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!

• Amado: Borderlands Unitarian Universalist
• Sierra Vista: Sky Island Unitarian Universalist Church
• Tucson (Northwest): Mountain Vista Unitarian Universalist Congregation
• Tucson (Eastside): Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson

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 September.

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

• Birthday of e e cummings - Oct. 14
• 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
• Birthday of Mohandas Gandhi - Oct. 2 (1869)
• Thurgood Marshall was sworn in as the first African American associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. - Oct. 2, 1967  
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg joins the U.S. Supreme Court as its second woman Justice - Oct. 4, 1993
• NASA launches first peopled mission, Apollo 7 - Oct. 11 (1968)
• Indigenous Peoples Day (U.S.) - Oct. 8
• Toni Morrison becomes the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature - Oct. 8, 1993 
• National Coming Out Day - Oct. 11
• United Nations Day - Oct. 24 
• Halloween, All Soul's Eve - Oct. 31
• Dia de los Muertos - Oct.31 - Nov.2

Baja 4 Mascot 

We are adopting a Baja 4 Mascot (a stuffie not a real animal) and we have a clear winner!

Meet our new friend: Sonora the Javelina! Sonora uses them/them pronouns and will begin going on BIG adventures soon. Stay tuned for more!

Meet the Baja 4 Team

In the coming weeks, we'll introduce you to the team putting together our programs for the Baja 4.

Hi friends! I'm Jamili (Ja-mee-lee), the Director of Lifespan Faith Development at the UU Church of Tucson, and now on the team of the Baja 4. I moved to Tucson in 2016 and joined the UUCT family in 2017. You've likely met my two children in the online worship.

If you were a superhero, who would you be?

LeVar Burton from Reading Rainbow. He is most definitely a superhero.

What is an easy way to do something nice for someone?

In my household, the easy way is to bring someone chocolate! Hugs, kind words, sharing your things, or giving someone an honest compliment are all ways to do nice things.

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!

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.

Who Am I? Race Awareness Game for iPhone and iPad (free)

If you have an Apple device, check out this conversation-starting game for adults and kids to play together. For some ideas on how it is played, check out the review link below.

App link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/who-am-i-race-awareness-game/id372945923

Review: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/who-am-i-race-awareness-game

There are conversation tips between rounds. The important part of this game is to “act as a catalyst for meaningful discussions between parents and children about race, ethnicity, and culture. It contains photographs and personal quotes from a wide selection of real people.”

You Are Stardust

Book: You are Stardust By Elin Kelsey

Video of the Book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRzxDXQ5R8w

Some cool background that might be helpful: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/smithsonian-channel/were-all-made-of-stardust-heres-how_1/

For slightly older kids, check out: Why We are Stardust Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WnJq_5QjBg

You are Stardust

Check out the rest of the I Am Stardust lesson here.

It has suggestions for crafts, star gazing, meditation/ quiet moments, and other activities for inspiring Wonder in our young people and ourselves.

HeartSpace: an Evening Worship

Oct. 14 | 6:15pm | Zoom

Heartspace Evening Worship is BACK!! October's service is, IT'S ALIVE: Renewing the Spark of Life. Costumes welcome but not required!

Heartspace is an all ages immersive worship that will be held on the 2nd Thursday of each month starting at 6:15 for gathering and chatting and for service to begin around 6:30pm

In this dynamic, all-ages worship, we will experiment and play with different ways to be in community together. While we are still online, we’ll listen to music, listen to words, explore, interact and experiment together. There will be creative, hands-on time and time for reflection, laughter, and joy. We accept you however you come so full of energy you can't sit still or still laying down in bed. Please join us!

For questions email Jamili Omar at DRE.UUCT@gmail.com

Zoom in at: https://zoom.us/j/5716364277

Meeting ID: 571 636 4277

Password: 973902

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

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

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 12 & 14, 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

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.