Spiritually Open, Intentionally Inclusive since 1958
510 N Leroux
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928-779-4492e
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E-News for September 8th - 15th, 2022

~ SUNDAYS AT BEACON ~

WE’RE BACK IN THE SANCTUARY FOR WORSHIP! PLEASE JOIN US.
Masks are optional. (Special seating area for mask wearers is available.)

SERVICE FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2022, AT 10 A.M.

“Standing Knee Deep In Life”


ALL ARE WELCOME! You BELONG at Beacon. Spiritually open and intentionally inclusive since 1958.


As we enter our final year together in Interim Ministry and embark on your search for your next Minister, what might it mean to get beyond that shivering dread of “knee deep” and plunge fully into the waves? We’ll explore this theme through two fascinating concepts – YES (A Year of Experimental Space) and Adrienne Maree Brown’s paradigm of “Emergent Strategy.”   Rev. Robin Landerman Zucker, preaching, with Worship Associate Andy Hogg, and music from Andrez Alcazar and Austin Shaw.


We’ll also share our Water Communion Ceremony with a 4-part Honoring Ritual, so bring a small container of water from a special place or that symbolizes that place (even your backyard hose or kitchen faucet). We’ll have some water on hand, too. 


A SWEET INGATHERING SOCIAL HOUR AFTER THE SERVICE--You are welcome to bring something sweet to share with our coffee after the service. INVITE YOUR FRIENDS WHO MAY FIND A HOME AT BEACON. 

KIDS AT BEACON - ALL ARE WELCOME!
Children and youth are always welcome in worship! There will be activity packets available for children during the service.
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.

MAKING MUSIC AT BEACON


Lift up your voice…It's going to be a fabulous year for music at Beacon! All are welcome to join the choir. And it’s a great way to introduce friends who like to sing to Beacon. 


Choir Rehearsals will be held on TUESDAY nights at 7 p.m. 

SPLINTERS FROM THE BOARD

AUGUST 24, 2022

The Board met on 24 August, 2022, and recognized Barry Brenneman for the painting, yard work, and control of weeds he has done. The rain has encouraged extra growth. The Board also recognized the wonderful community spirit shown at the Rock and Roll service led by Andy Hogg. Thank you. 


One of the Strategic Plan goals was the review of our committee structure. The Board is searching for members to enrich and direct the Congregational Vitality Committee. We have had several new members join the congregation and want to maintain the growth of our community.  


The Board continues to explore the 8th Principle. Over 200 UU congregations have adopted the Principle which articulates a commitment to dismantling white supremacy within our faith and the world community. Information will be shared in the future, so that we have time to discuss, share, and learn about the 8th Principle and what it means for Beacon. More information can be found here.


Please contact members of the Board if you have questions or concerns.


In covenant, 

Lynda L. Dorweiler, President

IMPORTANT!

CONGREGATION SURVEY


Dear Members and Friends at Beacon,

 

The Search Committee is asking for your help in determining what qualities the congregation is looking for in our next settled minister. This brief survey will help the Search Committee better understand the needs of the congregation and what the congregation wants Beacon to look like in the future.


The information we collect will be completely anonymous. The Search Committee would like you to provide as much information as possible, even the demographic information is highly useful as it gives potential candidates a window into the makeup of our congregation. The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) would like to see at least 60% participation in the Congregational Survey. As such, your participation is greatly appreciated and important to our work. The survey will end on September 26, 2022.


Thank you for taking the time to provide the Search Committee with valuable feedback. The survey link will be sent to you in a separate email. If you have any questions or concerns about the survey, you are welcome to contact Collin Weller at cjweller76@hotmail.com or  lore m. dickey at (318) 265-4287.

THE BEACON AUCTION IS BACK! 

