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Beacon Spiritual Theme of the Month
~ Hospitality ~
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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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Please get your donations rolling in!
Click
here
to view the auction donation form.
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~ Sunday Service ~
The Secret Lies in How We Treat Each Other
If our religion doesn't inspire in us a humble affection for one another and a profound sense of awe at the wonder of being, one of two things has happened. It has failed us, or we it." Rev. Kevin will share reflection upon hospitality from this expression by Rev. Forrest Church.
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~ Touchstones Journal ~
October Theme
Hospitality
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~ From the Ministers Desk ~
October Theme: Hospitality
I have been asked recently to share more updates and information regarding the new themed ministry support program we are using this church year. "Touchstones" is one of several UU theme bases ministry and mission outreach programs across the country. In consultation with the Worship Associates team, and our Music Director and DRE we are utilizing this program for the current year. You'll be seeing increased usage of the program as we all become more familiar with all that it has to offer us in the way of support for Sunday Services, RE lesson's and readings, Faith Formation support for Adult learning and small group ministry - this is our present Chalice circles being facilitated by Char Tarashanti. Please be in touch with Char for additional information on these monthly circle gatherings. Touchstones also provides us with social media support and outreach materials. And the monthly Touchstones Theme Journal, which is available via link from the weekly Enews, along with paper copies in the brochure rack in the lobby each week. This week please view the embedded link for Touchstones Flyer - Hospitality - "
Touching Strangers."
There are a couple of short stories, and additional electronic connections for deepening and expanding our current monthly theme of Hospitality.
Provides information about the work focusing on strangers by Richard Rinaldi, Bandon Stanton,
and Kio Stark, we well as 20 Day Stranger, an app that connects a person with a stranger for 20
days.
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With thought of Hospitality, I would like to again extend a warm Thank You to Dr. Mohamed Mohamed our guest in the pulpit for the first Sunday of October, with our worship associate Carleton Sheppard. It was a lovely service of interfaith recognition and sharing. We will also welcome Rev. Glenn Farley, my colleague with our Sedona UU Fellowship on Sunday October 22. This will be our fall ministerial exchange, I will be speaking in Prescott, and Rev. Karla Brockie of Prescott UU Congregation will be in Sedona. This is an active and welcome way to share in one another's ministry and outreach in communities.
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On the last Sunday of October - the 29
th
, I hope you will make plans to be in service for our investiture of our new Music Director, Adrianne Anning and our new DRE Amy Huntereece. This is our collective and formal UU act of covenanting with these two professional staff people. This short ritual and ceremony is an act and offering of welcome and hospitality in the work, the gifts and talents, they bring and share with us in community. I offer my sincere appreciation for their kind rescheduling of this brief ceremony from September 17, when I was absent from service due to personal family needs.
Grateful to be on the journey with you,
Rev. Kevin
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~ Religious Exploration ~
Hey congregants...
Got time to support our kids in the community? Check out the calendar in the Purple room.
Find a date that you are itchin' to go see a kid you know do something fantastic!
Hey parents...Got kids that do stuff? Check out the calendar in the Purple room. Write your kid's game, or play, or concert on there with the name, location, and time.
See you there!
Reverend Susan Frederick-Gray, UUA President, offered some helpful suggestions for families in the most recent Pacific Western Region newsletter. In light of the recent social and natural tragedies, I thought perhaps some of you would appreciate these resources. Be well and blessings on you and your families.
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~ Music Box ~
#307
The Human Touch Can Light the Flame
by Lee Hastings Bristol The lyrics to this hymn were written by
The Rev. John Andrew Storey. Storey, a British Unitarian minister authored thirty-two hymns for the 1985 British Unitarian collection
Hymns for Living
. Fourteen of them appear in the Unitarian Universalist Association hymnal,
Singing the Living Tradition
.
#1053
How Could Anyone
By Libby Roderick The following is an excerpt from an article published in The Los Angeles Times,
October 23, 2005 | Rachel D'Oro
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Associated Press Writer
Libby Roderick never set out to write a song heard round the world. But her simple folk tune "How Could Anyone" has been embraced by a global audience ranging from prisoners to politicians.
