Spiritually Open, Intentionally Inclusive since 1958
510 N Leroux
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928-779-4492e
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E-News for August 25th - September 1st, 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.)
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Service For Sunday, August 28, 2022, at 10 a.m.
“What Does It Feel Like to Win?
Values-Based Community Organizing”
ALL ARE WELCOME! You BELONG at Beacon. Spiritually open and intentionally inclusive since 1958.
We often talk about doing justice "work." We call it a struggle, and imagine it as something heavy, or frustrating, or burdensome. Today, let's pause to celebrate the wins! Let's do some storytelling about times when partnerships were easy, things fell into place, years of conversations clicked a lightbulb, and we knew deep down, we were experiencing the moment that change was happening.
Our worship leader is Janine Gelsinger, Executive Director of Unitarian Universalist Justice Arizona (UUJAZ) and Curriculum Design Team member at Beloved Conversations, with Worship Associate Cheryl Austin and music from Austin Shaw. Members of the Social Justice Allies will speak.
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September 4th Preview Rev. Robin will return to the pulpit on Sunday, September 4th for our service entitled “Wear it On Your Sleeve.” Additional members of the Social Justice Allies will speak during this service. You are encouraged to wear a T-shirt, hat, pin or other item (or bring a banner or sign) that proclaims your Social Justice commitments.
After the service, Rev. Robin will facilitate an Integration Circle to discuss the two recent Social Justice themed services.
September 11th Preview Our ingathering and water ceremony is September 11th! Rev. Robin will lead the service with a sermon entitled “Standing Knee Deep In Life.” For the water ceremony, bring a small amount of water that symbolizes a place that is spiritual or special to you (even from your own faucet). We’ll have some available, too.
After the service, we’ll have a Sweet Ingathering Social Hour, and you are invited to bring a pastry or other baked item for sharing. Invite your friends who may find a home with us at Beacon.
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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.
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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.
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MAKING MUSIC AT BEACON
FIRST CHOIR REHEARSAL IS TUESDAY, SEPT 6TH AT 7 P.M.
Andrez Alcazar is joining us as Choir Director. Andrez is a student at NAU, an avid singer who also directs the male acapella group on campus.
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.
Beginning September 6th, 2022, Choir Rehearsals will be held on TUESDAY nights at 7 p.m.
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BEACON SPOTLIGHT:
RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION
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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.
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RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION FOR ADULTS
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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.
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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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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.
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JOYS AND SORROWS FROM AUGUST 21ST
Marsha and Bill are excited to begin an extended cross-country trailer adventure.
lore is concerned about their mother's health: Dorothy has been diagnosed with cancer.
Bob thoroughly enjoyed the new Elvis movie and heartily recommends seeing it.
Rich and the Board of Governors are celebrating the official launching of Beacon's Endowment Fund with the transfer of $10K to UUA.
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CELEBRATION OF DORA HARRISON:
SAVE THE DATE!
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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!!
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CHEAP LUNCH BUNCH IS BACK! | |
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The Cheap Lunch Bunch convenes for lunch at various local eateries on a weekday every two to three weeks. Eating outside prevents the spread of covid, and eating at 11:30 a.m. should beat the lunch rush and afternoon rain. 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.
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JULY-SEPTEMBER 2022 SHARE THE PLATE PARTNER
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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).
NAIC/NAICL is a non-partisan interdenominational organization dedicated to building leadership for civic participation across lines of race, class, age, and religion. NAICL organizes in support of issues that advance the common good, e.g. promotion of the proposed City housing bond, presentation of a pre-election Accountability Session with candidates for local elections, getting out the vote, and supporting immigrant families.
NAICL’s goals are as follows:
- To build relationships across our community based on trust and a willingness to listen to each other.
- To equip our members and leadership with skills and practices to get results.
- To achieve change on concrete issues, as part of our common call to justice.
Undesignated contributions to the Sunday service offerings above $300 will be presented to NAIC/NAICL. Nominations for 501c3 agencies can be made through a form located in the office manager’s office. CAC members are Katy Grant, Susan Patrick and Lynda L. Dorweiler.
