Spiritually Open, Intentionally Inclusive since 1958
510 N Leroux
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928-779-4492
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Please click on the links below to read more about Beacon's Action Plan:

- This Sunday at Beacon -
May 24th, 2020


Outdoor In-Person Service  
"Walking the Flagstaff Community Labyrinth"
Beacon Congregant Led
*In an outdoor setting with low risk of COVID transmission

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 24) 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.

The best current evidence is that less than 0.3% of COVID cases were contracted outdoors. The huge outdoor air mass rapidly dilutes any COVID particles (especially in Flagstaff's famous spring winds). We are implementing strategies to drive that risk closer to 0.03%. (1) We ask that you arrive between 9:30 and 10:30 AM (and we hope arrival times will be well-spread out over the hour). (2) We will create a 3-minute gap between start times of each family group to help space out the labyrinth walkers. (3) We will allow no more than 12 persons in the 52-ft diameter labyrinth at any one time. Total time from entry to exit is about 15 minutes. (4) Even with staggered entry times, people on the outward path will encounter walkers on the inward path; when you arrive we will suggest how to reverently and affectionately approach another walker, pass back to back, and continue your walk. We ask that you bring a face mask; although you are not required to wear your mask, we ask that you put it on when you are within 6 feet of someone who is wearing a mask. 

Children are welcome to walk the labyrinth with a spirit of reverence, or to visit nearby Sawmill Park under the supervision of parents.Wear good walking shoes (no high heels). Sorry, the labyrinth is not wheelchair-accessible.

Afterwards, you can mingle with other Beaconites (in small groups with appropriate distancing) on the adjacent FUTS trail (absolutely the most scenic mile of the FUTS!), in Sawmill Park, and on the gazebo and grounds of Willow Bend, all of which are accessible within a 3-minute walk from the labyrinth. 

Three parking options and a google map are available on the "Where is it?" page of the Flagstaff Labyrinth website.

Please arrive between 9:30 and 10:30 am.

~ There will be no Virtual Social Hour this Sunday ~

Joys and Concerns

While Beacon maintains our Social Distance, please email Reverend Robin if you would like any Joys and Concerns shared with the congregation.  Please submit the Joys and Concerns to minister@beaconuu.com by Thursday at 12:00 pm for inclusion in that Sunday's worship.

Spotlight this Week!

Call for Member Reflections for May 31st Virtual Service
Due Thursday, May 28th, 2020 

On May 31st, Beacon member Mark James will be leading a virtual service entitled "Solitude and Grief in the time of Covid".  

Please share a brief note (two or three sentences) regarding lessons  or insights gained from your experience with this pandemic.  These will be read aloud (and recorded) at the end of the sermon, as part of the May 31st service.  Please include your name with your contribution of words.  Send to  office@beaconuu.com.  Thanks for sharing with your community. 
Religious Exploration

This week, Beacon encourages families to attend our Outdoor Service, Walking the Flagstaff Community Labyrinth.  Children and youth are welcome.  More information is at the top of the newsletter. 


Religious Exploration for Children
 ~ Beacon's RE program is taking a couple of weeks off.  We will have more RE at Home offerings starting June 7th. ~


Religious Exploration for Middle/High School

Beacon's programming for Middle-Schoolers "Building Bridges" also wrapped up last week.  One participant said of the program:

"Building Bridges helps you keep an open mind so you can hear people out about what they believe. It helps you realize there is no one right faith."

To read all of the participant and teacher reviews of Building Bridges, click here.

Religious Exploration for Adults

A special thanks to all those who participated for the past 6 weeks in "Lunch of the Transcendentalists... and Rev. Robin" program.  Rev. Robin will continue Adult Religious Education programming at some point in June.


"OUR WHOLE LIVES"  at BEACON UU CONGREGATION 
Real World Sexuality Education for Young People 

OWL has been postponed until in person meetings are once again possible.  For attendees of the 2020 OWL Program, please keep an eye on your email box for updates from the coordinators.
Beacon Stewardship

There are members of our congregation especially impacted by this coronavirus pandemic.  While we wait to see if we're touched by the virus, other health concerns are put at risk.  Some of us have lost income, and others are providing financial support to family members and others who have lost income.   A stewardship campaign to solicit pledges for next year's Beacon budget may not register high on a list of priorities for some of us.  

However, Beacon will likely be adjusting to a new normal during FY 2020-21, to meet the needs of the Beacon congregation and the Flagstaff community.  Beacon has a long history of support for our community on a meager budget.  It has and will survive hard times as long as we remain a connected community - connected with Flagstaff and each other.  

Your Beacon leadership will be preparing a budget based in part on the results of the stewardship campaign.  If you wish to make a pledge, please download the form at https://www.beaconuu.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/PledgeForm2020.pdf and send it to:

Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation
510 N. Leroux St
Flagstaff, AZ 86001

OR


Thank you all so much for supporting our Beacon community.

