Submissions must be submitted by Wednesday at 4:00 pm to [email protected] 
in order to be included in the newsletter. 
~ Sunday Service, March 10 2019 ~ 
Cherish Your Doubts
With Rev. Kevin Lawson
Cherish your doubts, for doubt is the handmaiden of truth. - Rev. Robert T. Weston.  This morning Rev. Kevin will explore the dual nature of truth seeking and the qualities of doubt.  Both of these are powerful driving forces in our individual and unique quests for that which is holy, the sacred, the divine in our lived experiences.

~ Monthly Touchstone Theme: Truth ~ 
~ Religious Exploration ~

Last Sunday we had a wonderful Worship for All Ages (WFAA). Older children stayed in service and followed along with their very own order of service! Restless younger children (8 years old and younger) were able to join Asia in the purple room to play. Our theme for the service was Here We Grow. We learned about working together to achieve a big goal, just like the grownups are doing with the stewardship campaign. After service we carefully planted the seeds that we will nurture and watch grow, also just like the grownups are doing with the stewardship campaign!

Roots are developing and small sprouts are popping out. Here's to an abundant stewardship campaign too!

Hope to see you at the next  WFAA, Sunday April 7 !

This coming Sunday we will conclude our work with the curriculum called  Miracles .

This session concludes the  Miracles  program by exploring some phenomena that remain mysterious and awe-inspiring, even under scientific examination. Participants revisit stories, activities, and themes of the program and have the opportunity to reconsider their own ideas about Miracles.

Find out more details about what is happening  for this coming Sunday   i n 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: Movement.

This is the first week of lent.  Do you wonder  what would be an appropriate way for UUs to stand with our Christian brothers and sisters?  Here are some special suggestions and check back weekly for updates.

Coming up :
  • March 17 NEW curriculum Love Connects Us
  • March 16-17- Spring High School Con in Chandler, AZ
  • March 31 Last Sunday Youth Breakfast (grades 6-12)
  • April 7 Worship for All Ages
  • April 26-28 District Assembly in Long Beach, CA
Director of Religious Exploration 
construction_hard_hat.jpg
~ REI Building Project Update ~

The updated application for our building permit was filed yesterday with the city, along with the revised architectural drawings showing the changes we had to make in order to afford to add on to our building.  This process has been a roller coaster ride for some of us, but luckily we have a good Building Expansion Team who are willing to hang on for the crazy ride!
We'll be working on the draft contract next week, and in the meantime will be moving the rest of the items out of the attic (and Dora's garage!) into a storage unit.  We'd like to ask for your patience as we prepare for and execute the project. Some things may have to be out of place and a little disorganized for several months until we have our new spaces to move into.

Theresa deBoer
REI Building Project Manager

~ Building and Grounds ~

Save the date!  The next Building and Grounds workday will be
Saturday, March 16, from 9 am to noon.  Free breakfast items will be provided!  Let's hope for sunny skies and 70 degrees!
~ This Month's Share the Plate Partner~

The March Share the Plate organization is the Northland Family Help Center whose mission is to provide safe haven, advocacy, counseling, and education to promote and restore healthy relationships.

  • NFHC's Domestic Violence Shelter provides safe shelter, crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling, and life skills training to those affected.
  • NFHC's Youth Shelter offers shelter and respite care, family reunification, case managements, and life skills training.
  • Overview Northland Family Help Center provides out-patient professional counseling services free of charge for eligible individuals.
  • NFHC's Legal advocacy personnel provide training and advocacy to women fleeing intimate violence.
Non-designated Sunday morning offerings beyond $300 are presented to the chosen organization each month. Beacon members are encouraged to nominate organizations and can fill out a nomination form located in the CAC folder at the base of the stairs.
CAC members are Steven Patrick, Susan Patrick, Susan Strobel, Joanne Parkes, and Lynda Dorweiler.
~ Save the Date~
 
UUA GENERAL  ASSEMBLY
Spokane, Washington | June 19-23, 2019

General Assembly is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association. Attendees worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association through democratic process. Anyone may attend; congregations must certify annually to send voting delegates. The 2019 General Assembly will be June 19-23 in Spokane, Washington. Most General Assembly events will be held in the Spokane Convention Center.