It has been sung at a China women's conference, by monks and AIDS orphans in Zambia, and in Spanish by Texas nuns. The lyrics have been reprinted in a Japanese book for people recovering from eating disorders. It has been translated into Yupik Eskimo at a sexual assault prevention workshop in Alaska and used in a U.S. presidential campaign.
"It's like you have a child who goes out into the world and you hear all these great stories about them," the 46-year-old singer-songwriter said. "It's not about me. It's about this phenomenon, and I'm just the vessel."
The brief song, which took Roderick five minutes to compose, asks how cruelty can exist amid the miracle of humanity.
#1054
Let This Be A House of Peace
by Jim Scott Please indulge my own person reflection on the theme. Last week my husband Dave and I drove miles and miles through desert, mountain, wetlands, fires, construction delays, breakdowns and more delays, to arrive at his mother's home in Marin county, unchanged since her passing three months ago. We were there to assist Dave's sister in the intense struggle of letting go. I believe we helped change the energy in the house. We recreated "the house" by creating a house of peace in ourselves.
The long hours on the road were spent listening to Eckhart Tolle's book CD, "A New Earth" It is not easy, light listening but was necessary tutelage for our challenging present moments and the task ahead.
His teachings remind me that in each moment the ONLY way to be in the world is either acceptance, joy or enthusiasm. Any other way of being is creating unhappiness for myself and those around me. There is joy and happiness to be found-or at a minimum, acceptance, if I am looking, aware and curious to find them. This acceptance, joy and enthusiasm is foundation building for me, in creating a house of peace. If in this moment I can open to and find some joy and happiness, I am in that moment transformed. My transformation in that moment touches and influences others, in that moment. It is a world changer, a "New Earth", a recreation of my own "House of Peace".
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S
ocial Justice Allies
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Alert!
The SJA meeting scheduled for this Sunday has been cancelled. The next meeting will be Sunday, November 19, following the service.
Calendar alert:
The date for the next UUJAZ Justice Strength Training webinar has been postponed until Sunday, October 22, 4 - 5:00pm. Topic TBA; stay tuned!
Special community event this Sunday, October 15, 7:30pm at Cline Assembly Hall, NAU (just inside the NAU library).
Dr. Roger Waldinger's presentation, "Searching for Refuge in a World on the Move" will be free and open to the public. Dr. Waldinger is Distinguished Professor of Sociology at UCLA and Director of the Center for the Study of International Migration. This event is part of a symposium titled Strangers or Neighbors? Jewish, Muslim and Christian Perspectives on Refugees,
presented by the Martin-Springer Institute at NAU.
For more information, call 928-523-2464 or 523-5029.
The NAU parking office has assured me that parking behind the NAU library will be free for this event.
In community,
Roz Clark, SJA Journalist
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~ Community Action Committee ~
This month's community partner:
Flagstaff Family Food Center Food Bank and Kitchen
Save the date: On Friday, October
27
Beacon will pack food boxes at the Family Food Center's warehouse on Huntington Drive
. Our assignment is from 10am to 1:00pm. Everyone is invited to participate, whether it's for the full 3 hours, an hour, or something in between.
Please bring non-perishable goods to service for the Family Food Center.
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~ In Community ~
Rev. Kevin held a moment of silence for the victims of the Las Vegas shooting, and for former Beacon friend Frankie Madrid.
Anne Cotten shared gratitude for the Beacon choir.
Andy Gould shared joy at the marriage of his youngest daughter.
Ariana shared joy at the opportunity to serve on a panel supporting LBGTQI middle schoolers.
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~ Chili Potluck ~
Sunday October 29th
Immediately after the service!
Both meat and
vegetarian chili provided.
Please bring a side dish to share. Come enjoy breaking bread together!
For Children of ALLLLLLL Ages:
Wear your costumes and receive a special goodie bag! We know how Beaconites love a par-tee and to dress up!
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~ Auction! ~
Get ready for Beacon's "Everything Flagstaff" 20
th
Annual Silent & Live Auction!
Auction date: Saturday, November 4, 2017
Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Aspen Valley Golf Club, 1855 N. Continental Dr.
