Welcome to Unitarian Universalism
We are people of all ages, people of many backgrounds, and people of many beliefs. We are brave, curious and compassionate thinkers and doers. We create spirituality and community beyond boundaries, working for more justice and more love in our own lives and in the world. Unitarian Universalism draws from our heritages of freedom, reason, hope, and courage, building on the foundation of love. We covenant, congregation-to-congregation and through our Association, to support and assist one another in our ministries. Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. The values we share include all the following, which we hold as inseparable and deeply interconnected:- Interdependence: We honor the interdependent web of all existence and acknowledge our place in it.
- Pluralism: We are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology.
- Justice: We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all feel welcome and can thrive.
- Transformation: We adapt to the changing world.
- Generosity: We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope.
- Equity: We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion.
- Beliefs and Shared Values – more information on our shared values and answers to some common belief questions
- Who We Are – our history, symbols, backgrounds and stories
- Religious Practices – what Unitarian Universalists do on Sunday and every day, including holidays and rites of passage
- Get Involved – find out how to connect with Unitarian Universalism, no matter where you are
THIS WEEK’S CHURCH CALENDAR
Monday – September 7
Tuesday – September 8
11 – 11:30am Truly Mindful Tuesday Meditation – All are invited to try different forms of meditation together each week.
11:30am – Noon Tina’s Office Hours – Please set up a visit ahead of time so you won’t have to wait; the hours are a bit shorter because we are holding our monthly Sunday Services Committee Meeting that day at noon. Feel free to reach out to her by email or text. If you don’t hear back from an email within a couple days or need her more urgently, PLEASE TEXT HER.
Noon – 1:30pm Sunday Services Committee Meeting – All are invited, especially anyone who would like to have input on the themes, readings, and music we use in worship. One of our members couldn’t be present at the last moment, so we changed the date from last week to this.
6pm SIUUC Gardening Forum
Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/97255166396?
Phone: 1 253 215 8782 ID: 97255166396
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 – September 9
6pm Choir Practice – Join us in the sanctuary.
6 – 7:30pm Wondering Wednesday
Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/
Phone: 1 669 900 9128 ID: 97090805829
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 – September 10
11am – Noon The Widowing Tribe – The Tribe is available to anyone who has lost a partner, and is at any stage of grief. It is not tied to any religious belief; it is based in support with people who know what it’s like to be inside this grief.
Friday – September 11 – 11am Church Ladies Lunch at the Country House Restaurant
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 Tuesday – Noon Sunday Services Committee Meeting
First Friday:
9am First Friday Hike
6pm PFLAG Monthly Meeting | Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Second Sunday – 10:30am Second Sunday 2nd Collection
Second Friday – 11am Church Ladies Lunch at the Country House Restaurant
12pm Third Sunday – Board of Directors meet at the church following Sunday Service
Third Thursday – 11:30am Men’s Luncheon. Contact Pat Aronna if you plan to attend.
Third Friday:
11am – 3pm EAF | Emergency Assistance Fund
1pm – ??pm Board Games
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, you can call 1-253-215-8782. The meeting ID is the last 11 digits of the corresponding link.
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Together we rise,
Mary Katherine Morn
President
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
New Things To Do at Sky Island
Sunday, September 6, 2026
At 10:30am In-Person and on Zoom:
Phone: 1-253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 989 1828 0553
THIS SUNDAY September 6th, Django Sanders will speak about “Rastafarianism As Told To Me By Rasta Roy” and lead us through a brief look at the history of the Rastafarian religion, its creed, practices and beliefs.
MUSIC THIS SUNDAY
Opening Song By the Rivers of Babylon #1042 — but with more upbeat sense to it than the one in the teal hymnal
Offering We’ll Build a Land #121
Closing Song One Love I will leave print outs of the words on the piano
Tina’s Week
On 7/7/77 my father and I moved to Canberra, Australia while my mother finished working at a job she loved. After my mother arrived a bit later, we discovered the Uniting Church of Australia, a combination of the Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian churches. What I didn’t realize was that union became official on 6/22/77; it seemed to me that it had always existed. It became the third largest denomination in Australia and probably kept a number of churches alive.
