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Submissions must be submitted by Wednesday at 4:00 pm to office@beaconuu.com
in order to be included in the newsletter.
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Sunday Service, May 26, 2019
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Labyrinth Sunday
Please Join with us at the Flagstaff Labyrinth!
Service will be held at the Flagstaff Community Labyrinth located on the Arizona Trail near South Lone Tree Road and East Sawmill Road.
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Monthly Touchstone Theme: Mystery
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Dear Members and Friends of Beacon,
Most of you have read Rev. Kevin's letter that was in last week's eNews. It was received with sadness and regret; it was a heartfelt and candid letter, one that had to be most difficult to write, and we are so pleased he was able to write it. Just to add a few details, Rev. Kevin has requested his resignation date be moved from June to Friday, May 31, 2019. He will be on sick leave until then.
This has been a sudden shock to many of us and some of you may wish to talk with someone. If so, any of these three members of the congregation are willing to meet with you for further discussion: Mark James (928-699-0490), Dru Monroe (928-856-1365) or Nancy Paxton (928-814-9423).
We have started a Memory Book for Rev. Kevin and are asking that you write cards and letters, including pictures, if you have them. We have had some good times; let's preserve these memories. Please bring your cards and letters by the June 16th service. Give them to Lynda Dorweiler or Char Tarashanti , or to me. As an additional parting gift, Linda Dorweiler has donated one of her beautiful quilts. We will display it for the Congregation on June 16.
Please join me in wishing Rev. Kevin the very best. Our warm thoughts are with him as he continues his journey.
Dora Harrison
President, Board of Trustees
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~Breakfast & Labyrinth ~
All Beacon Breakfast
9:30 a.m. on Sunday, the 26th
Everyone is welcome to join together for a breakfast potluck before walking the labyrinth. We'll meet at the playground at The Sawmill Multicultural and Nature County Park. Please bring a finger food breakfast item to share and your own drinks. There is a low fence to sit on, otherwise please bring a camp chair and the R.E. folks will keep an eye on it while you walk the labyrinth. Hope to see you there!
Walking the Flagstaff Community Labyrinth - (not at Beacon!!)
10:00 AM service; 9:30 AM breakfast
Andy Gould, Linda Ochi, Maryann van Drielen
Labyrinths have been part of many cultures around the world for 3,000 years. Walking a labyrinth in community with music (as we will do May 26) is a special shared meditation. The Flagstaff Community Labyrinth, perched on the edge of a small cliff, is made of 15 tons of lichen-covered lava boulders. It has a path length of a quarter mile; its wide lanes allow you to walk at your own pace. Photos and much more information on the web.
Children are welcome to walk the labyrinth with a spirit of reverence, or to enjoy the nearby play structure under the supervision of parents. Wear good walking shoes (no high heels). Sorry, the labyrinth is not wheelchair-accessible.
Please join the pre-service potluck breakfast at 9:30 at the Willow Bend Gazebo in Sawmill Park.
Three parking options and a google map are available on the "Where is it?" page of the Flagstaff Labyrinth website.
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~ Town Hall A Success! ~
Much material was covered: the budget, bylaw changes, slate of officers for next year, a report on the Stewardship Committee, etc. We even had a visit from our Building Expansion architect and contractor. I encourage you to download the budget and the bylaws from the Agenda for the town hall which was sent out last week. To read the minutes from the Town Hall,
click this link
.
No changes were made to the draft budget. One or two changes were made to the Bylaws. The most significant Bylaw change is the elimination of the minimum $100 required financial contribution and the addition of a requirement that members pledge. An amount is not specified. This is a significant change. We have never required a pledge, however, there was strong belief that a member should pledge financial support.
The budget, bylaws, officers and members of the Leadership Succession Planning Team will be voted on at the Annual Congregational Meeting scheduled after the service, June 9, 2019, at 11:30 a.m. To vote, one must have been a member for at least 28 days. It is traditionally a potluck where everyone brings their favorite summer dish (with food, of course!). So, come eat and vote! And enjoy fellowship with each other.
If you have questions, please call me at 928-913-0813. I will enjoy talking with you.