SAVE THE DATE: NOVEMBER 12, 2022


After a two-year break during Covid, the Beacon Auction Team is happy to announce that we will be holding our annual fundraiser auction this year! Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 12. And for the first time, we will hold the auction at Beacon now that we have the space to do so. We'll have both our live and silent auctions, along with raffle and door prizes. It's not too early to start thinking about what you'd like to offer for the auction.  If you're interested in volunteering, please email the Auction Team at auction@beaconuu.com

BEACON SPOTLIGHT:

RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION


The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly


The Beacon RE Team is happy to announce that

we will continue remote classes this fall for 5th grade through high school youth


When: at 11:15 a.m. on the first and third Sundays of the month, commencing on September 18, 2022, and concluding on May 21, 2023.  


What The theme of our classes this year is The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly!  We will consider some of the most popular TV shows out there - watching during class a variety of 22-minute episodes, past and present.


Why: To examine the relevance of each episode to our UU principles and the values of youth today.  At the end of each lesson, we'll put on our critic's hat and give  a thumbs up or thumbs down vote as to whether the show should be saved for posterity or lost to history! It's going to be FUN!  


How Please join us by connecting to this Zoom link

Meeting ID: 865 1117 5263

Passcode: beacon510




Click here to check out our RE programs from years past.

RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION FOR ADULTS

R U a UU? 

One Sunday a month – Just after the service. Have you been one without even knowing it? So many questions?! Grab a coffee and meet with Rev. Robin after the service on the following Sundays for a one-hour conversation about Unitarian Universalism and your own spiritual journeys to the door of Beacon.


The next RU a UU? session will be held on Sunday, October 16th.

Please stay tuned for notices about future adult education offerings.

Donate with Vanco
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.
DONATION DESIGNATION
When you make donations by check or cash to Beacon, please be sure to designate whether the donation is PLEDGE or PLATE. Thank you for your continued support!
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.

JOYS AND SORROWS FROM SEPTEMBER 4TH


Sharon was unfortunately the recipient of two floods in her yard this summer--lots of mud and water that has now turned to dust--and asks that she not be judged for her dusty car and person.


Jeremy is elated to be back. His father passed away in May, and recently his brother was badly burned in a housefire, but his elderly mother seems to be handling things well. He hopes to return to the UK soon.


Cheryl shared that lore took a bad tumble this weekend but seems most concerned about their damaged camera lens.


Dora had a second ablation last week because the previous one didn't work.  She's up and about and intends to survive.


Roz is proud of her grand daughters: the older one has completed the first couple of weeks at medical school while the younger one just finished her first week at Oberlin.


Rev. Robin had a great time with her daughter and new granddaughter.  She truly enjoyed holding a newborn again and watching her daughter fall in love with her new baby.


Pia is grateful to have spent a week with her months old granddaughter, giving some needed respite to her parents.   She's also relieved that her daughter found affordable housing in Flagstaff.


Mark cherished his three daughters' recent visit, especially seeing them all together and sharing their love for each other.  His middle daughter had a baby last December while his oldest is due at the end of September.  

CELEBRATION OF DORA HARRISON: 

SAVE THE DATE!

Our beloved Dora is moving to Florida! 

 

Come celebrate all she has meant to us 

after the service at Beacon

on Sunday, September 25th

 

We’ll have light refreshments and share our favorite stories of Dora!! 

CHEAP LUNCH BUNCH IS BACK!

ALL ARE WELCOME! To opine on the time and location of the next gathering and to be included in all the group's future emails, please email Anne at wittke.anne@gmail.com

JULY-SEPTEMBER 2022 SHARE THE PLATE PARTNER

Beacon’s community partner for July-September 2022 is

Northern Arizona Interfaith Council/Northern Arizona Interfaith Institutions for Community Leadership (NAIC/NAICL).



