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Spiritually Open, Intentionally Inclusive since 1958
510 N Leroux
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928-779-4492
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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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- This Sunday at Beacon -
Sunday, November 03, 2019
Sermon
"Taking it One World at a Time"
Rev Robin Landerman Zucker
When asked what he thought the afterlife would be like, the sage of Walden Pond, Henry David Thoreau answered, "I'm taking it one world at a time." As we explore how we relate to our inevitable finitude, we'll consider how we might live deliberately in a somewhat random world without over-attachment to the past or a sense of anxiety or over-expectation about
the future. Isn't living deliberately in the one tangible world we have challenging enough for us humans?
~ We will be creating an ancestor's altar to honor Dios de los Muertes, Samhain and All Souls Day. Please bring a photo, memento or artifact that honors an ancestor or your ancestry.
~ A Threshold Ceremony to dedicate our new rooms will take place during our service on November 3.
Religious Exploration
Following the Service
Celebration of Our New Space
Connect with Rev Robin
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~ Monthly Touchstone Theme: Mission & Vision ~
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Joys and Concerns
From Sunday, October 27, 2019
Bob B. lost a dear friend in California.
Carleton S. shared that her mother has recently moved to assisted living.
Linda O. shared her appreciation for volunteers in the congregation.
Gus mentioned Kevin P's recent eye surgery.
Anne W. is back in town from her eye surgery in Phoenix.
Excerpts from an uplifting update shared this week from Andy G.
Dear Beacon Friends,
Monday, four weeks to the day after I lost my right peripheral vision to a stroke, I saw faint images of light and movement in that area for the first time.
(My PT) said this shows that the damage isn't permanent, that my situation is plastic and that it can change. With so many people supporting the return of my vision it is nice to SEE some result so please keep up sending whatever healing thoughts and energy you have been sending. This whole experience, starting with the ambulance ride on September 30, has been a marvelous opportunity to practice gratitude and relying on the kindness of others.
There are so many people sending love and healing that I can't possibly thank you individually.
with so much love and gratitude,
Andy
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Robin's Bird's-Eye View
For millennia, philosophers have asked: "Can you have too much of a good thing?" Um, two words - pumpkin spice! It is just EVERYWHERE and in my slightly grumpy opinion, should confine itself to the province of baked goods, seasonal beer, cider and hot beverages. I might have been more willing to be flexible if the whole pumpkin spice shebang had not mutated into a free-for-all of spaghetti sauce, tortilla chips, jellybeans, instant oatmeal, nut butter, liquid creamer, and stomach-turning frozen pierogis. Just make it stop! (which presumably, it will, to be replaced in December by candy cane Milanos cookies, eggnog-gussied creamer, and fruitcake-y granola!)
During the holidays, we can often feel like we have too much or too little, and not always of "a good thing." November brings an annual hope of warm gatherings with family and friends, enough resources to feed our guests, and a dose of joy in the mix. Yet, experience may cause us to anticipate a quite different scenario rife with tension or scarcity.
You may be bereft of companions and feel the foreboding of a lonely season. If so, lean into the Beacon community and ask for what you need. You may be concerned about consuming too much food or alcohol, or spending excessive amounts of money. Or, conversely, not having the funds to purchase even the necessities of life, let alone a 20-pound bird and pumpkin spice stuffing (yes, it's a thing!).
Yet, perhaps the spice of life isn't found in the mythical pumpkin patch (or its artificially-flavored derivatives), after all. Scientist Dan Gilbert helps us understand in his TED Talk, "The Surprising Science of Happiness," that genuine and deep contentment is more often found in "synthetic" happiness - the kind that arises from making the most of what we get, than in "natural" happiness - the kind that derives from getting exactly what we want.
He tells us that we have within us the ability to synthesize happiness, and that studies with paraplegics as well as lottery winners prove his point. One year after these two groups had their distinct experiences (paralysis and instant wealth), they both scored in the same range of happiness.
The holidays fool us into believing that joy and love are finite and that we either have them or we don't. I say, let's be mindful of what's real and what's possible, what we have and what we can give, and consider whether happiness might be stirred in or sprinkled on. You can never have too much of those "good things" called gratitude and generosity.
In faith,
Rev. Robin
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Spotlight this Week!
Auction
This Saturday!
November 2nd, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Aspen Valley Golf Club, 1855 N. Continental Drive
Remember to bring:
- Checkbook to pay for items you bid on
- Cash for raffle tickets and drinks
- Calendar to schedule all the social events you'll be attending
- Appetizer or Dessert--if you signed up to bring one
Can't attend the auction? Ask a Beacon friend to be your proxy. You can view the catalog in advance.
Need childcare that evening? Register for free childcare
HERE
Childcare Location, click here for
MAP
See you all there!
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~ Community Connections ~
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- STARTING POINTS - For New and Renewed UUs with Rev. Robin - Join Us!
Saturday, November 16 and Saturday, November 23 from
9:00 am -12:00 pm
Whether you are new to Beacon or have been around a while, consider signing up for our engaging two-part Starting Points program (An Introduction to the UU Journey) that Rev. Robin will facilitate during two half-day retreats, November 16 and 23.
Session One: Your Journey - Sharing Our Stories and Spiritual Roadmaps; The Unitarian Universalist Journey &; The Journey of our Congregation
Session Two: Our Journey Together - The 3 Paths of Unitarian Universalism, Part I & 2; Finding Your Tribe
Beverages and light refreshments in the morning; bring a brown bag lunch for more conversation with Rev. Robin from 12-1. Participants will be invited to sign the membership book after the second retreat. A new member welcome ceremony will also take place during the service on Sunday, November 24. Childcare Provided. Please sign up through the office so we can plan for your attendance with materials and refreshments.
