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10:30 am
Children & Youth
Religious Education
10:30 am
Director of
Religious Education
Donna Pratt
867-1400, 575-1992
Choir Director
Lyle Brown
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Congregational
Administrator
Dorothy Fausey
579-7094
Newsletter Editors
John and Margaret Fleming
888-7059
Deadlines: 12th & 24th |
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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 prayers to:
* Elaine Harris, on the death of her sister, Frieda Skinner, August 2 * Faith Matievich* Ruth Knittel, as she continues with chemotherapy. * Jayne Ann Pillman
* Leah Brown
* Juliannah James
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| Needed Immediately!
We are looking for people to work on the order of service. One or more people can work on this and share the responsibility. Anyone willing can begin as early as this week. We will help with the setup and training. Please contact Joanne 275-4449 or commcomm@uucnwt.org
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August Is TIHAN Month at Mountain Vista UU!! TIHAN = Tucson Interfaith HIV-AIDS Network
- Money Needed! All Sunday green basket collections for August will be used to buy food for the POZ CAFÉ-a lunch served to HIV-POSITIVE people. Give generously!
- Toiletries Needed to give to the TIHAN clients at the Poz Café. Bring to church and put in the collection box.
- Volunteers Needed to work at the Cafe- Thurs., Sept. 16, 8:45 to 2:30-Prepare food, serve, clean-up
- Volunteers Needed to help with shopping for food, buying and/or collecting toiletries.
Toiletries Needed--These are not covered with food stamps
- Toilet Paper (2-ply) and Paper Towels
Dish and Laundry Detergent
Soap, Shampoo, Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Lotion
Shaving Cream, Disposable razors
Household cleaning supplies
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Vegetables to Start from Seed or Transplant
These vegetables may be started from seed anytime during the 2 month period unless otherwise noted.
Arugula (after 10/1)
Asian Greens (after 10/1)
Beans, Fava (after 10/1
Beets
Broccoli
Broccoli Raab
Brussel Sprouts (may also be transplanted after 10/1)
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Carrots
Collards
Corn (before 9/15)
Endive (after 10/1)
Garlic/Shallots (after 10/1)
Kale
Kohlrabi
Leaf Lettuce (after 10/1)
Mustard Greens (after 10/1)
Onion/Leek (after 10/1)
Parsnips (between 9/15 and 10/15)
Peas (after 10/15)
Radish
Rutabaga (after 9/15)
Spinach, Winter (after 10/1)
Swiss Chard (after 9/15 - can also be transplanted)
Turnip (after 9/15)
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RE's Summer Culture Camp
The RE kids have had a series of wonderful presentations this summer from visitors representing other cultures: Jyotsna Taggarse from India; Nayel Badareen from Palestine; Evalyn Bennet-Alder, who was born in China; Meg Kidwell from England; Romy Fouad from Switzerland; David Hatunen who told us about Finland, where his family comes from; Peter Becskehazy who told us about Korea, where he spent time while in the service; Sybelle van Erven from Holland; and Chuck and Anne Tatum (yet to come), who spent time in Turkey a couple of years ago.
We thank all these members and friends for their contributions to a memorable summer for our young people.
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| Finding Heart
 Finding Heart Ministries will kick off the 2010-2011 year in October with new coordinators--Bill Casey and Elizabeth Reed. Start thinking about taking part in this small-group/short-duration approach to getting to know congregation members and friends better, sharing and laughing together, and working on a small service project to benefit our congregation or community.
Consider being a facilitator--training will be offered. Look for more information in the newsletter, on the web, and in the FH brochure as October draws near--it's really just around the corner. Want more info?? Contact Bill (wcaseyiii@yahoo.com ) or Elizabeth (reedeliz@gmail.com ) or findingheart@uucnwt.org .
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Plates Needed
Now that we have a dishwasher installed, we need to start using washable plates instead of disposable paper or plastic. If you have any that you could donate, please bring them and leave them in the kitchen. We will be designating a place to store them.
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WANTED: A Few Good Men
For OWL Training
The Chandler UU Church is offering a training session for junior high and high school OWL the weekend of Oct. 3, 2010. This is a great opportunity for us because it's so close.
