The Tucsonitarian Monthly Newsletter
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Where in the World is Rev. Bethany?
This month I will be attending our denomination’s General Assembly in Spokane, Washington from June 19 – 23. General Assembly is a gathering of Unitarian Universalists from across the country and around the world who gather to do the business of our association. This year the schedule has been pared down to just 4 hours of business (we sometimes have 4 hours a day) so that we can focus on the collective mission, vision, and covenant of our denomination.
I was going to skip GA this year. But when I heard that this would be the focus I knew I had to sign up. Because I have been seeking, for many years, to have a broad conversation about what Unitarian Universalism is today. So often, when asked what Unitarian Universalism is, people cite our Seven Principles. And while these Principles are wonderful and inspiring, I believe they are also in need of broad review. When these Principles were first adopted in 1985 the charge was to review them every 15 years, to acknowledge the changing nature of our denomination’s culture and values. However, the Principles have never been broadly reviewed and reconsidered since conception.
As someone raised Unitarian Universalist I can feel that the Unitarian Universalism we teach our children goes far beyond the Seven Principles. This is a faith that taught me that I am worthy of healthy, loving, supportive relationships. This is faith that taught me to support marginalized persons. This is a faith that taught me to be in covenant, and to come back when I fall out of covenant. While these teachings are rooted in our Seven Principles, they also rise above them to articulate a new type of faith we are living and teaching.
Read through our Seven Principles and Six Sources… If you were going to General Assembly this year, what changes would you suggest so that what we say we are reflects who we actually are? What is missing from our current denominational values statements? What inspiration do you need to live out a 21st century Unitarian Universalism?
Scott Warren’s Trial May 29th – June 7th
Beginning May 29th, Dr. Scott Warren, a volunteer with the No More Deaths ministry of the UU Church of Tucson, will stand trial on three felony charges stemming from his humanitarian aid work in the border town of Ajo, Arizona. On Wednesday, June 5th, faith leaders from across the borderlands and around the country will come together to stand in solidarity with Dr. Warren and bear witness to the crisis of death and disappearance unfolding in the Sonoran Desert and the increasing repression of aid workers and borderlands residents. Please join Rev. Bethany at the U.S. Courthouse at 405 W. Congress on Wednesday, June 5th anytime between 8 AM and 5 PM, as people of faith flood the courthouse in support of Dr. Warren.
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Board of Trustees - Frank Valdes
The Board of Trustees and Nominating and Leadership Development Team thank all who attended our annual business meeting. We thank the members who were elected to office, and those who are retiring, for serving our church. We had a good year and look forward to another good year.
At the last Board meeting a project was authorized and budgeted to live stream the worship service to Goddard. A team has been formed under the leadership of Frank Valdes to investigate the options and, if within the budget, to carry it through for the next church year. With the growing congregation we anticipate some overflow from Holland and such a system might provide some other interesting possibilities.
One of the duties of the Board is to provide oversight of how things are working in the church. We do this regularly with our portfolios. As well, we undertake basic evaluations of our ministry including our new minister. Note that this does not take the place of the important and in-depth work of the Committee on Ministry, and the congregation, but is simply an executive duty of your Board. We are doing an evaluation of Rev. Bethany with both the current and incoming Board members following a process from the Ministerial Fellowship Committee of the UUA. With the encouragement of Rev. Bethany, we will help her identify 'strengths and stretches' in her first year as she develops her ministerial skills towards full ministerial fellowship.
As always, we welcome your feedback at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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Community Carnival is HUGE Success!
By all accounts the Carnival and Open House at UUCT was a HUGE success! There were thirty ‘vendors’ and about 50 patrons.
