~ 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.)

SERVICE FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 19TH, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.

“Climbing the Decision Tree”

ALL ARE WELCOME! You BELONG at Beacon. Spiritually open and intentionally inclusive since 1958.

With significant decisions in Beacon’s near future, we’ll explore the multi-layered process of how we make decisions. Is there a benchmark anymore for “good judgement,” and if so, what does that mean? We’ll explore a well-respected model called the “Decision Tree,” and edge out onto some of the branches of that tree that impact decision-making– ethics, morality, practicality, self-discipline, and the so-called “paradox of choice.” Rev. Robin Landerman Zucker, preaching with Worship Associate Nancy Paxton. Music from Austin Shaw and Andrez Alcazar. Social Justice Witness from Frank Moraga of Coconino Children and Youth. 

REV. ROBIN’S STEWARDSHIP SERMON, “Good Gifts Keep On Giving,” IS AVAILABLE ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND AS A TEXT ON THE SERMON ARCHIVE PAGE.

KIDS AT BEACON - ALL ARE WELCOME!

Children and youth are always welcome in worship!

There are activity packets available for children during the service.

RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION IS BACK IN THE BUILDING!



There will also be weekly in-person Religious Exploration for young children (newborns to sixth grade) in the Rainbow Space during the service. See the longer article about Religious Exploration below.

~ THIS WEEK AT BEACON ~

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:

DIALOGUE WITH REV. DR. SOFÍA BETANCOURT

BEFORE THE ELECTION

Every election cycle, a series of presidential forums are hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Association so that UUs have a chance to hear from candidates. 

There is only a single name–Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt–on the ballot for UUA President this June, and that creates even more of a need to hear from you—the people who collectively hold this faith—about what Unitarian Universalism means to you, your hopes and needs for our future, and how we can better live into our purpose and potential together. 

We hope you’ll take advantage of the opportunity to be in conversation with Rev. Betancourt during one of the upcoming Presidential Forums (March 18, April 29, May 20, and June 3). For more information, click here.

SPLINTERS FROM THE BOARD 

Beacon’s Board met on February 22, 2023. The following members were recognized for their work for the success of our congregation: Roz Clark and Maryann Vandrielen for their work  with the Happy Hour; Joan Dewey and Gini Kelly for their work with assembling care bags;  Joan Dewey for her work to obtain an intern social worker; and Linda Ochi for her organization  to provide child care during church services.  

The Security policy has been revised and points of contact were established. Finance issues -  treasurer; administration issues - vice-president; and personnel issues - president. Discussion was held on the transition for treasurer with the finance committee overseeing the bookkeeping. 

Stewardship will be led by Lynda L. Dorweiler and volunteers are requested to help with follow up if needed.  The board approved an agreement with NAU to sponsor a social work intern, who can help with social issues that the church supports.  An assistant, Sophia Lyn, has been hired to help Linda Ochi with child education. 

BEACON LEADERSHIP NEEDS YOU!

The Leadership Succession Planning Team (LSPT) is looking for members to serve on the Board of Trustees for the next fiscal year, starting July 1, 2023. We are looking to fill vacancies for Secretary and Treasurer, which are two-year commitments.

Serving on the Board is a great opportunity! The Board takes care of the business end of the organization, so you can really learn to understand how a small non-profit works. This is also great resume material, if you are in need of that. But most importantly, you are helping to care for our beloved spiritual community.

If you are interested in observing how your Board serves Beacon, please feel free to attend a Board meeting! All Board meetings are open to members to attend, and are usually held on the 4th Wednesday of each month. At this time, they are being held over Zoom. Contact President Lynda Dorweiler or Vice President Dennis Spurlin to verify the time, and to receive a Zoom link.

For more information, or to volunteer to serve on the Board, contact one of the LSPT members: Theresa deBoer, Mary Poore, Wendy Bruun, Bill Towler, or Jeremy Young.

REGISTER NOW FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2023!

Join us June 21 - 25, 2023, online or in-person, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for General Assembly 2023, a multiplatform event.

In-person registration includes access to events scheduled to take place in Pittsburgh, as well as everything available to virtual registrants and is $400 for adults and $300 for high school youth, emerging adults (18-24), and retired and candidate ministers. Full virtual registration includes access to the GA app, as well as all on-demand programming, live webinars, and live-streamed events and is $250.

