~ 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.)

EASTER SUNDAY/SPRING CELEBRATION –

“STORIES OF RESURRECTION AND REBIRTH”

SUNDAY, MARCH 31ST, 2024

AT BEACON

At 10:00 A.M.

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

In North America, we are awakening to a new spring, and all around the world different cultures will be sharing stories of resurrection, renewal, and rebirth. We will look at the ancient wisdom found in these stories as we welcome the changing of the seasons and the rebirth of the earth. With Worship Associate Rev. Linda Ochi and music provided under the direction of Andrew Schroeder with accompaniment by Pete Garcia.

Easter Finger Food Potluck Brunch at 11:00 a.m.  Following the service, everyone is invited to share finger food appetizers.  If you are able to, please bring an item to share.  Since we don’t plan to put out all the tables, please think of something easy for people to eat while standing.  

KIDS AT BEACON - ALL ARE WELCOME!

Children and youth are always welcome in worship!

There are activity packets available for children during the service.

If you are bringing children for a Sunday service and would like childcare provided, please contact Linda Ochi at (619) 607-1623 or by email: Lindaochi31@gmail.com

~ THIS WEEK AT BEACON ~

EASTER SUNDAY/SPRING CELEBRATION –

"STORIES OF RESURRECTION AND REBIRTH"

Sunday, March 31st, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.

in the Beacon Sanctuary

EASTER FINGER FOOD POTLUCK BRUNCH

Sunday, March 31st, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.

in the Beacon Social Hall

BEACON CHOIR REHEARSAL

Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.

in the Beacon Sanctuary

SAVE THE DATES:

Beacon's Got Talents Talent Show and Celebration Potluck on Sunday, April 14th, 2024

Building & Grounds Work Day on Saturday, May 4th, 2024

Beacon Town Hall on Sunday, May 19th, 2024

Annual Beacon Yard Sale on Saturday, June 1st, 2024

UUA Virtual General Assembly, June 20th-23rd, 2024

Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, June 23rd, 2024

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… All are welcome to join the choir. And it’s a great way to introduce friends who like to sing to Beacon. 

The Beacon Choir, under the direction of Andrew Schroeder and with accompanist Pete Garcia, rehearses each Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Beacon Sanctuary.

IN THE BEACON SPOTLIGHT:

TALENT SEARCH!

FOR BEACON'S GOT TALENTS - TALENT SHOW

During worship on Sunday, April 14th, we will celebrate the end of our stewardship campaign with a talent show. 

Do you...

• play an instrument or sing
• have a favorite poem or reading
• have a skit you want to perform
• have an unusual talent
• tell funny jokes?

If so, please sign up for our Sunday morning talent show by emailing Linda at Lindaochi31@gmail.com

This is a great opportunity to bring friends and family to service, plus we are having a celebration potluck after the service.

BEACON'S GOT TALENTS STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN

 "Your gifts put our faith into action on a daily basis. Every gift helps our congregation bring people together and allows us to take a stand for justice, love, and peace."

From the Unitarian Universalist Association on Generosity and Giving

BEACON’S GOT TALENTS

STEWARDSHIP EVENTS CALENDAR

Sunday, April 14th

• 10:00 a.m. End of Stewardship Campaign and Celebration Sunday – Beacon's Got Talents Talent Show - Come to worship and celebrate all the talented people in our congregation
• 11:00 a.m. Celebration Potluck – Please show your talent at cooking or your talent at buying something from the store!

CORE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL (CLC) MEETING

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17TH, 2024, AT 6:30 P.M.

The next Core Leadership Committee meeting will be on Wednesday, April 17th, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.  Contact Dennis Spurlin if you have any questions. 

The Core Leadership Council (CLC) supports the organization primarily by facilitating communication between all the committees of the congregation with the Board and is chaired by the Board Vice President. All are welcome, and there should be at least one representative from each committee. More information about the CLC can be found here and here.

RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION

BUILDING BRIDGES

INTERGENERATIONAL BUILDING BRIDGES VISITS AT BEACON

Our middle/high school Building Bridges world religions group has evolved into an opportunity for ALL AGES to explore the beliefs of other faith communities through visits to their places of worship.  

On Sunday, April 28th, 2024, we will meet at 11 a.m. at Bridge Church off of Lake Mary Road at 3926 S. Walapai Dr., Flagstaff, AZ 86005.  Emily Morton, who used to attend Beacon, invites us to attend a service and describes the church as "a charismatic Christian church with lots of life and fun services." For more information about the church, check out their website at https://www.wearebridge.church/.  

Thanks, 

Dru

edrumonroe@gmail.com 

CALLING ALL FACILITATORS!  Would you like to lead an Adult Education program?Bring it On! Contact Lynda Dorweiler (Beacon President) 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 office@beaconuu.com to be shared.

JOYS AND SORROWS FROM MARCH 24TH:

Steven reported that he and Susan just returned from Washington, DC, where they particularly enjoyed the Native American, African American, and Holocaust museums: "They all tell it like it is. They speak to how vulnerable we are to human greed."

Paul fondly recalled going to Bill and Kay's house when they first became Beacon members and made their first pledge.

Kim needs thoughts and prayers for her cousin's mother, who has been hospitalized for three weeks in ICU: "Please think of my Aunt Jackie and the rest of my family."

CHEAP LUNCH BUNCH

TUESDAY, APRIL 23RD AT 11:30 A.M.



The Cheap Lunch Bunch will meet at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23rd at The Tourist Home Cafe on South San Francisco St.

Please plan on having lunch once each month at a local restaurant typically on the fourth Tuesday.

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. 

JANUARY - MARCH 2024 SHARE THE PLATE PARTNER

Beacon’s community partner for January - March 2024 is

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF NORTHERN ARIZONA

Beacon will Share the Plate with Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona for the months of January - March 2024. Its mission is to bring “affordable homeownership opportunities for those in need, building strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter.” Home ownership is available for low to moderate income families.

The local organization has built over 23 homes and established a Starter Home project which offers simple, efficient, stand-alone homes with 0% interest loans, a minimal down-payment and a monthly payment equivalent to low rent fees. Having home ownership helps to break the cycle of poverty. 

 

Undesignated contributions to the Sunday service offerings above $300 will be presented to the Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona. Nominations for 501c3 agencies can be made through a form located in the office manager’s office. CA members are Katy Grant, Susan Patrick and Lynda L. Dorweiler. 

ACTIVATE AT BEACON WITH SOCIAL JUSTICE ALLIES!

MONDAY, APRIL 8TH, 2024

VIA ZOOM

The Social Justice Allies (SJAs) meet on the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom.

The April meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 8th, 2024. If you wish to join the meeting, please contact the convener Paul Beier.

More information about the SJAs can be found here.

HELP FOR UKRAINE 2024

Survival essentials are needed for the citizens of Ukraine.

Two containers have been placed at Beacon (in the lobby and in the Rainbow Room) to collect items for the people of Ukraine.

Request is made for the following items only: 

• Clothes for kids and adults
• Hand and feet warmers
• Shoes for kids and adults
• Thermal underwear
• Blankets, sleeping bags
• Winter sport clothes

Collection ends on Sunday, March 31st, 2024. 

Thank you for your help. 

“WHITE PRIVILEGE” & MULTIRACIAL UNITY

SATURDAY, APRIL 13TH

10:00 A.M. (MST)

VIA ZOOM

On Saturday, April 13th, 2024, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time) via Zoom, the UU Multiracial Unity Action Council is presenting "White Privilege" & Multiracial Unity, a two-part convocation led by Dr. Kenneth Christiansen and Rev. Richard Trudeau.

For more information, click here.

To register, please send an email to UUMUAC@gmail.com; Zoom codes will be sent on April 12th, 2024.

Click here to watch the UU the Vote Campaign launch (pre-recorded).