For July-September 2022, Beacon UU will Share the Plate with Northern Arizona Interfaith Council/Northern Arizona Interfaith Institutions for Community Leadership (NAIC/NAICL).  More information can be found here


BEACON'S ENDOWMENT PLAN APPROVED

The Board was very pleased to see so many of our members in attendance at the congregational meeting on April 24, 2022, where we discussed and approved Beacon's new Endowment Plan. This plan was developed by Rich Clark, Mary Poore, and Holly Taylor. It was then circulated to all our members and revised in response to their comments. In spring 2022, it was reviewed and enthusiastically approved by Beacon’s Board. Forty-eight members attended the congregational meeting, far exceeding the quorum of 23 members that is currently required for Beacon to conduct official business. Rich Clark presented the Endowment Plan, and Mary Poore and Holly Taylor answered questions. Carl Taylor proposed two minor changes in the wording of the plan which were immediately accepted by the Endowment Committee. The plan was then approved unanimously, with all 48 members voting in favor. The Endowment’s Board of Governors: Rich Clark, Mary Poore, Holly Taylor, Barry Brenneman, and Steve Zeldes, was then unanimously approved, thus marking an important step to ensure that Beacon remains a strong and vibrant congregation in the years to come.

The amendment, as approved, can be found here.
A summary of the Endowment Fund amendment can be found here.
LEGACY GIVING TIP – DID YOU KNOW?

You don’t have to confess your age, but if you are 72 or older, you may be required to pay federal taxes on the RMDs, “required minimum distributions,” that you now must take from certain types of your invested retirement funds. Did you know that you may be able to reduce your tax bill by contributing to Beacon’s stewardship campaign or to Beacon’s new Endowment Fund?  See your tax consultant for more specific individual advice about whether you could benefit both Beacon and yourself by adopting this tax strategy.
ACTIVATE AT BEACON WITH SOCIAL JUSTICE ALLIES!
The Social Justice Allies meet monthly on Zoom to discuss issues and actions. If you wish to join them, contact the convener Paul Beier. paul.beier@nau.edu

WEAR IT ON YOUR SLEEVE

Social Justice Spotlight

Joan Dewey has recently shared with us about WP4BLM--“White People For Black Lives Matter”--which was created in September 2020 in response to the murder of George Floyd. The group meets via Zoom at least once monthly.  For a WP4BLM Zoom invitation and  link, please contact Joan at joanpdewey@gmail.com.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED A.S.A.P.

FOR AN ELECTION FORUM FOR CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES


Just a reminder that Friends of Flagstaff’s Future needs 20 volunteers to serve as facilitators at a forum for the 10 candidates for four open seats on Flagstaff City Council.


What issues are important to you? Flagstaff’s first-ever Affordable housing plan (Feb 2022)? Flagstaff’s first-ever Carbon neutrality plan (June 2021)? Flagstaff’s first-ever Active transportation management plan (September 2021)? Planning for the last 2,000 acres of developable land in the City? Wildfires & floods? Something else? Whatever your priorities, the 4 winners of this election will be 2/3 of the votes needed to make progress on your issues.


The forum will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2022 from 9 a.m. until noon. To serve as a facilitator, you must attend a 1-hour training session on either Tuesday, September 20th at 5 p.m.  or Wednesday, September 21st at 10 a.m. Do you want to help Flagstaff citizens make the best choices for City Council? Can you commit to the aforementioned hours? If so, sign up here. Flagstaff thanks you.

A Unique Local Candidate Forum:

NORTHERN ARIZONA INTERFAITH COUNCIL (NAIC)'S

ACCOUNTABILITY SESSION

AT FLAGSTAFF FEDERATED COMMUNITY CHURCH, 400 W. ASPEN

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 7:00 P.M.

Before every election cycle, NAIC presents a Candidate Accountability Session, the purposes of which are to:

  • Develop a relationship with each candidate;
  • Learn about each candidate’s issue priorities;
  • Share with each candidate NAIC’s issue priorities;
  • Learn whether candidates plan to support NAIC’s issues;
  • Learn whether each candidate—if elected—is willing to continue to work with NAIC for the betterment of our community.

 

NAIC’s main issues?

