~ 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.)

ALL ARE WELCOME! You BELONG at Beacon.

Spiritually open and intentionally inclusive since 1958.

SERVICE FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4th, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.

“Luminescence - the Hospitality of Candles"

Welcoming Advent, the season of light. Rev. Robin Landerman Zucker, preaching, with Worship Associate Pia Driessen-Knittle.  Music from Austin Shaw and the Beacon choir, under the direction of Andrez Alcazar. 

SERVICE FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11th, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.

“A Humanist Sermon on the Mount for 2022”

Rev. Robin Landerman Zucker, preaching with Worship Associate Kim Angelo. Don’t miss the music from the NAU Acapella Carolers! Social Justice Witness from Summer Grandy of the Flagstaff Food Center. 

AT HOME AT BEACON THROUGH THE HOLIDAY SEASON--

COME WORSHIP AND CELEBRATE! 

December 18 -  “Wrestling with Angels and Demons” – Antisemitism and the meaning of Hanukkah today. Rev. Robin Landerman Zucker, preaching with Worship Nancy Paxton. Music from Austin Shaw, Andrez Alcazar and Kim Angelo. 

Saturday, December 24 – Christmas Eve – "Wrapped In Wonder” – One family-friendly service at 5:30 p.m. Readings, reflections, carols and our choir singing a marvelous seasonal selection of pieces. Led by Rev. Robin Landerman Zucker and the Worship Associates. Cookie swap after the service! 

December 25 – No service, church closed. Links to livestreamed services at other UU churches will be publicized. 

January 1 – “The Spirituality of Cats and Dogs,” Andy Hogg preaching, with special music from Kim Angelo and Andrez Alcazar.  

~ THE NEXT TWO WEEKS AT BEACON ~

WORSHIP SERVICE

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

“The 10 about Jesus and a Sermon on the Mount for 2022”

in the Beacon Sanctuary

CHOIR REHEARSAL

Tuesday, December 13th, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.

in the Beacon Sanctuary

LOVE IN ACTION

Wednesday, December 14th, 2022, 10:30 a.m.-Noon

via Zoom

See details for all events here in the e-news.  

You can keep up with future Beacon events by checking out the Beacon calendar!

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. 

Questions? Email our Choir Director Andrez Alcazar. 

BEACON SPOTLIGHT:

12TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY STONE SOUP DINNER

A League of Neighborhoods invites the community to the 12th Annual CommUnity STONE SOUP Dinner:

Wednesday, Dec. 7th, 5-8 p.m. @ the Murdoch Center 203 E. Brannen Ave.

There will be 20+ different soups to enjoy (e.g., Posole, Chili, Beef Stew). Soda/water and music will also be provided.

Please bring your bowl, bring your family, and bring a friend! And come enjoy being a part of this beautiful community! This is a FREE event.

A League of Neighborhoods (ALN) is a partnership representing the La Plaza Vieja Neighborhood Association (LPVNA), the Southside Community Association (SCA), and the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association (SNA).

BEACON AUCTION 2022

BEACONSTOCK

Beacon's 23rd annual auction, held on Saturday, November 12, was great fun--with a night of cool music, groovy costumes, delicious food, and plenty of drink. It was wonderful being in our own space!

We raised $5,500 this year. Although donations and attendance were a bit down from past years, we are so happy to be back to doing our biggest fundraiser after a 2-year hiatus during the pandemic. We are confident that next year will be bigger and better!

If you missed out on the auction, there are some big items still available:

1. Florida Getaway $500
2. Bookman’s Gift Cards $800 (face value)
3. 2 Spots for Indian Gardens Hike $60 ($30 each)
4. Folding Bicycles $150
5. Inflatable Kayak $125   

If interested, please email Katy or Eric at auction@beaconuu.com

A big thank you to all of you who donated items, bid on items, donated food and drink, and volunteered with set-up, the auction itself, and clean-up! It is truly wonderful the way the whole congregation comes together for this all-important event.