So much is on the line this election season. Together, our communities can address the current threats to our democracy and human dignity.

The 2024 elections are not just about what’s at stake, but what is possible–a coordinated national movement of communities working together to fight for justice, accountability, and equity. This is a critical time to win real victories for our communities. Many of us have been fighting hard to pass critical voting rights legislation, end our reliance on fossil fuels, create a just pathway to citizenship for immigrant communities, block the proliferation of militarized policing, protect life-affirming abortion care, and fight hateful and discriminatory anti-trans legislation. Elections have consequences, and, as we saw in the victory to enshrine the right to an abortion in Ohio’s constitution, the results can be inspiring. Let’s bring our values to UU the Vote in 2024!

Unitarian Universalism calls us to build democratic processes in our congregations and communities. We must protect victories won by decades of justice movement organizing and advance that work through lifting our collective voices in the 2024 elections. Together, in partnership, UUs can strengthen our organizing landscapes through the mass mobilization of UU the Vote in 2024.

We can’t do it without you!  Want to stay updated with UU The Vote all the way through November? Sign up here. 

~ Beacon Connections ~

Volunteer At Flagstaff Food Center With Beacon!

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24TH, 2024

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 date is Wednesday, April 24th, 2024, 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 date, please use this Beacon-specific link. (If you go to the general volunteer sign-up webpage, this Beacon volunteer date and time may not show up.)

If you encounter any problems with the above link, please contact Mike 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. You can order from any of the over 2,300 stores listed under iGive with a portion of your purchase being donated to Beacon. 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). 

3. 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 Lynda Dorweiler, President.

OTHER EVENTS IN ARIZONA AND THE SOUTHWEST

CAMP DE BENNEVILLE PINES

UPCOMING EVENTS

SUMMER YOUTH CAMP REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Camp de Benneville Pines, the UUA camp for the Pacific Western Region, is hosting the following upcoming events:



• “Promoting Justice: Amplifying Voices,” the Pacific Southwest District Service Area Assembly, April 26-28, 2024
• "We Are Magic," UU Women's Retreat, May 3-5, 2024
• "Creating Sacred Space," Yoga and Whole Living Camp, May 17-19, 2024
• UU Elementary Summer Youth Camp, June 30-July 6, 2024
• UU Counselor-in-Training Program, June 30-July 6, 2024
• UU Jr. High Summer Youth Camp, July 7-13, 2024
• UU Sr. High Summer Youth Camp, July 14-20, 2024
• UU Summer Family Camp, July 21-27, 2024

For more information on these and other events and to register, please click here.

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

GHOST RANCH, NM

JUNE 17-23, 2024

WUULF (Western Unitarian Universalist Life Festival) is an annual week-long, multi-generational camp for Unitarian-Universalists at the Ghost Ranch in New Mexico. We are a loving community from a diverse set of age groups, backgrounds, and cultures who gather in New Mexico each year to express our appreciation for each other and our world. WUULF will be held from June 17-23, 2024.

Rev. Robin Zucker, serving as community minister for WUULF this year, will offer morning chapel services and several workshops.

More information can be found here. Registration is open!

~ BEACON OFFICE HOURS AND CONTACTS~

Office Phone (928) 779-4492

Minister

Beacon is currently

a lay-led congregation.

Contact president@beaconnuu.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

Office Manager,

Paula Czernicki

she/her/hers

Mon: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Wed: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Thurs: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Hours may change. Please call ahead.

Office@beaconuu.com

~ UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST EIGHT PRINCIPLES ~

Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation affirms and promotes eight Principles, which we hold as strong values and moral guides.

Further information about the 8th Principle can be found here. The 8th Principle is being considered by other UU congregations and the UUA.

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!

If you lost money due 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. 

 webmaster@beaconuu.com 

Contribute to Beacon's Weekly News

Typically, submissions for the next newsletter need to be emailed to office@beaconuu.com by noon on Wednesday. Thanks!