  • Education, including FUSD’s Bond/Override proposition
  • Immigration, including Proposition 308 (access to in-state university tuition rate for immigrants who have attended AZ high schools for at least 2 years—basically DACA people. (Overlaps with Education, of course.)
  • City of Flagstaff Housing Bond proposition, a 10-year plan to create more affordable housing in our community (a Mayoral/City Council issue)

 

The NAIC Candidate Accountability Session coming up next week—Wed. evening at 7:00pm—offers these helpful structural features:

  • Focus on two categories of public office: FUSD Governing Board and City of Flagstaff positions (Mayor and City Council);
  • A limited number of issues every candidate will address;
  • Limited time for candidate responses (2 minutes), monitored by a time-keeper;
  • No comments from audience.

 

A personal/professional reflection

Most of you know I am a retired FUSD principal. In addition, my present NAIC task is scheduling and meeting with each School Board candidate in at least one—in some cases two—small group sessions in advance of the Accountability Session. I understand the crucial importance of Governing Board members’ values, intentions and communication effectiveness. I urge you and anyone you can bring along with you to join us next Wednesday evening (7:00pm at Federated Community Church) to decide for yourselves which Board candidates will be most likely to support our UU values in our local public school district.

 

In community,

Roz Clark

THE BIG SEND IS BACK!

Midterm elections are all about turnout, and handwritten letters have proven to be an effective way to encourage voters to participate in our democracy. We're writing voter turnout letters now to send to voters in October.


Getting started with Vote Forward is easy:


  1. Visit votefwd.org/dashboard to complete your Vote Forward registration. If you need help, take a look at our instructions.
  2. When your account is approved, log in at votefwd.org.
  3. Choose a key state or district letter writing campaign, and “adopt” voters on your Vote Forward dashboard.
  4. Download, print, and prepare your letters.
  5. Keep your finished letters somewhere safe.
  6. Mail your letters on October 29—right before Election Day when they’ll have the greatest impact.

ISSUES + ACTION DAY 2022

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22ND, 9am - 5pm

Join us to celebrate at our BIG annual statewide event…back in person for the first time since 2019! Issues + Action Day brings us together as UUs from across Arizona, along with folks from our partner organizations, and visits from national UU guest speakers, in order to grow our movement for social justice, and put our faith into action. 


Reserve your early-bird tickets by October 1st  here.

LOVE IN ACTION

Our social justice work centers putting our UU values into action… but what do UUs value? In 2020, the UUA commissioned a team to study the principles, sources, purpose, and values of Unitarian Universalism in order to suggest changes to the principles and sources (Article 2) in summer 2023.  UUJAZ has been following the proposed changes, and we want to hold space for a weekly conversation to explore our individual and collective values.  Learn more about the Article 2 Study commission hereTo register for the conversation with Rev. Anthony Johnson in Sedona on Wednesdays Nov 9th - December 14th, 10:30am - 12pm, click here.


~ Beacon Connections ~

Volunteer At Flagstaff Food Center With Beacon!

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR SEPTEMBER 28TH.

The Flagstaff Food Center is doing small group volunteers for their dinner service! Beacon is looking for a group of five (5) to seven (7) volunteers. Volunteers are needed the 4th & 5th Wednesdays of every month, from 3pm-6pm. The dinner service is at the FFFC Kitchen (1903 N 2nd Street). Beacon's next volunteer date is Wednesday, September  28th from 3:00-6:00 p.m.


It's now a hybrid operation with To-Go meals and Dine-in service.


Volunteer Safety: Volunteers are required to wear a mask, closed-toe shoes, and long pants; regularly wash or sanitize their hands; and practice six feet of social distancing whenever possible. Gloves for food preparation and distribution will be provided at the kitchen to each volunteer. Plexiglass has been installed at the walk-up window as a safeguard against COVID-19. The center has enhanced cleaning protocols.


