Submissions must be submitted by Wednesday at 4:00 pm to [email protected] 
in order to be included in the newsletter. 
~ Sunday Service, January 6, 2019 ~ 
Look Well to the Growing Edge
Guest Speaker Rev. Sarah Gibb Millspaugh
 Congregational conversation regarding ministerial 
transition to follow service at 11:30 am.


~ Monthly Touchstone Theme: Grace ~ 
~ From the Minister's Desk ~

January 7, 2019

Dear members and friends,

 I am writing to let you know that after a time of deep discernment, heartfelt and thoughtful consideration I will be concluding my ministry at Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation June 2019.  Click here for my letter.

Blessed Be
Rev. Kevin J. Lawson
~ From the President of the Board of Trustees ~

notebook_coffee.jpg
Dear Beacon Members and Friends,

By now you have probably received Rev. Kevin's letter announcing his resignation in June, 2019.  I am guessing you were as stunned as I was.  And experiencing a myriad of feelings: perhaps shock, sadness, disappointment, possibly even anger.  I think all these are natural feelings that you may want to discuss. 

And I am sure you have many questions that can probably be summed up by the question "What Now?'  Kevin has promised to give us his all until his departure date and so, too, I know we will give our all, as a congregation.  While the minister is an integral and large part of any church, and our leader, the church is not any one person.  We are our church.  We love this church, and this devotion, with hard work, will get us through the good times and the difficult times.

On Tuesday, I talked with Sarah Millspaugh, our SW District UUA representative, about the process for... 

Much love,
Dora
~ Capital Pledge Update ~

Of $387,808 in pledge commitments over a three year period, pledge dollars paid to date: $197,698; twenty-eight of sixty-two pledges are paid in full!  Many thanks!

Line of credit application is being processed.  This is to pay the contractor while we await remaining pledge payments over the next 2.5 years.

Final design is complete; initial review has been completed by the City; small clarifications are underway.

Contractor is finalizing his guaranteed maximum  costs.

Construction contract is being reviewed.  A local attorney has agreed to review, pro bono.

So, things are looking good.  No, things are looking great! 
~ 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 ~

Alert! The SJA meeting scheduled for this Sunday, January 13, has been postponed until the next Sunday, January 20, following the service.   In case you haven't received Rev. Kevin's letter of January 7, he has announced his resignation as Beacon's minister, effective in June, 2019. This Sunday's service will address the transition, with Rev. Sarah Gibb-Millspaugh, a representative of the UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association) as the guest speaker. She will then stay after the service to assist with our first community conversation about this transition.
 
If you are unable to be at this Sunday's service and discussion, there will be another opportunity to learn about the ministerial transition after the service the following Sunday, January 20, although Rev. Gibb-Millspaugh will not be here.
 
Watch for January 20 SJA agenda information in next week's Weekly E-news.

Roz Clark
SJA Journalist  
~ REI Building Project Update ~
construction_hard_hat.jpg

There are a lot of things quietly going on in the background as we make preparations for construction.

We just received comments from the city today regarding our permit application, so we will be going through those with our architect and working out changes and answers for resubmittal.

We have received our supplemental insurance certificate (after much wrangling by Carl Taylor with the insurance company), and will be working with the contractor to merge it with their standard insurance.

Carl has been working on a draft contract for construction, and has managed to retain (pro bono) a lawyer to review it for us.

We will be meeting with the contractor and architect next week to discuss these and other items, and hopefully have a revised estimate to use for a final contract soon.
 
~ Joys and Concerns~
As recorded on Sunday, January 6, 2019
 
Walt H.- Had good news that he went skiing with his kids.  Bad news is that his son zoomed straight down and incurred a concussion.  He is doing better now.

Rich C. - Expressed a joy to have former neighbors in town for their grand daughter Sadie's celebration/dedication.
~ Beacon Calendar ~
 


Choir Practice
Thursday, January 10
7:00 pm
CLC Meeting
Wednesday, January 17
5:10 pm
Soul Collage with Char
Saturday, January 12
9:00 am
Choir Practice
Thursday, January 18
7:00 pm
Worship & Religious Exploration
Sunday, January 13
 10:00 am
Flag Folk Project 
Friday, January 19
7:15 am
LSPT Meeting 
Sunday, January 13
11:15 am
Coming of Age Retreat
Friday, January 19, 5 pm - 
Saturday, January 20, 5 pm
Discussion with Sarah Millspaugh
Sunday, January 13
11:30 am
SJA Meeting
Sunday, January 20
11:00 am

 
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 ~
[These are recurring blocks and don't require change. Therefore triple check that their links work and text is clear! These tend to get overlooked once they're in place.]

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!

[This image fills the column and links to the website. Sometimes important images and banners work better this way. These are 560 point and should be used conservatively.]

~ 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].