Beacon members are encouraged to nominate organizations and can fill out a nomination form located in the CAC folder in the office manager’s office. CAC members are Susan Patrick, Katy Grant , and Lynda Dorweiler.
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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.
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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.
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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
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
FOR AN ELECTION FORUM FOR CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES
As follow-up to Michelle James's pitch at Beacon last Sunday at the invitation of the SJA, 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.
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NORTHERN ARIZONA INTERFAITH COUNCIL (NAIC)
2022 CANDIDATE ACCOUNTABILITY SESSION
SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2022, at 7:00 P.M.
FLAGSTAFF FEDERATED COMMUNITY CHURCH
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NOT your run-of-the-mill candidate forum!
Featured public positions: Mayor and City Council as well as FUSD Governing Board
Focus on NAIC’s priority issues: Education, Lack of Housing Options, and Immigration. NAIC has working teams that have been addressing each of these issues in ongoing efforts to improve life for everyone in the Flagstaff community.
Here's what’s Unique about this event
Preparation: A small group of NAIC leaders meets with each candidate at least once to learn about their respective backgrounds, motivation, and aspirations and to inform each candidate about NAIC’s priorities and the structure of the Accountability Session on September 14th. Further, candidates will receive specific questions in advance of the event.
Structure of Accountability Session: Candidates for each office will receive the same questions, with a short (timed) response time allowance (about 2 minutes). The audience will not engage directly with the candidates.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, by phone, text or email.
In community,
Roz Clark (928-380-6502 or rozrich41@gmail.com)
PS Did you know Beacon is an institutional member of NAIC? We have been from NAIC’s beginnings!
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BELOVED CONVERSATIONS
FALL TERM BEGINS SEPTEMBER 12TH
REGISTER TODAY!
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Beloved Conversations Virtual is a program for people seeking to embody racial justice as a spiritual practice, offered through the Unitarian Universalist theological school, Meadville Lombard. As we enter our third year, we've engaged over 3000 UUs in a transformative anti-racist spiritual experience, including over 100 UUs from Arizona. In Beloved Conversations, we are here to heal the impact of racism on our lives. Join us, as we build a learning community grounded in UU values and committed to collective liberation. Let's get free together.
Learn more and register by September 2nd here.
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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:
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Visit votefwd.org/dashboard to complete your Vote Forward registration. If you need help, take a look at our instructions.
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When your account is approved, log in at votefwd.org.
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Choose a key state or district letter writing campaign, and “adopt” voters on your Vote Forward dashboard.
- Download, print, and prepare your letters.
- Keep your finished letters somewhere safe.
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Mail your letters on October 29—right before Election Day when they’ll have the greatest impact.
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ISSUES + ACTION DAY 2022
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22ND, 9am - 5pm
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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.
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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.
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Volunteer At Flagstaff Food Center With Beacon!
VOLUNTEERS ARE STILL NEEDED FOR AUGUST 31ST.
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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 August 31st 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.
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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
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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/
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SAWUURA LABOR DAY CAMPOUT | |
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Want a quiet campsite among the tall pines within Tonto National Forest WITH NO FEE for Labor Day weekend--Friday, September 2nd at noon through Monday, September 5th at noon?
Activities may include group hikes, bird watching, star gazing, naps, poetry sharing, journaling & s’more cooking. Meals won’t be provided, so there is no fee.
The SAWUURA group kitchen (with pots, pans, a stove, water, etc.) will be available, but you’ll need to bring your own food, dishware, and camping gear.
To register, call or text Eb at (520) 622-6966 . Learn more here.
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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
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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.
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WORSHIP SERVICE
Sunday, August 28th, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.
“What Does It Feel Like to Win?
Values-Based Community Organizing”
in the Beacon Sanctuary
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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 | |
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.
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~ BEACON OFFICE HOURS AND 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)
Get to know Rev. Robin at
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RE Team
We have an incredibly strong team leading our RE this year. You can direct your RE questions to Linda: lindaochi31@gmail.com
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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
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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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Emails have been received from a false address pretending to be Rev. Robin.
As a personal habit, always check the sender's email address before responding.
Avoid this scam!
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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:
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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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