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Beacon Spiritual Theme of the Month
~ Faith ~
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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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~ Sunday Service ~
Faith and Thanksgiving: In the Midst of a World...
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~ Auction Update ~
Special Gratitude:
To Jack Doggett and Julie Lancaster and a supporting cast of hundreds--including illustrious auctioneers Trish Black, Michael Caulkins, and Andy Hogg--for a fabulous All Things Flagstaff auction on November 4. We garnered approximately $10,000 in donations to support Beacon this fiscal year! And a good time was had by all...
First, in case you didn't hear...
We raised the most money EVER at our "Everything Flagstaff" Auction November 4: $10,352! Congratulations to ALL, whether you served on the planning committee, emceed/auctioneered, contributed an item, bid on items, brought snacks, bought raffle tickets or hustled raffle or door prize items.
And, speaking of those raffle- and door (sur)prizes, they provided nearly $500 in revenue!
Whether you hustled, purchased/gave, gambled on winning or won, please make it a point to thank the prize providers if/when you partake of their services or products. Here they are:
- Aquaplex - Passes
- Yoga Experience
- Bookmans - Credit (total of $180)
- Rajean at Chula Hair Salon
- Sprouts - Gift basket (value $300)
- Ice Rink - Passes/skate rental
- Aspen Valley Golf Club - 4-some
- Kutz - haircuts
- Museum of N. AZ - Guest Passes
- Toasted Owl
- The Arboretum - Guest Passes
- Lowell Observatory - 2 for 1 passes
- Theatrikos Theater - Tickets
- Café Faire
Beacon's annual auction is our biggest fundraiser. Expressions of gratitude to these businesses will make it more likely that they will participate again.
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~ Building Expansion ~
BUILDING EXPANSION NEWS
Last week, UUA consultant Kay Crider was at Beacon for three days to interview a cross-section of the congregation for the Financial Feasibility Study. The study was designed to ascertain the ability of the congregation to support a capital campaign to update and expand our building. On Saturday evening Roz and Rich Clark hosted a potluck dinner for Kay and the Building Expansion Team. After dinner, Kay held an impromptu Q&A about the process and function of the feasibility study, indicating the kinds of information that can be gleaned from her interviews. She will compile and analyze data, and send a report in several weeks.
Kay's report will be forwarded to the congregation in advance of a
Town Hall meeting, Sunday, Dec. 3
after church, so that everyone will be able to peruse it and formulate questions and ideas prior to the meeting. At that time and during the ensuing weeks we will have opportunities to discuss her findings and ask questions about the next steps of the expansion process. Then on
Sunday, January 7, a Congregational Meeting
will convene after church to vote on whether to proceed with a capital campaign to expand the building.
Highlights of the expansion plan (posted in the kitchen) will be moving the minister's and office manager's offices down to the first floor, enlarging the foyer, increasing access to the kitchen, installing ADA-compliant restrooms, and adding a large multi-purpose room that can be rented to a tenant during the week. The attic will be removed, increasing the auditory and visual effectiveness of the sanctuary. A remote video screen and sound system will allow the multi-purpose room to serve as overflow space should the sanctuary reach capacity.
The Building Expansion Team eagerly anticipates Kay's report, as it will let us know the outcome of our work to date on upgrading and expanding our cramped facility. Aiming for full transparency, we urge everyone to attend the Town Hall so that we may share information, answer questions, and address concerns.
In community,
The Building Expansion Team: Paul Black, Christina Boyd, Carl Taylor, Holly Taylor, Rev. Kevin, Dennis Spurlin, Theresa deBoer, Dora Harrison, Bobbie Eccleston, Cheryl Eccleston, Dan Davis, Marsha Owen, Bill Towler, Steve Zeldes, Kevin Parkes, Skip Brimlow, Amy Huntereece, Dick Stockinger, Norm Lowe, Barry Brenneman, Carleton Sheppard, Carol Hixson, Rich Clark, Anne Wittke
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~ From the Ministers Desk ~
Fundraising Update! The Promise and the Practice of our Faith,
For those of you who were in Service this past Sunday November 12, and those who gave me funds on Monday,
Thank You!
Together you raised $511.00 towards our Beacon Goal as requested by the UUA of $10.00 per member. Our local matching gift available dollar for dollar up to the balance of our Beacon Goal, bring this total to $1022.00.
We are only $118.00 away from Beacon's contribution receiving a portion of the Bradburt's National $1,000,000.00 match funds for Black Lives of UU's. If you were not able to attend last Sunday and would still like to make a donation, to help ensure Beacon's gift is fully matched at the national level; Please do so CLEARLY denoting in the memo line of your check, or on the cash envelop, funds to go for UUA - BLUU. We wish to provide correct bookkeeping for your gift and our pass through to the UUA_BLUU fundraising efforts. We will be sending in our Beacon gift to UUA-BLUU the first week of December, so please do get any additional donations into the office, promptly.
Thank you again for all who have contributed to this special ask on behalf of our National Association of Unitarian Universalist Congregations nationwide. This is indeed the promise and the practice of our faith, to be the change we wish to see in the world.
