MVUU Newsletter
September 20, 2024
| |
Our newsletter is growing! Make sure to fully scroll down or click on "Read Entire Message" in your email so you see all that is happening at MVUU! | |
MVUU's Current Airborne Communicable Disease status is
LOW Risk in Arizona
Our building is open. Sunday services are in-person and/or online.
Masking is now optional.
| |
Weekly Calendar
Friday, September 20th
RE Committee
Zoom 5-6pm
Saturday, September 21st
Jamili's Ordination
UUCT 10:30am-12pm
Sunday, September 22nd
Sunday Book Group Online
8:15 am Email John Clark
Sunday, September 22nd Service & Fellowship Hour
Pulpitpalooza
10:30am Join Zoom
Sunday, September 22nd
Peer Group
Loft 12:30pm
Sunday, Saturday 22nd
SAZCUUPS Fall Equinox Celebration
UUCT 6:15pm
Tuesday, September 24th
Men's Night Out (Virtual)
7 pm Join Zoom
| |
Sunday Services
This September we return to our Desert Ritual Year (DRY) calendar. DRY is the thematic rotation we developed within our Baja 4 collaboration of four Unitarian Universalist congregations here in Southern Arizona. It is meant to help us reflect our independence and our lives here in the Sonoran Desert in our Sunday services and our religious exploration.
This year our DRY theme is World Religions. We will be engaging the meaning that we share with several different global faiths as we connect with congregations and cultures locally. We begin with a familiar one: Unitarian Universalism.
September 22 Pulpitpalooza
Rev. Inge Detweiler, Robin Bousel, & Iris Safehaven
Rev. Inge from Borderlands UU joins us as she swaps pulpits with Rev. Matthew.
September 29 "Pride Sunday"
Robin Bousel & Chris Tackett
Here in the desert we celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride in late September! Come and celebrate MVUU's Pride!
| | | |
|
Do you recall the ad campaign, "got milk?" It began back in 1993 with celebrities sporting milk mustaches posing the question in lower case letters. Everyone seemed to be in on it from actors and actresses to athletes to musicians to a few fictional characters (I recall both Superman, Kermit the Frog, and Bart and Lisa Simpson with milk mustaches).
As ad campaigns go it was broadly inclusive (with the obvious exception of vegans and folks who are lactose intolerant). And even though the grammar was poor and the milk mustaches were fake, the impact was far reaching, with a reported 90% increase in milk awareness (gotmilk.com).
As a secular faith community that values democracy, I feel like we need a similar campaign as we move closer and closer to the November election. The time is right for a "got vote?" campaign.
I imaging we'd see various people with different political backgrounds holding up their ballots and grinning happily. The copy would be simple:
Voting is for each and every American. It takes less than 10 minutes to do it correctly, and you could influence leadership and policy that could add years to your life. It doesn't just happen on its own, so make a plan for how you will vote. And because we prosper when more people participate, check in with three family members or friends, and ask them if they...
got vote?
Regardless of my imaginary campaign, I invite you to make your plan and join me in asking three others about theirs. It really doesn't take all that long, but it's been reported that when people don't make a plan, they are far less likely to make the effort. So, since we do "got votes" it would be a terrible waste not to use them.
Rev. Matthew
| | | |
RE Committee: Sept 20th 5-6pm
The Religious Exploration Committee is always looking for new friends and we want YOU! The REC meetings are a space to talk through the future of Religious Exploration, create new and exciting ideas, and address any concerns that may arise. We strive to create joyful and fun opportunities for children and families to grow spiritually, ethically, and personally in order to fearlessly live as their best selves and courageously assist all others to do the same. We will accomplish this through multigenerational programming, congregational events, and much much more. Attending these meetings does not require you to be on the committee or do any additional work outside of meeting times if you so choose.
If this is something you would like to be a part of, please join us for our next meeting. We hope to see you there!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81822192874
Meeting ID: 818 2219 2874
| | | |
Side with Love Event Runthrough
Reimagine Together: From an Extractive Age to a New Era
UU Climate Justice Revival
On Sunday, September 22, from Noon to 1 pm, UUA and Side with Love will stream a runthrough of the agenda for the national Reimagine Together: From an Extractive Age to a New Era event on Zoom to Climate Revival facilitators and climate leaders .
The runthrough will provide guidance for us on the September 29, and October 5-6, 2024 MVUU event. MVUU will host the UU Climate Justice Revival to collectively reimagine a spirit-filled and liberatory future. Through conversations, worship, and advocacy, our congregation will work to realize climate justice and collective liberation in our communities.
Optional RSVP:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1qooAs2m5O8IkKc8WNXQTFG7kUwziyem2-9RUpqeIT60
| | | |
Contigo Tambien
Welcome to Contigo Tambien, a renewed version of Contigo! Like its predecessor, Contigo Tambien is an MVUU ministry. Its function is to help migrant families and individuals succeed as independent members of the Tucson community through volunteer participation.
