Mountain Vista UU News
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Northwest Tucson
3601 West Cromwell Drive, Tucson, Arizona.
 
520-579-7094              JULY 1, 2010              office@uucnwt.org
 
Living Green / Reaching Out
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External Links
 
Our Website

UUA Site
 
Rev. Susan's Web Site
 
Gateway Journal
 
Calendar

SUNDAY SERVICES
10:30 am
 
Children & Youth

Religious Education

10:30 am

 

Minister
Rev. Susan  Manker-Seale
877-8961

 
Director of
Religious Education
Donna Pratt
867-1400, 575-1992
 
Choir Director
Lyle Brown
 

Congregational

 Administrator

Dorothy Fausey
579-7094

 
Newsletter Editors
John and Margaret Fleming
888-7059
Deadlines: 12th & 24th 

Board of Trustees

President:

Conrad Paul

1st Vice President:

Betty Meikle
2nd Vice President:
Chuck Tatum
Secretary:
Debbie Gessaman

Treasurer:

 Bill Casey
 Membership Auditor:
Charlotte Engvall

Trustees:

Ann Ellsworth

Keith MacLoughlin
Lisa Ponder-Gilby
Circle of Life
 
We send healing thoughts and wishes to:
 
* Josh Gormally, whose sister, Susanna Gormally, died in an accident
in Tempe on June 21.  She was twenty-three years old.  Cards and
calls of sympathy and support to Josh are welcome:  520-327-1951; 
* Jorgie Jorgensen;
* Faith Matievich;
* Dale Golis, as she deals with lung cancer.  She appreciates notes and emails, but please, no calls at this time;
* Ruth Knittel, as she continues to undergo  chemotherapy. 
* Jayne Ann Pillman;
* Leah Brown.
 
All expressions of care are welcome unless otherwise noted.  FOR THE SUMMER, please send pastoral care requests through the Pastoral Care Team Leader, Christiane Heyde, 393-9960.  Deaths and deep crises should be referred to Rev. Susan at 203-4291 until August 15.
 
Ministry Schedule
 
Rev. Susan Manker-Seale will be on vacation and the usual summer on-call period until August 15.  Our new interim minister, Rev. Joy Atkinson, is scheduled to arrive August 24.  
Barn Notice
 
Will the person  who placed a used white appliance in the barn please let Catalina know what is its needed use.  If it is for the Barn Sale, please know that we cannot accept large appliances.  If it isn't for sale could you remove it to a more secure place. (I am fully aware that I do not own the Barn but I do care about what is stored there.)

Coffee Hour Needs You

2 coffees
 
If we want to continue to have a coffee hour, people need to sign up for the coming Sundays. Contact Catalina Hall  572-1881 or catalina_hall9@msn.com
Leadership Opportunity
 
The Committee on Ministry is seeking leadership for:  Neighborhood Care Circles (neighborhood leaders, and a team leader for the program);  Ministry Assessment Team.
Incoming President's Column
 
Although I will not be president officially for a few days, Marge Fleming has graciously invited me to contribute something for this month's newsletter. I am honored to be assuming the responsibilities the congregation has bestowed on me, and look forward to everyone's help as we face the future together.

First of all, I, as well as the entire congregation, owe a big debt of gratitude to Meg Kidwell for her calm leadership over the last two years.  In spite of the many challenges we faced she kept us on course and we are better for her contributions.  We also should thank Anne Leonard, Jan Hatunen, and Gene McCormick who served on the board and have now rotated off.  Meg, Anne, Jan and Gene are dedicated to the health of the congregation and will continue to contribute in different ways.  Thanks to all of you.

We are a healthy congregation.  That is good.  But healthy things are growing things, and growth means change.  How change will look, I don't want to say right now, because I don't know.  I do know that change will happen and we need to be prepared to support it.
 
I welcome your thoughts and ideas.  Please don't hesitate to share them with me.
 
                                                                Conrad Paul
Consider This:
 
The Spiritual Practice of Hospitality
 
I want to suggest an approach to the ongoing question of how we welcome people into our communities that I call "the spiritual practice of hospitality."  Practicing hospitality is not something we can appoint people to do, nor is it a set of techniques or behaviors we "use" on new people.  Rather, it is an individual work  of intentional action, action that creates the quality of relationships in our churches that will nourish newcomers and longtime members alike....
 
