Spiritually Open, Intentionally Inclusive since 1958
510 N Leroux
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928-779-4492e
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E-News for September 16 - September 23, 2021
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COVID SAFETY POLICY UPDATE
The leadership of Beacon wants to update you on our COVID safety policies, in light of the Delta variant surge. We will hold committee and team meetings on Zoom for the time being. We’ll continue with in person worship with masks and hand sanitizing required, regardless of vaccination status.
The Board and minister have agreed on a safety policy for other programming:
We welcome you to participate in choir if you are fully vaccinated and willing to wear a mask. Participation in small group gatherings such as dinner groups or adult RE (intimate groups in a small room) will also require vaccination and willingness to wear a mask. We will make adjustments to the policy, as needed.
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- Sundays at Beacon -
WE’RE BACK IN THE SANCTUARY FOR WORSHIP! JOIN US.
Masks required.
10AM Sunday in the Sanctuary
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Worship For September 19th, 2021 - It's Hard To Keep A Clean Shirt Clean - On Character During the Days of Awe, the 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Jews are expected to focus on confession, forgiveness and atonement. This process requires the cultivation of character. In honor of these high Holy Days, universally valuable to us all, we’ll explore what it mean to develop and embody character, and whether this essential virtue is waning in an increasingly coarse and corrupted culture. Rev. Robin Landerman Zucker, preaching with the Beacon UU choir, under the direction of Jason Drahos, and pianist Austin Shaw.
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Beacon UU – YouTube sensation! 15 months, 63 recorded and edited worship services that you can tune into anytime you’d like for a first viewing or a re-viewing. Share our channel with friends you’d like to introduce to Beacon. See our virtual service history on the "Beacon UUC" Youtube Channel.
Come to the Post-Service Gatherings at 11!
Come to the Post-Service Gatherings at 11 am to connect, share joys and sorrows, and reflect on the service. These will be held in person, in the backyard of the church so that we may remove our masks.
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Please note: We recommend that you donate to Vanco directly from a bank account to save us the fees associated with credit card donations. More for us to sustain our congregation.
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COME AND MAKE MUSIC AT BEACON!
The Beacon Choir is resuming its rehearsals and live performances in worship in September. We are so fortunate that Jason Drahos has joined us as Choir Director. You do not need to “audition” to join the choir. You are welcome if you are fully vaccinated and willing to wear a mask. Special singing masks are recommended. There are many available. Click this link to see one option for a singing mask.
Choir practice is every Thursday, 7-8:30pm, at Beacon.
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R U A UU?
Sunday, October 3, Just after the service
Have you been one without even knowing it? So many questions!?
Grab a coffee and meet with Rev. Robin after the service on October 3 for a one hour conversation about Unitarian Universalism and your own spiritual journeys to the door of Beacon.
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Religious Exploration
The 2020-2021 year Religious Exploration classes were a great success. We are so grateful for the dedication and creativity of our Beacon teachers, Dru Monroe and Stephanie Van Belle and their counterparts at Granite Peak UU in Prescott. Click "Check it out!" to learn more about what we just completed.
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Kids at Beacon- All are welcome!
We need childcare volunteers for the last couple Sundays of September urgently! From 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, donate your time to assist with caring for Beacon youth during the Sunday service. You can click this link to easily sign-up, or email Linda Ochi at Lindaochi31@gmail.com with a date can help out!
Children and youth are always welcome in worship! We do ask that children over 3 years old wear a face mask while in the church building. There will be activity packets available for children during the service.
Note: There is a small error in this letter. Alexei's hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 10am-3pm.
Sunday, September 19th - Creativity Sunday Makerspace
Zoom or In-Person
Children will be working on projects for Creativity Sunday, which is October 3rd. If you are participating on Zoom, please make sure your child has access to basic art supplies. (paper and drawing/coloring materials, scissors and glue sticks as you are comfortable.) Led by Alexei Besser-Gilbert, K-5 RE teacher.
Meeting ID: 875 2104 6512
Passcode: beacon510
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Religious Exploration for Adults
Spirited Conversations with Rev. Robin
Join Rev. Robin for a new series of “spirited conversations” on topics such as possibility, trust, journey, wholeness, memory, story, and healing. We’ll use a rich treasure trove of materials drawing from different spiritual exploration programs similar to Touchstones. We’ll meet as a large group and in smaller breakout groups. The program will be 2 Thursdays per month, from 12-1:30 on Zoom. Bring your lunch! Early departures understood for work or life demands.
