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Spiritually Open, Intentionally Inclusive since 1958
510 N Leroux
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928-779-4492
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Please click on the links below to read more about Beacon's Action Plan:
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- This Sunday at Beacon -
June 14th, 2020
Virtual Service
"Learning to Fly, Learning to Fall: On Fear and Courage"
Rev. Robin Landerman Zucker preaching with Worship Associate Mark James
and music from Gabriel Hernandez and Rebecca Prizznick
How does a world locked down and at risk, cope with fear, embrace uncertainty, and grow wings of hope and courage? As one psychologist noted: "A nation that is terrified of uncertainty is in big trouble. We can't be terrified." Some say we should "keep busy," but I tend to agree with Buddhist nun Pema Chodron, who counsels us to become intimate with our fears, rather than endeavor to pound them into some sort of submission. "This intimacy and this courage," Pema tells us, "serve us well when things fall apart and we let ourselves be nailed to the present moment." In this sermon, we'll explore the notion that fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth and that falling into our fear is where we find the flexible and sturdy wings that enable us to fly.
Lyrics and Unison readings will be visible in the service recording.
~ Please join us after the service for our Annual Congregational Meeting ~
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Joys and Concerns
While Beacon maintains our Social Distance, please email Reverend Robin if you would like any Joys and Concerns shared with the congregation. Please submit the Joys and Concerns to
[email protected] by Thursday at 12:00 pm for inclusion in that Sunday's worship.
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Annual Congregational Meeting - Sunday, June 14, 2020
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Spotlight this Week!
"Just Mercy" ~ Free Film and Discussion Group
Thursday, June 11 at 6:00 PM
Warner Brothers, the producers of "Just Mercy" have made the film free on all digital platforms (Amazon Prime, Netflix, etc), as the message about systemic racism is important, especially now. I encourage you to take the time to watch and join a Zoom discussion of the film with me (Rev. Robin) on Thursday, June 11 at 6:00 PM.
Meeting ID: 733 037 2039
Password: 968647
One tap mobile +16699006833
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A Special Message from Rev. Robin
Dear Beloved Community,
America is on fire with rage, weary from a pandemic, and aching with despair. Along with the rest of our country, we've read and heard so many devastating accounts over the past week, the most heart-rending from people of color coping with another case of murderous systemic racism in our country. I do not need to (nor, am I entitled to) add anything to their experiences or parse what they have to say about racism. They live it.
One of my ministerial colleagues, whom I respect greatly, suggests that that last thing needed right now is "another statement by well-meaning white liberals." I grasp her point, while still offering these words as a message of solidarity, consolation, hope, and conviction that we can be part of the healing.
Since our founding, Unitarian Universalism has promoted justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. In fact, the word "justice" appears twice within our 7
UU Principles. We've stood on the frontlines for marriage equality, reproductive rights, and racial justice...
...To read the full message on our website, please click
here
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Religious Exploration
We encourage Beacon families to continue Religious Exploration at home!
Religious Exploration Survey
Dear Beacon Families,
As we plan programs for families at Beacon for the rest of the summer and next fall we would like to get an idea of what type of program would best serve you during these uncertain times. It would be extremely helpful if you could fill out the following survey for us and send it back. The results will only be shared between Rev. Robin and the Religious Exploration committee. Please feel free to be honest in your answers, we're definitely not here to judge or shame anyone. We hope you are all hanging in there and please reach out to us if there is any support we can offer you at this time.
Take care and peace be with you,
Rev. Robin and The Beacon Religious Exploration Committee
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Lifespan Religious Exploration Resources for Learning About and Responding to Racism
~ For Children and Adults ~
This painful moment in time calls us to focus our learning and reflection on allyship to people of color, understanding white privilege, and reflecting on how we can part of a systemic sea change and solution in our society.
For the next few weeks, Beacon will be providing resources for all ages addressing how we as individuals and as communities can learn about and respond to racism. For the full list of resources, activities and community meetings, visit Beacon's Religious Exploration pages.
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Get Plugged In
Join a Beacon Team
Volunteers are very much needed for important and valuable teams at Beacon. Most folks find that when they get more involved in the work of the church, they feel more connected.
Just send your name along to Rev. Robin and she'll connect you with others who share your zeal for that area of congregational life. Once the teams are formed, they will decide on how they will operate and how leadership will be determined. Work is shared and not excessive and can be done remotely (Zoom meetings, too). Rev. Robin will support all teams.