Watch this video for an in-depth explanation of the 2023 GA registration options.

Register Now! By registering now, you can save some money and use the payment plan to pay over time. Financial support is also available.  In-person registration rates will increase on March 1 and again on May 1.



BE A BEACON DELEGATE!

Beacon is entitled to and has some money within the budget to defray registration costs for two voting delegates. Members who are interested in representing Beacon at GA should contact President Lynda Dorweiler.

RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION FOR KIDS

RE FOR NEWBORNS TO 6TH GRADE

It is with great joy and thanksgiving that we announce the return of Sunday morning Religious Exploration Classes for newborns to 6th grade.

On March 19th, 2023, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., in the Rainbow Space, we will be reading The Pot That Juan Built about Mexican potter Juan Quezada (postponed from March 12th). Our activity will be making clay pots.

Religious Exploration Classroom Assistant Volunteers Needed.

We will need an adult to assist our lead teacher each Sunday. It’s a great chance to enjoy spending time just hanging out with some kiddos. If you are available to help, please email Linda Ochi at [email protected].

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 March 19th, 2023, at 11:15 a.m., GBU will watch The Simpsons “The Way We Was” (Season 2, Episode 12). In this episode, Homer and Marge through a series of flashbacks reminisce about their high school romance and how he won her heart. Our discussion will include the following topics: activism, sexual pressure/consent, lying to make a good impression, honesty, and being yourself.  

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: WRITING WITH REV. ROBIN

HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL MAY

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

Saturday, May 13th, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Please bring a brownbag lunch.

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.

SHARE YOUR JOYS AND SORROWS - CHIME IN!

One way we can sustain connection 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 [email protected] to be shared.

JOYS AND SORROWS FROM MARCH 12TH

Roz is excited about the weeklong, multigenerational WUULF retreat in NM in June.

Rich is looking forward to Austin's senior recital on April 8th at 7:30 p.m. "He is phenomenal!"

Andrez gleefully shared that March 26th is a live music service with Austin and himself speaking.

Ronna introduced herself as a first-time visitor from Florida, a longtime UU, raised Jewish. She's eager to become involved as she was very involved in other UU churches. She wishes the word "church" could be changed to "fellowship."

Anne interjected that Beacon used to be a fellowship but is now officially called a congregation.

Cassie is elated that her daughter, son-in-law, and baby granddaughter have moved to Flagstaff.

AZ END OF LIFE OPTIONS PODCAST: A UNITARIAN PERSPECTIVE

Rev. Robin was recently interviewed on the AZ End of Life Options podcast for the Unitarian Perspective. You can find it here.

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

CHEAP LUNCH BUNCH

The next Cheap Lunch Bunch will be on Thursday, March 16th, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. at Brandy's Restaurant & Bakery. There should be plenty of parking spots available.

Please plan on doing a bag lunch on the first Thursday of each month and then having lunch at a local restaurant on the third Thursday. 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 [email protected]. 

INTERGENERATIONAL BEACON BOWLING OUTING! 

MARCH 26TH, 2023,

AT STARLITE LANES AFTER THE SERVICE

Now that we have some families joining us for services, let’s extend the joy and go bowling together on Sunday, March 26th. Our lane reservation (two side-by-side lanes) is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Suggested donation of $10 per person or $25 per family to cover the lane fee.

If you want to grab some lunch while we’re there, there’s fun food available at your own expense. (The food is surprisingly good.) 

Join us! It’s going to be fun!!

For more information, please contact Dru.

JANUARY - MARCH 2023 SHARE THE PLATE PARTNER

Beacon’s community partner for January - March 2023 is

SHARON MANOR

For January-March 2023, Beacon UU will Share the Plate with Sharon Manor operating under Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona. Sharon Manor serves “homeless survivors of domestic violence and their children on their journey out of violence and poverty and into economic independence, safety, health, and self-sufficiency.”

Since 1999, Sharon Manor has served over 1500 homeless women and their children. It does not function as a shelter, but offers housing for up to two years. Programs include trauma-informed comprehensive one-to-one case management, housing, credit counseling, pre-purchase assistance for housing, and foreclosure prevention.

