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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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. As Rev. Barbara Wells ten Hove explains, “The Principles are not dogma or doctrine, but rather a guide for those of us who choose to join and participate in Unitarian Universalist religious communities.”
  1. 1st Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
  2. 2nd Principle: Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
  3. 3rd Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
  4. 4th Principle: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
  5. 5th Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
  6. 6th Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
  7. 7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
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Proposed 8th Principle:

“We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”
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UU Service Committee Ukrainian Assistance

With millions of Ukrainians displaced by the Russian invasion, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), is assisting refugees by partnering with two grassroots organizations in Eastern Europe, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee and FemFund. Both organizations are well-positioned to respond immediately to the people fleeing Ukraine for Hungary and Poland, respectively, having engaged in this work for years with people fleeing conflicts in the Middle East and Africa.
Hungarian Helsinki Committee focuses on providing plain-language legal advice to asylum-seekers and civil society organizations, as well as combatting racist and xenophobic narratives about people on the move in Hungary. FemFund partners with community groups assisting women, LGBTQI+, and Black and People of Color seeking safety in Poland.

THIS WEEK’S CHURCH CALENDAR

Monday – April 3

11:00 – Noon   Mindfulness on Mondays

Meet in the sanctuary for a 10 minute meditation followed by discussion.

Tuesday – April 4

Noon – 4:00pm   Tina’s Office Hours

6:00pm   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.

7:00 – 8:30pm   Dharma Buddhists Meditation

Wednesday – April 5

8:00am   Meditation

Zoom Link:  https://zoom.us/j/97417456265

Phone: 1 669 900 9128     ID: 97417456265

6:00 – 7:30pm   Wondering Wednesdays

Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/99892265318 

Phone: 1 669 900 9128      ID: 99892265318

6:30pm   PFLAG meets at the church.

Thursday – April 6

Friday – April 7

Saturday – April 8

RECURRING MONTHLY ACTIVITIES

6:30pm   First Wednesday   – PFLAG meets each month at the church.

9:00am   First Friday – First Friday Hike

11:00am   Second Friday  – Church Ladies Brunch at the Country House Restaurant

4:30pm   Third Tuesday – Board of Trustees

Join Zoom meeting:   https://zoom.us/j/96408811740

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

11:00 – 3:00pm   Third Friday – EAF

1:00pm – ??pm   Third Friday – Afternoon of Games

10:30am   Fourth Tuesday  – Sunday Services Committee. All interested are welcome to attend.

10:30am   Fourth Sunday 2nd Collection

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Monthly Musings 
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Don’t miss the monthly collection of musings designed to help you and your congregations connect their spiritual practice to care for Earth and all her inhabitants. Each month, your congregation will get a copy of MONTHLY MUSINGS from UUMFE focused on a different theme and filled with materials to help with your EMBODIMENT, EMPOWERMENT, & ENGAGEMENT in the face of climate chaos and environmental injustice. We hope you use these resources for worship, contemplative practice, and religious exploration in your congregation. You can find past issues here.
Sign Up to Receive Monthly Musings Each Month

New Things To Do at Sky Island UU

Let’s Renew Our Covenant with Each Other 

It’s time to renew our covenant with each other to build a beloved community within Sky Island UU and in the greater world.  One way we renew our covenant is by making a financial pledge to fund the ministry of our church for another year.  Sky Island UU is a self-supporting church.  It’s up to us to finance the beloved spiritual community we want to create. Thank you for all the ways you share your time, talent, and treasure AND for considering how you might dig deeper and take a leap in your giving.  As you consider your pledge, please reflect on what Sky Island UU means in your life. If this community has been transformative for you, consider taking a leap in your level of investment in the church. Coordinating your values with where your money goes is a powerful spiritual practice! There are guidelines posted in the community room to help you align your income amount, level of commitment, and monthly pledge.

There are copies of the 2023-24 draft budget and pledge cards available for each member and friend of Sky Island UU in the Community Room.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

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The risk level for COVID-19 for the Sierra Vista Metro Area is LOW. Since we have had several exposures at church in recent weeks we recommend that you wear a mask while inside the building, but you can choose not to at your own risk.

The following web site is useful:

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Upcoming Services

For the next two Sundays, we will explore structural violence, which is pervasive and often invisible. When children marched for civil rights and fire hoses and dogs were turned upon them, the cameras rolled and the world saw plainly the brutality of racism.  How can we see forms of structural violence, uncover it for others and live in ways that undo it?

For April 2, the sermon is “Palm Sunday: Taking on Tanks.”

I don’t think I could put flowers in the barrel of a gun trained upon me; what are alternative ways to counter militarism?