Dennis Spurlin
Stewardship Co-chair

~ Beacon Connections ~

SIGN UP Time for Circle Suppers at Beacon

Break bread with a few other Beaconites

"A Beacon tradition for 30 years"

COVID-19 sure has made it hard to stay connected. As an avid dancer, I am dismayed that I will likely have a full year without my traditional 12 evenings and 4 full weekends of gliding around a room from one partner to the next, swirling with locked eyes, and cheering the band at the end of every song. I also miss spending time with you at Beacon services and events! As Rev Robin reminds us regularly, Beacon is and must be "always connected."  Our labyrinth service provides a wonderful opportunity to meet in person. Circle suppers are another great way to connect.

Any Member or Friend of Beacon can sign up (with your partner and family) by Sunday May 31 . You are signing up to participate in 3-5 potluck Suppers (or Brunches or Happy hours) during June-August. Then I will assemble participants into "Circles" of ~6-8 adults, notify you of the Circle to which you have been assigned, and assign one person to be the "Ringleader" of each Circle. With social distancing, we offer two options for each circle. (1) Virtual (online) Circle Option: participants take turns acting as host (meaning you welcome the guests, give them a video tour of your meeting space, and moderate the conversation). It really does work! (2) In-person option: The Circle gathers in person with a host with suitable outdoor space where you can space family groups at least 6 feet apart. For either option, your Circle decides when to meet, and whether and how food will be consumed. Because all credible news stories indicate that outdoor meetings with social distancing have extremely low risk, I will sign up for the in-person option.

"The rules" - Nobody has to host more than 1 Supper. If you are afraid to host a Zoom meeting, someone in your circle will help, or you can choose to participate without hosting. Hosting is also not required for in-person meetings, so please sign up even if your home too small to host 8 people. The Ringleader of each Circle works with Circle to set the dates and rules for the real or virtual suppers. The meetings continue through the end of August, until all persons who can host have done so.

By Sunday May 31st, use this online form to provide your name, email, phone number, and the names of partners or family members who will participate with you. The form will ask which type of Circle you wish to join, and other questions that help me assemble Circles. The form also lets you provide other information, such as "my house is too small for me to host" or "I will be gone all of July" or "please put me in a circle with Barack" or "please don't put me in a circle with Donald." If you have questions, please email paul.beier@nau.edu or text me at 928 699 3578 and I will call you back.

Always Connected,

Paul Beier
Social Justice Allies

1.  ALERT!  
In case you missed this in recent posts on Beacon's googlegroups...(Roz)

This evening, Thursday, May 21, at 6:00pm there will be a Zoom gathering with members of Arizona's Congressional Delegation as invited guests. Titled "From Crisis to Recovery", this session will be hosted by leaders of the Valley Interfaith Network-think NAIC (No. AZ Interfaith Council), but based in the Phoenix area. 

The focus will be on the double whammy of Covid-19 and our economic downturn, with this big question: How can we be sure that no one is left behind, e.g. poor people, people of color, immigrants.
Both state and federal delegates have been invited; several have confirmed.

Attached is a flyer with AZ Faith Network's email address at the bottom. If you would like to hear what these elected officials have to say in response to this challenging question, click on the email address to register. Since this virtual gathering begins at 6:00pm today,  PLEASE REGISTER RIGHT NOW to receive your Zoom invitation information. Or, call, text (380-6502) or email Roz (rozrich41@email.com) and I'll send it to you.

 
2.  Heartfelt thanks to the Beacon Board of Trustees for supporting a unique opportunity to impact the 2020 election in a significant way!

Due to a short timeline, Beacon President Dennis Spurlin polled Board members by email last week to determine whether they were willing to partner with UUJAZ (UU Justice Arizona) network to apply for a mini-grant-at no cost to Beacon-to organize UU congregations statewide. If this grant request is approved by the UU Funding Panel (and the odds look good!) UU the Vote Arizona will take the following steps to provide opportunities for engagement:
  • Hire an experienced statewide organizer to coordinate UU the Vote in Arizona June-November, 2020; 
  • Arrange and present zoom webinars and trainings; 
  • Send regular communications to our Beacon media with planned calls to actions.
I assure you I will report when I receive the results of this joint funding request and the promising collaborative effort to use our collective voices and values to UU the Vote!
~ Monthly Touchstone Theme: Sabbath ~

~If you enjoy the Touchstones Journal, here's a virtual event you may wish to attend~

Touchstone Vespers at First Unitarian Church of Rochester, NY
Every Wednesday 7:00 - 8:00 PM EST (4-5 PM Arizona time)
Details and Zoom links at:

Other ongoing UU small spiritual exploration groups that will be meeting virtually are listed on the www.communitynowuu.org website, such as: 
  • Sanctuary Boston small group gatherings on Mondays 3:30-5:30 PM (Arizona time) 
  • UU Wellspring online - two hour sessions meeting every other week, beginning April 7. 4-6 PM (Arizona time) 

Chalice Circles

Chalice Circles for May has already happened.  Stay tuned for our June time and date as Char and Lynda take on leadership of these circles.

