Spiritually Open, Intentionally Inclusive since 1958
510 N Leroux
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928-779-4492e
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E-News for December 23rd - December 30th, 2021
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AN IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM THE MINISTER AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES:
BEACON’S UPDATED COVID POLICY BEGINNING SUNDAY JANUARY 2, 2022
Due to an uptick in COVID cases and the emergence of the Omicron variant, we have updated our safety policy to include proof of full vaccination status (2 or 3 shots) for ages 5 and older. This new policy is not a judgement of personal health care decisions. It is an institutional policy to safeguard the well-being of the community.
Beginning, Sunday January 2, 2022, vaccination will be required to attend worship services, participate in the choir, and be part of small group gatherings. We will still expect masks to be worn and hands to be sanitized. Committee meetings will continue to take place mostly on Zoom.
On January 2, 2022 (or the next time you attend a Sunday service) please bring your COVID vaccination card or a photo of the card on your phone. Once we have verified your status, you’ll have a small dot placed on your nametag. You can also email a photo of your COVID vaccination card to the Beacon office in advance of January 2, 2022 and we’ll put the sticker on your nametag in advance. office@beaconuu.com
Thank you. We’ll continue to adapt and update this policy along with new public health developments.
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- Sundays at Beacon -
WE’RE BACK IN THE SANCTUARY FOR WORSHIP! JOIN US.
Masks required.
No In-Person Service Sunday, December 26
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A Special All-Ages Service For Christmas Eve: December 24th, 2021, at 5:30pm - “Cindy Lou Who and the Heart of the Holiday" The grumpy green Grinch, from the Dr. Seuss classic, did the Whos down in Whoville one colossal favor by “stealing” Christmas. When we first encounter them, the village inhabitants are caught up in their annual “Whobilation,” a crass tribute to wretched excess. That is, except, sweet little Cindy Lou Who, the moppet they consider a radical because she wants to spend quality time with her family and lift up the heart of the holiday. Cindy Lou reminds us that “Christmas doesn’t come from a store” as we rejoice and celebrate together in our Beacon Sanctuary for the first time in two years. Hosted by Rev. Robin, with Andy Hogg and the Beacon Choir, under the direction of Jason Drahos. Ancient and modern readings, familiar carols, a “Grinchy” dramatic vignette, Silent Night candle-lighting, and choir offerings galore! Holiday-themed sweaters and such welcome!
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NO IN-PERSON SERVICE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26th
Virtual Service For December 26th, 2021 - “Honoring Kwanzaa-A Recorded Service On Our Youtube Channel"
Kwanzaa is a Swahili word that means "first" and signifies the first fruits of the harvest. From December 26 to January 1, many African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa, a secular festival of cultural heritage and seven traditional values: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (faith). Words, music and rituals to honor Kwanzaa, with excerpts from a service presented by the Sedona UU Fellowship and Rev. Anthony Mtuaswa Johnson. The service will be posted by noon on Saturday, November 25th. Watch the service on our Youtube Channel!
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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 You can also view past sermon descriptions and PDFs on our website here.
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 has resumed its rehearsals and live performances in worship. 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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Name That Room! Let’s Get Creative!
Throughout the month of November, the Board welcomed ideas for naming our meeting rooms here in our newly and beautifully renovated space. There are sheets in the Social Hall (what should we call that?!) where you can add your ideas. In January, we’ll have raffle style voting for the top ideas. You can submit names until December 24th.
Some guidelines on names – Good choices would include features in nature (the Peaks Room, the Mesa), names that evoke a feeling or environment (ex. The meditation room) allusions to UUism and names of historic people (the Clara Barton Room, the Chalice Room) We’re not accepting suggestions for names of current or former congregants.
You can submit your name suggestions via this form or the physical forms in the kitchen area.
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Holiday collection for the Coconino Humane Society at Beacon UU
This holiday season, we are collecting for the Coconino Humane Society.
We’ll have bins in the foyer at Beacon from Dec 5-24.
Here’s their wish list for Fluffys and Fidos:
Dry Puppy food
Wet puppy food
Dog treats
Wet cat food - Pate style as easier for them to eat
Non-clumping litter (always desperately in need!)
Cat toys
Cat treats
Gauze
Cast bandages
Small splints for dog legs
Bleach
Small flannel blankets (I’ve seen them for $3 at Walmart on a low shelf)
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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!