On September 9 and September 23, we’ll explore what it means to be “a community of possibility.” Download this pdf to read the collection of readings and answer some of the reflective questions prior to our meetings. (questions 1-7 for 9/9 and 8-14 for 9/23). Invite your friends to experience religious exploration at Beacon!
Registration is not required for the class, but Rev. Robin would like an idea of how many people will be attending. Email minister@beaconuu.com to let her know.
Meeting ID: 733 037 2039
Passcode: 968647
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Share Your Joys and Sorrows- Chime In!
One way we can sustain connection during this time apart is by sharing our personal joys and sorrows. These can be small things or large things that effect your life. These are spoken during service every Sunday, or you can send them to Rev. Robin by Saturday night each week at minister@beaconuu.com to be shared.
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Joys and Sorrows - September 12th
Rich announced that the endowment fund has been completed!
Theresa mourns a friend who passed away.
Dan's grandchild just turned one!
Nancy brings joys for our wonderful new music staff.
Mary Anne sends her thoughts to a terminally ill friend.
Paul's friend who lost their spouse is doing well.
Robin offers her memories for 9/11 and the lives lost.
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Porch Visits with Rev. Robin
(Weather Permitting)
Who is that minister in her "Soul" mobile? It's Rev. Robin! - ready to
come by for a visit on your porch, patio, or deck. She can be masked or unmasked, based on your vaccination status and personal comfort. Trailhead meet-ups and easy hikes, we could even meet at a park, or walk in your neighborhood. You decide! Just give a shout-minister@beaconuu.com
or 978-505-7245
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Community Action Committee (Share the Plate) Returns
When in-person services ceased because of the pandemic, Share the Plate became a non-viable way to give money to non-profit service agencies in Flagstaff. The Board and Finance committee saw the potential for this to resume now that we are meeting in the sanctuary. The Committee composed of Susan Patrick, Joanne Parkes, and Lynda L. Dorweiler will accept nominations from congregants for 501c3 organizations to receive our donations. In the past years, (2016-2019), we have given over $3000 per year to several deserving agencies. It is our hope that the congregation can continue with helping these organizations reach their goals.
For the months of July, August, and September, the committee has chosen Flagstaff Family Food Center to receive our donation.
Flagstaff Family Food Center served over 63,000 daily meals last year at their location on N. Second Street. They also provide many other services: Backdoor lunch program, Children’s literacy, Food Rescue Program, Food for Farms, Food Box Program, Homebound Senior Deliveries, and Mobile Pantries. Sue Stroebel has continued to maintain a volunteer service to help distribute food at their Second Street location.
Undesignated contributions in each month’s plate offerings over $250 will be presented to the designated agency. Thank you for your generosity and helping to maintain Beacon’s service to the community.
Lynda L. Dorweiler, Chair of Community Action Committee
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Activate at Beacon with the Social Justice Allies!
FAITHFUL DEMOCRACY
Get involved with Faithful Democracy, an organization bringing together people of diverse beliefs with a shared concern about the preservation of our democracy in the 21st century. The UUA and UUs for Social Justice are endorsers. You can use links on their website to access information, join initiatives, sign a Voter’s Covenant, and email your senator about the “For the People” Voting Rights Act (timely and crucial!)
NATIONAL WOMEN’S MARCH – FLAGSTAFF EDITION – SAT, OCTOBER 2, 2021
Flagstaff City Hall, South Lawn, 2 PM.
Rally to defend abortion access. Joining others nationwide to fight back and demand access to abortion in AZ and throughout the US. Bring banners and signs. Wear a mask. Local hosts are Debra Block, Marilyn Weissman and Karina Cooks. The organizers of the March are looking for volunteers to help that day. Please contact Marilyn Weissman at or email marilynflagstaff@gmail.com.
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Volunteer At Flagstaff Food Center With Beacon! |
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The Flagstaff Food Center is doing small group volunteers for their dinner service! Beacon is looking for a group of 5 volunteers to help out!
