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Submissions must be in by Wednesday at 4:00 pm to be included in the newsletter.
Heather Thornton, Beacon Office Manager
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~ Monthly Worship Theme ~
Summer Imaginarium
~ This Sunday's Service ~
Summer Sunday morning - come be with us in community, before you head out for that hike, the lakeshore, the fishin' hole, or the poolside. Rev. Kevin will surprise us with reflection upon our theme of "Summer Imaginarium"
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~ Ministers Musings ~
Summer Musings -
Thinking of Gratitude lately, how and when the opportunities to truly express deep appreciation.
Gary and I recently returned from a short and quick trip to Oregon to see his family in Pendleton, and then to travel cross-state and attend the ordination of my friend and former classmate in Corvallis. Being back in Oregon, pretty close to one year from our leave taking last summer to move here to Flagstaff, has me nostalgic and appreciative for the many who made our lives there. And yet oddly, this trip also served as a bit of closure for us.
The move last summer was quick and intense, there was much to do in short order, and something that perhaps got a bit missed in the process was expression of gratitude. While we certainly thanked friends and neighbors and had many different incarnations of goodbye events, for me this recent trip served to provide opportunity to perhaps catch up with ourselves. A time to be with my thoughts and share appreciation and gratitude for all that had been our lives in Portland. Summer and perhaps travel times give us this opportunity for renewal, to allow that which is carrying along inside us, beside us, to have spaciousness for acceptance and processing. Whereby, once we can acknowledge that which has gone unspoken, unknown has come to mind and thought, we feel more at home in our own being. More caught up with ourselves. The opportunity to recognize when events have come to endings and now become memories, times and events passed.
I came across this meditation by Michael Leduc and thought it worth sharing, it spoke to me as reminder the gift of every day, the gift when we are together, and the gift that comes in letting go as locations and events process into memory.
May we look with gratitude upon this day
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"May we look with gratitude upon this day, for the beauty of the world, for the first radiance of dawn and the last smoldering glow of sunset.
Let us be thankful for physical joys, for hills to climb and hard work to do, for music that lifts our hearts in one breath, for the hand-clasp of a friend, and for the gracious loveliness of children who remind us of the wonders of life.
May we be appreciative above all for the concern and love of those around us; for the exceeding bliss of the touch of the holy which suddenly awakens our drowsy souls to the blessed awareness of the divine within us and within others.
For all of this, and for the countless other blessings present in our lives, let us be grateful. Amen."
May this time of summers longer days and spaciousness be the catalyst for thoughts of gratitude and appreciation.
Blessed Be,
Rev. Kevin
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~ Music Box ~
#21 For the Beauty of the Earth by Folliott Sandford Pierpoint, 1883-1917. This is an old Anglican hymn that has been adapted to suite many philosophies. The following poem by Mary Oliver has been part of my own adaptation from old philosophy to seeing the "new earth" inside of me. I hope to discover the beauty of the earth!
Wild Geese
by Mary Oliver
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting --
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
#352 Find A Stillness Words by Carl G Seaburg set to a Transylvanian hymn tune.
One of the most important aspects of Zen practice is stillness. This does not mean "quiet" but means intense noticing and awareness in all of life. Finding stillness is not the experience of shutting out your senses but taking the time to notice them. I love to observe Awatea (my granddaughter) watching bees and ladybugs in my garden. She so carefully observes each movement and is thrilled when the ants crawl on her shoes. She is rarely still and seldom quiet but her awareness creates a stillness in me.
When we notice our minds racing, when we notice distractions and procrastination, when we notice anxiety or resentment ... take a stillness break. And in this stillness, notice all of the wonders of life that we take for granted.
#353 Golden Breaks the Dawn by Zhao Zichen. Born 1888 in China with a traditional Chinese education, Zichen was raised Buddhist and later converted to Christianity while studying in a missionary school. Zichen used teaching found in the Tao de Ching and mixed them with his new Christian ideals. The second verse in our hymnal was written in 1935 by John Andrew Storey. Both verses are set to a traditional Chinese folk tune called "Le P'ing".
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~ Our Whole Lives ~
Two OUR WHOLE LIVES CLASSES
This fall - 5
th
and 6
th
grades and 7
th
and 8
th
grades!
The Beacon Religious Exploration program is pleased to announce two OUR WHOLE LIVES (OWL) classes for youth this fall. OWL provides accurate, developmentally appropriate information for all ages about a range of topics, including relationships, gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual health, and cultural influences of sexuality. Classes are facilitated by Beacon members who have received training and certification through the UUA. More information about OWL content is available at
www.uua/org/re/owl
.
It is our philosophy that parents are the primary sexuality educators for their children, and this is a way that our faith community supports parents in that effort.
Families from outside the Beacon congregation are very welcome to participate.
If you have a child in one of the grade levels, know families who might be interested, or have any questions, please contact Kay Doggett about the 5
th
-6
th
grade class (928-890-7773
[email protected]
) or Dee Wegwert about the 7
th
-8
th
grade class (1-928-660-8815
[email protected]
).
Download the attached flyer to see the full class schedule and requested participant donations to cover food and curriculum expenses. And watch for more information in a direct email to Beacon members and friends.
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~ Literature of the US Borderlands ~
Literature of the Borderlands:
A Beacon Summer Conversation Series
Saturday mornings, 9:00 - 11:00
July 22 and 29, August 5 and 12
The U.S. borderlands (the geographic area that touches on the U.S.-Mexican border) have for more than one-hundred and fifty years been the focus of the literary production of numerous writers who have explored its diverse cultural, linguistic, demographic, and geopolitical dimensions. Beacon UU Social Justice and Adult RE are sponsoring a series of two-hour sessions that will broadly track the arc of this literature through the works of distinguished contemporary writers including Alberto "Tito" Ríos (Arizona's Poet Laureate), Luis Alberto Urrea, Sandra Cisneros, Helena María Viramontes, Benjamin Alire Saenz, and Richard Yáñez.