Dora Harrison
President, Board of Trustees
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~ Welcome to our Interim Minister ~
The Search Committee has completed their search, selected Rev. Robin Zucker as their unanimous top choice and she has accepted! The Board approved the Letter of Agreement last night, I have signed, and Rev Robin has returned it, "S
igned, sealed, delivered....and delighted".
Rev. Zucker hails from the UU Church of Meadville, PA. She expects to arrive here at the end of July and begin her tenure with us on August 1. Her first sermon will be on August 11. She has been a UU minister for 20 years and has experience as an interim minister, a settled minister, a Youth leader, a chaplain and many other areas.
We will do a more thorough introduction in the future, so stay tuned. The Search Committee and the Board are thrilled with her selection and very much look forward to her ministry.
Dora
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~ New Pianist ~
Last Sunday we had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Paul A. Lee, Professor of Piano at the University of West Alabama. The removal of the loft at the back of the sanctuary gave full exposure to the exquisite sounds of his music. We are very lucky to have him play for us this summer. Don't miss an opportunity to hear him play.
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~ Religious Exploration ~
What were the numbers last week?
82!
Youth Breakfast Club - last Sunday of every month from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Our next meeting will be Sunday, May 26. This is the annual
Labyrinth Sunday.
All 6th to 12th graders are invited to walk the labyrinth, and/or, head over to the
For questions, contact Amy Huntereece, Director or Religious Exploration,
re@beaconuu.com or Linda Ochi, lindaochi31@gmail.com
Interested in learning about the
12 senses? Each month in 2019, I will share about a different sense. In May, I focused on the sense of smell.
Check it out here!
Director of Religious Exploration
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Social Justice Allies (SJA)
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The next SJA meeting will be Sunday, June 2, following the service (about 11:20). Beacon members, friends and visitors are welcome. Snacks will be provided.
Our special guest will be Walt Halaberda, a local teacher and Beacon member, who will give us his take on the education situation here in Flagstaff as well as his ideas about how SJA and Beacon might help our local educators, in the short-term as well as the long term. Another local teacher and Beacon member we've invited has not yet confirmed.
The other agenda item will be last-minute planning for the community presentation by Sharon Kopina of Somos America, which will be Thursday, June 13, in the Parish Hall of the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany on the corner of Elm and Beaver Streets. (Please see next item.)
On Thursday, June 13 at 6:30pm, Beacon Allies SJA and NAIC (Northern Arizona Interfaith Council) will co-sponsor a program about Somos America.
Sharon Kopina, a Somos America leader will (1) share current developments at the border, and (2) explain how this humanitarian aid program helps asylum-seekers with travel food and diapers for multi-day bus trips from Phoenix to stay with sponsors across the country during their respective immigration processes.
A discussion will follow Sharon's presentation.
If you donated to Somos America when we did a very successful collection last month, we certainly don't expect you to do so again. However, if you missed that chance, you will have another opportunity at this June 13 gathering to contribute the specific items these immigrant mothers, fathers and young children need for their arduous journey. Items needed (and suggestions for local stores with the best bargains) are also listed on the flyer. This is a concrete way we can help these desperate asylum seekers.
We are very grateful to Epiphany for allowing us to use their Parish Hall for this event. (Beacon's sanctuary is not available during the week for the next couple months due to construction of our long-planned-for building expansion.)
Roz Clark, SJA Journalist
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~ Chalice Circle ~
Explore
Mystery, Unknown, Enigma, Wonder this coming Tuesday, 28 May, 2019 at 7:00 PM during the monthly Chalice Circle.
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.
Chalice Circle continues to meet on the 4th Tuesday of each month. Discussion examines subjects as provided in the monthly journal of Unitarian Universalism,
Touchstones. One can download pages for reading prior to our meeting by accessing the website in the weekly e-newsletter.
To meet the needs of the congregation, we have made attendance open.
For further information contact Char Tarashanti or Lynda L. Dorweiler
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~ YARD SALE ~
SPRING CLEANING FOR THE YARD SALE
Saturday, June 8, 7:00 am - noon
Dora Harrison's driveway, 5 E. Fine (around the corner from Beacon)
With the annual yard sale coming up soon, this is the perfect time to tackle your closets, drawers and garage! You don't have to be Marie Kondo to purge items that are just cluttering your space. We need resaleable items (please, no electronics, clothes or junk!).
