We Are Unitarian Universalists

We are brave, curious, and compassionate thinkers and doers. We are diverse in faith, ethnicity, history and spirituality, but aligned in our desire to make a difference for the good. We have a track record of standing on the side of love, justice, and peace. We have radical roots and a history as self-motivated spiritual people: we think for ourselves and recognize that life experience influences our beliefs more than anything. We need not think alike to love alike. We are people of many beliefs and backgrounds: people with a religious background, people with none, people who believe in a God, people who don’t, and people who let the mystery be. We are Unitarian Universalist and Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, atheist and agnostic, believers in God, and more. On the forefront of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer inclusion for more than 40 years, we are people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. We seek to welcome you: your whole self, with all your truths and your doubts, your worries and your hopes. Join us on this extraordinary adventure of faith. Get involved!
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At All-Virtual GA, Unitarian Universalists Center Love and Pledge Bold Social and Climate Justice Action

More than 3,400 Unitarian Universalists came together to explore the faith’s underpinnings, take consequential votes, and be in community with one another.

In that spirit, delegates decisively adopted a new statement of shared UU values that places love at the center. With 80 percent of voting delegates choosing to adopt changes to Article II of the UUA bylaws (see page 8), the new stated values of the faith are Equity, Generosity, Interdependence, Justice, Pluralism, and Transformation, centered around Love. A two-thirds vote to change Article II was required under UUA bylaws; the new statement was approved by 80.2 percent of voting delegates (2,025 votes) to 19.8 percent (499 votes), with 21 delegates abstaining (0.8 percent). The vote came after a multi-year process of discernment that involved thousands of UUs around the country, including a majority vote at GA 2023 to continue the process to a final vote at GA 2024. Only one of four proposed amendments to the new statement of values passed, to amend the description of the shared value of Equity to read, “We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion.” Two proposed amendments to incorporate additional values—Peace, and Reason and the Responsible Search for Truth and Meaning—and a proposal for an alternative description of Equity, did not pass.

UUs Make Space for Difficult Conversations on Gender-Expansive Rights, Middle East

One of GA’s most powerful and moving moments came during a charged discussion of a proposed Business Resolution, “Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary, Intersex and Gender Diverse People is a Fundamental Expression of UU Religious Values.” As the final speaker in favor of the resolution, the Rev. JeKaren Olaoya used her allotted 90 seconds to affirm repeatedly and emphatically to transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse people: “I love you. I love you. I love you.” Her heartfelt expression was quickly circulated widely online, as a way of reiterating the centrality of love as a core value of the faith. The resolution passed overwhelmingly with a 91.8 percent vote in favor.
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Earth Day Worship Celebration: April 22, 2025 – 8:00pm ET • 7:00pm CT • 6:00pm MT • 5:00pm PT

As Unitarian Universalists, we are positioned to be faith leaders at this critical time in our country’s history. And it can feel overwhelming. Where do we start? We run the risk of becoming quick to act without listening to each other and the communities most impacted by climate disruption.

This Earth Day, UU Ministry for Earth will help us deepen practices that put Love at the center of our climate justice work. Not to avoid acting, but to prepare us for action.

We will hold the service online, and we can also provide written worship materials for your congregation’s or group’s use. We ask for a donation for those materials. Register for the online service and/or the written materials here.

THIS WEEK’S CHURCH CALENDAR

Monday – April 21

Tuesday – April 22

11am – Noon    Truly Mindful Tuesday Meditation. Tina will be present. All are invited to try different forms of meditation together each week.

12:30 – 2:30pm    Tina’s Office Hours – Please make an appointment so you won’t have to wait.

6pm    SIUUC Gardening Forum

Zoom:     https://zoom.us/j/94884266239 

Phone:    1 253 215 8782     ID: 94884266239

If you would like to be included in the Garden Forum weekly email synopsis and email discussions, please contact Edna at skyislandchurch@gmail.com.

6:30 – 8pm     Dharma Buddhists Meditation

Wednesday – April 23

6 – 7:30pm   Wondering Wednesdays

Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/99892265318 

Phone:    1 669 900 9128     ID: 99892265318

Come join us for Wondering Wednesday at 6pm on Zoom, where we are always wondering how everyone is doing, and catch up on the latest in the SIUUC Community. Feel free to pop in for some friendly conversation and maybe a chuckle or two.

