Spiritually Open, Intentionally Inclusive since 1958
510 N Leroux
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928-779-4492e
E-News for March 24th - 31st, 2022
- Sundays at Beacon -

WE’RE BACK IN THE SANCTUARY FOR WORSHIP! PLEASE JOIN US.
Masks required
Service For March 27th, 2022, at 10 a.m.
Two Copper Coins: On Making an Effort

All are welcome! Masks required 

In the Parable of the Widow’s Mite, an impoverished woman tosses two copper coins (“leptons” in Ancient parlance) into the Treasury. Is this meager or substantial? Can we applaud her contribution, or do we view it as insufficient? Is it enough to create a feeling of abundance and gratitude? This morning, in the midst of our Stewardship campaign, we will explore the topic of “effort” and how the attitude with which we toss in our two cents is worth its weight in gold.

Rev. Robin Landerman Zucker, preaching with Worship Associate Mark James and music from Jason Drahos and Austin Shaw.
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.
YOUTUBE RECORDINGS ARE BACK!
 
We want to stay connected to you even if you are not comfortable right now attending in-person worship. The following 2022 sermons have been uploaded to YouTube:
MASK REQUIREMENT FOR INDOOR SERVICES
WILL END APRIL 10, 2022

On March 21, the Board voted to no longer require masks in the main sanctuary during services. Coconino County’s Community Level is now Low based on the CDC classification which is determined based on three pieces of data: new COVID-19 hospitalizations, hospital capacity, and new COVID-19 cases. According to the CDC, counties in the Low and Medium category can consider going without masks in public indoor settings. 

Congregants are welcome to wear masks during our services, and masks will be required in the social hall/kitchen during the service. Those who prefer to wear masks and sit in an area where others will be wearing masks can attend the service in the social hall. 

We invite and encourage people to email or call Mary Poore, Board Member at Large, if these new changes are problematic or concerning for them. Mary’s email: m8c8p8@aol.com, cell: 928-699-8266.

Proof of vaccination to attend services was ended in March of 2022.
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.
MEETING FOR A CONGREGATIONAL VOTE

Date & Time: Sunday April 24, 2022, at 11:30 AM (after the Service)
Location: In person at 510 N Leroux St., Flagstaff

Purpose: Vote whether to approve the Endowment Plan for Beacon Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of Flagstaff, which you can access at HYPERLINK (forthcoming). Also, if approved, elect initial Governors of the Plan 

Agenda: 
  1. On entering the room, voting members sign in with the Secretary. If, in addition to voting on your own behalf, you have registered as a proxy for another voting member on or before April 23, make sure the Secretary verifies that you can cast an additional vote. 
  2. Introduce Board. 
  3. Verify a quorum of 25% of members present in person or by proxy. State that approval requires a majority of votes cast. 
  4. The authors of the Endowment Plan, who intend to serve as initial Trustees, make a brief presentation. 
  5. Q&A and Discussion 
  6. Vote on the Endowment Plan. 
  7. If the plan is approved, vote to approve the initial Governors of the Endowment Plan.  
A summary of the Endowment Fund can be found here.
The proposed amendment to the by-laws can be found here.

Instructions for Proxy Voting will be available after April 6.
MAKING MUSIC AT BEACON!

The choir has resumed Thursday 7 p.m. rehearsals.

All are welcome to join the choir. Masks are required.
OUR OPEN DOOR
BEACON’S ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN
On Sunday March 6, we kicked off our annual stewardship campaign with a service led by Rev. Robin. Her sermon is entitled, “You Were Never Not Coming Here,” and the service will include testimonials from Beacon members.

Come walk through our open door to be enriched and supported.

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.
Kids at Beacon- All are welcome!
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.

YOUTH RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION
For now, classes will remain virtual. We appreciate your support in volunteering for RE!

K-5th CartUUns
2nd and 4th Sundays
10am-11am
During each class, we watch a Pixar short; discuss values, thoughts, and feelings about the themes presented; and complete some related crafts and activities. Please join us on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82261886552?pwd=ZnNuY1lSVGxiVTRVREMzYldUaURTdz09
Meeting ID: 822 6188 6552
Passcode: beacon510
March 27: Loop
We will watch a Pixar SparksShort that focuses on a chatty boy and a non-verbal autistic girl as they learn how to understand each other. Our discussion will center on verbal and non-verbal communication skills.  

