Beacon Weekly News for January 3, 2019

www.beaconuu.com

Submissions must be submitted by Wednesday at 4:00 pm to office@beaconuu.com

in order to be included in the newsletter.

~ Sunday Service, January 6, 2019 ~

Cultivating Compassion

With Mark James

And Carleton Sheppard

A Buddhist teaching suggests that we should not try to rid ourselves of pain and suffering, even if it were possible. It is to learn to recognize and be open to them when they appear. Then can begin the transformation to compassion, for ourselves and for others.

~ Monthly Touchstone Theme: Grace ~

Click here to read January's Touchstone Journal.

~ Religious Exploration ~

On Sunday we will begin the curriculum called Miracles.

Miracles is a multi-generational program that invites a prolonged enco unter with awe and wonder. Stories from our Unitarian Universalist Sources and hands-on activities engage a wide age span of participants to discern miracles, experience and express awe and wonder, and discover their own agency for miracle-making. Participants make a uniquely Unitarian Universalist inquiry- a religious search which simultaneously embraces the awesome truth of a miracle's mystery and the "how and why" of rational explanation. Participants explore different kinds of miracles, from the awesome, ordered beauty of Earth and all life on it, to their own capacity to transform themselves and others to bring forth love and justice.

Find out more details about what is happening for this coming Sunday in the Religious Exploration blog.

Do you want to celebrate the New Year with a ceremony at home but not sure what to do? Look at some ideas here.

Amy Huntereece

Director of Religious Exploration

~ Winter Chalice Circles ~

Touchstones Chalice Circles are designed to meet our needs for belonging (intimacy) and meaning (ultimacy) by building friendships and providing opportunities to ponder life's questions, small and large, with others who share the common values of our UU Principles.

The Chalice Circle Schedule Will Continue with New Circles in January

4th Sundays, January to April, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Starting January 27

OR 4th Tuesdays, September to December, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Starting January 29

Please contact Char Tarashanti for more information and to register.

Char Tarashanti

biobalance240@charter.net

(507) 990-3888

~ Social Justice Allies ~

Due to holidays and spring break dates, we will depart from our fairly consistentevery-third-Sunday-schedule for SJA meetings. For the present, be aware of the following important SJA dates:

Sunday, January 13, following the service (about 11:15): Next Beacon SJA meeting

Thursday, January 24, 6:30p: NAIC (No. AZ Interfaith Council) meeting at North Country Healthcare (upstairs), 2920 No. 4th St. Much of Beacon's effectiveness in our social justice efforts has been in collaboration with NAIC. Yet we need broader Beacon representation in the cluster meetings of NAIC. Please consider attending this January meeting to learn about NAIC's projects!

Sunday, February 10, following the service (about 11:15): Beacon SJA meeting

Monday, February 18 (Presidents' Day): UU Day at the Legislature. Each year on Presidents' Day UUs from around the state gather in Phoenix to get a fuller picture of expected legislative activity. It's an all-day venture, with (1) an opportunity to learn what to expect this legislative session as well as (2) to get acquainted with other Arizona UUs and (3) to meet with our specific legislators. As we approach that date, we'll organize carpooling.

Sunday, March 24: UUJAZ (UU Justice Arizona) network Executive Director Rev. Lisa McDaniel-Hutchings will deliver the morning's sermon, then meet with SJA for an exchange and update on UUJAZ activities.

Roz Clark

SJA Journalist

~ Community Action Committee ~

Beacon's community partner for January 2019 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, the shelter serves any adult experiencing homelessness.

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

Lynda Dorweiler

Community Action Committee Chair

~ Beacon Calendar ~

Choir Practice Thursday, January 3 7:00 pm	RE: Coming of Age Retreat Tuesday, January 8 6:30 pm
RE: Coming of Age Retreat Saturday, January 5 10:00 am	RE Committee Meeting Wednesday, January 9 5:00 pm
Worship & Religious Exploration Sunday, January 6 10:00 am	Finance Committee Meeting Wednesday, January 9 6:30 pm
First Sunday Fun Day - New Year's Party Sunday, January 6 11:30 am	Choir Practice Thursday, January 10 7:00 pm
Newcomers' Orientation Sunday, January 6 11:30 am	SoulCollage with Char Saturday, January 12 9:00 am
QiGong Tuesday, January 8 6:30 pm	Worship & Religious Exploration Sunday, January 13 10:00 am

For the full calendar of events at Beacon, you can find that on our website!

If you would like to submit a calendar event, send an email to office@beaconuu.com . With all requests, please indicate the following: proposed start and end time of the event, the space/room preferred, and a rough group size. On the occasion of a cancellation or rescheduling of an event, please let the office know in a timely fashion to ensure that your event is correctly represented in the newsletter and order of service. Thank you!

~ Beacon Office Hours ~

Minister,

Rev. Kevin Lawson

Tues: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Wed: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Thurs: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Or by appointment

Director of RE,

Amy Huntereece

Sun: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm

Wed: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm

Or by appointment

Office Manager,

Volunteer

Tues: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Wed: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Thurs: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Or by appointment

Office Phone (928) 779-4492

~ Unitarian Universalist Seven Principles ~

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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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~ Beacon Google Group ~

you are not on Beacon's exclusive 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! Email our Office Manager, at office@beaconuu.com.