Submissions must be in by Wednesday at 4:00 pm to be included in the newsletter. 
Caleb Alexander, Beacon Office Manager
~ Sunday Service, April 8 ~ 
"Change is a Word on Wheels"
Rev. Kevin Lawson 

"Change" is a word on wheels. It's not a destination, but a journey. 
Transformation or how we continue to keep trying until we get it right, 
do we get it right, how do we know?

~ Touchstone Theme: Transformation ~ 
~ Committee on Shared Ministry (CoSM) ~

Tell Us About Your Experiences
On  April 9, Beacon's Committee on Shared Ministry will send you a link to a brief online survey asking about your observations of Rev. Kevin Lawson's work at Beacon over the past year. CoSM will review responses to support their annual evaluation submitted to the Ministerial Fellowship Committee of the UUA. All ministers in preliminary fellowship proceed through three annual reviews and reports, from congregations to achieve final fellowship. Part 1 of the survey asks five questions about Rev. Kevin's work and includes space for you to explain your impressions; Part 2 offers two more open-ended questions about his work and your involvement with Beacon. Because we want to promote trust and openness among all members of Beacon, we ask you to sign your name. The survey will close on  April 23. If you cannot access the questionnaire, please see or contact Nancy Paxton, Dru Monroe or Collin Weller.

Thank you for your feedback,
Nancy Paxton
~ Website Update ~

Access to the Beacon Directory and other personal information on the Beacon website will soon be limited to members and friends who have registered accounts on the Beacon website.
Click this link to register now.


Care of, 
Dennis Spurlin
~ Social Justice Allies (SJA) ~

Help our immigrant neighbors feel welcome. Social Justice Allies are partnering with Keep Flagstaff Together to raise money to help our immigrant families in Flagstaff. We are offering yard signs that say, "No Matter Where You Are From, We're Glad You're Our Neighbor." The signs say this in Spanish, English and Arabic. See Becky after service if you would like to have one of these signs for a $20 donation. 

Thank you, 
Becky Hipsher

SJA and the Flagstaff Reading Group invite you to join us for the next film  in our Democracy and Public Engagement series!
How to Change the World: The Story of How Greenpeace Became a Worldwide Green Movement
Monday, April 9th at 7:00 pm

The New York Times Review describes the film as an "engrossing documentary...polished and paced like a caper flick...absorbing. (It) teaches movement-building without denying the high costs paid by true believers." 

The third and fourth films of the series are    The Yes Men Fix the World  on May 7 and  Freedom Riders  on June 4.
 
The next SJA meeting will be Sunday, April 15, following the service.  Agenda items include updates on our Community Film Series; a progress report on the efforts of Beacon's newly formed Church Safety Committee; and reviews of our SJA Charter update and 2018-19 budget request. Beacon members, friends and visitors are always welcome! Snacks will be provided.
 
In community and service,
Roz Clark, SJA Journalist
~ Religious Exploration ~

Welcome back to age divided classrooms and curriculum!
 
PreK-Grade 4  - A new month brings a new theme! We are looking at Transformation in April. This coming Sunday we will talk about life cycles and lift up science as a source in UU, by teaching the changes that occur in the life cycles of butterflies and frogs.   

Grades 5-8 -  We plan to look into  Christianity , the largest religion in the world. A branch of the Abrahamic line, Christianity includes nearly a third of the people on the planet. Core teachings of love and faith, forgiveness and generosity, are profoundly affirming; however, the doctrines that have evolved over centuries, the efforts to convert people for their salvation, and the variations of behavior inherent in billions of human beings have created a very mixed historical record and contemporary practice. It can be difficult to, in biblical terms, separate the grain from the chaff. It is important to encourage understanding among UU youth on the complexities and challenges of Christianity.
 
Coming up: High School Youth Group
Next meeting is Sunday April 8 at noon. Salads and snacks provided. Come and share your input for the Youth Service on May 6.
 
Amy Huntereece
Director of Religious Exploration
~ Building & Grounds Committee ~

Building & Grounds Workday is scheduled for Saturday, April 14 from 9:00 am to noon. Come and enjoy breakfast goodies and help do some spring cleaning and yardwork!
~ Community Action Committee ~

Beacon's community partner for April will be the Northern Arizona Interfaith Council  (NAIC). NAIC is a regional inter-denominational, non-partisan organization that addresses social justice issues. This coalition of congregations and organizations in Flagstaff, Sedona and Prescott has three basic goals:
  1. To build relationships across our community based on trust and a willingness to listen to each other;
  2. To equip our members and leadership with skills and practices to get results;
  3. To achieve change on concrete issues, as part of our common call to justice.