We especially need male facilitators since all but one of those in our congregation who have been trained are women. But women are welcome too. It's a wonderful chance for meeting and bonding with other UUs, preparing yourself to help our youth, and brushing up on your own knowledge of sexuality
We want to collaborate with our sister congregation at 22nd St. to do OWL for high school kids (grades 10-12) during the spring semester. Please contact Donna (867-1400 or mklo@earthlink.net) or Margaret (888-7059 or margefleming@earthlink.net) if you are interested.
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They're Here-- Entertainment 2011
Beginning immediately, the books will be for sale after the service any day that I'm there.
Again at the low price of $30, this year's books have some new and improved features. There are more restaurants and more entertainment coupons including the Symphony and Desert Museum. Some coupons can be used more than once by going to the computer and printing extra copies.There are coupons that don't have a minimum purchase required for Black Angus, The Melting Pot and 4 other restaurants.
Get your book while they last. Alberta
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Luau November 6
Put on your calendar: November 6 will be
the Luau Evening and Auction--our UU fundraiser!
Contact Clare Toth to offer to help with this.
See posting of two fundraiser vacations
sponsored by UUCT and the UU of Honolulu
on the bulletin board in the fireside room.
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Diary of a Mad Gardener
By Alberta Gunther
 Not much to report this month. I'm still eating carrots. Can't believe they are still good after all this time. The carrots may last but the okra didn't. I didn't pick them until I had 5. Surprise! Only one was edible. The others were too mature. They couldn't even be cut. I have some more now. Hopefully they are still good as I'll pick them tomorrow.
Mystery plant is still on a quest to control the entire yard. I'm going to start pruning. I think it's a gourd but not a sign of fruit, or whatever a gourd is. After a rocky start, the beans are still growing but haven't flowered yet. There have been a couple of zucchini. The plant that I thought was a cucumber has produced some small yellow squash- like fruit but then they shrivel up. Don't know what's going on with that.
Some time next month I'll see about planting some more. Last year the spinach didn't come up so I'll try them again. I never did get a pumpkin so that too is on the agenda. Then I would like some more radishes and lettuce. I may have to wait until Oct. For them.
As soon as we get the community garden going I can maybe learn what I should be doing. Of course knowing might take the fun out of my endeavors. Until next time . . . . |
Next KAL GAL Exhibit to Feature Encaustics
The Kaleidoscope Gallery presents the art of Pam Ross from September 12 to October 23. Ms Ross specializes in encaustic paintings although she has experience in oils, intaglio and monoprinting. She is a graduate of of University of Arizona in studio and commercial art. All are cordially welcome to her reception after services on Sunday September 19, from 12 noon to 2 PM.
She says: "It has always been my goal in life to create and experience beauty. It creates our joy and keeps our wonder of the world. Through change and curiosity we see today what we did not see yesterday. My artistic concept changes as our society, families, friends and lives change. Welcome change into our world and experience the wonder of the evolution of beauty through our artistic expressions."
Encaustic is the medium, process and technique of painting with pure beeswax, resin and pigment that are fused after application into continuous layers with a variety of heating tools and then fixed to a support with heat. The ancient Greeks developed encaustic painting over 2000 years ago. The word encaustic is derived from the Greek ustikos meaning "to heat" or "burn in" which is the process of fusing the paint.
Anne Leonard anne@alartworks.com
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Double Your Donation to the
Mountain Vista UU Community Garden
Your donation to the Mountain Vista UU Community Garden will be worth twice as much to this Collective Ministry Project!
Through the generosity of an anonymous donor the first $500 in donations designated as Community Garden donations will be matched and will result in $1,000 being added to the garden's account to help ensure its completion.
Donate $5 and the garden project will receive $10. Donate $20 and the garden will receive $40. That's how it works. Just write a check to the church and note "Community Garden" on the memo line or place cash in an envelope marked for the garden. Your donation is tax deductible.
