OUR MISSION: TO WELCOME, CARE FOR, AND INSPIRE

July 3, 2020

MVUU Connected: Weekly nUUsletter

Weekly Online Calendar Stay Connected this Week... Sunday, July 5 Sunday Book Group Online: Hosted by John Clark - 8:30 am - 10 am Learning From The Germans: Race and the Memory of Evil by Susan Neiman. For the Zoom link, email John at alvinclark@aol.com. Sunday Service Online: Baja 4, 10 am - led by the Baja 4 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MVUUCongregation. Fellowship Hour Online: Fellowship Hour, 11 am Join Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87417804295. You can also join by phone: dial (253) 215-8782 and enter the Meeting ID# 874 1780 4295 when prompted. Please take note our new Fellowship Hour Zoom link! Monday, July 6 Sacred Poetry Online: Hosted by Bob Wallace - 6 pm - 7 pm. For more information contact Bob at bob@robertmwallace.com. Tuesday, July 7 Book-a-holics Online: Hosted by Anne Leonard - 2 pm. For more information contact Anne Leonard at anne@alartworks.com. MVUU Under 40-ish Group Hangout - Are you under 40 ish-years-old? Join us at 7:30 pm for some fun and connection! Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2442158661?pwd=N2R6NGRaS1Q3NGJMQVhldEZoeHRHQT09 Meeting ID: 244 215 8661 Thursday, July 9 Community Singing - with Shekela Wanyama. Join our Music Director in song sharing & listening - All are welcome! 7 pm - 8 pm You may join by Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87685056464 Meeting ID: 876 8505 6464

President's Message Off to a New Congregational Year! July marks the first month of Mountain Vista UU’s fiscal year when new, elected Board Trustees take office, when the congregation approved budget starts, and most importantly, when many new ideas are marinating in our programs and activities. Please welcome Pat Moyer, Vice President, and Jan Anderson, Trustee, both new to the Board, and Bill Casey, Secretary (after a year as Trustee). Fresh energy is moving into how we can practice our faith in ways to keep connected during this time of coronavirus, as well as how we can engage in meaningful ways with the wider community. The three Council meetings of all the congregation leaders have helped us set directions to do things differently where needed and to broaden our inclusion of others.   The terrific attendance at MVUU Sunday Coffee Hours has been exciting, with the small breakout groups offering ever deepening conversations. We thank in advance the Pastoral Associates Debbie Roberts, Tom Sawyer and Laura McMeley, plus Music Director Shekela Wanyama, who will be working on the coffee hours this summer with Ricky Tutaan handling more of the technicalities.  Rev. Samantha has taken family leave through the end of August, and we said a sweet “be well” Sunday as she prepares for the birth of her and Andrew’s child. We wish them a joyous journey! Please know that if you have questions or needs you may call Anne Tatum, President, or Pi Irwin, Ministerial Committee, during the next two months. If you have pastoral care needs, contact Betty Meikle, or our Community Minister, Rev. Christiane Heyde. Contact information is in the Breeze online directory. Anne Tatum, Board President

Ambiance & PMT Kitchen Update Wonderful News! Barbara and Bob Seyfried have made a very generous donation to the MVUU Kitchen. Their gift has made it possible to design a space which will be both functional AND lovely.  A hybrid team has been meeting to work out all the details focusing on being prudent in cost, durable, easy to clean, maintain and work in…and in keeping with the desert color theme. Committee members are Pam Donnelly and Paula Lipsitz who represent the Project Management Team and Elizabeth Van Horn who represents both the Ambiance Team and Hospitality. Pi Irwin has been the Board liaison to PMT/Ambiance until June 30th when Pat Moyer was welcomed into that role.

