Beacon Weekly News for February 14, 2019

www.beaconuu.com

Submissions must be submitted by Wednesday at 4:00 pm to [email protected]

in order to be included in the newsletter.

~ Sunday Service, February 17, 2019 ~

Caught in the "Interdependent Web" of the 7 Principles:

Unitarian Universalism in the Age of Trump

Guest Speaker: Joe Wegwert

Worship Associate: Carleton Sheppard

This service examines the contradictions within and between the 7 Principles and explores how the demographics and identities of UUs complicate - and sometimes create barriers to - living the 7 Principles most powerfully and authentically. In this cultural and historical moment we are witness to the erosion of our most cherished values: the care and nurturing of democracy, humanism, and the intellect. All this, in the context of "Happy President's Day."

~ Monthly Touchstone Theme: Surrender~

Click here to read the February issue of the Touchstones Journal.

~ Religious Exploration ~

On Sunday we will continue our work with the curriculum called Miracles.

Through stories from our Unitarian Universalist Sources and hands-on activities, children engage in defining and discerning the miraculous and discover their own agency for miracle-making. Our seventh Unitarian Universalist Principle affirms our place among all life that shares our planet. This Sunday's session discusses global climate change and explores the Unitarian Universalist call to stewardship of the earth.

Find out more details about what is happening for this coming Sunday in the Religious Exploration blog.

What are our Twelve Senses and how do they relate to spiritual development? Check this new addition to the RE blog and this month's sense: Life.

Coming Up:

* February 17-18 High School overnight and UU Day at the Legislature. Details here!
* March 1 Parent Learn & Leave, Kids Stay & Play. Details here!
* March 3 Here We Grow - Celebration Sunday, Worship for All Ages
* March 16-17- Spring High School Con in Chandler, AZ

Amy Huntereece

Director of Religious Exploration

~
Here We Grow
~

Beacon is launching our annual stewardship pledge campaign. Stewardship and fundraising undergird everything that a faith community does and calls us into deeper connection with each other. While connected to our congregation's annual financial planning and budgeting, stewardship is much bigger. It is rooted in our faith principles and inspires our generous support of Unitarian Universalism, as well as our commitment to Beacon as our congregational home and the place where we will continue to grow.

This year, we are layering our approach with a month-long suite of testimonials, conversations, and messages that will lead up to a celebration Sunday. We hope that you will attend Sunday Worship Services, read the forthcoming weekly news and information we will share, and join us on March 3rd for our pledging and celebration event.

Carleton Sheppard

Stewardship Campaign

~ Our Whole Lives ~

The Our Whole Lives (OWL) program for young adults is every bit as engaging as the program for younger ages, and perhaps more so because 18-35 year olds are maturing into the complexity of intimate relationships, gender expressions, sexual orientations, and making responsible choices about adult commitments.

Nora Timmerman and Cassie Dakan, both faculty at NAU, have recently led two rounds of Young Adult OWL on campus, with gratifying success, and encouraging feedback from students. The first workshop series was in the fall over four weekend days, and drew eight participants. The second day-long workshop was held Saturday Feb 2 and had 24 students, with several participants from the fall returning as discussion moderators.

The richest moments in OWL are when young people share their lives, ideas, and concerns with one another, as they dive into sex positive discussions in a safe, candid, and facilitated forum - which we have provided.

We wanted you to know that OWL is reaching into the NAU student community, has been very well received, and only has potential to grow. Thanks to Beacon's initial support, Nora and I are sharing this important program, and students are eager to continue the conversation.

Cassie

~ Winter Chalice Circles ~

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.

The Chalice Circle Schedule Will Continue until April

January to April, 4th Sundays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm OR 4th Tuesdays 7 - 8:30 PM

Please contact Char Tarashanti for more information and to register.

Char Tarashanti

[email protected]

(507) 990-3888

~ Social Justice Allies ~

For your Calendar

Feb. 20 (Wednesday), 6:00-7:30pm at the Murdoch Center, 203 E. Brannen Ave: Launch of the Flagstaff Chapter of the League of Women Voters (LWV)! The LWV encourages voter participation, fair elections and equal voting rights. Women and men are welcome! Please see this flyer here.

Feb. 21 (Thursday), 7:00pm at Coconino Center for the Arts: Immigration, Asylum and Family Separations

Sponsored by Keep Flagstaff Together, here is an opportunity to learn more about this urgent, complex topic with presentations and conversation by professionals who deal with it directly. Guest presenter Laura St. John, Legal Director of the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project-providing free legal and social services to people facing the threat of deportation-will be joined by Billy Pearl, Attorney with the Tucson Office of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union. Click here for questions that will be addressed. Free and open to the public.