Dr. Charles Tatum, Emeritus Professor of Spanish at the University of Arizona, has written, taught, and lectured extensively on the topic. He will serve to facilitate our conversations. Each session will be free-standing; we understand that some may be unable to attend all four sessions. (It is summer, after all!) A light sweet snack will be provided.
Chuck and his wife Anne are members of Mountain Vista UU Congregation in north Tucson and spend summers in Flagstaff, attending Beacon Sunday services while they're here. We enjoy their participation in Social Justice Allies!
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The Flagstaff Folk Project
Presents Folk Singer/Songwriter
Jen Hajj
July 21, 2017 - 7:15 pm
Sponsored by and Held at the Beacon
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
510 N. Leroux Street, Flagstaff, AZ
(Between Elm and Fine Avenues)
You'll really enjoy her voice, her songwriting, and her smile. Jen does not remember a time before she started singing. From a young age, it was among her favorite activities. She sang in choirs, took piano lessons, and even attempted writing her own music. In the sixth grade, she joined a touring choir. She taught her favorite songs to her best friend, and they would spend recess walking around the soccer field, singing in harmony.More recently, Jen lives in the tiny mountain town of Idyllwild, California, and has been writing songs and performing them in various venues for nearly a decade. She has competed in several competitions and performed in some great listening rooms across the US and in Europe. Some highlights include being a two-time finalist in the Susanne Milsaps Performing Songwriter Competition in Utah, and winning the Tucson Folk Festival Songwriter Competition in 2015.
Jen values travelling, and is often seen running off somewhere interesting. Her travels have taken her across the Americas, Europe and Southeast Asia.
In another life Jen worked in Biology and Chemistry, but missed the music. We believe the chemistry of her musical performance will touch you on many levels. Do join us in welcoming Jen to the Flagstaff Folk Project.
Format
:
7:15 - 8:15 p.m. - Open Mic
8:15 - 8:30 p.m. - Refreshment/Coffee Break
8:30 - 9:30 p.m. - Featured Performer
Admission:
$5.00
Up-Coming Featured Performer
August
18:
Aaron Howard - Montana Singer/Songwriter
September
15:
Carol Markstrom - Tucson Area Singer/Songwriter
October
20:
Ed Kabotie - Hopi Singer/Songwriter
November
17:
Tony Norris and Bill Burke - Old Timey folk music
~ ~
For further information see:
www.flagfolkproject.org
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~ Classifieds ~
New
Sunday Morning Volunteer opportunity! You've been looking for how you can help out at Beacon, here's your chance! We're seeking to build a pool of cash count volunteers to work in teams of two, for one half hour after service to count the offering and prepare cash count sheet. Please contact the office with your interest.
Tuesday Volunteer opportunity! We're seeking volunteers to prepare the weekly deposit and other simple tasks as needed. Please contact the office with your interest.
Photos!
Requesting photos with permission to use them on the Beacon website! Photos can be of congregational events (please make sure everyone in the photo is named so that I can obtain a release to use them!), the church itself, the grounds, or even just of around town! Help us show the public the beautiful community that is Beacon UU!
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~ Art Exhibitions at Beacon for July and August
~
And Now For Something Different - New Art At Beacon
For July And August we are displaying the exciting work of textile artist and man about town Jamie Hasapis. The pieces in this exhibit were created using a technique called "snow-dyeing". Fabric is covered with 8" - 10" of snow and then dyes are applied. As the snow melts the dye is absorbed randomly creating color, design and texture. "I never know what the end result will be....when I open the bundles I have these incredible gifts that I get to share."
In addition to his art, Jamey is a musician, singer and actor. He is also the host of Radio Sunnyside's Community Conversation
on Monday mornings at
10 a.m.
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~ 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.
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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 Heather, our Office Manager, at
[email protected].
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~ This Month's Share the Plate Partner ~
Northern Arizona Interfaith Council is a regional, interdenominational, non-partisan organization that addresses social justice issues. Currently, NAIC is focused on immigration, public safety, and education.
Undesignated contributions to this month's first four Sunday service offerings above
$300 (which goes to Beacon's operational budget) will be presented to the
Northern Arizona Interfaith Council.
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Beacon Calendar
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Flagstaff Folk Festival
Friday, July 21
7:15 pm
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Qi-Gong
Tuesday, July 25
6:15 pm |
Literature of the Borderlands
Saturday, July 22
9:00 am
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Flagstaff Family Food Center
Wednesday, July 26
3:30 pm
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Sunday Service & Religious Exploration
Sunday, July 23
10:00 am
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Beacon Board Meeting
Wednesday, July 26
6:00 pm |
Yoga
Tuesday, July 25
11:00 am, 5:00 pm |
Literature of the Borderlands
Saturday, July 28
9:00 am |
If you would like to submit a calendar event, send an email to
[email protected]
. 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!
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Beacon Office Hours
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Mon: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Tues: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Weds: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
*Other times available by appointment
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Director of Religious Exploration
Please call the office during regular office hours for DRE needs at this time.
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Office Manager,
Heather Thornton
Tues: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Weds: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Thur: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
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~ Fundraising the Easy Way! ~
We have added new, easy ways to give back to Beacon!
Do you shop at Fry's? Use the Beacon phone number, (928) 779-4492, at checkout, and Beacon receives donations from Fry's through their Community Rewards program!
Or, use smile.amazon.com! Just set Beacon as your charity of choice, and when you use the smile.amazon.com portal to shop, Beacon receives donations from Amazon.com!
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