Currently, there are two wonderful families, originally from Venezuela, who need our support. Both families are now living with Reverend Christiane Heyde and her wife Melva Ballesteros. One family includes Willy, Juana Anais and William (age 8). Our other family includes Gabriel, Xiuruby and Lyam, (age 6). Lyam and William love their
school and both families are excited to make Tucson their home.
If you would like to be a part of the Contigo Tambien team and help in any way, please fill out the interest form below and email it to us at the email sherylandjohn@hotmail.com.
The interest form lets us know what skills you can share or what interests you. If you have questions, please send them to sherylandjohn@hotmail.com and we will do our best to answer them.
Sheryl and John will also be available at MVUU after the service on Sunday, September 29th in the Oasis to answer any questions.
If you do not have the ability or desire to help in this way but would like to make a monetary contribution, we invite you to write a check in any amount to MVUU with Contigo Tambien in the explanation. If you have any additional questions, please contact us at
Contigotambienmvuu@gmail.com
In Gratitude,
Sheryl and John sherylandjohn@hotmail.com
| | | | |
CHECK OUT WHATS NEW
IN THE LIBRARY
Introducing two women authors who are Unitarian Universalist ministers and who offer hopeful ways to survive whatever life throws at you.
Take What you Need: Life Lessons After Losing Everything. By Jen Crow. This is a lesson of how to look at things that happened and choose to find healing and growth from them. It is grounded and wise companionship for those times when we need it most.
Stubborn Grace: Faith, Mental Illness and Demanding a Blessing. Author Kate Landis describes how through activism she found a spiritual community that helped her fight against depression. This is a poignant journey to faith and community.
Find under WELLNESS
| | | |
Let’s Ordain Pastor Jamili!
Sept 21 | 10:30am-noon | UUCT at 4831 E. 22nd St
Please consider saving the date in order to celebrate with UUCT and the Baja 4 in the Ordination of Pastor Jamili Omar.
Date: September 21, 2024
Time: ceremony begins at 10:30am with lunch to follow
Location: the UU Church of Tucson at 4831 E 22nd St, Tucson, AZ or on YouTube.
RSVP to let us know that we will have the pleasure of your company.
Funding Ordination
Good news! Due to a number of generous contributions, we raised our portion of the funds to go towards a gift for Pastor Jamili's end of internship gift. The chasuble arrived and she loves it! If you are willing and able, please consider giving an additional donation to go towards UUCT's Ordination of Pastor Jamili. Contributions can be made on-line by clicking the Pastor Jamili tab on our giving page, or by making out a check to UUCT with “Jamili” in memo line and mail to UUCT).
Thank you,
Jody Bergedick, UUCT member of Jamili’s Baja 4 Intern Committee
| | | |
SAZCUUPS Fall Equinox Celebration
Sunday Sept 22, 2024 at 6:15pm
At UUCT - 4831 E. 22nd Street, Tucson, AZ
The SAZCUUPS Admin Council presents our first IN-PERSON ONLY celebration! (There will be no Zoom presentation.)
There is no ritual component. This is about music, celebration, and friendship. The evening's activities will include Fall Equinox-appropriate readings. We encourage you to bring a poem or short essay you'd like to share. Please bring a snack to share at the celebration.
Childcare is available on request (email dre.uuct@gmail.com).
Doors open at 6:15 PM MST, with the celebration beginning at 6:30.
We will meet in Goddard Hall and the connected courtyard at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson at 4831 East 22nd St. Masks are now optional indoors at UUCT.
| | | |
Celebrate Pride with Us! On September 29th we will have a special service dedicated to celebrating Pride and honoring the LGBTQIA+ community. We invite you to share your creativity and experiences—whether through art, music, poetry, stories, testimonials, etc. physical and virtual submissions are welcome! This is a time to uplift and celebrate the diverse voices within our community. Submissions are welcome from all! Let's come together to express our support, love, and pride.
For more information or to submit your contributions, please contact Robin at robin.bousel@mvuu.org
| | | |
Art Group
Art Group meets on the second
Saturday of each month. No need for any experience or talent
to attend! Feel free to bring your art to share. Any questions,
please call/text Ginny Stack at (630) 841-8705 or email her at
tellginnycounseling@gmail.com.
| | | |
Our MVUU congregation's lost & found boxes are overflowing. As folx return from our summertime and Labor Day travels, please check for your water bottles, jackets or the plethora of other items. Whatever is left after Thanksgiving will be donated to a worthy cause. | | | |
“Taking joy in living is a woman's best cosmetic"
CALLING ALL WOMEN! MVUU WOMEN’S GROUP - WOMEN AND CONNECTIONS
WE MEET Every Third Saturday at MVUU 10:00-Noon to join together in friendship and laughter. Please join us!