. . .We may have little control over conflicts in another part of the world, but we can practice truly honoring the preciousness of all human life by how we enter into relationship with each other.  If we are serious about creating a more just, equitable, and compassionate world, we have to start with the room we are in.
                                                                                                   David Rynick
UU World, 2007
 
Question:  What are some of the individual attitudes and actions that each of us can apply to enhance the quality of relationships in our Mountain Vista religious community?
               
 
                              Provided by The Right Relations Task Force
Summer Youth Art Exhibit
 
Our summer Kaleidoscope Gallery exhibit features talented young artists from our congregation. They all answered the call for art this spring.  Donna Pratt was most helpful in gathering the pictures, but the work itself was done on the artist's own initiative.  The artists are: Clarissa Ballesteros, Ali Anne Brennan, Ashlen Brennan, Shalor Brennan, and Robyn Pratt. Congratulations to them all.  Enjoy their work through the summer.
                                                                     Anne Leonard
Lunch and Bake Sale July 11 to Benefit Community Garden
 
A salad lunch and bake sale will be held on July 11 to benefit the Community Garden project. The suggested donation is $5 for adults, $2 for children.
 
If you can help by donating either a salad or baked goods, please contact Margaret Fleming (888-7059) or Dorothy Fausey in the office.
 

2 coffeesThe Community Garden is one of the congregational initiatives that we adopted at last year's retreat. It has been progressing well. We already have the trenching and excavating done, and the irrigation system will soon be put in. If you haven't done so already, take a walk up to the north property and view the site.
Bookaholics Unanimous
 
June 30th: The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon. What if, as FDR had suggested during World War II, a temporary home for displaced Jews had been established on the Alaskan panhandle? Audacious and funny, this detective story is a literary original.
July 28th: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.
August 25th: The Help by Kathryn Stockett.
 
Contact:  Elaine Harris 290-1026 azbooklover@comcast.net
Movie Night July 10 
 
Harry and Tonto, 7pm, Saturday, July 10, at Karen Hahn's, 38020 S. Elbow Bend Dr., Saddlebrooke. Please bring a snack to share. See a review, directions and a signup on the activities table at UUCNWT. We are limited to 10 persons by space considerations. jgwilcox@comcast.net  531-1413

Religious Education 
 
Reminder:
 
Please remember to donate empty aluminum cans to the RE Department! Collection containers are located by the Goldblatt Building. A special thank you to Emily Ricketts for volunteering her time and effort each month to deliver these cans to the Aluminum Recycling Facility.  Proceeds earned benefit the Camp de Benneville Pines Scholarship Fund so that deserving youths from MVUU can attend summer camp.  Thank you for your support.

Summer Camp Dates:  Camp de Benneville Pines  
                                      Elementary Camp    July 11-17th
                                      Jr. High Camp        July 18-24
                                      High School Camp   July 25-31

Please see Donna for registration and carpool info. 

Summer RE Program:  Youth Culture Camp  for Tigers and TAMS, through August 22.  Upcoming countries to be visited will include China, England, Switzerland, Korea, Holland, and Turkey, with presentations from congregation members who have lived in or visited  these countries.
 
YRUU:  Classes will resume in September. 
 
RE Committee Meeting:  
 
Tuesday, July 6th, 6:00 PM, Goldblatt Building
Open to all interested parents, teachers and students.  Please come help us plan for the 2010-2011 school year.
St. Francis AsisTUUR to Santa Fe and Taos 
 
November 1-7 the UU Church of Tucson will once again sponsor a tour to Santa Fe, New Mexico with an additional night in Albuquerque and a visit to the Acoma Pueblo.  Another unique spot we will visit is the adobe San Francisco de Asis Church, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.  Possibly the most  photographed church in the US! It was the subject of fourpaintings by Georgia O'Keeffe, and photographs by Ansel Adams and Paul Strand. Georgia O'Keeffe described it as, "one of the most beautiful buildings left in the United States by the early Spaniards.".  
 