April 10: Presto
We will view a Pixar Short where a rabbit gives his master, Presto, a lesson in pet care when the magician neglects to give him a hard-earned carrot, leading to an onstage magic duel. The focus of our discussion will be on caring for pets.

April 24: Feast
Feast is the story of one man's life as seen through the eyes of Winston, his best friend and dog. Discussions will focus on putting aside one's own desires in order to help others.

Middle School D'oh God
2nd and 4th Sundays
11:30am-12:45pm
Please join us on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83157068793?pwd=TEhDWE9KUlYzeEp0MlhIV2tManEwQT09
Meeting ID: 831 5706 8793
Passcode: beacon510
March 27:
We will watch a Simpsons episode entitled "Homer and Lisa versus the Eighth Commandment" (Season 2, Episode 13). The lesson's theme is about stealing, and we will include consideration of how to handle conflicts in one's family when values differ between family members.

April 10:
Our group will be discussing Sexism. It should be a lively discussion! We'll watch a Simpsons episode titled "Girls Just Want to Have Sums" (Season 17, Episode 19).

April 24:
We'll view the Simpsons episode "Bart Gets an F" (Season 2, Episode 1), an engaging episode on the themes of prayer and asking for help.
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.

2022: March 27th, May 8th (with dates tbd for the remainder of 2022)

Please stay tuned for notices about future adult education offerings.
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 March 20th, 2022

Roseanne F encouraged everyone to pray for BUU members Preston C and Fern D, who are currently unable to leave their Hopi community.

Mark J recently camped in the Santa Cruz area with his brother, which was great.

Sadly, Marsha O's cousin recently passed away, and she is unable to attend the service.

Paul B and Mary Ann had a joyful visit with their 2 year old grandchild.

Dorothy R lamented that her daughter moved to Raleigh, and her granddaughter caught covid at her new school, a cautionary tale.

Jan R is elated at the arrival of her TWELFTH great-grandchild, who has a very long name.

Nancy P cast a stone of sorrow for the people of Ukraine and a stone of joy for the Beacon congregation.

Bruce T and wife Lisa recently traveled to New Orleans, and they had a wonderful time.

Rev. Robin reminded those gathered about Mary Jo Rybolt's memorial service on May 1st. She asked that those attending bring snacks and baked goods and that if anyone is interested in speaking at the service to please let her know.

A “Best Wishes” Sendoff for Roseanne and Dorothy

Please join us on April 3rd at 11:15 AM, after our worship service, for a “Best Wishes” sendoff for Roseanne Fulcher and Dorothy Rissel. They are headed to Knightdale, NC, for their next chapter in life! They have been a committed, engaged part of Beacon’s community, joining us in 2008 during their first year in Flagstaff. They jumped right in with chairing the stewardship campaign. In the years since, they have served on the Board, the Choir, and the Caring Circle; organized after-school art classes at Kilip Elementary; and helped with Keep Flagstaff Together. 

If you would like to bring something edible to share, in order to minimize contact, please prepare your offering into individual servings (i.e., cookies, individual fruit cups, etc.), wrapping each in advance. Single serving bagels and cream cheese, individually wrapped, will also be available. 

If you choose to capture your best wishes in writing, too, feel free to bring a card, your favorite quote, photo, or joy-filled story or memory to give them.

Weather permitting, our plan is to gather in the backyard. 
Memorial Service for Mary Jo Rybolt
May 1st, 2022 at 12pm

We will host a memorial service for Mary Jo Rybolt with refreshments before and a reception afterwards on May 1, 2022 at 12pm at Beacon. Requests for help with the reception will be forthcoming.
January-March 2022 Share the Plate Partner
Beacon’s community partner for January-March 2022 is
Flagstaff Shelter Services (FSS)

Established in 2006 by concerned citizens, business owners, and faith-based organizations, FSS provides critical shelter, food, and access to resources for Flagstaff’s most vulnerable people. Regardless of faith, mental health or sobriety, and ethnicity the shelter serves any adult experiencing homelessness.  

In 2014, FSS became a year-round shelter serving those in need every day and night of the year, providing personal and behavioral crisis response, onsite health clinic, and helping clients move from crisis toward self-sufficiency.  

The Shelter sees 2000 unduplicated individuals per year: 20% are vets, 40% are women (98% of the women have experienced domestic violence), and 21% are older than 55. Largely thanks to FSS, 86% of the individuals do not return to homelessness.  

Undesignated contributions to this quarter’s Sunday service offerings above $250 will be presented to Flagstaff Shelter Services. 