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Membership (Congregational Engagement): (3 or more people)
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Social Gatherings and Outings (including safe social events during the COVID restrictions) (3 or more people)
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Activate Team for Electoral Issues (3 or more people)
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Activate Team for Anti-Racism Issues: (3 or more people)
Other committees that would be happy to have other members are:
- Religious Education and Family Ministry
- Caring Connections (Pastoral Concerns)
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Beacon Stewardship
There are members of our congregation especially impacted by this coronavirus pandemic. While we wait to see if we're touched by the virus, other health concerns are put at risk. Some of us have lost income, and others are providing financial support to family members and others who have lost income. A stewardship campaign to solicit pledges for next year's Beacon budget may not register high on a list of priorities for some of us.
However, Beacon will likely be adjusting to a new normal during FY 2020-21, to meet the needs of the Beacon congregation and the Flagstaff community. Beacon has a long
history
of support for our community on a meager budget. It has and will survive hard times as long as we remain a connected community - connected with Flagstaff and each other.
Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation
510 N. Leroux St
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
OR
Thank you all so much for supporting our Beacon community.
Dennis Spurlin
Stewardship Co-chair
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Beacon's Stories Project
Our featured writer for this week is Dennis Spurlin!
Please follow the link to read his story. May the stories ease your isolation, provide some entertainment and help you feel more connected to other Beacon members during this time of social distancing! We plan to provide a story each week until we run out!
New stories are welcome any time. Just send your 1000 word or less offering to [email protected].
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~ Monthly Touchstone Theme: Good and Evil ~
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Chalice Circles
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020 at 7:00pm
Zoom links will be posted
All are welcome!
The theme for June is Good and Evil. This month's Touchstones journal link can be found here.
Touchstones Chalice Circles are designed to meet our needs for belonging (intimacy) and meaning (ultimacy) by building friendships and providing opportunities to ponder life's questions, small and large, with others who share the common values of our UU Principles. All are welcome.
Discussion examines subjects as provided in the monthly journal of Unitarian Universalism,
Touchstones.
To meet the needs of the congregation, we have made attendance open.
~If you enjoy the Touchstones Journal, here's a few virtual events you may wish to attend~
Touchstone Vespers at First Unitarian Church of Rochester, NY
Every Wednesday 7:00 - 8:00 PM EST (4-5 PM Arizona time)
Details and Zoom links at:
Other ongoing UU small spiritual exploration groups that will be meeting virtually are listed on the
www.communitynowuu.org website, such as:
- Sanctuary Boston small group gatherings on Mondays 3:30-5:30 PM (Arizona time)
- UU Wellspring online - two hour sessions meeting every other week, beginning April 7. 4-6 PM (Arizona time)
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Social Justice Allies
Coming in the Fall:
Northern Arizona Interfaith Council's Accountability Session
On September 17, NAIC (No. AZ Interfaith Council) will present-as we always do before elections that affect us locally-an Accountability Session with candidates for:
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U.S. Congressional District (CD-1) House of Representatives
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U.S. CD-1 Senate
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AZ State Legislative District 6 (LD-6) House of Representatives
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AZ State (LD-6) Senate
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Flagstaff City Council (6 candidates)
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Flagstaff Mayor (4 candidates)
Depending on the status of the coronavirus, this important event will either be in-person at Federated Community Church or by Zoom.
I am serving as a member of the Accountability Session planning team, along with NAIC organizer Roxana Cardiel, Vic Page, Melinda and Rich Ayrey, and Patrick Carr. We have sent email invitations to all the candidates and have launched our research into each's priorities, endorsements and campaign contributors. Then two or three of us will meet with each candidate, probably by Zoom, to dig deeper into their positions on immigration, housing and education-issues on which NAIC has been focused for the last several years.
I think you will find this Accountability Session to be unique among candidate forums, for which candidates will receive our questions in advance. The conversation will be highly structured (e.g. no interaction directly with the audience, strict limited time allocations for each speaker for each question, with all candidates responding to the same questions.)
What we expect to discern is whether each candidate (1) supports (NAIC's) concerns and (2) is willing to commit to continue to meet with us after the election.
I consider this part of the UU the Vote venture. I'm confident you will find the evening edifying, so I hope you will mark your calendar! For my part, I will keep you posted.
In community,
Roz Clark, SJA Interim Chair
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Backyard Update
The backyard at Beacon is really coming together. Crews have been hard at work finishing up the Patio/Terrace among other tasks. If you haven't had the chance to drop by and take a look, here are some photos.
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PLUS: Beacon has funds for 3 registration fees!
Pre-GA Webinar Announced
For those interested in GA, but unsure of the Online format,
the UUA is hosting a Webinar to discuss the format and business to be taken up by delegates. The webinar is being held at multiple times between June 10th and 18th. If you are interested, you can
register here.
Beacon would love to be fully represented at GA this year! Rev. Robin has funds designated to pay the full registration fee ($150) for 3 Beacon Delegates!
Speak to Rev. Robin if you are interested in serving!