Transportation will be by motor coach, and home hospitality can be provided for out-of-town participants who arrive in Tucson on Nov. 6.  Registration forms and complete itinerary at:
http://www.uuctucson.org/index.php/sponsored-tours/  or contact Julia Mehrer at perujourney@gainbroadband.com  or Carolyn Saunders at 520-299-3854.

Be the Face of Compassion
Put Your Faith into Action, Serve Those in Need
 
Our congregation has an opportunity for adults who would enjoy creating and serving a meal to people living with HIV!

Mountain Vista UU is helping with TIHAN's Poz Cafe on Thursday, September 16th 
and we need your help.  It's easy and rewarding!
 
Can you?
Provide assistance for this one day from 8:45AM to 2:30PM
(at St. Francis In The Foothills United Methodist Church on the corner of Swan & River)
AND/OR assist with purchasing supplies or groceries?
 
Contact Pat Desai at 577-9642 or at csdesai@comcast.net
to sign up now!
 
What is Poz Cafe?  
Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN) organizes Poz Cafe.  It is an opportunity for those living with HIV to get out of the house, take a break, meet other positive people and enjoy a meal prepared by local congregations!  It's our congregation's turn to provide a fantastic, delicious and nutritious lunch for 125-150 people living with HIV and their guests.  This is followed by time to "hang out", chat, participate in a game or two of Bingo, enjoy our raffle of fun and useful gifts.  
 
All attending Poz Cafe must honor the highest standard of confidentiality. 
 
Mountain Vista is co-sponsoring Poz Cafe on September 16th.
Our role is to provide volunteers and help with the cost of the meal for 125-150 people. 
TIHAN's staff will provide guidance, additional volunteer support,
and a health department-certified kitchen supervisor.

 Do you have more questions?  
Call Pat Desai at 577-9642, or e-mail at csdesai@comcast.net
 

Thank You

Sunday Services for July

Sunday, July 4, 2010
"Patriotism in Story and Song"
Margaret Fleming
 
On our nation's birthday, let's celebrate with a little history, lots of singing, and patriotic stories and poems. We'll sing a number of songs that were used as our national anthem before "The Star-Spangled Banner" was officially adopted and hear a little history of each, as well as singing other patriotic songs.  We'll hear some patriotic stories and inspiring readings. Our nation's highest ideals are very similar to our UU principles, and UUs have played an important part in our country's history. Two of our young people will provide special music. Eb Eberlein is Worship Associate.

Sunday, July 11, 2010
"Native American Spirituality"
Carol Locust
 
Our guest speaker Carol Locust, Ed. D. (Eastern Band Cherokee) works with tribal groups to improve services for persons with disabilities, prevent family violence and child abuse, and in state courts in Indian Child Welfare cases. She shares tribal cultural concepts, beliefs, psychosocial and physical health information in lectures and through publications. She retired from the College of Medicine, University of Arizona in Tucson, but maintains a subcontract there through the Indian Health Service as a traditional practitioner. In this service, she will talk to us about Native American Spirituality.  Christiane Heyde will lead the service as Worship Associate.
  
Sunday, July 18, 2010
"The Fire of Commitment"
Conrad Paul
 
"The Fire of Commitment" is the title of a hymn in our teal hymnal and I have sung it along with the congregation in at least two congregations that I can remember.  We have ceremonies to celebrate the  marriage of two individuals and their commitment to build a life together.  We have ceremonies of dedication of our children to express our commitment as parents and as a religious community to help our children grow into healthy adulthood.  Yet commitment often seems problematic for the Unitarian Universalist community.  We experience a dynamic tension between the freedom to be individuals and the restrictions on our lives we experiencefrom our commitments.  Do your commitments express who you are or limit who you are? John Clark is Worship Associate.
 
Sunday, July 25, 2010
"The Power of Dreams"
Christiane Heyde
 
We pursue dreams and goals in our daily lives.  Then we are either entertained or taunted by dreams during our sleep.  In this service, Christiane will tackle the topic of dreams: what they mean and how they can empower us in our lives.  Christiane is a counselor, a minister, and a member of this congregation.  Paula Trahan is Worship Associate.