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Baja 4
Unitarian Universalists from across Southeast Arizona
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We are the Baja 4!
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.
Learn more about each congregation!
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Celebrations and Special Days
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)
- War of the Worlds radio lay causes mass hysteria - Oct. 30 (1938)
Interfaith
- 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
- 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
- Toni Morrison becomes the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature - Oct. 8, 1993
- United Nations Day - Oct. 24
- Halloween, All Soul's Eve - Oct. 31
- Dia de los Muertos - Oct.31 - Nov. 2
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Baja 4 Mascot
Welcome, Sonora the Javelina!
Sonora uses them/them pronouns and will begin going on BIG adventures soon. Stay tuned for more!
PS. Sonora LOVES to get email! If you have any questions about the Baja 4 LFD Programming or just want to say "hi" reach out!
Baja4Sonora@gmail.com
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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.
Greetings! My name is Nancy and I’ve been a member of Borderlands UU for 10 years and I’m currently serving as the Board Vice President. I was born and raised in Wisconsin and spent most of my work life in the Seattle, Washington area. I retired 10 years ago and live with my husband and "Daisydog” in Tubac, Az. My education and work experience focused on the areas of education, mental health services, worker advocacy and organization development. I’m a hiker, meditator and food-music-travel enthusiast.
If you were a superhero, who would you be?
I’d be Marvel’s “Super Girl”. She represents a cheerful and optimistic heroism that’s not usually found in superheroes.
What’s an easy way to do something nice for someone?
Send a handwritten note or letter to someone. I think that in today’s social media communication world, the art of writing a letter by hand is being forgotten. I know how special I feel when I receive this gift from someone.
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Check This Out!
We Are a People of 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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Lay Down Among the Wild Things... and Renew Your Senses
In his well-known and beloved poem, The Peace of Wild Things, Wendell Berry speaks of lying down in the midst of nature and letting it renew him. You can read it as instructions for how to tap into nature’s restorative power. As an exercise this month, take it a step further and engage the exercise with all five of your senses. Simply lie down in a natural setting of your choosing and then, with attention and mindfulness, slowly ask yourself these five questions:
1. What do I see?
2. What do I hear?
3. What do I smell?
4. What do I feel against my clothes and skin?
5. What can I taste? (A bit tricky but be creative.)
In each case, follow up each of the five questions with an additional one: “And what is that trying to say to me?” In other words, after you identify what is catching your eye, as “how is this trying to speak to me?” After noticing what you smell ask, “What message might this have for my soul?” Remember this is not so much about trying to create a long list and figure out how many things you can notice. Instead it’s about trying to sort through the many things you see, smell, hear, touch and taste in order to find the one thing that really sticks out to your senses. And then discerning why it was that particular thing that grabbed you and what it’s deeper restorative message might be.
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This exercise is imagined and designed by Soul Matters’ new Creativity Consultant, Elizabeth McKoy. Think of it as making room for your right brain to dance with your left brain. | |
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A Renewal Box to Remind You
Reminders are essential to renewal. Normal life has a way of crowding out opportunities for rest, rejuvenation and what matters most. Because of this we have to be intentional about reminding ourselves to make room for renewal. And nothing helps us remember better than physical reminders. So this month engage your creativity and create “a renewal box” covered with and containing physical items and visual images that will help you renew and keep you connected to your core commitments as well as the things that nourish you most.
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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. 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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Halloween Game Night with TUUYA
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).
Zoom in at: https://zoom.us/j/5716364277
Meeting ID: 571 636 4277
Password: 973902
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Laughter Yoga
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
October 19 & 20
Zoom in at: https://zoom.us/j/99073129659
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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2nd Hour
November 7, 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!
**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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