Dora still has lots of room in her garage, so get busy! If you need to have items picked up, contact Bill Owen, 526-0087 or
h2owencolor@gmail.com.
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~ REI Building Project Update ~
Just a reminder to stay out of the backyard, unless we need to utilize the exit in an emergency.
Theresa deBoer
REI Building Project Manager
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Joys and Concerns ~
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Jack D. - Expressed sadness over the passing of his uncle Jim after a long illness, and 'gladness' over John McGroger's return.
Dora H. - Shared concern that Connie B has suffered a relapse of her cancer. Also, expressed sorrow for the passing of her cousin Tommy.
Becky H. Shared concern that her elder son is suffering from bi-polar disease right now.
Andy G. - Expressed sadness for Marty M's illness.
Roz C. - Shared that Lisa McDaniel-Hutchings is retiring.
Collin W. - Expressed that it is a joy to see so many at Beacon.
Maryann V. - expressed joy that her husband's friends Paul & Marie attended Beacon today.
Greg - Expressed joy for being free of depression for two months.
Paul B. - Shared appreciation for all the people who made this remodel and transition of leadership possible.
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~ Volunteers Needed ~
Food Center Meal Service: 4th Wednesday of each month, contact Sue Strobel for more information.
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MANY, MANY THANKS TO THE INTERIM SEARCH COMMITTEE - Carleton Sheppard, Andy Hogg, Dru Monroe, Grace Ditsworth and Barry Brenneman!!
You were terrific and achieved terrific results. Beacon and each of us individually will benefit from your selection of Rev. Robin. We, as a congregation, are so appreciate all your time and effort.
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This Month's Share the Plate Partner
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For May, Beacon will Share the Plate with Northern AZ Interfaith Community Leadership. NAICL/NAIC is a non-partisan interdenominational organization dedicated to building leadership for civic participation across lines of race, class, age, and religion and organize for issues that advance the common good.
The group has sponsored a fall candidate accountability session for candidates running for the Flagstaff City Council and State Legislature. They meet regularly with the current City Council members and support immigrant students and their families in efforts to promote student's post-secondary education.
Undesignated contributions to this month's Sunday service offerings above $300 will be presented to NAICL/NAIC. Nominations for 501c3 agencies can be made through a form located at the bottom of the stairs in the CAC folder.
CAC members are Steven Patrick, Susan Patrick, Susan Strobel, Joanne Parkes, and Lynda Dorweiler.
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~ Annual Poetry Service ~
Join us on Sunday, June 2, for our Annual Poetry service at Beacon. Nancy Paxton and Jack Doggett will present a service on poems about goodbyes. May is often full of goodbyes: to friends, to teachers; to home; to lovers who left you, to lovers you left; to fathers or mothers, uncles or aunts, whose time has come; to places you've loved; to dreams you have given up; to ideas about yourself that have held you back. May is also the month we say goodbye to Rev. Kevin Lawson; we hope this service will give you a chance to reflect and say goodbye. If you have a short poem about a goodbye that you would like to share, send it to
jdogg12643@aol.com
or
Nancy.Paxton@nau.edu
.
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UUA Events
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Sunday, June 9 - Annual Congregational Meeting 11:30am - 1:00pm.
Wednesday, June 19-23 - UUA General Assembly.
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
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~ Beacon Calendar
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Youth Breakfast
Sunday, May 26, 2019
9:30 am - 11:00 am
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Chalice Circle
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
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Worship & Religious Exploration
Sunday, May 26, 2019
10:00 am - 11:00 am
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Family Food Center
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
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Memorial Day
Monday, May 27, 2019
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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!
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Beacon Office Hours
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Ministerial
Hours
t
o be announced
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Director of RE,
Amy Huntereece
Sun: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Wed:
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Or by appointment
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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
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Office Phone (928) 779-4492
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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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Beacon Google Group
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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
office@beaconuu.com.
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