Sage green walls, warm wood cabinets, slate counter top & appliances

Talavera Knobs

Upgraded cabinets of warm-toned wood with dove tailed and soft close drawers! The walls are sage green, which complements the granite-looking (but actually upgraded Formica) counter tops which are 3 times more durable and scuff resistant than they used to be! Talavera knobs (a gift from Debbie Roberts) and tile trivets tie the kitchen colors to the southwest desert style. All the appliances are slate, a warm grey-toned matte finish that is fingerprint resistant. The floors are a concrete grey finish to a high-gloss which never needs polishing. And, (drum roll)….YES, there are warming ovens and a large microwave for those potlucks we will someday again enjoy together. Water filters are being researched for the planned new Bunn coffee thermoses. All beverages will be delivered into the Patio or East Hall by Baristas using rolling carts where we will mingle seated around 48” round tables or stand chatting by 40” – 42” tall x 27” round café tables. One day! Until then be safe and anticipate how much we will enjoy being together again.  Elizabeth Van Horn & Debbie Roberts, Ambiance Co-Tables

Religious Exploration Summer Themes Hello! Religious Exploration is planning some fun activities over the summer and all are welcome to participate. We will address four themes over the next two months: Caring for Ourselves, Caring for Each Other, Book Lovers, and Poetry and How to Express Ourselves. July 1-12th - We begin with Caring for Ourselves . During this challenging time it is important to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of others. The kids will be drawing a self portrait and discussing what it is they like about themselves. We would love to see your best drawn portraits or cell phone “selfies” showing what you love about yourself. Email to Stacie Sosa at stacie.sosa@mvuu.org by July 8th to be featured in our newsletter on July 17th .

Sunday Book Group Sunday, July 5 On Sunday, July 5 we will begin discussing our new book:  Learning From The Germans: Race and the Memory of Evil  by Susan Neiman. In this book “Neiman tells the story of the long and difficult path Germans faced in their effort to atone for the crimes of the Holocaust.” She also “provides a compelling picture of the work contemporary Americans are doing to confront our violent history. In clear and gripping prose, Neiman urges us to consider the nuanced forms that evil can assume, so that we can recognize and avoid them in the future.”  We’ll be reading this book through August. For more information Contact John Clark at alvinjclark@aol.com.

UU the Vote Tuesday, July 6 We welcome the new UU the Vote coordinator, Bryan Rasmussen! We will be meeting with Bryan every Tuesday as he guides us  to actively engage the support of voters in this crucial election year. UUJAZ is coordinating the efforts of congregations throughout Arizona to engage in voter registration, election reform, protecting voting rights and democracy and Get-Out-the-Vote drives. Reminders:    July 6 is the last day to register to vote in the Arizona primaries and ask to receive a mail in ballot. Primary day is Tuesday, August 4 . Anne Leonard’s list of all the candidates in this area is also still available if you e-mail her. Will be updated after the primary. We welcome our new member, Joe Scott. If you would like to join our Democracy team in more UU the Vote actions please contact Anne Leonard anne@alartworks.com , Debbie Gessaman deb.gessaman@gmail.com, or Richard Kopp richardkopp@mac.com.

MVUU Under 40-ish Group Tuesday, July 7, 7:30 pm We have put together a great group for fun, fellowship and connection for those who are 40-ish and younger! Grab your favorite food, drink and find a relaxing place to join us online! Join by Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2442158661?pwd=N2R6NGRaS1Q3NGJMQVhldEZoeHRHQT09 Meeting ID: 244 215 8661 Password: 4vduDE

MVUU Community Singing Thursday, July 9, 7 pm - 8 pm This summer we will have Community Singing every other week with Shekela Wanyama, Music Director. Interested in participating in a MVUU Virtual Choir video? Email Shekela by July 1. Summer 2020 Community Sing Dates July 9 July 23 August 6 August 20 All Community Sings happen from 7:00-8:00pm. No need to RSVP -- just show up! Join our Music Director in song sharing and listening - All are welcome! Zoom:   https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87685056464 Meeting ID: 876 8505 6464 Also Happening this Summer: Baja 4+ Unity Ch urch Unitarian Sing Thursday, July 16, 6:00 - 7:00 pm Anyone from the Baja 4 is invited to join us for a special Community Sing with members of Unity Church Unitarian and their Music Director, Ahmed Anzaldua, in Saint Paul, MN. Come for an hour of singing from the Justice Choir Songbook and UU favorites. Bring the whole family! Zoom : https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87215392946 Meeting ID: 872 1539 2946: For more information contact  Shekela at shekela.wanyama@mvuu.org.

