Baja 4:
Stronger Together
Unitarian Universalists from across Southeast Arizona
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Representing Unitarian Universalists across southeastern Arizona, we love beyond belief and find inspiration from a wide array of spiritual, religious, and secular sources. We come together as a Baja 4 because we know we are stronger together.
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Learn more about each congregation!
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Celebrations and Special Days |
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It's always fun to celebrate and at the same time learn about cultures around the world. Here are a few things happening in October.
Fun and On The Fringe
- Country Music Month (designated Oct. 1970 by Richard Nixon)
- World Vegetarian Day - Oct. 1
- First episode of Unitarian Rod Sterling’s “Twilight Zone” - Oct. 1 (1959)
- War of the Worlds radio lay causes mass hysteria - Oct. 30 (1938)
Interfaith
- Feast of St Francis of Assisi (Christian) - Oct. 4
- Mawlid al-Nabi - the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad - Oct. 19, 2021
- Martin Luther posts 95 theses - Oct. 31 1517
- Samhain (Wiccan) - Oct. 31 - Nov. 1
Unitarian Universalist
- Birthday of e e cummings - Oct. 14
- Michael Servetus burned at the stake in Geneva - Oct. 27 (1553) (more here)
National & Cultural Holidays
- LGBTQ History Month
- Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15)
- ADHD Awareness Month
- Birthday of Mohandas Gandhi - Oct. 2 (1869)
- Thurgood Marshall was sworn in as the first African American associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. - Oct. 2, 1967
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg joins the U.S. Supreme Court as its second woman Justice - Oct. 4, 1993
- NASA launches first peopled mission, Apollo 7 - Oct. 11 (1968)
- Indigenous Peoples Day (U.S.) - Oct. 8
- Toni Morrison becomes the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature - Oct. 8, 1993
- National Coming Out Day - Oct. 11
- United Nations Day - Oct. 24
- Halloween, All Soul's Eve - Oct. 31
- Dia de los Muertos - Oct.31 - Nov.2
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We are adopting a Baja 4 Mascot (a stuffie not a real animal) and we have a clear winner!
Meet our new friend: the Javelina!
Tune in next week to find out what their name is... to be continued...
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Meet the Baja 4 Team
In the coming weeks, we'll introduce you to the team putting together our programs for the Baja 4.
Hello! My name is Stacie and I have worked for MVUU in the Children’s Religious Exploration (RE) program since 2015. I grew up in California, went to college in Las Vegas, and finally settled here in Tucson after meeting my partner. We have 2 wonderful children ages 5 and 12 and 1 fur baby. We enjoy swimming, board games (and gaming in general), and watching tv/movies together.
If you were a superhero, who would you be?
I would be Starfire from the Teen Titans. My kids and I have the best time watching and laughing together. Waffles!
What is an easy way to do something nice for someone?
There are a lot of ways to do something nice; sending a homemade card or a caring call/text, picking flowers, dropping off a meal, helping with yard work, and more. Small but kind gestures go a long way!
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Renewal
Our theme in worship and RE this month is "Renewal." What are we renewing? Where in your life do you feel the need for renewal (like getting more sleep?) and where do you feel full up? What commitments are you willing to renew and which do you need to let go? Our resources this month ask us to think about Renewal in terms of our commitments to our communities, to our churches, to each other, and to ourselves. Let's explore!
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Chalice Lighting to Share
Every Endeavor Begins With a First Step (adapted)
By Charles F Flagg
Every endeavor begins with a first step,
And encounters difficulty along the way.
We know the anguish of ignorance, of fear, and of tyranny.
Yet we know the beginnings of hope, and the renewal of life.
Blessed be the eternal power which inspires us to kindle this light.
Blessed be the source of light and of life. Amen.
Find more chalice lightings here. |
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Louie
by Ezra Jack Keats
Watch together: https://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/read-aloud/louie/
Louie doesn’t talk. We don’t know what is wrong. But he emerges from his silence when he recognizes something that he would love to do – make friends with a puppet! He is renewed by his discovery. The children who offer him the puppet are also renewed by their generosity towards Louie.
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Unique and Unrepeatable Song
This centering and meditation help us embrace our uniquess!
Centering: Begin with this poem and suggested activies
“I wiggle my fingers, I wiggle my toes, I wiggle my shoulders, I wiggle my nose.
Now no more wiggles are left in me, so I’ll be as still as still can be.”
Now, with all the wiggles out of us, let's get into our meditation positions.
Sit comfortably on the floor or at the table where the computer is.
Put your hands in your lap or on your knees.
Sit up nice and tall.
Focus your eyes.
Find your breath moving in your body by taking in one breath through your nose and then slowly breathing it out through your mouth.