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| Mountain Vista UU Community Garden Update
How It Started
During September of 2008 at the "New Beginnings" congregational retreat we defined what collective ministry meant to us and determined how we wanted to be thought of, "Mountain Vista UU, the Green Church." We broke into small groups along the lines of program committees: Ministry, Communications, Membership, Site Development/Buildings and Grounds, Social Action, Children's and Adult RE and Finance. Creative suggestions were made for all committees to promote the green collective ministry. The dream of having a community garden on our north property, which had been an underground rumble for some time, was officially recorded by four of the groups as definitely worth pursuing. It was seen as a way to fill a need for some of our congregants and to reach out to the community surrounding us.
In September of 2009 the Prickly Pear Products Project (PPPP) came into being to raise money for the future implementation of a garden. Many, many interested congregants harvested the fruits (tuna) from prickly pear cactus growing on church property and other properties where tunas were available. Dedicated PPPP crew mmembers then prepared juice from the tunas and finally gathered to transform the juice into Prickly Pear Jelly. What a treat! Good fundraiser! Great fun!
At the October 2009 congregational retreat, Collective Ministry initiatives were revisited, progress and activity was reported, and the attendees voted on which initiatives should remain. The Community Garden was reaffirmed.
A Long, Very Busy Summer
John and Margaret Fleming, along with Betty Meikle, approached the Community Gardens of Tucson (CGT) to see if they might be interested in a garden project on the north property. Following a meeting with the CGT Board they accepted the "donation" of the land and began sharing their expertise and assistance to make the dream come true. All those who work for CGT are volunteers.
 So, in June and July 2010, large machinery was on our north property moving dirt and digging 24 plots that are 2 feet deep and measure 3' x 20' each. The plots will be "rented" to gardeners for $15/month with a semi-annual commitment. Gene Zonge, the head volunteer of CGT, has installed all the irrigation to each plot and has started storing products needed for the completion of the garden and future operations in the Garden House (brick building). Other volunteers have contributed to the progress of the garden with both labor and necessary items.
Truckloads of dirt and manure will soon be on their way to the garden site. We are almost open for gardening.
If all goes well, we can look to late September or early October* for an official Grand Opening of the Mountain Vista Community Garden.
 The Next Step
The next step toward completion of this dream is to put up a fence-- just less than 300 feet long--to ensure our plants are safe from the critters who share our beautiful site. We have posts, we have chain link fencing (though we are not sure it is quite enough).
Our final requirements are listed below. Obviously some things can wait till after the opening, but the piles of dirt and fertilizer, as well as the fence with its gate, must be in place. Once the infrastructure is in place, it is expected that each gardener will fill his/her plot (or arrange to have it filled) with dirt and fertilizer from piles that will be available near the garden perimeter. Plans are underway to start some seedlings for the initial gardeners. If you wish to assist in this effort, please contact Betty Meikle (990-4663 or bettymeikle@yahoo.com). Note that we will need donated labor as well. We also need your suggestions, ideas, comments, and energy. We have the minimum number of gardeners already committed to be a part of the garden. We also have over 250 names and address in the immediate neighborhood of Mountain Vista UU who might be interested in community gardening. Please find a place to support this Collective Ministry effort.
MVUU Garden Requirements
Action/Item with Approximate Cost/Source
Trencher for garden perimeter--equipment and operator $200
Perimeter fencing, underground, to repel moles, ground squirrels, etc. $400 or donation, volunteer labor
Flashing around perimeter to keep squirrels from climbing in.** $500 or donation, volunteer labor
2 wheelbarrows--large and small $300 or donations
5 composters $300 or donations, volunteer labor
Picnic tables (1 or 2) $300 or donations
Top Soil - 3 dump truck loads $120
Manure - 3 dump truck loads $120
Compost $200 or donations
Advantages of a Community Garden...
from Tucson Lifestyle Home and Garden
- Provides a place for those without space for a garden
Encourages exercise in a peaceful environment
- Knowledge is shared with fellow members
- Educates children and adults about horticulture
Utilizes vacant land as a community resource
Mountain Vista UU Collective Ministry 4th Sunday Green Lectures
Continuing last year's successful lecture series on green topics, the 4th Sunday of each month following the worship service will be devoted to learning more about living green. Luncheon will be served - suggested donation is $5. Circle these dates on your calendar. Specific speakers and topics will be announced in September.