Nominations for 501c3 agencies can be made by using the designated form in the CAC folder (located in the office) or by contacting Susan Patrick, Katy Grant, or Lynda L. Dorweiler (CAC members).
Would You Like to Serve as a Beacon GA Delegate?

The Annual General Assembly will take place June 22-26, 2022, in Portland, OR. The GA is multi-platform with all sessions available on line. We are entitled to two delegates to vote on important denominational matters during the GA plenary sessions.
Would you like to represent Beacon as a delegate (members only)? We have funds in our budget ($250 per person) to cover the registration fees for each of two delegates to attend remotely.
Before April 15, please contact President Nancy Paxton if you’d like to be a delegate: President@beaconuu.com 
Learn more about GA at http://www.uua.org/ga The site also includes information about housing if you chose to attend in person.
Activate at Beacon with the 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
From Flagstaff to Ukraine
The "From Flagstaff to Ukraine" fundraiser will be held on Sunday, March 27, 2022, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater in downtown Flagstaff. Admission to the event will be free with a suggested donation. All funds raised will be distributed through the United Ukrainian-American Relief Committee, Voices of Children, and Razom.

According to Susan Walter, the Orpheum's General Manager, the event could use another 5-6 volunteers. If you would like to volunteer for the event any time between 1-8 PM, please contact Susan via susan.orpheum@gmail.com.
JOIN REV. ROBIN IN THE 21-DAY STAND AGAINST RACISM CHALLENGE. BEGINS APRIL 4, 2022.
The SAR Challenge was created to help people better understand how racial inequity and social injustice impacts our community. Via email, the challenge provides participants daily tasks such as reading an article, listening to a podcast, and reflecting on personal experiences. By addressing issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership, we can connect with others to identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination. 2022 topics include critical race theory, living wage, film and TV, and reproductive justice.
Please be sure to let Rev. Robin (minister@beaconuu.comknow you are taking the challenge. Keep a journal or some notes during the challenge, and, when it concludes, we’ll meet together to discuss our experiences with the challenge and consider future action.  
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.

Dive into the Side with Love’s annual 30 Days of Love here:

~ Beacon Connections ~
Volunteer At Flagstaff Food Center With Beacon!
The Flagstaff Food Center is doing small group volunteers for their dinner service! Beacon is looking for a group of five (5) volunteers.
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) Beacon's next volunteer date is April 27th.

Currently, there is no indoor dining. All the dinners are distributed in to-go containers through a walk-up window. Volunteers are needed 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; 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.
UUJAZ Upcoming Events
Book GroUUp Spring 2022
3rd Wednesdays 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Join UUJAZ each month for a justice-centered book discussion from the perspective of our Unitarian Universalist values.

Purchasing your books from the UUA Bookstore, InSpirit, supports the work of our faith tradition. 

Book GroUUp is free to all our monthly sustaining donors. If you wish to join but aren't a donor, you can contribute a suggested donation of $10 per group. If you aren't financially able to donate, join us anyway!
2022 Rainbow Family Camp
Friday, May 20 to Sunday, May 22, 2022
 
Rainbow Family Camp is a fun-filled weekend where families with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender parents and guardians come together for friendship and fun with other LGBTQ families.
 
This event is currently sold out! However, you can still get on the waiting list: http://www.uucamp.org
UU Youth Camping Opportunities
at Camp de Benneville Pines, Angelus Oaks, CA

Elementary Camp (completing 2nd- 5th grade)
Sunday, July 3–Saturday, July 9, 2022 $649 per person if registered by May 31st

CIT Program (14-18 years old)
Sunday, July 3–Saturday, July 9, 2022 $500 per person

Junior High Camp (completing 6th-8th grade)
Sunday, July 10–Saturday, July 16, 2022 $649 per person if registered by May 31st

Senior High Camp (completing 9th-12th grade)
Sunday, July 17–Saturday, July 23, 2022 Details will be forthcoming.

 To learn more, go to http://www.uucamp.org
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, March 27th, 2022
10:00am

"Two Copper Coins: On Making an Effort"

Beacon Sanctuary
You can keep up with future Beacon events by checking out the Beacon calendar!
Everyday Ways to Support Beacon
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.
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.comOnce 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. 
Beacon Office Hours & 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 www.uurobinzucker.com
RE Team



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

Mon: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Wed: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Thurs: 10:00 am - 3:00 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 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!
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.