Desert Sky Community School – Cat Brown
Photo booth – Kathy Hueser and Sandy Ongley
Pocket Lady - Margot Garcia
Humane Society of Southern AZ – two dogs (who were adopted)
Rock and mask painting – Kate Schleinkofer
CUUPS Tarot readings - Carrie Cooper, Julie Olson, EJ Milsap
LGBTQ question game or do a PRIDE craft - Stephanie Parker
No More Deaths – Jim Marx
Lego Shooting Gallery - Aidan Meyer
Face painting - Sophia Martinez
Rev. Bethany placed baskets of “conversation starters.”
'No more Koch on Campus’ staffed table
ICS staffed a table
Tucson Families Free and Together staffed a table
African Education Fund-Swaziland – Silke Hoffman
Voter registration and the state petition to Outlaw Dirty Money – Pamela Powers Hanley
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Kebabeque Food truck
Two bounce houses
In case you missed this outstanding event you will soon have an opportunity to buy UUCT imprinted water bottles and tee shirts that were leftover.
**A huge thanks to Sam Meyer and Jan Schleinkofer for the many hours of planning, organizing, and clean up.
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Speaking of Finances...
Margot Garcia
VP of Finance
During the month of April the church deposited $49,828.22 into checking and expended $46,927.62 for a positive net of $2,900.60. The balance in checking on April 30 was $31,521.59. We have $37,873.33 in the Money Market Fund 1 (restricted funds) and $9,217.98 in Savings (Capital campaign). The June payment of $300 should wipe out our debt to this fund, leaving us only a debt of $5,121.13 to the Bank. We have $57,239.66 in the UUA Common Endowment Fund. We did not use any credit reserve.
We have opened up a new money market fund (MM2) at 2.05% interest and deposited $33,740 in it. This interest rate is for 1 year and is more flexible than a CD and at the same interest rate. The interest for one year from this account should be about $600, equal to what many of our members and friends pledge.
The new account MM2 contains a very generous gift of $12,000 from Marion Leonard, which he has stipulated is to be used as the BOT sees fit. The Board has asked the finance committee to recommend a plan for using the money.
The budget passed the Congregation with just one negative vote, and will be in place starting July 1, 2019. Committee chairs and staff will receive an email stating what their budget will be for the 2019-2020 church fiscal year that starts July 1, 2019.
We will start visiting friends and members of the congregation telling them about our Legacy program and asking them if they would like to participate. We have a brochure that explains the idea of leaving a gift to the church in one’s will. The donor is encouraged to be specific in expressing what they wish the gift to be used for.
A rough first draft of a 5-year financial plan will be presented to the next Finance Committee meeting. We brainstormed some of the capital investments we need to make in equipment and the building.
Next FC meeting: June 11, 2019 in Servetus at 7 pm.
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ALL OF US NEED ALL OF US
TO MAKE IT
Litany By
Unitarian Universalist minister Rev. Theresa Soto writes, "All of us need all of us to make it." I want you to get used to those words; make them your prayer. All of us need all of us to make it.
This is why Unitarian Universalists support the Black Lives Matter movement. Please take a moment to center the struggle for Black lives in your thoughts.
Say it with me, loud or soft: “All of us need all of us to make it.”
In a world where some of us are targeted for struggle and brutality, where others of us benefit and flourish, we pray:
"All of us need all of us to make it.”
In a world where powerful people of ill will and indifference make us fearful for our safety and our futures, we pray:
"All of us need all of us to make it.”
In the excruciating space that lives between seeing and naming, and hearing and changing, we pray:
"All of us need all of us to make it.”
Make a picture in your mind of someone you aren’t very happy with right now. Look at their face in your mind, and pray:
"All of us need all of us to make it.”
Unitarian Universalists believe that all of us need all of us to make it; this is why we are in solidarity with the movement for Black lives today and every day.
Amen.
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Social Justice Meeting
There will be a gathering of those committed to social justice on Sunday, June 2 at 12:15 p.m. in Blackwell.
Rex Graham and Marilyn Gentry will provide updates on current projects. Bring your own updates on church or community opportunities.