On April 9, the sermon will be “Easter: Making the Resurrection and New Life”

How do communities survive when their very life is threatened on a daily basis?  How can we be better allies to them?

April 16th will be our next “Pulpitpalooza” exchange among the ministers of Baja 4.

Baja 4 intern Jamili Omar will visit us, while Rev. Tina speaks at Borderlands.  The title of Jamili’s sermon is “Article 2: Origin Stories: A Moment of Change.”

  Rev. Tina

In-Person and on Zoom:

https://zoom.us/j/98918280553

Phone:      1-253-215-8782

Meeting ID: 989 1828 0553

________________________________ Wondering Wednesdays  for April 5

6:00 to 7:30 –

Join us for good conversation about a variety of topics.

Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/99892265318 

Phone: 1 669 900 9128      ID: 99892265318

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Mindfulness on Mondays

Monday, April 3, 2023

11:00 – Noon

Please join Gail and Rich Wilder at 11:00am in the sanctuary tomorrow for a discussion of Mindfulness practices and a short meditation. Each week we will highlight a specific practice and then discuss it the following Monday.

Mindfulness Practice – Non-Judging

It’s human nature for the mind to continually compare experiences, people, ideas and opinions, etc. In decision making that can be very helpful, but often we start making judgments: “I don’t like this… She shouldn’t do that… I’m so stupid… This is the best way to do this, everyone should do it this way.” This week observe those judgments as they arise and allow some time to explore. Know that your take on whatever it is stems from your perspective only and most likely you do not know the whole truth. Be curious about your reaction and generate ideas from another’s perspective. Catch yourself before you say something like, “This is good or bad… That idea won’t work… I don’t like this or I do like that.” Observe the workings of your mind and pause before you voice any judgments. Ask yourself, “Is it necessary to share? What will be gained?”

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Second Collection for March

 For March, we will be supporting our Emergency Assistance Fund (EAF)

You can donate at the second collection on February 26, or by tapping the DONATE button below. When you get to the part that says, “Use this donation for…” type in “2nd collection” or “EAF”  You can also drop a check off at church and leave in Tricia’s file folder on the wall, or mail a check to the address at the bottom of the newsletter. Be sure to put “2nd collection” or “EAF” for the notation or memo.

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Caring Corner

Pamela Lee is rehabbing after a stint in Canyon Vista for pneumonia. She’s in good spirits, but too tired for visitors yet.

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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Baja 4 Climate Justice Team

Date TBD | 6-7:30pm | Zoom Calling all Climate Warriors! Join with us as we seek to find our place in the fight for a livable and sustainable environment. We are just forming and so you can help us shape our mission as a team which “seeks environmental justice, beloved community and the flourishing of all life” (as so well put by the UUMFE https://www.uumfe.org/)

Email Jamili for date and time dre.uuct@gmail.com

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Register Now for GA 2023!

 
Watch this video for an explanation of 2023 GA registration options for in-person or virtual participation.
A link to the video that explains GA Registration Rates
Join us June 21 – 25, 2023 online or in-person in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. General Assembly 2023 will be a multiplatform event, with registration options for in-person and/or virtual participation. In-person registration includes access to events scheduled to take place in Pittsburgh, as well as everything available to virtual registrants. Full virtual registration includes access to the GA app, as well as all on-demand programming, live webinars, and live-streamed events.
In-person registration is $400 for adults, and $300 for high school youth, emerging adults (18-24), and retired and candidate ministers. Full Virtual Registration is $250. Register now 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.

Pacific Western Region News

Pacific Western Region Logo Pacific Western Region Newsletter for April 2023 ______________________________  
An Announcement from the UUA Secretary
UUA Secretary Bill Young has announced that a referendum election on the Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt’s nomination will be held this year. Rev. Dr. Betancourt was nominated by the UUA Presidential Search Committee on November 15, 2022 and accepted the nomination. As previously announced, a second candidate identified by the Presidential Search Committee did not accept the nomination.
From December 1, 2022 through February 1, 2023 there was a period where individuals were able to become a candidate for UUA President by receiving petition signatures from fifty congregations in three regions of the Association. As of the petition deadline on February 1, no petitions were submitted.
Learn more about the 2023 UUA Presidential election process, including upcoming regional forums where members and delegates can learn more about Rev. Dr. Betancourt, on our website.
   

Recurring ZOOM Links

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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Wednesday 8AM meditations and phone in information is:  HERE
or copy and paste:  https://zoom.us/j/97417456265 phone: 669 900 9128     #97417456265
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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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NOTE NEW TIME
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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