~ 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, MAY 21ST, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.

“WATCH ME FLOWER, CARRY ME”

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

Our annual flower ceremony, this year marking the 100th anniversary of the first one enacted by Norbert Capek in Prague. Bring a flower and plan to take a flower during the ceremony. Rev. Robin will preach - “Watch me flower, Carry Me” and the Beacon choir will sing. Budget town hall after the service.

Looking Ahead:  

May 28, 2023: Memorial weekend service. Rev. Robin will preach - “Chasing Immortality: Would You Want to live forever?” This is Andrez’s last service with us so please come and wish him well on his journey. We will also build a memorial altar during the service, so please bring a photo or memento that represents a loved one who has passed. 

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

On Friday, May 19th at 11:00 a.m., a celebration of life for Sylvia Breakey will take place at Beacon.

A reception will follow. All are welcome to remember Sylvia with her daughter Lise, Bruce, and their family and friends.  

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 below about Religious Exploration.

~ 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:



SIGN UP TIME FOR BEACON CIRCLE SOIREES

SHARE TIMES WITH A FEW MEMBERS OR FRIENDS OF BEACON

“A TRADITION FOR 40 YEARS”

This spring 32 members and friends of Beacon participated in Circle Soirees! What a great turnout! Let’s do it again!  

Circle Soirees are a great way for us to connect, in the tradition of the Circle Suppers that Beacon has held for decades. The new name (swah-ray: gathering, typically in a private location, for conversation or music) can include hikes, picnics, or games – or suppers of course. Why sign up? You want to laugh together and share stories. You want to deepen old friendships and make new friends who share your principles. You need a hug. The reasons are many…

Any Member or Friend of Beacon can sign up (with your partner and family) to participate in 3-5 events, each with a group of 6-8 adults, during June-September (4 full months). Paul will “crochet the soirees” (aggregate signees into circles) on May 26. The hosting duties will rotate among the family units, each hosting one event. Your group decides when to meet, where to meet (home, park, etc.), and whether a meal (typically a potluck) will be included. Soirees continue through September, until all persons who can host have done so. Hosting is not required, so you can sign up even if your home too small to host 8 people. If you can’t remember if you signed up, just sign up.

By Thursday May 25, use this online form to provide your name, email, phone number, and the names of partners or family members who will participate with you. Your info helps me assemble your soiree circle. The form also lets you provide other information, such as “please put me in a circle with Barack.” If you have questions, please email paul.beier@nau.edu or text me at (928)699-3578.

Always connected,

Paul Beier, the Soiree Crochet Bouquet Communique Authoritay  

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: May 20 and June 3. For more information, click here.

ANNUAL BEACON YARD SALE

SATURDAY, JUNE 3RD, 7:00 A.M. – NOON

Mark your calendar and launch your spring clean-up* in preparation for Beacon’s Yard Sale on Saturday, June 3rd.

Set-up will be on Friday, June 2--starting at noon—with a Pizza Party at 5:00 p.m.!

This major Beacon fundraiser requires many person-hours, so you’re encouraged to reserve at least part of Friday, June 2nd and Saturday, June 3rd for helping with this project, especially with the following:

• Setting-up (organizing, pricing)
• Selling, cashiering and helping shoppers load their purchases
• Cleaning up and getting leftover treasures to a charity organization

* Please store your donations prior to the sale in the Beacon Rainbow Space.

Reminder: No electronics or clothing.

Questions? Feel free to contact Rich Clark by phone call or text at (928)255-2515 or by email.

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 the General Assembly should contact President Lynda Dorweiler.

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.

RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION FOR KIDS

IN-PERSON RE FOR NEWBORNS TO 5TH GRADE

On Sunday, May 21st from 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., the children will attend worship for the flower communion service. We will have some special activities for them during the service.

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 Lindaochi31@gmail.com.

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.

The GBU RE class will finish our year with a bang this month!  

On May 21th at 11:15 a.m., we will celebrate our year together and the difficult topics the class has been willing to engage in considering! We will honor the contributions of the students and end playing games together. What a thoughtful and rewarding year it has been!!

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: 

WORD FOR WORD, A WRITING RETREAT

SATURDAY, MAY 27, 2023, 10 A.M. - 3 P.M.

REGISTER BY MAY 21ST!

"Don't be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others.

Unfold your own myth." ~ Rumi 

The act of writing is a powerful tool for self-discovery, healing, and renewal. Writing can be a creative as well as a therapeutic journey; a method of marking our experiences in time, space, heart, soul, and mind. 

In this Saturday retreat, led by Rev. Robin, we will explore our personal and spiritual odysseys with a series of short "free-write" exercises. We will prompt early memories; revisit joyful and sorrowful moments; rewrite endings, beginnings, and middles as a tool for healing; pen letters we meant to write but didn't; and observe the everyday sacred in our lives. 

All of the writing will be done during the retreat. No previous writing experience is required or even expected. This experience is NOT about being a "good" writer or about "how" to write. Nor is the program intended as group "therapy." Rather, it is designed as a communal vehicle for personal exploration and growth. All participants will be encouraged to "write for themselves" not for an audience; sharing will be optional and welcome.  

