At All-Virtual GA, Unitarian Universalists Center Love and Pledge Bold Social and Climate Justice Action
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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New Things To Do at Sky Island UU
SERVICE FOR JANUARY 26
“Karma, Creation and Reincarnation”
We will finish our month with the themes of “Buddhism” and “Creation” by considering some of the tenets of Buddhism that Unitarian Universalists find more challenging. Some have told me this month that they have issues with reincarnation and I struggle with rigid descriptions of karma. If you have questions or concerns about Buddhism, please let me know and I’ll attempt to address them.
Fourth Sunday 2nd Collection – Our second collection this month will be in support of The Emergency Assistance Fund (the EAF). A kind donor replenished our coffers last month, but we are running low and would like to have more to offer to cover part of a utility bill or gift cards to Target and Big 5 for people in crisis in February. We need to think up a good fundraiser to make EAF more sustainable in future.
In-Person and on Zoom:
Phone: 1-253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 989 1828 0553
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SAVE THE DATE – Kathy Scott Memorial Service – Saturday, January 25 | 2pm
Phone: 1-669-444-9171
Meeting ID: 938 6547 9135
Please let Rev. Tina or Doe know if you can bring a finger food to share.
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REV. TINA’S WEEK
This week I have been grateful for other members of the Unitarian Universalist Association. As always, I enjoy my Thursday meetings with the four other parish ministers active in the BAJA 4. This week our meeting assumed a level of laughter and fun we haven’t experienced since being punchy together during the pandemic. We are planning a workshop and then worship with Rev. Sara Green, who works on creating productive stewardship for churches, the weekend of March 21 – 23. Sara writes of her work: “We work with congregations on everything from annual budget drives to capital campaigns- and everything in between. We often hold in tandem any questions that the congregation is holding about where they’d like to go. We can talk about how to dive deeper in collaboration, justice-based financial planning and planning for generational giving trends.” On Friday all UU ministers of the BAJA 4, in parish, beyond parish and retired gathered for lunch together as we do whenever possible once a month.
Last Sunday’s worship service, with UU singer song-writer Jim Scott, was exactly what I needed for a Martin Luther King Day celebration. We didn’t speak about Dr. King directly a great deal but Jim shared stories about the origins of protest songs we might remember from the past. Hearing about how groups tackled difficult times in the the 1930s, 1950s and 1960 with the Depression, the McCarthy witch hunts of the LGBTQIA community and communists, and the Civil Rights battles to gain voting rights and desegregate schools, reminded me that we come from a rich heritage that can guide us in any tough times we face in future. Dr. Martin Luther King would want us to carry on his work of justice, for the most vulnerable people in our community and would remind us we do not have to do it alone.
Upcoming Services:
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2: We will open our time capsule, put in our wall when the church started worshiping in this building in 2014. The festivities will include lunch. If you were part of planning that original time capsule or building dedication, please let Tina know so she can include the intentions from that time in our celebration now.
Tina’s Office Hours
My office hours next week will be on Tuesday, January 28, from 12:30 to 2:30. You are welcome to drop in anytime, but if you make an appointment with me you shouldn’t have to wait.
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First Friday Hike – Friday, February 7 | 9am
Kentucky Camp
By request we will be returning to Kentucky Camp north of Sonoita for our February hike. The camp is the remnants of a placer mine which used hydraulic water canons to blast the hills of the area in search of gold. The camp headquarters, which was once used as a hotel, remains as a Forest Service visitor’s center and museum.
This walk along part of the Arizona Scenic Trail is easy for about a mile and a half and then becomes moderate as we climb up to a nice view point. Some of the group will turn around before the climb. There is a 100 foot drop over 0.35 miles from the parking lot to the visitor’s center. If you don’t feel up to climbing down or back up let me know; I can get a lock code to open the gate and allow you to drive to the visitor’s center. You also have the option to stay at the visitor’s center while others hike. There is a cabin available to rent if anyone would like to spend the night before or after our hike; let me know asap and I will get you the contact info. Bring snacks or a lunch to eat on the visitor center porch after the hike. Meet at church at 9am or at the Steakout Restaurant in Sonoita around 9:45. Contact Molly with any questions: mandfar@gmail.com.
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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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Caring Corner
Roland Bockhorst acquired a bad bed sore from 22 days in institutions and may have to go to Phoenix for surgery. He is at Canyon Vista, not Life Care at present. He likes having visitors and says that it’s OK to pray for him, but why haven’t you sacrificed a goat?
Joan Owen We just found out last Sunday that Joan died January 1, 2025. Our heart goes out to her husband Skip. The church is sending a card; please sign it. If you would like to write to him directly, Tina will have his address in the next few days.
Joan Owen Obituary (1952 – 2025) – Sierra Vista Winterhaven, AZ – Herald Review Media
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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Pacific Western Region News
Pacific Western Region Newsletter for September 2024
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Winter Solstice Worship
December 19, 2024
8-9pm ET | 7-8pm CT| 6-7pm MT| 5-6pm PT
The longest night of the year is a time we drop into stillness, honor the dark, release the pain and struggle of life. We also embrace the light of strength and courage. This year, UU Ministry for Earth (UUMFE) partners with the UU Service Committee (UUSC) and UU College of Social Justice (UUCSJ) to bring you worship and stories from partners in Kiribati where climate justice is culture justice and disability justice.
Our guest speaker is Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti, UUSC Board of Trustees Co-Chair and Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
During the service, we will collect an offering which will be shared between UU Ministry for Earth and the people of Kiribati. You can donate then or now by noting “Winter Solstice” in the memo line.
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.
, 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
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98918280553
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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/
One tap mobile +12532158782,,94884266239# US
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