GA Registration and the GA Housing Reservation System.
~ 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 with New Circles in January
4th Sundays, January to April, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Starting January 27 
OR 4th Tuesdays, September to December, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Starting January 29
 
Please contact Char Tarashanti for more information and to register.

(507) 990-3888
~ Social Justice Allies ~

(Rescheduled to this date due to snowstorm) Mar. 7 (this Thursday), 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!
As UUs, we tend to study issues and support the positions that reflect our values. Won't it be great to have a Flagstaff chapter of LWV to provide better access to accurate information-and voting itself-for our region?! We'll report on the progress of this valuable resource in future Weekly E-news postings. Roz
 
(Rescheduled to this date due to snowstorm) Mar. 8 (this Friday), 6:30-8:00pm at Beacon . Final videos in our series about church safety. Topics to be addressed:
  • Violence, Trauma Response and Crime
  • Safety Concerns for Children and Youth
Feel free to bring a friend, including folks from other faith communities.  

Mar. 10 (this Sunday), following the service (about 11:15) : SJA Meeting. Agenda items will include discussion of proposed SJA goals for 2019-'20; nomination of NAIC (No. AZ Interfaith Council) as a community partner later this spring; "Full Spectrum Justice"-what IS it and why is it important at Beacon? Members, friends and visitors are welcome! Snacks provided.
 
Mar. 24 (Sunday), following the service about 11:15: Special SJA meeting .
Following her sermon during the service, Rev. Lisa McDaniel-Hutching, Executive Director of UUJAZ (UU Justice Arizona) network, will meet with us to share our statewide UU justice organization's current efforts. Members, friends and visitors are welcome, as always.

Roz Clark
SJA Journalist  
~ Committee Moments ~

Beacon Committees perform critical functions to support Beacon and provide valuable outreach that serves our community.  During January, February, March, and April, some committee representatives will take a few moments during Sunday Service announcements to briefly describe their committee.  

You can look forward to hearing from the:
Building and Grounds on                   March 10th,
Community Action Committee on     March 17th,
Social Justice Allies on                      March 24th,
Worship Associates on                       April 7th,
Finance on                                          April 14, 
and Caring Circle                               April 28.
   
Dennis Spurlin
~ Stewardship Campaign ~



Here We Grow: Annual Stewardship Campaign Update:

As your Stewardship Chair, I offer my deepest gratitude to the many people who have participated in our stewardship campaign this year.  I appreciate those who hosted conversations with members to sustain our commitment to one another and to Beacon. I am thrilled with our decorating team and potluck providers, as well as our minister and staff in creating a successful worship for all ages and celebration Sunday!  And I am thankful to everyone who has made their annual pledge for the 2019-20 fiscal year. 
 
We have received pledges that reach almost $84,000. Given that our goal is to raise $150,000 in pledges to support our annual operating budget, our team has a lot of work ahead of us to collect the remaining pledges. Therefore, if you haven't made your 2019-20 pledge yet, please visit the Beacon website, download the pledge form, fill it out, and send it back to us by early March.  
 
In community,
Wendy and the fabulous Stewardship Team

 ~  Save the Date ~

Mary Jo Rybolt is moving to Tempe

Mary Jo, who has been a valued member of our congregations for over twenty
years, will be moving to Friendship Village in Tempe in April. We are planning a
celebration to recognize her service and friendship in our Beacon community and
to send her with our best wishes for life in her new Tempe home.
Please join us to celebrate with cake and coffee Sunday, March 10th after the
service.
~ Beacon Calendar ~
Choir Practice
Thursday, March 07
7:00 - 8:30 pm
CoSM Meeting
Monday, March 11, 2019
5:15 pm - 6:45 pm
Church Safety Videos
Friday, March 8, 2019
6:00 - 8:30 pm
Yoga Practice
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Soul Collage
Saturday, March 9, 2019
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Piano Practice
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
5:15 pm - 5:45 pm
Worship & Religious Exploration
Sunday, March 10, 2019
 10:00 - 11:00 am
Coming of Age
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Recognition: Mary Jo Rybolt
Sunday, March 10, 2019
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
RE Committee Meeting
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
SJA Meeting
Sunday, March 10, 2019
11:00 am - 12:45 pm
Finance Team Meeting
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
 
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, 
April Yax

Tues: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Wed: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Thurs: 10:00 am - 3:00 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].