride month in June.
We are hosting a table at Canyon County Pride on Sunday, June 8. Stop by our booth and learn more about Boise First!
We are in need of volunteers to help set up, staff and take down our booth. If you’d like to volunteer, please reach out to Marta Baker-Jambretz at magnificentmind@gmail.com
Canyon County Pride Interfaith Service
Join us at 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 8th at Lakeview Park in Nampa for the Canyon County Pride Interfaith Service. We’ll come together on the main stage to celebrate, reflect, and stand in solidarity across faith traditions. This uplifting service welcomes everyone—come as you are to honor love, diversity, and the sacred worth of every person.
Greeter & Usher Training
Are you currently a greeter or usher, or interested in becoming one? Join us for an important Greeter & Usher Training on Sunday, June 1st after worship!
First impressions matter. In fact, Barna Group Research revealed that over 80% of visitors decide within the first 10 minutes whether they’ll return to a church—and greeters play a huge role in that decision. A warm smile, a helpful word, and a genuine welcome can make all the difference.
Let’s come together to refresh, reimagine, and revitalize how we welcome newcomers and regulars alike. Your presence and participation are essential!
Will you be there to help make our church a place where everyone feels at home from the moment they walk in?
New Member Welcome
Exciting News! On Sunday, June 1st, during worship we will be welcoming 15 new members into Boise First UCC!
Membership is a meaningful way to feel more connected — it invites you to have a voice in major church decisions, share your gifts as you're able, and receive the church’s promise to walk with you in community and care.
Curious to learn more or also become a member? Email Rev. Josh at revjosh@boisefirstucc.org.
Worship at Wright UCC
For Memorial weekend, we will have a joint service at Wright UCC - 4821 W Franklin Road in Boise. Rev. Josh will preach, and Katy Knight from Wright will lead musical worship. Come experience the beauty of connection, song, and spirit as we gather as one!
Pre-service coffee begins at 10:30. Worship service starts at 11am.
If you are unable to attend, the service will be online at: https://www.youtube.com/@wrightchurch2251
Senior Luncheon
Join us for our Senior Lunch on Tuesday, May 6, when Harriet Almerico shares her experience of serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco. She also taught English at the American Language Center. She’s often asked if her time there was as exotic as it sounds. She says, “Yes!”
The pot-luck lunch will begin at noon, with time to visit during the meal. The theme of this potluck is simple: bring something that makes you happy!