In Grateful Thanks,
Rev. Kevin, and
Dennis Spurlin, President, Beacon Board of Trustee's
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~ Religious Exploration ~
Last Sunday we continued our conversation about the Unitarian Universalist Social Justice organization's annual project called
Guest at Your Table.
Students learned about how collecting small change can affect big changes in raising support for and awareness about advancing human rights around the globe.
Next week we will distribute our collection boxes. Be sure to stop in and get your box to collect "Change for Change" this month!
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~ Music Box ~
The choir will present two songs, one that will also be sung as our community closing hymn.
The Oneness of Everything
written by Jim Scott is a deep poetic reflection about life's mysterious interconnectedness. He asks us to "trust in the song, becoming one with the dance" then his poem promises, "the message of peace will rise in flight, taking the weight of the world upon its wings. In the oneness of everything."
The anthem sung by the choir is an arrangement of Shenandoah by John Purifoy. I like to think very metaphorically about the lyrics of this early American Folk Song.
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~ Social Justice Allies ~
SJA will meet this Sunday, Nov. 19, following the service (about 11:15).
This promises to be a stimulating set of conversations, including (1) information from two NAU students affiliated with Keep Flagstaff Together (KFT) and their efforts in support of immigrants, and (2) follow-up on UUJAZ's Issues and Action Day in mid-October, for which Beacon had five participants.
Discussion will follow presentations on each topic.
We skipped our scheduled October meeting, so we're hoping for solid attendance Sunday. All are welcome: Beacon members, friends (including occasional attendees) and visitors.
Snacks will be available.
Learn about an alternative approach to "sanctuary"!
Sarah Wilce, a Keep Flagstaff Together (KFT) volunteer, has
forwarded information about a webinar sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee, whose information is thoughtful and useful in today's political environment.
This webinar is part of a series AFSC is doing to promote safety for all people wherever they are, which they describe as "Sanctuary Everywhere."
This webinar (the second) is on "bystander intervention". It will share "dos and don'ts" of bystander intervention and consider (various) scenarios and responding effectively, taking the lead from the person being harassed.
If you're interested but not available at the time of the webinar (this Thursday at 6:30 our time), you'll be able to review it on the
AFSC website
later at your convenience.
Click here for more
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~ Community Action Committee
Your Beacon Community Action Committee is pleased to report contributions to these community partners :
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JLB Project, supporting parents whose baby has died: $398
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Flagstaff Shelter, serving homeless people: $270
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Poore Free Medical Clinic, serving people without health insurance: $597
The following charitable organizations have been approved by the CAC:
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December: Shelter Services
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January: Sun Sounds, a radio program serving visually impaired people
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February: The Literacy Center, increasing basic English language literacy skills
These contributions are possible thanks to Beacon's commitment to "share the plate" with approved community partners: Undesignated Sunday morning offering money-above $300 for the month*-is presented to that month's community partner.
If you would like to nominate an organization to be a community partner, pick up the one-page application form in the CAC folder at the bottom of the stairs. The nominator's responsibilities 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
*$300 each month becomes part of Beacon's operating income.
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~ In Community ~
Rev. Kevin shared gratitude for flowers from the Board for his mothers memorial.
Roxanne shared concern for an ill family member.
Becky shared that long time member, Connie Cordain is moving from Flagstaff; Becky suggested that Beaconites get in touch with Connie with goodbyes.
Gus Millor shared joy and gratitude at his second anniversary at Beacon.
Anne Cotten shared joy at becoming a Great-Grandmother.
Julie Lancaster shared pride at Miles' first wrestling tournament.
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~ Beacon Art ~
ECO-PRINTING
These wall hangings were created by a process known as "eco-printing," sometimes referred to as "botanical printing."
The process uses the tannin in the leaves to print onto the fabric, usually silk though lovely results can happen on linen, wool and cotton also. Applying pressure and heat forces the tannin in the leaves to migrate to the fabric. Mordants of iron, soy milk, copper or alum make the prints permanent.
Because the prepared "bundles" of mordanted fabric and leaves need to be steamed or boiled in water, I often use a turkey roasting pan for that step in the procedure. A visitor recently saw this on my stove with steam coming out of it and asked what I was cooking. When I replied, "a blouse," she looked at me with concern. She obviously didn't know me well to consider this a strange response! And she needn't worry that I use that pan for food. It is dedicated for use with leaves.
Artists often use some rather strange equipment, techniques and products to make their vision become a piece that can be shared. We use precautions with anything that could harm our art or our health.
Anyone want to guess why I'm saving all my avocado pits and skins? Or why I never throw away onion skin? You'd be surprised what lovely colors can come from food waste!
Sharon Richards
928-774-7610
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~ Touchstones Journal ~
November Theme
Faith
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Beacon Calendar
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Sunday Service & Religious Exploration
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Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, November 23
7:00 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!
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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!
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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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Office phone (928) 779-4492
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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
office@beaconuu.com.
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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!
Do you know of other passive fundraising methods? Let us know at office@beacon.com!
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