August 22: Luncheon - Bake Sale - Produce Sale
September 26: Luncheon - Bake Sale - Produce Sale - Speaker October 24: Luncheon - Bake Sale - Produce Sale - Speaker - Tour of Community Garden
Please bring your homegrown produce to the Sunday Green Lectures to share with our collective ministry initiatives. Price your produce consistent with prices in our local supermarkets and plan to donate the proceeds to the Collective Ministry initiatives.
All proceeds of 4th Sunday Green Lectures will benefit the Collective Ministry initiatives, which offer opportunities to volunteer your support (as you are able) for one or more of seven initiatives that are ongoing. They have real impact on our local community and are effective ways to support our Seventh Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. The Collective Ministries are:
- Community Garden
- The Gleaning Project
- Ethical Eating Task Force
- Green Neighborhood Improvement Projects
- Water Collection and Erosion
- Win-Win Ecology (Reconciliation Ecology)
- Standing on the Side of Love
Our website has more about each initiative and also lists contact points.
* See the sidebar article in this issue for all the vegetables that can be planted in late September and October
** Would used mobile home skirting or some other less expensive material fit this need? Let us know if you have ideas. |
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Activities and Events
Movie Outing Sunday, August 15, 4:45 pm
"The Kids Are All Right," AMC Loew's Foothills 15, Foothills Mall, 7401 La Cholla Blvd. Supper after at My Big Fat Greek Restaurant nearby. The two teenagers of a lesbian couple (Annette Bening and Julianne Moore) want to track down their anonymous sperm donor father. The New York Times calls it "outrageously funny" but "heartbreaking" as well. Rated R. Look for a poster, review and directions. signup on the activities table or contact John at jgwilcox@comcast.net or at 531-1413 to be notified of any time changes.
Bookaholics Unanimous August 25
August 25th's book selection is The Help by Kathryn Stockett. In it three women of 1962 Jackson, Mississippi: Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter, come together, despite their differences, to say out loud what had only been said in whispers. You may have had racial experiences of your own like these, and we'd love to hear them. Come to the Fireside Room on August 25th at 6:45 pm and speak up. Yet on our reading list for the year: September 29: Sarah's Key by Tatianna de Rosnay; October 27: Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke; November 17: Little Bee by Chris Cleave.
Contact: Elaine Harris azbooklover@comcast.net
290-1026
Tai Chi Classes Start September 9!
Come join a tai chi class on Thursday, September 9. Beginners at 3:30 pm and continuing students at 4:30 pm in the Fireside Room. If you're a beginner and not sure whether tai chi is for you, try out one complimentary class to be sure. Tai chi is an ancient Chinese movement art--often called meditation in motion. The gentle movements increase flexibility, improve balance, and promote general health. No special clothes are necessary, just comfortable attire that allows movememnt. $75 for the eleven sessions. For more information, contact Elizabeth Reed at 520-269-3414 or reedeliz@gmail.com |
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Camp Fund-Raising Lunch Sept. 12
Join us for lunch after the service on September 12
The water communion service traditionally is our unofficial ingathering after the summer. This year plan on staying after that wonderful service and spend some more time with your UU friends, while having lunch in the Fireside room. We'll serve spaghetti with a selection of sauces, salad and dessert. There will be something for everyone, whether omnivore, vegan, or glutenfree!
There is a suggested donation of $5 per person, but no one will be turned away!
This lunch is provided by your friendly Camp de Benneville Pines Scholarship Fundraisers. Be sure to save the date!
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| Future World Leaders at Work and Play
This is what it says at Camp deBenneville Pines in the San Bernardino Mountains of California. And how true that is!
The camp is owned and operated by the Pacific Southwest District (PSWD). That's you! deBenneville offers summer and winter youth camps for all ages (and is also rented by churches and other for retreats).
This summer 11 of our children and youth went to camp. Ask any of them how it was, and their faces will light up to tell you about all they did there. It has all the aspects of a fun summer camp, with games, crafts, sports, outdoor things, talent shows, etc. But it is also chUUrch camp. One of Bibi's (13) favorite parts of camp was organizing one of the worship services. She learned about all the aspects of a service and then put one together with her group and implemented it. Another part she and Ingo (16) like is RAPS, where the youth meet in smaller groups and discuss issues of importance to them. This can be shallow, but it often is deep and spiritual.