REGISTRATION is required. Please email the office by May 21st. And we will share lunch – please bring your own brown bag meal. And also a notebook and pen. 

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 minister@beaconuu.com to be shared.

JOYS AND SORROWS FROM MAY 14TH

Paul reported that he had a former student approach him and say she made a career change after being in his class. Such a joy for a former professor! Also, Paul's niece had a baby today, Mother's Day.

Nancy shared that Marty Manning passed away this week. Please keep Charlie in your thoughts.

Char enjoyed helping Andrez celebrate his graduation here at Beacon. His family was in attendance, and it was wonderful!

Sophie is excited to graduate from high school this Thursday!

Kim expressed her joy at serving as a Worship Associate.

Austin joyfully announced that he has a Master's degree now.

Linda is elated at helping all these graduates celebrate.

POTLUCK FOR REV. ROBIN

SAVE THE DATE: JUNE 11, 2023

Following the service on Sunday, June 11th, there will be a Beacon potluck honoring Rev. Robin as she transitions to Eastrose UU Fellowship in Gresham, Oregon. Please watch for details beginning in May.

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, May 18th, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. at the Flame Broiler on South Milton Road.

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 wittke.anne@gmail.com. 

APRIL - JUNE 2023 SHARE THE PLATE PARTNER

Beacon’s community partner for April - June 2023 is

COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE TEAMS (CATs) 

Beacon will Share the Plate with CATs for the months of April-June 2023. CATs operates an outreach and shower bus to promote hygiene, friendship, and assistance to the unsheltered. It provides showers, snacks, clothing, hygiene, items, and referrals to local agencies. 

CATs also sponsors People @ Work which empowers and provides paid employment to clean up Flagstaff’s streets. 

Future plans are to provide non-traditional housing and shelter opportunities such as safe sleeping sites, micro-housing, and wet housing for the alcohol dependent. A calendar on their Facebook page provides locations where the bus is parked during the week/month. More information about CATs can be found here.

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

ITEMS NEEDED FOR THE HOMELESS

The following are needed by our unsheltered relatives:

• Unopened, travel-size lotion & chapstick
• Razors & nail clippers
• Foot powder
• Toothpaste
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Body wash, deodorant
• 1x-use laundry soap
• Clean, gently-used Men's pants
• Men's shoes and boots
• Raingear (+ponchos)
• Hats
• New socks (M&F)
• New underwear (M&F)
• Men's shirts in good condition
• Tents
• Sleeping bags
• Backpacks
• Tarps
• Water bottles
• Headlights/flashlights
• Batteries (AA & AAA)

Joan Dewey will happily deliver to CATs any items that have been placed in the large blue bin in the Beacon foyer.

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.

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.

BEACON IN THE PRIDE PARADE

SAVE THE DATE: JUNE 17TH

Dig out those UU Beacon and Side with Love T-Shirts!

Beacon has secured a spot in this year's pride parade: Together We March on June 17, 2023. *We are so fortunate that Rev. Robin will be marching with us! *

We need marchers and folks on the sides to cheer marchers on!

More information to follow in the next newsletter! Email Angela with specific questions. 

FLAGSTAFF AND SUSTAINABILITY 

On April 2, we were fortunate to have Genevieve Pearthree from the Sustainability Office of the City of Flagstaff offer a Social Justice Witness in our service. She recommends that folks check out this website to become more involved in climate action 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.

~ Beacon Connections ~

Volunteer At Flagstaff Food Center With Beacon!

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR

MAY 24TH AND 31ST.

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, May 24th and Wednesday, May 31st 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.

Mike Bruton is organizing monthly teams of Beacon UU volunteers. If you're interested in volunteering for the above dates, please contact Mike right away at mb312@hotmail.com.

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. IT'S DOUBLE DONATION MAY! You can order from any of the over 2,300 stores listed under iGive with a portion of your purchase being donated to Beacon. Shopping during May earns Beacon twice as much! 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

MEMORIAL WEEKEND CAMPING WITH UUS

AT SAWUURA,THE ARIZONA UU CAMP

May 27 - 29 No fee and no crowds! 

Join Emrys Staton & others for the Memorial Day Weekend Campout, May 27th-29th, Saturday - Monday. The camp has water, pit toilets, a group kitchen & ramada. High clearance vehicles strongly recommended. Families, children, friends—all are welcome! Details and registration instructions can be found at sawuura.org

Even though you'll be responsible for your own gear* & food, the group kitchen with a stove, pots & pans & a sink will be set up to share.

Activities may include group hikes, bird watching, star gazing, naps, poetry sharing, journaling , and s'mores.

SAWUURA is located in the Sierra Ancha mountains near Young, AZ. 

*Ask about staying in a cabin if that appeals to you.

CAMP DE BENNEVILLE PINES

SUMMER UU YOUTH AND FAMILY CAMPS

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

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: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Wed: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Thurs: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Office@beaconuu.com

~ 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 office@beaconuu.com by 2 p.m. on Wednesday. Thank you!