Please contact Sonia Cota-Robles with questions at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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Welcoming and
Membership Team Report
Submitted by Beth Britton, Chair
Please welcome twelve new members who joined the church in May. These include a family of four. Zachary and Wendy Annis, their daughter Meg Chapman and her son, Kai Chapman Bilby all joined the church this month.
Two couples, Millard and Bonita Mott and Jan Mulder and Greg Bedinger also became members. Others joining in May were Rick Stump, A. Watercolor, Bobbie Parrish and Sophia Martinez.
The W&M Team met on May 1 to plan summer activities. Subgroups will be working on the membership web pages, recommending a new path to membership and studying current by-laws and policies that affect the W&M Team.
Steve Kraynak will provide a workshop open to all team members on August 3, 2019. The topic is “Exploring Welcoming and Radical Hospitality."
The next formal opportunity to join the church will be June 16, 2019.
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Worship Service Schedule for
June
June 2 - Rev. Bethany, Universalism: All are Saved
June 9 - Rev. Bethany, Unitarianism: Deeds not Creeds
June 16 - Rev. Bethany, Unitarian Universalism: To Build a Church that Shall Be Free
June 23 - Margot and JD Garcia: Does your cosmology affect the way you live?
June 30 - LGBTQIA Group Remembering Stonewall: 50 Years After
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There is POWER in those Flowers!
If you have been touched by or enjoyed the flowers on the dais each Sunday, consider being the hero and donating the next bouquet.
Arrangements can be as simple as flowers from your garden or the supermarket; in a church vase or a professional arrangement.
To volunteer for one or more Sundays please contact Nancy at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call her at 301.802.4683
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SAZCUUPS
Julie Olson
SAZCUUPS had a very busy month of May!
We held our Beltaine Ritual, led by Druid David Foster, on May1st.
On the 11th, we participated in the
UUCT Carnival, offering divination readings by members Leigh Mileur,
EJ Millstone, Carrie Cooper, and Julie Olson.
At our regular 2nd Sunday meeting the next day, Rev. Justin Sabia-Tanis gave a
presentation on the Next World Tarot created by Cristy C. Roads, a Cuban-American illustrator and social justice activist.
Finally, Carrie Cooper and Rev. Julie Olson led the May 26th Sunday service.
We have only one event in June, our Midsummer Ritual on Saturday the
22nd from 9am to 11am. Please note the time change! This ritual will
be led by Hearth's Gate Kindred, a local Heathen group. Feasting is an
integral part of their tradition, so this ritual includes brunch. We will celebrate Freyr and Freya, the Lord and Lady of the season. We'll make offerings (blôt) in the fire bowl on the patio and feast together (sÿmbel) in the cool, air-conditioned Goddard Hall. The theme of the feast is a potluck Ploughman's Lunch: artisanal bread or rolls, cheese, pickled onions, good butter, pickles, cold cuts, sliced turkey, ham, green salad, chutney, tomatoes, sausages, hard boiled eggs, and apples. Don't forget lemon bars, tea cakes, berries,
As always, you'll find the most up-to-date information about our events on our Facebook page:
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It's Almost Time for Summer Religious Education!
This year we are opening up opportunities for adults to explore their own beliefs
and at the same time offer their gifts to our young people.
What’s new?
Many of our Sunday Morning RE offerings will be open to people of all ages -- yes. ALL.
Adults, children, youth and everyone in between. We will also have offerings that are age-specific, so be looking for the descriptions when you sign up.
Sign up for a different class every Sunday.
Every person will get to pick each Sunday which worship experience suits them best. For summer, the options are:
1. Worship (Holland; all ages): remaining in the sanctuary for the worship Service is an option that many adults and some children/youth will select especially on days that the topic really speaks to them. **Sign up is not required for this option.**
2. Movement and Games (Awareness; all ages): Ready to move your body? This is the place! We will live Unitarian Universalist values through games, movement, dance, and other forms of physical self-expression. Each week the activities will be different, but we’ll work on understanding what we can learn about our spirits from moving our bodies.