At the Progressive Pastors gathering this Wednesday, I discovered that the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the Episcopal church, already “in communion” are likely to team up more formally with the United Methodist church this summer. As one of the Episcopalians in attendance said so well at lunch, “I don’t care what church people attend, as long as they find community.”
I celebrate their coming together, especially since our young Methodist colleagues in Sierra Vista really want us all to find better resources for families together. I am grateful that UUs throughout Arizona have teamed up for a UU the Vote summit this Saturday and to do social justice work together in future.
We are stronger together! And that applies to this church too. For just one example, if you would like better singing for worship, there are so many ways you can show up to help. You can listen to the YouTube links we send out in the newsletter to know how the hymns sound. You can come by 9:30 on Sunday morning and practice. You could come to choir practice at 6pm on Wednesdays — six of us joined Gareth this week. If you don’t like the songs we pick, you could attend the Sunday Services Committee Meeting, usually the first Tuesday of the month at noon, to suggest better ones.
I WILL have office hours this Tuesday, September 8, from 11:30 – Noon. Please set up a visit ahead of time so you won’t have to wait; the hours are a bit shorter because we are holding our monthly Sunday Services Committee Meeting that day at noon. Feel free to reach out to me by email or text. If you don’t hear back from an email within a couple days or need me more urgently, PLEASE TEXT ME.
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Did You Know?
WORSHIP THEMES IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM
We have sheets up on the walls of the community room with the six months of themes for worship that the Baja 4 churches of Tucson and southern Arizona chose to start in July 2026. Some people have added thoughts – please write more! The whole year, June 2026 – July 2027, will look at UU History and Identity and each month has an additional theme:
July 2026 Democracy
August 2026 Collective Liberation
September 2026 Community
October 2026 Lamentation
November 2026 Healing
December 2026 Embodiment
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DID YOU KNOW?
The AZ Solidarity Summit is happening!
Several of us who had the opportunity to learn at the first UU the Vote Solidarity Summit back in March have been hard at work planning one just for Arizona UUs.
Where? Valley Unitarian Universalist
6400 W Del Rio St, Chandler, AZ 85226
When? Saturday, September 5, 9am-3pm
Who? All AZ UUs and our many community partners
What? Engagement, learning, listening, connection, fun, food (light breakfast and lunch is on us), and starting our shared future!
How? A paradigm shift from our established skills of showing up, individual action, and rapid response to a statewide shared journey of organized coordination and long-term solidarity with value aligned community partners.
We hope that you will be able to attend the entire Summit. Each part builds on the part before it, so coming in late or leaving early will impact your total experience.
Our Specific Goals for the Day Are:
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Learn some tools for building power together and create care communities.
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Imagining what is possible–together across Arizona and in our own locations–for long-term care and power, including and despite what happens in November.
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Unite as Unitarian Universalists in cause and care–with each other and with our community partners.
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Hear from/learn from/commit to community partners
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Talk about how faith communities can best contribute
Will you join us? (CLICK HERE for event registration)
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Chalice Lighters
Within the UUA, there’s a program called Chalice Lighters. Chalice Lighters began in 1984 as a way for individual Unitarian Universalists to support projects and programs within and among UU congregations by donating $10 or more three times a year.
Sky Island UU Church has benefited in the past from Chalice Lighters grants. There’s quite a history behind the Chalice Lighters program and you can read more about it here.
Want to connect with other UUs engaged in justice? Check out the Side With Love’s Action Center.
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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. Thank you Django Sanders who always attends to hold space for others who come as well.
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Wondering Wednesdays
Wondering Wednesday reconvenes this Wednesday! Feel free to pop in for some friendly conversation and catch up on the latest in the SIUUC Community.
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Beloved member Ken Tanner will return to Sierra Vista this Monday, September 7th. We would like to put some food in his refrigerator so he and his daughter, Andrea, can concentrate on other things as he settles back in. If you are willing to cook, please reach out to his Care Team leader, Kim Thomas at 520-912-8297. Kim prefers texts, but you can always leave her a voice mail. Ken does not like chicken, or rice.
Susie Fawcett is at the Haven of Sierra Vista. Tina has discovered that late morning is a good time to visit to find Susie somewhat responsive.
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