BEACON BOOK SALE

There will be an ongoing book sale in the corner of the Social Room until we deplete the supply of books left over from the yard sale. This is part of the yard sale fundraiser. We will be adding a new selection each week, so be sure to browse through and leave a donation for whatever books you’d like!

Thanks,

Dennis

RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION FOR KIDS

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY (GBU):

RE FOR 5TH GRADE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH

GBU meets remotely on the first and third Sundays of each month.

On December 18th, 2022, at 11:15 a.m., GBU will celebrate the December holiday season with a fun filled class of remote games. This is always a favorite class for our remote class. Come join in the fun!

January 1st, 2023: A Sunday off to enjoy with your family!

Beacon Zoom Link:  

Join Zoom Meeting

Please join us by connecting this Zoom link

Meeting ID: 865 1117 5263

Passcode: beacon510

Hope to see everyone soon,

Steph van Belle

Linda Ochi

Dru Monroe

Beacon Religious Education Teaching Team

RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION FOR ADULTS

SATURDAY SPIRIT

Rev. Robin is offering a series of Saturday morning Spiritual Growth “retreats” this year. 

• Rescheduled Saturday, December 3rd, 2022, from 10 a.m. to Noon. Simply Pray: Based on the book by the Rev. Erik Wikstrom, participants in this retreat will create a beaded “mala” and learn a meditation/prayer practice free of specific religious expression.

• Saturday, January 7th, 2023, from 10 a.m. to Noon. Mindful Eating:  Just in time for your New Year's resolutions! 

PATH TO MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM

STARTS SUNDAY, JANUARY 15TH, 11:15 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

The Path to Membership series will take place after the New Year. Are you a newcomer, visitor or current friend who would like to consider membership at Beacon? We’d love to have you!  

Three Sundays: January 15, February 12, and March 12 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

Lunch will be provided. Please register with the office at office@beaconuu.com.

Led by Rev. Robin with guest Beacon leaders. Come and explore your own spiritual journey, your signature strengths and core values, the history and theology of Unitarian Universalism, and all things Beacon UU.

COOPERATIVE BOOK GROUP: LET'S READ AND REFLECT!

A Monthly Cooperative Book group launched at Beacon on November 16th. A Lunch and Linger program…bring a bag lunch. 

Do you have a book you believe would be relevant and appealing to the Beacon community (and possible newcomers) to discuss in January? If so, pick a book and a month, give folks 4 weeks to read the book and lead the discussion. Check in with Rev. Robin to schedule your meeting and book so we don’t have conflicts. 

CALLING ALL FACILITATORS! Would you like to lead an Adult Education program? Bring it On! Contact Rev. Robin to discuss your idea and scheduling possibilities.

BEACON WIFI HAS CHANGED

Thanks to Anne W., Beacon has been gifted with a new WiFi system. If you need access to the Beacon Office WiFi, please contact office@beaconuu.com.  

JOYS AND SORROWS FROM NOVEMBER 20TH

Linda's oldest daughter is celebrating her 14th birthday.

Char expressed appreciation for Robin's sermon and shared that her son wants her to move to Idaho this summer.

Andrez is excited that another academic semester is coming to a close and invited the congregation to attend the NAU Choir's holiday dinner on December 2nd and 3rd.

Robin offered a stone of gratitude to those members of Beacon who performed with the Master Chorale last week. She also shared her concerns about COVID and recent mass shootings.

JOYS AND SORROWS FROM NOVEMBER 27TH

Anne was thankful that they didn't lose power on Thanksgiving and were able to cook dinner successfully and host two international NAU students.

Kim was elated that her son came to visit her from LA although he ended up getting sick during his visit. They were able to move her into her new place, and it is starting to feel like home.

Char is joyous that her son and grandson were able to spend Thanksgiving with her and that Bryson (grandson) was able to help her decorate for Christmas.

CHEAP LUNCH BUNCH

The next Cheap Lunch Bunch get together will be on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at 11:30 a.m., at Beacon.  ALL ARE WELCOME! 