Anything happening at deBenneville is done with our 7 principles in mind. The adults and older teens working the camps (all volunteer) are great UU role models.
We would love to have even more of our children and youth go to UU camp. In order to make it more accessible to all families, we will be starting a consistent and sustained scholarship fund-raising program. We invite everyone to come up with fund-raising ideas, especially ones that we can implement outside of the Mountain Vista UU community. Even if you don't have younger children any more, maybe you have an idea or something you can do to help with our efforts.
In addition, we ask all families, adults and children alike, to help with the fund-raising efforts. Contribute items, time, and energy. Elsewhere in the newsletter you'll see an explanation of how that will benefit your family.
I plan on telling you more about camp in newsletters to come, so stay tUUned.
Sybelle van Erven
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Improvements to Buildings and Grounds
Even during the energy-sapping heat of a Tucson summer, some of our fellow congregation members and friends have been busy improving the property. Here are some of their accomplishments.
- Reroofing the sanctuary and the barn. Arranged by the Site Development Committee.
- Installing a dishwasher in the Goldblatt Building. Keith MacLoughlin
- Digging plots for the Community Garden on the north campus and installing a watering system for the garden. Gene Zonge, of Community Gardens of Tucson
- Redirecting water away from the sanctuary building and moving earth to prevent earth-to-wood contact that attracts termites, making the terrain slope away from the west side of the building toward the trees and preparing that area for a future meditation spot with landscaping and benches. Robert Brewer, Ron Brumshagen, Matt Diamond, Levi Dungan, John Fleming, Catalina Hall, Gene McCormick, and Stan Mitchell, with muscles, and neighbor Scott Copenhaver with his Mustang.
 
- Making and installing curtains for the sanctuary windows to improve the background for photography and videography. (They can be easily removed, if desired.) Making a cover for the media cart. Margaret Fleming
- Installation of softer lighting in the sanctuary, as part of the Gateway Project media grant. John Fleming, Jim Gessaman, Gene McCormick, and Lincoln Statler. Mark Toth (Clare's son) provided valuable advice in the planning stages.
- Cleaning the duct tape adhesive off the carpet in the sanctuary. 409
- Cleaning out and repairing the rain gutter on the sanctuary roof and taking down the faded banner. (Note: the reverse side is still in good condition and can be used for something else, perhaps the Community Garden.) John Fleming
- Installation of a new downspout from the rain gutter. John Fleming, with advice and help from Scott Copenhaver and Mark Toth
- Smoothing the ground and digging holes around the trees on the west side of the sanctuary. Ron Brumshagen, John Fleming, Jim Gessaman
- Planning for a water harvesting system. Josh Gormally and Catalina Hall
- Painting the minister's office. Jim Gessaman and Ron Meikle
- Arranging for paving repairs. Tom Bunch
- All the ordinary repairs and maintenance done by our unsung hero, Dave Wichner
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Guidelines for Earning Camp deBenneville Scholarship Money
In a nutshell, the more you are active in church, the bigger portion you will receive of the available scholarship money when it is time to divvy it up.
There is a schedule being put together of fundraising activities that will take place throughout the school year, likely being one or two activities each month. Some will take place at church, some will not. Anyone interested, please feel free to jump right in with any ideas that you'd like to share or do. (If not, that is OK too; we will come up with enough ideas.)
Basically, everyone who is active in church or active in the fund-raising efforts (or both) will earn points, which count as a portion of the final monies raised. The more you participate, the more points you earn and the more scholarship money you receive when the time comes. Each hour of church participation, and each contribution to a fund-raising event or to the congregation will earn that person a point. Points can be earned by each member of a family, parents and children alike, but will all be logged together by family. Total points earned within a family can be used by anyone within that family, as they see fit. If a family has earned points and later changes the intention of going to camp, then those points will simply be deleted. Points are not transferable from family to family.
Remember, participating in church functions will earn you points but not raise the kitty, so if you are interested in earning scholarship monies, please consider participating in the fund-raising activities as well. Thanks.