Meditation: Now invite the children to this meditation
Take a deep breath in. In and Out. We are each special and unique. We each have something special and unique that we love to do, to make ourselves happy. We are going to sing a song about how each of us is unique and unrepeatable. Follow the instructions on this webpage.
Sing it once through so children learn the song.
Sing it again with loud voices, then soft voices, then hum together to end in quiet and silence.
May you find joy in being unique and unrepeatable.
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PS. Have you joined the Parenting Club group on Facebook? Everyone in the Baja 4 is welcome! |
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Coming Events
What's Happening in October?
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Parents and Caregivers of Preschoolers (POPS)
Join on Zoom others with children ages birth to 6 years old to offer support as we come to understand our child's spiritual development, to build rituals that support this development, and to see ourselves as spiritual teachers. New to POPS? RSVP here.
Oct. 2, 1-2pm --Children's Story Time --designed for children ages birth to 6+, but everyone welcome
Oct 23, 1-2pm --Grown Up meet up --designed for those adults raising children who are ages birth to 6, but everyone welcome
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2nd Hour
October 3, 2021 | 12:15-1:15pm | Zoom
Please join us for 2nd Hour: a once -per -month afternoon of a variety of educational, spiritual, interesting, and fun workshops. Dates for the rest of 2021 are:
- November 7, 2021
- December 5, 2021
See the UU Quest website for links and descriptions! This month, pick from:
- Article X at UUCT with Stephen Kraynak
- Meet the Baja 4 Lifespan Faith Development Team
- Older Youth Game Time with RE Teachers
- Laughter Yoga with Rev. Matthew
**Seeking 2nd Hour Workshop Leaders**
Right now I’m building a schedule of workshops for 2nd Hour and would love to include you in the line up. What do you have to share with the world? Bring me an idea and we’ll work together to develop it! No need to worry about technical support. I’ll have assistants available to manage the Zoom, so you can simply lead.
If you have any questions or want to lead a workshop, please contact Jamili at DRE.UUCT@gmail.com.
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Youth Meet Up… Come help us name it!
Oct. 9 | 5pm to ??? | Zoom
For youth ages 10+
Join some of our wonderful UU Youth Leaders for a fun hour or so of games, socializing, and plotting! We’ll start with a little lighthearted competition on a game of our choice (think PG rated games like Kahoot, Jackbox Games, and Improv). Having the ability to open zoom and a 2nd browser (on a computer, tablet, or phone) will be helpful, but not necessary. Then, you’ll have the chance to help name this space and set the date and time for the next meet up. It’ll be FUUN!
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HeartSpace: an Evening Worship
Oct. 14 | 6:15pm | Zoom
Heartspace Evening Worship is BACK!! October's service is, IT'S ALIVE: Renewing the Spark of Life. Costumes welcome but not required!
Heartspace is an all ages immersive worship that will be held on the 2nd Thursday of each month starting at 6:15 for gathering and chatting and for service to begin around 6:30pm
In this dynamic, all-ages worship, we will experiment and play with different ways to be in community together. While we are still online, we’ll listen to music, listen to words, explore, interact and experiment together. There will be creative, hands-on time and time for reflection, laughter, and joy. We accept you however you come so full of energy you can't sit still or still laying down in bed. Please join us!
For questions email Jamili Omar at DRE.UUCT@gmail.com
Zoom in at: https://zoom.us/j/5716364277
Meeting ID: 571 636 4277
Password: 973902
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Laughter Yoga
Tuesdays and Thursdays | 4:00-4:30pm | Zoom
Laughter Yoga is a unique concept that invites everyone to laugh without jokes, humor, or comedy. Through laughter exercises, hatha yoga breathing, and playfulness we will laugh into joy, health, and bonds within the Baja 4. Founded in 1995 by Dr. Mandan Kataria, today Laughter Yoga is practiced by thousands in over 115 countries.
Rev. Matthew is a practicing laughter yogi who trained under Dr. Kataria and is a certified Yoga Laughter facilitator. Members and Friends of BUU will be joining Rev. Matthew to assist in demonstrating laughter exercises, yoga breathing, and Bollywood dance! Learn more about Laughter Yoga: https://laughteryoga.org/
Ages: Everyone who wants to laugh
Dates and Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4-4:30pm on these dates: October 5 & 7, 12 & 14, 19 & 20
Meeting ID: 990 7312 9659
Passcode: 574011
Contact information: Please contact Rev. Matthew with laugher and questions: minister.borderlandsuu@gmail.com
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Halloween Game Night with TUUYA and Parenting Club
Oct 28 | 6:00pm | Zoom
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the week with a little lighthearted competition. We’ll play PG-rated games like Kahoot, Jackbox Games, and Improv. Having the ability to open zoom and a 2nd browser (on a computer, tablet, or phone) will be helpful, but not necessary. Everyone is welcome (games geared towards people ages 10 and up).
Meeting ID: 571 636 4277
Password: 973902
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