Book-a-holics Unanimous Online Tuesday, July 28, 2 pm  We are a group of enthusiastic readers who meet the last Tuesday of the month at 2 pm. We select a variety of books based on what has intrigued members. The one who suggests the book generally leads the discussion of that book. During the COVID-19 crisis we are meeting remotely by ZOOM. The next meeting is on Tuesday, July 28 at 2 pm and the book is  Born a Crime  by Trevor Noah. If you are interested and new to the group and/or need help with Zoom, contact Anne Leonard anne@alartworks.com or call (520) 307-8045.  The Zoom host for June will be Anne Tatum.

Stand with Migrants and Contigo : Our Immigration Justice Ministry MVUU has a new Immigration Justice Ministry, Contigo, led by Cheri Desmond May and members of the MVUU and Tucson community. There are many ways you can support this new ministry this summer: 1) Write a letter of welcome and support to Adriana Matos Lopez, from Venezuela. If you don’t know Spanish, just type your note on Google Translate, and it will do it for you! She’s been in Eloy for over 8 months, to be released late July. We will be part of supporting her post-detention. Eloy Detention Center 1705 E. Hanna Rd Eloy, AZ 85131 A#: 213-352-580 2)  Read some books to educate yourself about immigration: Detained and Deported: Stories of Immigrant Families Under Fire The Devil’s Highway - Luis Alberto Urrea: The Devil’s Highway is a story of astonishing courage and strength, of an epic battle against circumstance. These twenty-six men would look the Devil in the eyes – and some of them would not blink. Reviews “In May 2001, 26 Mexican men scrambled across the border and into an area of the Arizona desert known as the Devil’s Highway. 3) Make a donation. These one-time and ongoing donations will help support Adriana as she transitions to her life in Tucson.  MVUU PO Box 91080 Tucson, AZ 85752 You can also go online to http://mvuu.org/donate/ . Click "Other" and include "Contigo" in the memo space. For checks, be sure to put " Contigo Immigration Ministry" in the Memo!

Join the Dinner Brigade We are all anticipating the birth of Joy! Right in the middle of Tucson, heaven’s envoy. We'll participate in welcoming this child By relieving parents’ stress for a while. Join the Dinner Brigade. Help us hold high our true Colors. Rev. Sam and Andrew love MVUU. So, enlist in the Dinner Brigade Coordinated by the Pastoral Care team. Call or text Betty Meikle (520) 990-4663 or  Jeanie Underwood (661) 303-3239 to discuss  A date when you can provide dinner. You can also make a monetary donation by going to the  www.mvuu.org   website and clicking on Donate,  then, select "Other" and put in the amount you wish to donate. In the memo, put " Pastoral Care Food Donation for Rev. Sam. " They could use that donated money for food or at their discretion.

July's Woven Basket Partner: Youth On Their Own Did you know that Arizona has the 5th highest rate of homeless children in the United States? YOTO -a 501(c) (3) dropout prevention agency- strives to eliminate barriers to education and empower Arizona’s homeless youth to stay in school. For over 30 years, YOTO has supported the high school graduation of this unique demographic by providing financial assistance, basic human needs, and one-on-one guidance. With the help of supporters nationwide, YOTO has empowered over 16,000 homeless youth to remain in school and pursue opportunities for self-sufficiency. During this pandemic and over the summer months the need is especially great as many other avenues of support are not currently available. How to Donate: Y ou can make your donations online at http://mvuu.org/donate/ or by sending check to the Church Office. The mailing address is: MVUU, P. O. Box 91080, Tucson AZ 85752. Please indicate that this donation is for the "Woven Basket".

Pastoral Care The Pastoral Care Team is working hard at new ways of connecting and supporting one another in the midst of COVID-19. Reach Out To Pastoral Care today to share how you are.

MVUU Photo Directory For Login Directions & Information Contact Erin Chadwell at  administrator@mvuu.org.

The "MVUU Connected" Newsletter is published via email every Friday.

Dialing for Dollars! Text to Give Number (520) 447- 4730 If you are inspired to give for any reason, text the amount (i.e. $25) and a descriptor (i.e.,  Donation  or  Mesquite Madness  or  Wooden Bowl ). The donation will go directly into our Breeze database.

Newsletter deadlines: The next newsletter will be published  July 10. Submit articles to editor@mvuu.org by 12 pm, Monday, July 6.  No Exceptions. Articles may not exceed 250 words.   Thank you.