3. Art and Spirit (Blackwell; all ages): in this space we’ll tell another story that explores our theme for the day, offering additional avenues for deepening understanding. Following the story, we will wonder about the lessons we learn from our stories and engage in self-directed art-making in response to the themes, lessons, or feelings that emerge.
4. Youth Focus (Emerson; 6th-12th graders, sorry adults, only advisors are allowed): designed for older youth who are ready to really dig deep into the themes and ideas. Discussion, service, leadership, art, and a good amount of laughter await our oldest youth.
You’re ready to get involved. So what's next?
Step 1: When you arrive at UUCT, sign up for your preferred class at the table outside Holland Hall.
Step 2: Enjoy Worship Service in Holland Hall! We will dismiss everyone to class at about 10:45am, after the Message for All Ages.
Step 3: Leave for your class in the Children’s Wing during the Children’s Benediction. Not sure which direction to head? Just follow the crowd! We’ll all go out together and there will be an officious person with a clipboard to show you which room to go to.
Step 4: Learn, enjoy, share, participate!
Step 5: Repeat again next week.
These classes don’t happen without the generous support of adults across the congregation.
Thank you to all our leaders who share their talents, time, and tenacity with us weekly.
If you have any questions or want to volunteer to lead one or more Sundays,
please contact Jamili at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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Book Club Meeting - Carolyn Cooper
The next UU Book Club meeting will be on July 11th at 9:30. We are reading Waking up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debby Irving.
My address is 4050 E la Cadena. Closest cross streets are Pontatoc and River Rd. If you would like directions, I can give them to you. If you have questions, you can either email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or call me at 520-270-4052.
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SHARE THE PLATE ELECTION JUNE 2-9
As most of us know, UUCT’s monthly Share the Plate donations are shared 50:50 with pre-selected non-profits which are approved annually via congregational vote.
UUCT has five “regulars": No More Deaths, UUJAZ, Desert Voices, Interfaith Community Services and the Tucson Community Food Bank.
A congregational vote is held once a year to pick the remaining seven Share the Plate recipients.
Ballots will be available at church on June 2 and June 9 or you can vote online at:
Voting rules:
- One ballot per person.
- One vote per organization.
- Each person can vote for up to 5 non- profits nominated.
- Voting for less than 5 is OK, but ballots with 6 or more votes will not be counted.
The deadline for completing the ballot (paper or online) is Sunday, June 9, 2019.
For questions please contact: Rex Graham, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Kate Schleinkofer,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; and Jim Hannley, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.com.
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In the "Last But Not Least" Column...
Former Tucsonitarian Editor, Craig Rock, is currently working on another newsletter specific to Social Justice issues called Borderlands Digest. Here is the link to the June issue. Congrats, Craig! It's important work.
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LGBTQIA Group
We are excited to be busily planning the June 30 Worship Service in memory of the Stonewall Uprising in June, 1969. Join us in celebration of UUCT members who will share coming out experiences, and an ally who remembers the event.
If you were at the UUCT Carnival you had an opportunity to play our trivia board game, color a rainbow flag or make a rainbow bracelet!
Meetings are the second Sunday of each month, 12:15-1:15. All are welcome! Pronoun stickers available at Welcome Table in Holland. For info contact Eve: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Desert Voices Concert!
Desert Voices is hosting our annual Celebrating the Spectrum show, and we're inviting all our friends! We're thrilled to be joining Reveille Men's Chorus, the Phoenix Women's Chorus, Phoenix Men's Chorus, and Them Youth Ensemble on the stage! As we approach the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, all of the Arizona GALA choruses are raising our voices higher than ever in solidarity and celebration of our LGBTQ+ community.
Desert Voices is Tucson's premier gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and ally chorus. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing Arizona beautiful music and to forging a positive and resolute LGBTQA presence in the community. Our purpose is to give a voice to those whose songs go unheard.
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4831 E 22nd St Tucson AZ 85711 520.748.1551
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. * www.uuct.org
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