Most of NAIC's efforts the last year have been focused on supporting families of undocumented immigrants, which was the first social justice issues on which Beacon voted (unanimously, in 2013) to take a public stance.

 

~ ~ ~

 

To nominate an organization to be a Beacon community partner, pick up an application in the CAC folder at the bottom of the office stairs. Information and instructions for Share the Plate partners are described on that form. The CAC has recently selected additional community partners for May and June.

The CAC is comprised of Joanne Parkes, Sue Strobel, Lynda Dorweiler, Rev. Kevin Lawson and Rich Clark. 

With continuing thanks for Beacon's generosity and especially for CAC members' thoughtful, persistent efforts to "bring our UU Principles to life,"
Rich Clark
CAC Chair
~ Circle Suppers Sign Up ~

italain-food-items.jpg
Sign Up Time for Circle Suppers at Beacon 
Break bread with a few other Beaconites 

How it works: Any Member or Friend of Beacon signs up (with your partner and family, if you wish) by Sunday April 22. You are signing up to participate in 3-5 potluck Suppers (or brunches or whatever) during May-September. Each Supper is held in the home of one member of the Circle; nobody hosts more than 1 Supper. If your home is too small to host, sign up anyway - it will work out! 

Paul Beier assembles participants into "Circles" of 6-8 adults (plus kids in kid-tolerant groups), notifies you of the Circle to which you have been assigned, and assigns one person to be the Ringleader of each Circle. 

The Ringleader of each Circle sets up the date for the first Supper at the Ringleader's home. At each Supper, the Circle selects a date and host for the next Supper. Continue until everyone has had hosted. 

"A Beacon Tradition for 30 Years" 

Before Sunday, April 22, fill out this short form (link). Alternatively, you can find the clipboard at Sunday Serviecs (April 8, 15, or 22) and fill out the information by hand. Worried you've already signed up? Don't! I will find the duplicates.

Sincerely,
Paul Beier
~ Congregational Vitality Team (CVT) ~

Beacon's Congregational Vitality Team and the Committee on Shared Ministry thought this short list provided some valuable reminders of some of the good reasons you might want to consult with our minister. The Congregational Vitality Team has been including it in our newcomer welcome chats on the first Sunday of each month, but we think it is useful for wider congregational consideration! In summary, don't be shy about contacting Rev. Kevin!  We are lucky to have such a extroverted Minister!  

Care of,
Dru Monroe
~ In Community ~

Anne Wittke shared the death of her aunt, the last member of that generation. Anne will travel to North Carolina for funeral and to see cousins and family members

Jeremy Young share the joy of transformation after his recent skiing accident. He has had his soul touched by communion with God: "She's amazing." He couldn't have done it before his accident

Nancy White share the joy of motherhood in having had Terry White 60 years ago. She and Terry are traveling to Texas for a family reunion.
~ Beacon Calendar ~

Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, April 5
7:00 pm
Finance Team Meeting
Wednesday, April 11
6:30 pm
RE Committee Meeting
Sunday, April 8
8:30 am
Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, April 12
7:00 pm
Worship & Religious Exploration
Sunday, April 8
10:00 am
Building & Grounds Work Day
Saturday, April 14
9:00 am
SJA Film: How to Change the World
Monday, April 9
7:00 pm
Worship & Religious Exploration
Sunday, April 15
10:00 am
Yoga Practice
Tuesday, April 10
11:00 am & 5:00 pm
SJA Meeting
Sunday, April 15
11:30 am
Cheap Lunch Bunch
Tuesday, April 10
11:30 am at Cafe Rio
Yoga Practice
Tuesday, April 17
11:00 am & 5:00 pm
QiGong
Tuesday, April 10
6:30 pm
QiGong
Tuesday, April 17
6:30 pm
Kadampa Buddhist Teachings
Wednesday, April 11
6:30 pm
Core Leadership Council
Wednesday, April 18
5:15 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!
~ Beacon Office Hours ~
Minister, 
Rev. Kevin  Lawson 

Tues: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Wed: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Or by appointment
Director of RE, 
Amy Huntereece

Sun: 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Tues:  12:00 pm - 4:00 pm Wed:  4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
 
  Office Manager, 
Caleb Alexander

Wed: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Thurs: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Fri: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Or by appointment
Office Phone (928) 779-4492
 ~ 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 Caleb, our Office Manager, at  office@beaconuu.com.