Submissions must be in by Wednesday at 4:00 pm to be included in the newsletter. 
Caleb Alexander, Beacon Office Manager

~ Sunday Service, Dec. 31 ~ 
Burning Bowl Service, 10:00 am
Rev. Kevin Lawson

Ceremonies that involve fire as a cleansing ritual go back to ancient times. The act of watching something literally go up in flames and be transformed into ash can be very cleansing. Join with us to prepare for and set intentions for the New Year, and to acknowledge and release any pains and hurts of the closing year.
~ Building Expansion Team ~  

Special Beacon Congregational Meeting
Important Votes Regarding the Capital Campaign 
Sunday, January 7, 2018 at 11:30 am

ATTENTION: Please note that this is the correct date; ignore the date cited on mailed post cards.

Childcare will be provided. 

The Congregation (members in good standing for at least 28 days) will vote: 
  1. To authorize a building-expansion capital campaign in spring 2018, which will determine the congregation's financial commitment for a building expansion. 
  2. To authorize the withdrawal of up to $11,000 from the Building Reserve Fund to advance the building design from the current 10% level of completion to a more detailed 25-30% level. 
The Building Reserve Fund exists for just such purposes as #2. This money is not taken from our operating budget. The $11,000 would permit the architect to develop a more detailed building design than we currently have, which would, in turn, allow the contractor to provide a more accurate construction-cost estimate. Any withdrawal from the Building Reserve Fund must be agreed upon by a vote of the congregation. 

The Building Expansion Team understand the concerns expressed in the December 3rd Town Hall meeting about the amount of any required loan. The more detailed building design will provide a better idea of the loan amount needed to cover the difference between what is raised by the Capital Campaign and the total cost of the project. 

If you cannot attend on January 7, please ask someone to vote for you by proxy, and notify Board Secretary Diana Roy by email (dmroy.or@gmail.com). This written notice must be received by the Secretary not less than 24 hours prior to the meeting. A member may represent no more than one proxy.
~ Community Action Committee ~

Logo of Figure Reading a Book: Return to the home page for Sun Sounds
Beacon's community partner for January will be the Flagstaff affiliate of Sun Sounds of Arizona.

Thanks to Beacon's commitment to Share the Plate with approved community partners! For January's undesignated Sunday morning offering money beyond $300 will be presented to Sun Sounds of Flagstaff.
 
If you would like to nominate an organization to be a community partner, pick up the application in the CAC folder at the bottom of the office stairs. Information and instructions for Share the Plate partners are described on that form.

The CAC is comprised of Joanne Parkes, Sue Strobel, Lynda Dorweiler, Rev. Kevin Lawson and Rich Clark. 

With thanks for Beacon's generosity and especially for CAC members' thoughtful, persistent efforts toward living our UU Principles,
Rich Clark, CAC Chair
~ Social Justice Allies (SJA) ~

Meeting Notes
Chairperson Terry White's choice of our chalice lighting quote bears repeating 
"The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference and undernourishment." 
- Robert Hutchinson

Democracy and Public Engagement Film Series
While taking a "creative" route to approval (consulting Beacon's CLC-Core Leadership Council and Board of Trustees), SJA agreed by consensus to co-sponsor a winter/spring film series focusing on democracy and public engagement. Still in the very early planning stage, several films and accompanying discussions have been suggested so far, likely with one film each month. Such films as Freedom Riders, I Am, Bringing Down a Dictator and Viva la Verde (River) have been suggested so far.  Beacon's primary responsibilities will be to  provide space, with SJA approving film selection and helping with promotion.  As with last summer's Literature of the Borderlands series, led by our good friend Chuck Tatum,  it seems likely that this film and discussion series will be attractive not only to our own Beacon  people, but to members of other groups as well.  Stay tuned for schedule, film selection and more details.

Beacon Emergency Plan
With congregations of all stripes feeling especially vulnerable these days to serious unexpected disruption, SJA agree that it's prudent to develop clear systems for protecting people participating in our activities at Beacon. While a Beacon policy on Disruptive Behavior (Section 200.8) was approved in 2015, attention to highly dangerous emergencies is scant. Our aim is to present a proposal to the CLC and the Board of Trustees meetings on January 17th and 24th respectively.

Roz Clark, SJA Journalist
~ Religious Exploration ~

On Sunday, December 31, children will join parents in the service for the special Burning Bowl Ceremony. Childcare will be provided for small children.
~ Touchstones Journal: Justice ~
~ Beacon Calendar ~
Worship & Burning Bowl Ceremony
Sunday, December 31
10:00 am  
Worship & Religious Exploration
Sunday, January 7
10:00 am
Youth New Year's Celebration
Sunday, December 31
6:00 pm  ~ Off Site
Congregational Meeting
Sunday, January 7
11:30 am
Worship Associates
Wednesday, January 3
5:30 pm
Committee on Shared Ministry
Monday, January 8
5:30 pm
Religious Exploration Meeting 
Thursday, January 4
3:30 pm
Qi Gong
Tuesday, January 9
6:15 pm
Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, January 4
7:00 pm
Finance Team Meeting
Wednesday, January 10
6:30 pm

If you would like to submit a calendar event, send an email to 
office@beaconuu.com . With all requests, please indicate the following: proposed start and end time of the event, the space/room preferred, and a rough group size. On the occasion of a cancellation or rescheduling of an event, please let the office know in a timely fashion to ensure that your event is correctly represented in the newsletter and order of service. Thank you!
~ Beacon Office Hours ~
Minister, 
Rev. Kevin  Lawson 

Tues: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Wed: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Or by appointment
Director of RE, 
Amy Huntereece

Sun: 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Tues:  12:00 pm - 4:00 pm Wed:  4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
 
  Office Manager, 
Caleb Alexander

Wed: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Thurs: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Fri: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Or by appointment
Office Phone (928) 779-4492
~ Fundraising the Easy Way! ~

Looking for easy ways to give back to Beacon? Fry's, Basha's, iGive, and Amazon Smile are all great ways to show your support with your everyday purchases!
  • Fry's: At checkout, enter Beacon's phone number, (928) 779-4492, and Fry's will donate a portion of your purchase back to Beacon through their Community Rewards program.
  • Basha's: If you hold or purchase a Beacon fundraising Basha's gift card, as you use and reload it Beacon receives a portion of your total. Want to purchase one? Contact Dorothy Rissel, dorothy.rissel@gmail.com, for more info! Have one? Be sure to keep it loaded!
  • iGive: Check out Beacon at iGive (just click) for online shopping with retailers you already know.
  • Amazon.com: Set Beacon as your Amazon Smile charity so your Amazon purchases chip in!
Do you know of other passive fundraising methods? Reply to this newsletter and let us know!
~ Website Members and Friends Access ~

Interested in accessing the directory and board documents on the Members and Friends page on  BeaconUU.com ? You can get the password over the phone (928-779-4492) during regular office hours, or by requesting it from a board member after Sunday Services. We will not be providing it by email. 

Call or email Caleb (office@beaconuu.com) with any questions!
 ~ Beacon Google Group ~

If you are not on Beacon's exclusive Google group, you are missing out on an important communications link within our congregation. It is useful for spreading information about something going on in Flagstaff, informing others of social action activities, offering an item for sale or to give away, sharing enthusiasm about a book or movie, requesting information or recommendations -- and more! It's simple to sign up! Email Caleb, our Office Manager, at  office@beaconuu.com.