Feb. 22 (Friday), 6:30pm at Beacon: Last in the video series on church safety

Our congregations strive to be safe and welcoming places to all. There are steps that we can take to make our congregation safer while still creating a supportive space for our learning, growth, and challenge as well as actively working for the inclusion and safety of all people. Feel free to print, post and otherwise share the " A Word About Fostering Safer Congregations " and " Safer Congregations - A Video Series " fliers. This event is open to the public. We encourage folks from other faith communities to join us. If you have any questions please contact Sue Strobel ( [email protected] or 928-526-5156) or Terry White ( [email protected] or 928-699-1138).

Mar. 24 (Sunday) following the service (about 11:15): The next SJA meeting. Our special guest will be Rev. Lisa McDaniel-Hutching, Executive Director of UUJAZ (UU Justice Arizona) network. Beacon members, friends and visitors are welcome!

Roz Clark

SJA Journalist

~REI Building Project Update ~

Feb14, 2019 - The good news is, we may have good news for you next week. We have one more meeting this week with the city, and then we will know more about how to keep this project moving forward. Keep your fingers crossed, and please send some positive vibes toward the Building Expansion Team.

Theresa deBoer

REI Project Manager

~Caution~

Most of the backyard at Beacon has become a construction zone. Please stay out of the construction area until the project is complete.

Theresa deBoer

REI Project Manager

~ Community Action Committee ~

Beacon's community partner for February is The Literacy Center. The Center aims to increase the basic English language and literacy skills of adults, teens, and families in order to improve the quality of personal, economic and community life for all. Programs offer one-to-one tutoring, drop-in tutoring, classes at the center and in the community, and Partnership for Literacy Rehabilitation (jail program). The Center serves 250-300 adults, teens, and families.

Beacon's Share the Plate presents undesignated Sunday morning offering money beyond $300 to the approved community partners. Members are encouraged to nominate an organization and can pick up an application form in the CAC folder at the bottom of the office stairs.

Lynda Dorweiler

Community Action Committee Chair

~ Committee Moments ~

Beacon Committees work behind the scenes to serve Beacon and provide valuable outreach to our community. Some committee representatives have taken a few moments during Sunday Service announcements to briefly describe their committee. You have already heard from the Core Leadership Council, Leadership Succession Planning Team, and the Religious Exploration Committee.

You can look forward to hearing from the

Membership Team on February 24th,

Building and Grounds on March 10th,

Community Action Committee on March 17th,

Social Justice Allies on March 24th,

Worship Associates on April 7th,

and Finance on April 14.

Dennis Spurlin

Core Leadership Council, Chair

~ Access to the Beacon Building ~

The code to the front door of Beacon has changed. Members requiring access to the building during non-business hours should contact the Beacon office at 928-779-4492 or email [email protected]. Be sure to leave your name, phone number, and a time you will be available by phone to receive the new code to the front door. New door codes should not be shared. Multiple codes will be in use for different users and will be periodically changed or deleted.

Dennis Spurlin

Beacon Board of Trustees,

Vice President

~ Joys and Concerns~

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Andy H. - No concerns this week, only joys!

~ Beacon Calendar ~

Choir Practice Thursday, February 14 7:00 pm	Core Leadership Council Meeting Wednesday, February 20 6:30 pm
Folk Project Friday, February 15 7:15 pm	Church Safety Videos Friday, February 22 6:00 pm
High School OWL Saturday, February 16 10:00 am	Worship & Religious Exploration Sunday, February 24 10:00 am
Worship & Religious Exploration Sunday, February 17 10:00 am	Leadership Succession Team Meeting Sunday, February 24 11:15 am
Yoga Practice Tuesday, February 19 11:00 am	Chalice Circle Sunday, February 24 11:30 am
Community Action Committee Wednesday, February 20 1:00 pm	Here We Grow Meeting Sunday, February 24 11:30

For the full calendar of events at Beacon, you can find that on our website!

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!

~ Beacon Office Hours ~

Minister,

Rev. Kevin Lawson

Tues: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Wed: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Thurs: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Or by appointment

Director of RE,

Amy Huntereece

Sun: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm

Wed: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm

Or by appointment

Office Manager,

Volunteer

Tues: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Wed: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Thurs: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Or by appointment

Office Phone (928) 779-4492

~ Unitarian Universalist Seven Principles ~

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!

~ 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 our Office Manager, at [email protected].