Thursday – April 24

Friday – April 25

For all Zoom meetings, if you need to call in by phone you can call 1-253-215-8782.

The meeting ID is the last 11 digits of the corresponding link.

RECURRING MONTHLY ACTIVITIES

First Friday:

9am    First Friday Hike

6pm    PFLAG Monthly Meeting

11am    Second Friday – Church Ladies Lunch at the Country House Restaurant

11:30am    Third Thursday – Men’s Luncheon. Contact Pat Aronna if you plan to attend.

Third Friday:

11am – 3pm    EAF

1pm – ??pm    Board Games

12pm    Third Sunday – Board of Directors meet at the church following Sunday Service

https://zoom.us/j/98918280553

10:30am    Fourth Sunday 2nd Collection

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For all Zoom meetings, if you need to call in by phone, you can call 1-253-215-8782.  The meeting ID is the last 11 digits of the corresponding link.
If you are a Zoom user, and it’s good to see some of you on Sunday mornings or on one of our various topical meetings, please check for updates. When you open Zoom, somewhere on your screen there should be a zoom.us entry. For me, it’s on the very very top of my screen on the left.  When you click on that, there should be a drop down menu with a number of options. One of them should say “Check for updates…..” and that’s what you want to click on. Since Zoom seems to have an update almost every week, you might be a bunch of weeks behind. Let’s all get current!
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*Wondering Wednesday Zoom Meetings:  6:00 to 7:30 pm
Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 998 9226 5318 One tap mobile +13462487799,,99892265318#
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Sunday: @ 10:30am Church Service
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*Sunday Social Hour at 11:30AM is:
or copy and paste: https://zoom.us/j/97380861311
phone: 669 900 9128   #97380861311
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Garden Forum Tuesdays at 6PM:
Join Tuesday Zoom Meeting:
 https://zoom.us/j/94884266239  Meeting ID: 948 8426 6239
One tap mobile +12532158782,,94884266239# US
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At a time when the threats to people’s rights increase daily, we recognize we must all commit ourselves to collective action and unity with communities on the front lines of justice work. It’s why I’m writing to personally invite you to join and play an integral part in UUSC’s new Resistance Network. This network will be a hub for learning and action. It will help connect our collective efforts to protect democracy, expand civil liberties, and increase the impact of the social justice work we do together. We’re excited to co-create this new platform with you to support front line communities — rooted in faith and action. You can learn more about the Resistance Network here. Once you sign up, in addition to UUSC’s regular emails, you’ll hear from us with urgent actions to take, inspiring stories of resistance from faith groups across the country, ways to financially support community efforts, and new resources to increase our activism’s effectiveness. We encourage you to keep in close contact with us and share your success stories along the way, adding to our shared learning library for justice work that centers front line communities! Thank you for joining in solidarity with UUSC to rapidly confront the human rights challenges of today — and help to build a better tomorrow for all.     Together we rise, Mary Katherine Morn President Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Donate
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New Things To Do at Sky Island UU

SERVICE FOR APRIL 20

“Do Not Give Death the Final Word”

Easter has always meant to me that even the worst destruction is never completely final. When you look over a desolate fire-damaged landscape, the tiny shoots of plants reappear. When someone dear to you has been taken away by death or geography, your memories of them come flooding back and their advice never dries up. Even when you feel alone, humiliated or ignored, the thoughtful support of one person who sees you can warm you for a lifetime. For me the words life, love, and compassion have the final word.  Which ones do for you? There will be a time during worship for you to say your final words out loud. Even if you are not confident the best always survives, what do you want to shout out as an aspiration?

Becky Tanner invites you to bring an Easter bonnet, or festive hat if you have one, to wear or at least wave about during the postlude.

In-Person and on Zoom:

https://zoom.us/j/98918280553

Phone:      1-253-215-8782

Meeting ID: 989 1828 0553

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REV. TINA’S WEEK

The Baja 4 ministers met, as usual, on Thursday to plan a joint service for June 1. As June is a month with five Sundays, we always do some kind of “pulpitpalooza,” either a pulpit exchange or videos we make together and share. June 1 feels more involved, even including a musician and video editor you might remember from when we put joint services up on YouTube during the pandemic.