Please plan on doing a bag lunch on the first Wednesday of each month and then having lunch at a local restaurant on the third Wednesday. Doing this at standardized times should make it easier on everyone's calendars, and only doing a restaurant once a month should make it easier on our pockets.

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

OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2022 SHARE THE PLATE PARTNER

Beacon’s community partner for October-December 2022 is

SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

For October-December 2022, Beacon UU will share the plate with the Southside Community Association (SCA). The Murdoch Center, intergenerational and multicultural home of the Southside Neighborhood and the SCA, regularly hosts important civic and community meetings and events. The Murdoch Center has been the setting for town hall meetings addressing such important topics as social and criminal justice, Black representation and preservation, and Black economic inclusion and impact. Additional information about the SCA, the Murdoch Center, and the history of the Southside (including the contributions of Wilson C. Riles to end segregation in Flagstaff) can be found here.

Undesignated contributions to the Sunday service offerings above $300 from October through December will be presented to Southside Community Association.

Nominations for future Share the Plate beneficiaries (501c3 agencies) can be made through a form located in the office manager’s office. Community Action Committee members include Katy Grant, Susan Patrick, and Lynda L. Dorweiler.

BEACON'S ENDOWMENT PLAN

The Beacon Endowment Plan, an important step to ensure that Beacon remains a strong and vibrant congregation for years to come, was approved unanimously at a Congregational Meeting on April 24, 2022. For more information about the Endowment Fund, please click here. 

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. 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. 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). 

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. 

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.

8TH PRINCIPLE

On November 20, 2022, Beacon UU Congregation proudly adopted the 8th Principle. Further information about the 8th Principle can be found here.

WEAR IT ON YOUR SLEEVE

Social Justice Spotlight:

COATS FOR AFRICAN STUDENTS

Dr. Bernadine Lewis (guest speaker at Beacon on October 9th), as advisor to the NAU African Student Association, is requesting your support for the ASA students as we approach winter and the holidays:  

• The students are in need of winter coats and winter shoes/boots. (They were told not to pack winter clothing because they were heading to Arizona.)  If you'd like to donate, a Go Fund Me page has been established to purchase what they need.

• The students are also Flagstaff-bound for the upcoming holiday break. If you would like to host some students for a holiday meal, please email Bernadine.

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 here. To 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

DECEMBER 28TH.

The Flagstaff Family Food Center utilizes small groups of volunteers for their dinner service. Beacon is looking for a group of five (5) to seven (7) volunteers for the 4th & 5th Wednesdays of every month, from 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. The dinner service is at the FFFC Kitchen (1903 N 2nd Street) and is a hybrid operation with To-Go meals and Dine-in service.

Beacon's next volunteer date is Wednesday, December 28th from 3:00-6:00 p.m.  If dinnertime service does not interest you, please consider helping with prep from 10 a.m. until noon or pitching in at the warehouse on Huntington.

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 for the above dates, please contact Sue right away at (928) 522-3284 (cell) or (928) 526-5156 (home).

More FFFC volunteer opportunities can be found here.

UU Sr. High School Camp CommUUnity

at Camp de Benneville Pines

Wednesday, December 28, 2022 to Sunday, January 2, 2023 

Are you seeking to connect with other UU youth?

Learn More and Register

SAWUURA, THE ARIZONA UU CAMP

SAWUURA is a sanctuary, and we welcome all. We are hoping to increase youth involvement.

Find us at www.sawuura.org and like us at SAWUURA Friends on Facebook.

Thank you,

Eb Eberlein

Caretaker and campground host

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

~ BEACON OFFICE HOURS AND CONTACTS~

Office Phone (928) 779-4492

Office Manager

Paula Czernicki

she/her/hers

Out of the office until 12/12/22

Please contact Rev. Robin

Office@beaconuu.com

~ 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!

Contribute to Beacon's Weekly News

 In order to be included in the next newsletter--November 17th thru December 15th due to Paula's absence--submissions need to be emailed to office@beaconuu.com by 2 p.m. on Monday, November 14th. Thank you!