All are welcome!   The theme for May is Sabbath. This month's Touchstones journal link can be found here.

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.  All are welcome.

Discussion examines subjects as provided in the monthly journal of Unitarian Universalism,  Touchstones.   To meet the needs of the congregation, we have made attendance open. 
Beacon's Stories Project

 
This week's featured writer is Dick Stockinger.  Please follow the link to read his story.  May the stories ease your isolation, provide some entertainment and help you feel more connected to other Beacon members during this time of social distancing!  We plan to provide a story each week until we run out!   

If you would like to contribute to this project, send your 1000 word or less story to Dru Monroe at  edrumonroe@gmail.com or write to ask for more information.  Don't miss this chance to share a part of yourself with our loving Beacon community!  


 ~ Wider Community ~


PLUS:  Beacon has funds for 3 registration fees!


 
Beacon would love to be fully represented at GA this year!  Rev. Robin has funds designated to pay the full registration fee ($150) for 3 Beacon Delegates!  Speak to Rev. Robin if you are interested in serving!

UU Justice Arizona Network

UUJAZ has several ongoing campaigns that we would encourage members to look into and contribute to.

Justice in the Time of Pandemic  

Have you taken action for justice in the past few months? At UUJAZ, we are looking to get an idea of our participation in recent asks from congregations, partner organizations, and UUJAZ emails. Love Resists, UU the Vote, and UU World magazine asked us for stories; you can inspire other UUs! Please take our survey by June 13th. If you haven't had a chance to participate in any of these actions, links are provided for you to participate now if you'd like... and then check them off the list!



UUJAZ Book Group
Friday, June 19th at 12:00 pm

Its more important than ever to stay justice centered in our faith, as decisions made now will affect climate justice and structural inequity for years to come. Join Rev. Tina Squire the third Friday of each month at noon for a book discussion.  June will feature On Fire: The Burning Case for a Green New Deal, just in time for author Naomi Klein's Ware Lecture at this year's GA. 

~ This Week at Beacon  ~


Outdoor Worship at Labyrinth
Sunday, May 24, 2020
9:30 am - 11:00 am
Beacon Board Meeting
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
7:00 pm
contact president@beaconuu.com if you would like to attend
 
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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Everyday Ways to Support Beacon UU 

1.  When you go to  Fry's  grocery store, use the Beacon phone number ( 928 779 4492 ) as the Alternate ID when it asks for it at the beginning of checkout, and you will get shopping discounts for Fry's members, as well as donating a percentage of your expenditure to Beacon. You can also sign up for an individual account if you prefer that, or want to take advantage of the gasoline discounts. You have to pick Beacon as your beneficiary when you set up your own account.

2.  If you shop on Amazon, please use "Amazon Smile"  and choose Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation (do not abbreviate UU) as your recipient. We will receive a 0.5%  for every purchase and that can add up!  Remember that you have to start each shopping session at  smile.amazon.com  for us to receive the donation. 

3. Another online fundraiser is   igive.comOnce again, create your own account with a user name and password, then select settings, my cause, and type in Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation (do not abbreviate UU) . Then you can order from any of the hundreds of organizations listed under igive.  There are also coupons listed online you can use when ordering from some organizations.

4.  Basha's has a special debit card that you can charge up before shopping, and a portion of  what goes through the debit card gets donated to Beacon because that card is tied to Beacon.  Ask Anne Wittke for further information.

Have other ideas for our income incubator? leave them on a card in the bin in the lobby, or send them to Rev. Robin. 
Beacon Office Hours & Contacts  ~
Office Phone (928) 779-4492

Minister,
Rev. Robin Zucker

Mon: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Wed: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Thurs: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Or by appointment:
978-505-7245 - talk and text (confidential line) 
Get to know Rev. Robin at  www.uurobinzucker.com
Director of RE 


Our engaging programs for all ages continue while  we search for a new Religious Exploration Director.

Rev. Robin can answer your RE questions.
  Office Manager,
Ben Jefferies
 
Mon: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Wed: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Thurs: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm


 

~ 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!




You no longer need to forward your spam emails to spam@uce.gov , because the Federal Trade Commission is now collecting spam through a honeypot, which is an online trap. This change makes it more efficient for the FTC to collect spam that is deceptive or violates the CAN-SPAM Act. This change saves tax dollars, your time, and helps the FTC collect deceptive and illegal spam.  If you lost money to a scam that started with an email, please report it at ftc.gov/complaint . There, you can also report spam you receive.  Read more about how to limit spam, phone calls, and mail

~ 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  office@beaconuu.com or Visit:  https://groups.google.com/d/forum/uuflag
Contribute to Beacon's Weekly News

Newsletter submissions must be submitted by Wednesday at 4:00 pm to  office@beaconuu.com  in order to be included in the newsletter.