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Connect with Rev. Robin
First Sunday of the Month
On the first Sundays of the month, grab your coffee and come back into the Sanctuary to connect with Rev. Robin, talk about Beacon and your own journey. See
you on November 3.
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Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
Rev Robin will be participating in this event:
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Save The Date
Sunday, November 24
Bring a Friend or Bring Back A Friend Sunday! Let's fill the sanctuary with new and old friends for our gratitude themed service on November 24 which will include a new member welcome. A festive Thanksgiving-themed potluck to follow.
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Social Justice Allies (SJA)
Esteemed activists and followers of Beacon's social justice work: Exploring a different meeting schedule
A couple weeks ago Rev. Robin, Rich Clark and yours truly had a preliminary conversation about the possibility of shifting SJA's meetings to a different day of the week/time of day. The reasons? With increasing programming, expectations for time and space on Sundays after the service have become complicated-exacerbated, of course, by the vagaries of building expansion. But even when we have full access to our impressive additional space, there will be time pressure on Sundays, e.g. Rev. Robin would like to offer programming some Sundays, Chalice Circles have a monthly time slot, and there are occasional RE activities, too.
We could probably schedule a monthly Monday or Wednesday evening meeting. So here's the question: Shall we try that, or shall we stick with Sundays after the service? Please let me know what you think, ASAP. Feel free to call, text or email (see my information below).
Meantime, I will cancel the next scheduled SJA meeting (we're on the Beacon calendar for Sunday, November10-part of the long Veterans' Day Weekend: Not a very promising meeting date).
League of Women Voters Advocacy Training workshop November 23, 10-12 in Camp Verde
Please see the attached flyer. Let me know if you're interested; if so we can participate in a carpool. Feel free to respond to the person shown at the bottom of the flyer, and copy me.
In community and service,
Roz Clark, Interim SJA Chair
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Chalice Circles
November 24 & 26
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 Sunday & Tuesday of each month. 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.
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REI Building Project Update
Important Date: Nov 3 after the service: Celebration of our new spaces!
Theresa deBoer, REI Building Project Manager
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Religious Exploration For All Ages
Join us at 10:00 AM in Worship for All ages!
What were the numbers last week? Total =54
Last Saturday, October 26, the Middle School group and five adults attended services and a Bar Mitzvah celebration at Chabad of Flagstaff. This visit was scheduled as a supplement to the curriculum, Building Bridges. The group will study world religions this year and have the opportunity to visit several places of worship. Dru Monroe, their teacher shared her enthusiasm and joy for working with the youth and said, "
It was a very sweet and educational experience for all."
If you are interested in joining them, please let me know! Coming up is Buddhism in November and Catholicism in December.
Coming up:
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November Share the Plate Partner
For October and November, Beacon UU is sharing the plate with Flagstaff Family Food Center. Serving around 63,000 daily meals per year in their location on N. Second Street, the Center also provides a children's reading room, delivers to the Flagstaff Shelter Services an evening meal for those who might be staying the night, and provides Back Door and Mobile Sack Lunches. They have a food rescue program from local grocery stores and distribute food no longer good for human consumption to local farms and ranches, so there is zero waste.
Undesignated contributions in this month's offerings above $350 will be presented to the Share The Plate partner. Nominations for 501c3 agencies can be made through a form located at the top of the stairs in the CAC folder, or contact Office@beaconuu.com
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Our Caring Connections
Confidential Pastoral care is available to all members and friends, new and longstanding. Our Caring Circle works with our minister to offer support, practical assistance, and companionship. Please let us know (through our team, staff, musical or affinity groups) of needs for a listening ear and caring connections. Contact Rev. Robin or Dorothy Rissel at
dorothy.rissel@gmail.com
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Great Job Everyone!
We raised $154.09 for the Flagstaff Food Bank and Kitchen through our Trick or Treating for Charity. That is a wonderful Halloween treat for people in need in Flagstaff.
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Recognition From Beacon Board
The Beacon Board recognizes and is appreciative of the staff members, Amy Huntereece, April Yax, Gabriel Hernandez, and Rev. Robin Zucker for their diligence and dedication to the church during the disruptions caused by our construction and remodeling. They have helped to maintain order and consistency for everyone. Thank you.
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Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, October 31, 2019
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
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Connect with Rev. Robin
Sunday, Nov 3, 2019
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
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Beacon Auction
Saturday, Nov 2, 2019
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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Esoteric Book Club
Monday, Nov 4, 2019
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
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Worship & Religious Exploration
Sunday, Nov 3, 2019
10:00 am - 11:00 am
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Worship Associates Meeting
Wednesday, Nov 6, 2019
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
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Celebration of Our New Spaces
Sunday, Nov 3, 2019
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
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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* & Contacts
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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)
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Director of RE,
Amy Huntereece
Mon: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Tues: 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Wed:
8:00 am - 1:00 pm,
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Sun: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Or by appointment
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Office Manager,
April Yax
Working remotely as of
Oct 1, 2019.
Please email
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Beacon board, committee, and staff email addresses can be found here:
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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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Dear Members and Friends,
Public users of the Beacon website see only the public facing information. There are many pages of additional information available to those who have registered and are assigned the role of "Member" or "Friend" by the webmaster. To get started click register.
Be sure to record your username and password somewhere safe. If you are listed in the Beacon directory send an email to
webmaster@beaconuu.com to set your role for access to information about what the leadership is up to, minutes of meetings, decisions of the Board, projects planned by the Core Leadership Council, as well as contact information for members and committee chairs. Your Beacon website is the place to go for copies of the bylaws, policies, and other documents that establish the business of Beacon.
Webmaster@beaconuu.com
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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 or Visit:
https://groups.google.com/d/forum/uuflag
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