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 BuddhistChristianHinduHumanistJewish, MuslimPaganatheist and agnosticbelievers 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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Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC):

The UUSC launches the Resistance Network.

We are living in a time of escalating injustice, but also powerful resistance. Those in power seek to divide us, weaken our movements, and strip away fundamental rights—but we know that justice is only possible when we build solidarity together. Our faith in human dignity, our belief in collective liberation, and our commitment to justice call us to act.

Yesterday, the UUSC launched the Resistance Network—a mobilization hub designed to take immediate action when civil liberties, democracy, and human rights are at risk. The threats we face are vast, but history shows us that resistance works when we act together. The Resistance Network is an opportunity to live our values as Unitarian Universalists and take collective action.

THIS WEEK’S CHURCH CALENDAR

Monday – May 12

Tuesday – May 13

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 – May 14

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 – May 15

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

Friday – May 16

   11am – 3pm    EAF

   1pm – ??pm    Board Games

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 MAY 11

“Mother’s Day/Mothers’ Day: Celebrating Ones Who Care”

Holidays connected to specific roles and genders can be complex to acknowledge. How do we salute all who mother, even those who were not born with “female” on their birth certificate or did not give birth to the children they raised? How do we note that this can be a challenging day for people who wanted biological children but were never able to give birth? How do we address the fact that many mothers have done enough harm to be hard to commemorate?  I believe, however, it is important to pay homage to those who care, to explore the many ways we support others, and to consider how we nurture ourselves when no one receives the perfect nurturing from a parent.

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

When you are sick, or tired, do you find it hard to locate new springs of creativity? As I stayed home from office hours this week, hoping to keep a stomach bug to myself, I quickly realized how many resources I have:

First there are all of you. The UUA bylaws used to list six sources of inspiration for us, including prophetic voices, earth-based religions and Judeo-Christian books.  Now a paragraph cites such things as “direct experiences of transcending mystery and wonder,” “sacred, secular, and scientific understandings,”  and “religious ancestries.. and diversity.” And I want to add the experience and wisdom you bring. Each one of us has found different guides for living, including Buddhism, Catholicism, atheism and even when we read the same books they speak to us differently.

I especially want to thank Keeta, our Druid, for addressing our questions about Beltane, the afterlife and ritual this past Sunday. I always find her answers so calming, so grounding, so practical for every-day existence. I feel worship become three dimensional and sweep us from the sanctuary to life beyond. I plan to find ways to include insight from more members during worship this summer.

Secondly, I want to note an unexpected adviser I found. One of the songs Becky Tanner and I picked for Mothers’ Day worship contained far too Christian and saccharine lyrics for our use.  I typed into google “UU words to ‘Faith of our Mothers’” looking for a human created version, and got AI, and multiple useful suggestions instead.  AI posited that “A Unitarian Universalist (UU) version of ‘Faith of Our Mothers’ would likely reframe the hymn’s language to be more inclusive of diverse religious and spiritual backgrounds, and to emphasize values like love, service, and interconnectedness, rather than a specific Christian faith. It would likely focus on the enduring legacy of mothers and their positive influence on future generations, rather than the religious aspects of the original hymn.” AI even gave me a new refrain! Come Sunday to hear the results.

May sparks of creativity and wisdom, flying in from unforeseen directions, reignite your passion for life this week.

Tina’s Office Hours

My office hours next week will be Tuesday, May 13, 12:30 – 2:30. Please make an appointment so you won’t have to wait.

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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 Outing With Optional Hike

Friday, June 6  |  8am – Mount Lemmon

Last Outing Of The Summer!

Mount Lemmon is the closest cool spot in June so we’re going to make our annual trip to the top.  This is a must do for all southern Arizonans.  The highway is an engineering marvel and the views are spectacular!  The hike at the top would be considered fairly easy if not for the 8000 ft elevation.  Last year we had a good group of hikers and a picnic tableful of folks who loved the drive and had a great time visiting til we got back.  Following the hike we will go to the Beyond Bread outlet at the lodge where you can order a meal or just sit on the balcony with your sack lunch. The day will involve about 4 hours of driving so plan accordingly. Contact Molly with any questions: mandfar@gmail.com.

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Second Collection for April

 For April, the second collection will be for the Emergency Assistance Fund (EAF).  You can donate at the second collection on April 27, 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

Michael Bales        Diane Davis’ husband died a week ago; please keep Diane in your thoughts and prayers. His memorial service will be held at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Tucson on May 31 at 1pm. Mike and Diane’s mothers were founders of that church.

Jean MacKeen       A celebration of life will be held for Jean at the church at noon on Saturday, June 7th.

Susie Fawcett continues to be at the Haven, Sierra Vista. She values visits but may be tired by afternoon, so late morning may be better.

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 May 2025 ________________________________