The RE Committee
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Mountain Vista UU Collective Ministry Prickly Pear Products
A bonafide call for fun from Betty Meikle
It's that time again! Mountain Vista UU prickly pear jelly, syrup and perhaps jam, candy and wine are just waiting to be made! If you want to participate there are several processes for you to consider - any one or all. But, right now you have two options:
1. Forget the project: don't read any further - go to the next article.
2. Think about the potentials of being a prickly pear processor: You might want to call a friend and discuss this a bit. You may even want to participate with a friend, or several friends, in one or more of the following processes. Read on . . .
Process 1 - Picking Tunas
In less than 30 minutes you can pick 100 Prickly Pear fruit (called tunas). I picked some around the church parking lot last year. These tunas were quite large and very juicy. They were the sweetest I tasted last year. Here is what I have to report - the result of juicing was between 3-4 quarts of juice!
The best way to pick prickly pear is with a strong pair of metal salad/barbecue tongs with the tips wrapped in duct tape. This prevents cutting into the skin, which can introduce glochids (those little tiny prickles) to the inner flesh. I actually use kitchen tongs and get rid of the stickies later. Put the tunas in something that will prevent juice from running out. Do not use plastic bags - they let the stickers come through and cause great discomfort to the pickers and processors. I usually use a paper bag, but find that I need to line the bottom with another bag or plastic to prevent leakage when the tunas are good and ripe.
Pick some tunas around your home, around the church parking lot and up on the north property (be careful not to fall into the holes dug for our Community Garden) or anywhere else you can see ripened fruits. Tunas from your own neighborhood are just fine! However, only pick from the roundish cactus. There is some cactus in our yard that Ron's mother called "Lamb's Ear." These taste like lemon when processed so are not great for our project.
Process 2 - Freeze the Tunas
Once you have picked a peck of prickly pear, you have two options. Throw the bags into the freezer after taping the tops so they don't dry out from freezer burn or process them into juice. This process gets them to the freezer. If you end up with bag(s) of tuna in your freezer, you have two options, you may bring them to church on Sundays, put them into the freezer in the kitchen there, or arrange with me for a pickup spot. Let's do our best to keep these babies frozen until we start turning them into products. If you want to terminate your membership in the Prickly Pear Processing Team, you can at this time. However, there are other opportunities to join in the fun.
Process 3 - Making Juice
If you want the experience of making tunas into juice you have two options to get rid of the stickers. Use tongs with no duct tape on them and a small torch. Burn the stickers off. You will see that it takes very little time to do this. Or, dump a bag of prickly pear into a sink of water and use tongs to move them around to remove dust and some prickles. Then, pick them up with the tongs, one-by-one, and place into a big pot. I put a shallow grate into my pot to keep the tunas from sticking to the bottom. I add about 1/2 inch of water to the pan and put it on to boil, using the hottest setting on the stove. As soon as boiling happens I turn the fire down to a slow simmer, cover the pan and leave it cooking for at least an hour. Then I turn off the fire and let the juice cool. Strain everything in the pan through a kitchen strainer with cheesecloth in it. Put the solids left in the strainer (skins, stickers, some pulp and seeds) directly into your compost pile (or mine!). The juice can be frozen in ziplock bags or clean jars with good lids.
Process 4 - Juice to Prickly Pear Products
We'll explore this process together. I've made some of the products before (no wine as yet). I'm sure many of you have created these desert dessert specialties also. I have several cookbooks with recipes for prickly pear products. Sign up for a Juice to PP Products Processing Session to be held: September 1st, 10:00am at Meikle's home (directions will be provided).
September 11th 10:00 am at Meikle's home
Besides your participation...
The response to a call for jars and lids to be used for canning was extremely successful last year. There is no need for additional jars unless this year's pick and processing is triple last year's output. If you have been saving jars, hold on to them. We may need them and certainly will next year. I don't have any more storage space for jars!
If you have some paraffin or wish to donate some, we could use it.
Please join this effort to support the Community Garden. We will get our name out into the community and will build lasting relationships through working together. Betty 990-4663 |
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