Sue Strobel is organizing monthly teams of Beacon UU volunteers. If you're interested in volunteering, please contact Sue at 928 522-3284 (cell) or 928-526-5156 (home).


More summer volunteer opportunities can be found here.

OTHER EVENTS IN ARIZONA
The Arizona Faith Network offers many opportunities to enroll in free webinars and sign on to many actions and initiatives across the spectrum of social justice issues.
Events include programs on “Empathy, Exhaustion and Social Change,” Circles of Hope, Healing and Humanity, and meetings of various teams addressing voting rights, criminal reform, hunger issues, racial justice, and indigenous rights. Find out more: https://www.arizonafaithnetwork.org/

YA New Series – Becoming S.A.G.E. – Spiritual Activists for the Earth


Arizona Interfaith Power and Light is excited to announce the launch of a new interview series called “Becoming S.A.G.E. – Spirited Activists Greening the Earth.” We interview the Sages among us who are engaging in faithful advocacy living out AZIPL’s mission to mobilize people of faith and conscience to care for our common home and work for climate justice. Find out more (including YouTube links) at http://www.azipl.org

Lifespan Religious Exploration Resources for Learning About and Responding to Racism
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.
THIS WEEK AT BEACON ~

WORSHIP SERVICE


Sunday, September 11th, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.

“Standing Knee Deep In Life”


in the Beacon Sanctuary

You can keep up with future Beacon events by checking out the Beacon calendar!
EVERYDAY WAYS TO SUPPORT BEACON
1. If you shop at all at Fry's grocery, you can either sign up for your own VIP account (identifying Beacon UUC FE392 as your beneficiary) or use the church phone number (928-779-4492) to get any available discounts AND earn some money for Beacon. Currently, there are 8 households signed up, and Beacon earned $15.30 for this quarter.

If you want to take advantage of Fry's gasoline discounts, you'll want your own VIP account. You can create or edit an existing individual account at www.frysfood.com/account/create/ (Alt ID is typically your phone number.) Within your account settings, just click on Community Rewards and search for FE392 (Flagstaff's Beacon UU) to set Beacon as your beneficiary.

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. Until September 30th, 2022, iGive.com has a New Member promotion: For each new Beacon iGive member who signs up by September 30th and makes a purchase through iGive within 45 days, Beacon earns an additional $15 donation! After creating your own account with a user name and password, select settings and "my cause" and type in Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation (do not abbreviate UU). You can order from any of the over 2,300 stores listed under iGive with a portion of your purchase being donated to Beacon. iGive.com also has coupons you can use for additional savings.

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? Please leave them on a card in the bin in the lobby, or send them to Rev. Robin. 
BEACON OFFICE HOURS AND CONTACTS~
Office Phone (928) 779-4492
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) 
Get to know Rev. Robin at
RE Team



We have an incredibly strong team leading our RE this year. You can direct your RE questions to Linda: lindaochi31@gmail.com
Office Manager
Paula Czernicki
she/her/hers

Mon: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Wed: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Thurs: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

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!
Emails have been received from a false address pretending to be Rev. Robin. 
These are not from her! The emails received ask the recipient to purchase gift cards. Please do not respond to or act on these emails. Rev. Robin will only email you from minister@beaconuu.com or rzflowingforce@gmail.com

As a personal habit, always check the sender's email address before responding.
Avoid this scam!
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. 

~ BEACON GOOGLE GROUP ~

If you are not a member of Beacon's dedicated Google group, you are missing out on an important communications link within our congregation. The BeaconUU Group is useful for sharing information about goings-on in Flagstaff, especially social justice events; offering an item for sale or to give away; expressing enthusiasm about a book or movie; requesting information or recommendations -- and more! It's simple to sign up:

Email office@beaconuu.com or Visit here.

Contribute to Beacon's Weekly News

Newsletter submissions must be submitted by Wednesday at 4:00 pm 
to office@beaconuu.com in order to be included in the newsletter.