That Sunday we will be saying goodbye to Rev. Bethany Russell-Lowe, who began her time as lead minister at the UU Church of Tucson in 2018 and is now taking on a new challenge as the settled minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo, NY (pending congregational approval after her upcoming candidating week there). Many of you have come to know Bethany when she preached several times at Sky Island or as one of our ministers on YouTube during COVID. It is bitter-sweet to have her go; her new call will help her grow into an even finer minister but we will miss her. We are considering a Wizard of Oz theme for June 1, with beginnings, journeying together and endings in mind. We will have a card out in the fellowship room for you to sign for Bethany; please take time to let her know what she has meant to you over these years.

Rev. Tina’s Office Hours:

My office hours next week will be Tuesday, April 22, 12:30 – 2:30. Please make an appointment so you won’t have to wait.

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Annual Stewardship Campaign

At this time of year, we need to remind everyone to pledge their continued support of our church. We are so appreciative of your past donations and rely on you to keep our church operating. Please pick up a pledge card for the upcoming fiscal year. If you need a card sent by mail, please contact Robbie Rouse at scratchclaw2004@gmail.com.

You don’t need to  be a member to pledge your support. All pledges will be gratefully received and well used.

The completed cards can be dropped in the offering basket, placed in the designated box in the community room, or mailed to the church.

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Mindfulness Meditation

Come for mindfulness meditation each Tuesday from 11am – noon at the church.  We take turns leading it, but don’t feel that you have to. Come and try it out, no experience necessary.

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Wondering Wednesdays 

Come join us for Wondering Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. (local time) on Zoom, where we are always wondering how everyone is doing, and catch up on the latest in the SIUUC Community. Feel free to pop in on the rest of us for some friendly conversation and maybe a chuckle or two.

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First Friday Hike (Optional) and Picnic

Pena Blanca Lake and Canyon

Friday, May 2  |  8am

Last month’s hike was postponed due to bad weather. We will try again in May:

Surprisingly few Arizonans are aware of this small but very pretty spring-fed lake in Santa Cruz County.  It is just off Ruby Road between Nogales and Rio Rico.  The road goes all the way to Arivaca and is amazingly scenic, especially in good wildflower years.  We will stop before it gets rough but if you have high clearance I recommend that you take a day sometime to do the entire loop through Arivaca and Amado. We will do an easy hike of about 2 miles (or more if you wish) into Pena Blanca Canyon followed by a picnic at Pena Blanca Lake.  Bring a lunch or something to share if you like. We will be stopping first at the lake to claim a picnic table.  If you don’t want to hike you may stay at the lake to fish, read, hike the short paved trail or just chill out.

Note the meeting time of 8am at the church to accommodate the longer than usual (but scenic) drive and the potentially warm May weather.  Or you may meet us at the gas station in Whetstone (please let me know) around 8:30 or at the Steakout Restaurant in Sonoita around 9:45.  Contact Molly with any questions: mandfar@gmail.com.

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Second Collection for March

 For March, the second collection will be for the Emergency Assistance Fund (EAF).  You can donate at the second collection on March 30, or by tapping the DONATE button below. When you get to the part that says, “Use this donation for…” type in “2nd collection” . You can also drop a check off at church and leave in the Treasurer’s file folder on the wall, or mail a check to the address at the bottom of this webpage. Be sure to put “2nd collection” for the notation or memo.
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Caring Corner

Teresa Longmore is now home and asks for prayers for the treatment she will need to have in Tucson.

Susie Fawcett is back in Haven in Sierra Vista and she welcomes calls and visitors.

Jean MacKeen is back home at Hummingbird after some time in the hospital.

If you have a joy you’d like to share or a sorrow you’d like people to hear, please send an email to skyislandchurch@gmail.com

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Local & Regional Activities

We are the Baja 4!

Representing Unitarian Universalists across southeastern Arizona, we love beyond belief and find inspiration from a wide array of spiritual, religious, and secular sources. We come together as a Baja 4 because we know we are stronger together.

Learn more about each congregation!

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Pacific Western Region News

Pacific Western Region Logo Pacific Western Region Newsletter for April 2025 ________________________________