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Pacific Western Region
UU Virtual Youth Camp
Save the Date: July 5-12
FUUsion: 4 Districts, 1 Region, VirtUUally Together!
Join us for PWR's virtual week-long multi-faceted event for Middle and High School youth (rising 6th
- class of 2020).
Registration will open next week with fees starting at $115 with small increases for additional tracks and programming.
See you online in July!
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UU Justice Arizona Network
UUJAZ has several ongoing campaigns that we would encourage members to look into and contribute to.
Actions you can take to affirm Black Lives Matter
Raising bail funds, making calls to elected officials, jail support to folks arrested for protesting, comments at city council meetings ... even "Taco Ministry" to bring dinner to leaders on the front lines. Follow UUJAZ on Facebook and subscribe to our email list for concrete actions you can take daily. Start with donating to our fund for our partners BLM Metro Phx here:
www.uujaz.org/donate
Justice in the time of Pandemic
From the $11,000 of #ShareMyCheck funds raised in Prescott to be distributed to undocumented folks and mixed status families... to the trucks, SUVs, and vans full of supplies driven by UUs in Phoenix to the Black Mesa community on the Navajo Nation, UU's have been showing up and living our values during this pandemic! Have you taken action for justice in the past few months? Please take our two-question survey by June 13th. Links are also provided to participate now if you'd like... and then check your action off the list!
UUJAZ Book Group
Friday, June 19th at 12:00 pm
Its more important than ever to stay justice centered in our faith, as decisions made now will affect climate justice and structural inequity for years to come. Join Rev. Tina Squire the third Friday of each month at noon for a book discussion.
June will feature On Fire: The Burning Case for a Green New Deal, just in time for author Naomi Klein's Ware Lecture at this year's GA.
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Beacon is Hiring
Please share with your community!
- Office Manager, 15 hours/week. Starting August 1st. Full job description and details here
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Virtual Worship
Sunday, June 14, 2020
10:00 am - 11:00 am
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Annual Congregation Meeting
Sunday, June 14, 2020
11:30 am
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CLC Meeting
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
6:00 pm
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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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Everyday Ways to Support Beacon UU
1.
When you go to
Fry's
grocery store, use the Beacon phone number (
928 779 4492
) as the Alternate ID when it asks for it at the beginning of checkout, and you will get shopping discounts for Fry's members, as well as donating a percentage of your expenditure to Beacon. You can also sign up for an individual account if you prefer that, or want to take advantage of the gasoline discounts. You have to pick Beacon as your beneficiary when you set up your own account.
2.
If you shop on Amazon, please use "Amazon Smile"
and choose Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation (do not abbreviate UU) as your recipient. We will receive a 0.5% for every purchase and that can add up! Remember that you have to start each shopping session at
smile.amazon.com
for us to receive the donation.
3. Another online fundraiser is
igive.com.
Once again, create your own account with a user name and password, then select settings, my cause, and type in Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation
(do not abbreviate UU)
. Then you can order from any of the hundreds of organizations listed under igive. There are also coupons listed online you can use when ordering from some organizations.
4.
Basha's has a special debit card that you can charge up before shopping, and a portion of what goes through the debit card gets donated to Beacon because that card is tied to Beacon. Ask Anne Wittke for further information.
Have other ideas for our income incubator? leave them on a card in the bin in the lobby, or send them to Rev. Robin.
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Beacon Office Hours & Contacts
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Office Phone (928) 779-4492
Minister,
Rev. Robin Zucker
Mon: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Wed: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Thurs: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Or by appointment:
978-505-7245 - talk and text (confidential line)
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Director of RE
Our engaging programs for all ages continue while
we search for a new Religious Exploration Director.
Rev. Robin can answer your RE questions.
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Office Manager,
Ben Jefferies
Mon: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Wed: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Thurs: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
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Unitarian Universalist Seven Principles
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Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote seven Principles, which we hold as strong values and moral guides. We live out these Principles within a "living tradition" of wisdom and spirituality, drawn from
sources
as diverse as science, poetry, scripture, and personal experience.
Learn more at beaconuu.com!
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You no longer need to forward your spam emails to
[email protected]
, because the Federal Trade Commission is now collecting spam through a honeypot, which is an online trap. This change makes it more efficient for the FTC to collect spam that is deceptive or violates the CAN-SPAM Act. This change saves tax dollars, your time, and helps the FTC collect deceptive and illegal spam. If you lost money to a scam that started with an email, please report it at
ftc.gov/complaint
. There, you can also report spam you receive. Read more about how to
limit spam, phone calls, and mail
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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 our Office Manager, at
[email protected] or Visit:
https://groups.google.com/d/forum/uuflag
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Contribute to Beacon's Weekly News
Newsletter submissions must be submitted by
Wednesday at 4:00 pm to
[email protected]
in order to be included in the newsletter.
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