Volunteers are needed the 4th & 5th Wednesdays of every month, from 3pm-5pm. The dinner service is at the FFFC Kitchen (1903 N 2nd Street)
The dinner service is different during the pandemic. There is no indoor dining as we hand all the dinners out in to-go containers through a walk-up window. We need help from volunteers to portion meals into to-go containers, hand food out through our walk-up window, and wash serving pans.
Volunteer Safety: Volunteers are required to wear a mask, closed-toe shoes, and long pants, and to regularly wash or sanitize their hands and practice six feet of social distancing whenever possible. Gloves for food preparation and distribution will be provided to you at the kitchen. We have plexiglass installed at our walk-up window as a safeguard against COVID-19. We provide hand sanitizer and handwashing facilities and encourage regular use. We have enhanced cleaning protocols at our facilities and sanitize surfaces daily.
Sue Strobel will be organizing teams monthly, she can be contacted at 928 522-3284 (cell) or 928-526-5156 (home) if interested in volunteering!
More summer volunteer opportunities can be found here.
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The Hearth: September Social
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Let’s celebrate the changing seasons with an Equinox Craft Party. Have a favorite art medium? Bring it! Need some ideas? We’ll have them! Not into crafting? Come anyway! We will gather to create art together and to celebrate being in a virtual space together.
The Hearth Socials are for Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color. We are centering everyone who identifies as a Person of Color, for example, People of African Descent, Caribbean, Native/American Indian, Asian and Pacific Islander, Latina/o and Hispanic, Middle Eastern/Arab, and Multiracial. Please feel free to invite friends and family who are UU - adjacent, even if they don’t identify as Unitarian Universalist.
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LOVE & JUSTICE: Abolition and Alternatives to Policing UUs proclaim that no one is outside the circle of love, therefore, our goals are also abolitionist goals. Join UUJAZ team member Thoi every first Wednesday of the month in actively resisting the systems of policing and incarceration while building relationships and community with other passionate UUs in Arizona. Email Thoi to register for the next meeting.
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2021 Rural Arizona Summit This exciting exchange of successes, strategies and tactics will build and empower rural voices in state and local government, elections, and in their communities. Tentative panels include, Candidate Recruitment & Support, Messaging & Communication: How to Move Rural Voters, Voter Registration & Protection, and Building Rural Coalitions. Register here for the event on September 18th, 2021, from 12-5pm
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Lifespan Religious Exploration Resources for Learning About and Responding to Racism |
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This painful moment in time calls us to focus our learning and reflection on allyship to people of color, understanding white privilege, and reflecting on how we can part of a systemic sea change and solution in our society.
Beacon has provided resources for all ages addressing how we as individuals and as communities can learn about and respond to racism. For the full list of resources, activities and community meetings, visit Beacon's Religious Exploration pages.
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Healing Racism and Murdoch Center Programs and Events
Healing Racism Arizona and the Murdoch Community Center in Flagstaff have several events in the next few weeks that might be of interest to the Beacon community. Healing Racism Arizona is accessible through Facebook. The live events for the Murdoch Community Center are also through Facebook
And can be watched afterwards on their YouTube channel Tune in here.
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Worship
Sunday, September 19th, 2021
10:00am
"It's Hard To Keep A Clean Shirt Clean - On Character"
Beacon Sanctuary
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Post-Service Gathering
Sunday, September 19th, 2021
11:00 am
In-Person at Beacon
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Religious Exploration
Sunday, September 19th
10am
Creative Makerspace
In-Person or on Zoom
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You can keep up with future Beacon events by checking out the Beacon calendar!
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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.
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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.com. Once 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.
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~ Beacon Office Hours & Contacts ~
Office Phone (928) 779-4492
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Minister,
Rev. Robin Zucker
Mon: 10:00 am - 3:00 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)
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RE Team
We have an incredibly strong team leading our RE this year.
Linda Ochi can answer your RE questions.
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Office Manager,
Alexei Besser-Gilbert
he/him/his
Mon: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Wed: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Thurs: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
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~ 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!
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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.
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If you are not on Beacon's dedicated 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!
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Contribute to Beacon's Weekly News
Newsletter submissions must be submitted by Wednesday at 4:00 pm
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