Volunteers are crucial for the success of Religious Exploration. As more children start getting vaccinated, Beacon wants to have open arms and classrooms for and child who wants to join us. RE volunteers work from 10am-11am to care for children with Alexei Besser-Gilbert. Please consider donating your time to an hour of volunteer work with wonderful kids! You can sign up in the church lobby or at this link!
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.
Religious Exploration is back at Beacon!
Note: There is a small error in this letter. Alexei's hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 10am-3pm.
RE Offerings for December 26th, 2021
Due to the online service, there will be no RE this week.
The CartUUns and D'oh God coordinators are excited to return to classes on January 9th, and creative play is available for kids whenever there is an in-person service.
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Religious Exploration for Adults
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New programs coming in January! |
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Pacific Western Region camps will be open summer of 2022 to middle and high school youth with age specific programming. Woo hoo!
All staff and participants will adhere to strict safety guidelines including up to date methods to ensure COVID precautions are maintained.
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QUUest Camp - July 3-9, in Casper, WY with a bus from the Denver area
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Camp Blue Boat - July 17-22, in Ellensburg, WA
See you in the woods this summer!
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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 for December 19th, 2021
Linda sends her support for teachers in this uncertain time.
Lore's mother has been diagnosed with cancer and is in treatment.
Roz's two granddaughters have made major achievements- the younger just graduated high school and the other is going to medical school!
Marian, a new visitor, asks for thoughts for her brother who slipped and injured himself.
Kendall expresses her concern for and as a hospital worker- it's been hard recently.
Marie expresses sadness over the most senior teacher passing away at their school from COVID.
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Holiday Support
Is the holiday season a “blue” time for you? If you are experiencing the weight of sadness, loss or loneliness this month, please reach out to Rev. Robin for conversation and support.
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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 October-December, Beacon will share the plate with Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona and Sharon Manor. Housing Solutions helps local residents identify and maintain safe, decent, and affordable housing. It offers counseling to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, credit counseling, pre-purchase assistance and works with AHC in constructing or remodeling homes using sustainable green building solutions.
Through Sharon Manor, the organization helps homeless victims of violence and their children on their journey out of violence and poverty and into economic independence, safety, health, and self-sufficiency. Domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness for women and their children in the United States. Local shelters play a critical role in helping families in crisis, but they are short-term in nature.
Housing Solutions is currently remodeling a hotel to provide transitional occupancy for the homeless.
The impact for 2020 showed
28 families obtained first-time home ownership
178 people received pre-purchase or credit counselling
113 received foreclosure assistance
25 rental units are occupied
78 found safety at Sharon Manor
Undesignated contributions to this quarter’s Sunday service offerings above $300 will be presented to Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona and Sharon Manor. Nominations for 501c3 agencies can be made through a form located in the office in the CAC folder or by contacting a CAC member.
CAC members are Susan Patrick, Katy Grant, Joanne Parkes, and Lynda L. Dorweiler.
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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!)
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Together We Will, Flagstaff Postcard Writers weekly group
The postcard writers will be together every week on Wednesday at 7 PM on Zoom
Meeting ID: 841 1623 9939
Passcode: postcards
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SIDE WITH LOVE ACTION CENTER
The work that we do together to build a world in which all of us are free and thriving is interrelated. When we ground our spirits, grow our skills, and act strategically for justice in deep relationship with each other and our Movements, we choose to Side With Love.
Action Center is a place where we unite in work towards a world where we all thrive. Together we take action, Side With Love, and make deep impacts in this critical moment. Links for various action areas such as Democracy, LGBTQ and Gender Justice, and Climate Justice.
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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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Liminal Flagstaff
Liminal is a nonprofit community center recently opened on 217 S. San Francisco St. Offering resources, a pay-what-you can cafe, and a space to have fun freely and safely. We will share any upcoming events they have here!
You can learn more about Liminal and how to support them through their Instagram and Linktree.
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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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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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Christmas Eve Service
Friday, December 24th, 2021
5:30pm
“Cindy Lou Who and the Heart of the Holiday"
Beacon Sanctuary
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Worship
Sunday, December 26th, 2021
10:00 am
"Honoring Kwanzaa-A Recorded Service On Our Youtube Channel"
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Choir Rehearsal
Every Thursday
7-8:30pm
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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
she/her/hers
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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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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