Undesignated contributions to the Sunday service offerings above $300 will be presented to Sharon Manor. 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

ACTIVATE AT BEACON WITH SOCIAL JUSTICE ALLIES!

The Social Justice Allies meet on the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom to discuss issues and actions. If you wish to join them, contact the convener Paul Beier.

CARE BAGS FOR THE UNSHELTERED

The Community Assistance Teams (CATs) of Flagstaff bus is a valuable resource in our community. Up close and personal, I have observed that there are men and women who are in various stages of unsheltered-ness and in need of basis resources, social support, and referrals for housing, jobs, health care and more. 

If you have any of these items, I will happily sign for them and deliver them to CATS:

• Small backpacks
• Adult Bicycle/s
• Helmets,
• Bike locks 
• wool gloves,
• beanie hats
• men's jackets, all sizes,
• Flannel shirts, all sizes adult
• Men's shoes, especially 9 1/2 and 10 1/2

CATs is a 501-C-3 non-profit community service organization.  I am checking on donation receipts for tax credit for these items, too.

We hope to have a representative from CATs provide a social witness account in the coming months, AND there is an excellent resource book/documentary on homelessness in Flagstaff: The Man in the Dog Park by Cathy Small and Jason Kordosky.

The CATs website is linked here for your information. THANK YOU!

Joan Dewey

READ THE FULL ARTICLE II TEXT

On January 29th, Rev. Robin preached about Article II: the revised language reshaping our Principles.



The full text of Article II can be found here.

8TH PRINCIPLE

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

ERADICATING RACISM:

A PATH FORWARD LEARNING SERIES

The non-profit Dock C. Bracy Center is offering Eradicating Racism: A Path Forward, a learning series of four two-hour sessions with the goal of assisting individuals to eradicate racism.

Due to limited seats, participants are asked to commit to attending all four sessions:

• Session 1: The Complexity of Systemic Racism, Thursday, April 13, 2023, 7-9pm EDT (UTC-5)
• Session 2: The Notion of White Privilege, Thursday, April 20, 2023, 7-9pm EDT (UTC-5)
• Session 3: The Personal Impact of Racism, Thursday, April 27, 2023, 7-9pm EDT (UTC-5)
• Session 4: Finding Your Voice, Thursday, May 4, 2023, 7-9pm EDT (UTC-5)

For more information, click here. Registration closes Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at 7pm EST (UTC-5).

~ Beacon Connections ~

Volunteer At Flagstaff Food Center With Beacon!

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR

MARCH 22ND AND 29TH.

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 dates are Wednesday, March 22nd and Wednesday, March 29th 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.

DONATION DESIGNATION



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!

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. 

A plaque is now hanging in the Social Hall to honor those who have contributed to the endowment. Your name can be there, too!

GIFTING SECURITIES TO BEACON

If you have securities held outside of a retirement account (i.e., not from your IRA, 401k, 403b, TSP, or other retirement account) and are interested in gifting some to Beacon, more information can be found here. This can be a tax-efficient way to make a gift to 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. 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. 

OTHER EVENTS IN ARIZONA AND THE SOUTHWEST

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

CAMP DE BENNEVILLE PINES

SUMMER UU YOUTH AND FAMILY CAMPS

REGISTRATION OPENS MID-MARCH

Camp de Benneville Pines

41750 Jenks Lake Road West

Angelus Oaks, CA 92305

(909) 794-2928

http://www.uucamp.org

WESTERN UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST LIFE FESTIVAL

JUNE 19-25, 2023, AT THE GHOST RANCH, NM

WUULF, the Western Unitarian Universalist Life Festival, is a week-long, multi-generational camp for Unitarian-Universalists from June 19th to 25th, 2023, at the Ghost Ranch in New Mexico. WUULF is a loving, diverse community who gather each year for fun, community, and UU spirituality. The camp includes workshops, music, hiking, and river rafting. This year, WUULF be led in "Creating Theology Together" workshops by the Rev. Bob LaVallee. Registration information can be found here. 

~ BEACON OFFICE HOURS AND CONTACTS~

Office Phone (928) 779-4492

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

[email protected]

~ 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, submissions need to be emailed to [email protected] by 2 p.m. on Wednesday. Thank you!