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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THIS WEEK’S CHURCH CALENDAR

Monday – September 9

Tuesday – September 10

11am – Noon   Truly Mindful Tuesdays

Tina will be present. All are invited to try different forms of meditation together each week. You don’t have to have attended before to try this out!

12:00 – 2pm    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 – September 11

8am     Meditation

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

Phone:    1 669 900 9128     ID: 97417456265

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 (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 for some friendly conversation and maybe a chuckle or two.

Thursday – September 12

Friday – September 13

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

6:30pm    First Wednesday – PFLAG Monthly Meeting

9am    First Friday – First Friday Hike

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.

11am – 3pm    Third Friday – EAF

1pm – ??pm    Third Friday – Board Games

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

https://zoom.us/j/98918280553

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

10:30am    Fourth Sunday 2nd Collection

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Do You Faithify?
Faithify.org is a UU specific crowd-funding platform. Have a project you need help funding? You can apply here! Want to support a UU project? This is the place to look! See what projects appear to you. Current projects include:
 

New Things To Do at Sky Island UU

SERVICE FOR SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 8

“Learning to Dance”

Tina will preach about “Learning to Dance.” Dance provides an apt metaphor for flowing between two poles, such as reason and spirit. It also echos the give and take people exhibit trying to work together. Finally dance, quite literally, encourages us to embrace our physical form in a whole-bodied, joyful way. This activity exemplifies much of what we have been and are becoming as Unitarian Universalists: people who embrace complexity, stay fluid, attempt to learn and try to embrace our whole bodies.

Please come explore what it means to be Unitarian Universalists in light of dance (and don’t worry, Tina won’t make you get up and do it publicly).

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

Sometimes meetings seem long and unproductive. This week I attended many that were surprisingly energizing. This past Sunday several church members and friends met to plan Virginia Farrar’s memorial service. It became a sweet time of remembering Virginia. We decided that since she loved sweets and often brought them to church, we are gathering her favorite recipes to serve at a “coffee” or “tea” after her celebration of life on Saturday October, 26 at 1pm.

In my monthly Progressive Pastors meeting I was astonished by a Methodist and Lutheran pastor who started speaking to me in Russian. We also discussed the ethical use of AI and gave each other unexpected insights about that.

At the Baja 4 weekly ministers meeting, Rev. Matthew Funke Crary showed up with a moving blessing he had written for Jamili Omar’s ordination, scheduled for 10:30 Saturday, September 21, 2024, and Jamili helped me with an issue I’ve had signing up for Tucson Pride. If you would like to attend Jamili’s ordination or take a shift at our Baja 4 table at Tucson Pride on Saturday, September 28, please let me know and I’ll give you a ride.

Thank all of you who show up week after week to care for the church building, its people and to take part in activities. May you have welcome surprises during these gatherings as well!

Tina’s Office Hours: Tina’s office hours next week will be on Tuesday, September 10, 12:00 – 2:00pm. 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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Second Collection for August

 For August, the second collection will be for the Emergency Assistance Fund (EAF).  You can donate at the second collection on August 25 , 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

♥️

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 July 2024 ______________________________

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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