Please mark your calendars in advance for the third Saturday of each month.
NOTE: We have set up a GOOGLE GROUPS email system. Through this group, we send important notices and updates. If you have asked to be in our group, but have not received an Email Invitation to join the Google Group “Women and Connections,” please check your spam folder. If you don’t see it in your spam folder, please email claudiasilverman6@gmail.com and we will send another invite.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING!
Cathy Becskehazy (cathy.becskehazy@mvuu.org)
Pamela Gilbert (pamela.gilbert@mvuu.org)
Claudia Silverman (claudiasilverman6@gmail.com)
| | | |
September Woven Basket Partner
Interfaith
The mission of ICS is to provide pathways leading to more stable and self-sufficient lives.
| | | |
|
Peer Grief Group
Sept 22, Sept 29
Grief group meeting in Loft room at MVUU 12:30 pm
Questions? Email Ann Bowling annorbob@yahoo.com
| | |
|
Coffee
Fair trade coffee sales continue! On the first and third Sunday of each month, Elizabeth or Melody will be offering coffee for sale before and after services. Supporting fair trade coffee growers is one way we show our dedication to social justice. Please stop by and give your name and email to add to our customer list.
| | |
|
The Sunday Book Group on Zoom
On Sunday September 22 we will begin discussing our new book: “Why Materialism Is Baloney” by Bernardo Kastrup. “The present framing of the cultural debate in terms of materialism versus religion has allowed materialism to go unchallenged as the only rationally-viable metaphysics. This book uncovers the absurd implications of materialism and then, uniquely, presents a hard-nosed non-materialist metaphysics substantiated by skepticism, hard empirical evidence, and clear logical argumentation. It lays out a coherent framework upon which one can interpret and make sense of every natural phenomenon and physical law, as well as the modalities of human consciousness, without materialist assumptions. According to this framework, the brain is merely the image of a self-localization process of mind, analogously to how a whirlpool is the image of a self-localization process of water. The brain doesn't generate mind in the same way that a whirlpool doesn't generate water. It is the brain that is in mind, not mind in the brain. Physical death is merely a de-clenching of awareness. The book closes with a series of educated speculations regarding the afterlife, psychic phenomena, and other related subjects.”
We will be reading and discussing this book into November 2024. For more information contact John Clark at alvinjclark@aol.com.
| | |
|
Bookaholics Unanimous
We are a group of enthusiastic readers who meet the last Tuesday of the month at 2 pm by zoom. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, September 24. The book is The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. Anne Leonard will lead. …a stunning and magisterial epic of love, faith, and medicine, set in Kerala, South India, following three generations of a family seeking the answers to a strange secret." If you are interested in learning more about the group contact Anne Leonard: anne@alartworks.com or 520-307-8045.
| | |
|
Men's Night Out (Virtual)
Tuesdays at 7 pm
Join us for Men's Night Out, every Tuesday evening via Zoom. Click to Join Zoom For more information Email Tom Sawyer
| |
|
Calling all Women
MVUU women enthusiastically supported the idea of a women's group. Joining together in friendship and laughter on the third Saturday in May, a group of MVUU women can gather in a comfortable setting. Contact cathbaz@gmail.com.
| | |
|
Recycling
Recycling for D,C,AA,AAA and Button batteries ONLY is now available. Place them the labeled bucket next to the Library.
| | |
Caring Circles
Join a Caring Circle to connect, strengthen, and expand ties within our congregation. Circles meet weekly or bi-weekly via Zoom and/or in person. Got Questions? Email Pi Irwin
| |
|
MVUU LGBTQ+
We are a Welcoming Congregation, inviting all LGBTQs in all areas of our community. If you want to speak to someone from the church about LGBTQ+ issues, email or text MVUU's affiliated minister, Rev. Christiane Heyde (520) 393-9960.
| |
|
MVUU Membership Invitation
If you are interested in joining our community and would like to become a member at MVUU, please email matthew.funkecrary@mvuu.org
| |
|
Give your pledge or
Donate to MVUU online
| |
Send your check to MVUU, P.O. Box 91080, Tucson, AZ 85752, indicating which fund you'd like it to go to (i.e. Pledge, Operating Fund, Capital Campaign, Woven Basket, etc.). | |
Find your Friends in MVUU's Photo Directory
For login directions Email Administrator@mvuu.org.
| |
Newsletter Deadlines: The next newsletter will be published Friday, September 27th. Submit articles to Administrator@mvuu.org by 12 pm, Monday September 23rd. No Exceptions. Articles may not exceed 250 words. Thank you. | | | | |