Free admission, childcare, hors d'oeuvres, desserts, door prizes, fun!
Examples of donations:
Hosted dinners, certificates to restaurants, hair salons,
experiences like guided hikes, yoga, rock climbing, yard work,
ice skating, yurts, skiing, timeshares, babysitting, and more!
Call for raffle items and door prize items
for
"Everything Flagstaff", Beacon's Annual Auction
Besides terrific auction items you can bid on when you come to Beacon's "Everything Flagstaff" Auction Saturday night, November 4, you'll have an opportunity to win spiffy raffle items and maybe even a
totally FREE door prize
!
Where will those raffle items and door prizes come from?
From YOU, of course!
So think about asking for a donation from a business you frequent, like a favorite restaurant, massage therapist, hair or nail salon, coffee or tea shop, or...use your imagination. Some Beacon folks would prefer to just
purchase
a gift card or service rather than asking for a donation. Most raffle items are valued at $25 - $50.
We also need about a half dozen door prizes, probably of lesser value than raffle prizes: $10 - $20 value.
With less than three weeks before the big night, now is a perfect time to make your contact or purchase your gift card. Then, please alert Roz Clark (
[email protected]
or 380-6502) about your raffle/door prize donation.
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Come dressed as Everything Flagstaff!
(As a hiker, biker, tourist, skiier, tree hugger, student, Fratellis, from Route 66, ...)
Can't wait to see you there!
Please consider providing yummy finger food for our upcoming Beacon Auction!
Here are some of the particulars:
What: Appetizers and desserts that are easily handled by hand and can be served on a tray; 20-30 items.
When:
Saturday, November 4th 6 p.m. at the Aspen Valley Golf Club. I will happily pick up your food donation if you are not attending this event! (Please bring your food in at
5:30 p.m.)
Contact: Donna Engleson if you are able to contribute! [email protected] or text/call 928-600-1639.
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Beacon Calendar
Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, October 12
7:00 pm
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Religious Exploration Committee
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UUAJAZ Issues and Action Day
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Sunday Service & Religious Exploration
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Yoga
Tuesday, October 17
11:00 am, 5:00 pm
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Sunday Service & Religious Exploration
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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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~ Save the Date ~
Saturday October 14, 2017
UUJAZ - Issue and Action Day
Saturday, Oct 21, 2017
9:00 am
Building and Grounds workday.
Breakfast treats provided!
Friday, October 27
10:00 am
Family Food Center Volunteer Day
Sunday, October 29
11:00 am
Chili Potluck
Saturday, November 4, 2017
6:00 pm
Beacon Auction!
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~ Classifieds ~
Sunday cash counters needed! 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. Thank you to those who have expressed interest, we need three or four more people to schedule a training, and are looking forward to implementing this program in the coming weeks!
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!
Our Beacon Library is in need of some friends, might you have time to help organize, and to create and review checkout and return of our honor system loaner library? The library is currently being reset in the upstairs library / DRE office room, so a great time to help with organizing. Please be in touch with Rev. Kevin.
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Beacon Office Hours
Rev. Kevin
Lawson:
Tues: 11:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Weds: 11:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Other times available by appointment
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Director of Religious Exploration,
Amy Hunterreece
Sun: 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Tues:
1:00 PM - 6:00 PM Thurs:
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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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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(928) 779-4492
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~ Art at Beacon ~
BRICOLAGES
For September and October, works by Beacon member Carleton Sheppard will be on view in the sanctuary. They are called "bricolages," a French word for the creation of a work from a diverse range of things that happen to be at hand. "Collages" are two-dimensional works of art made by combining various papers and other flat surfaces; "bricolages" are three-dimensional, made by combining objects..
When she moved to Flagstaff in 1998, she began practicing the Japanese art of
wabi-sabi before she learned what it is: the aesthetic of impermanence and imperfection. She was fascinated by the natural forms and rusty objects she found in the Ponderosa forest, and began assembling them into wall arrangements. According to Wikipedia, characteristics of
wabi-sabi include "asymmetry, roughness, simplicity, economy, austerity... and appreciation of the ingenuous integrity of natural objects and processes."
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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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~ 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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