SUNDAY SERVICES

10:30 am

Children & Youth

Religious Education

10:30 am

Minister

Rev. Joy Atkinson

revjoy@aol.com 

262-8480

Office Hours:

10 am - 3 pm, T, W, Th
Rev. Joy is away until August 19. 

Director of

Religious Education 
Donna Pratt  406-5121

mklo@earthlink.net   

Choir Director

Lyle Brown

579-7094

lbrownvh@yahoo.com 

Congregational

Administrator

Donna Pratt  406-5121

office@uucnwt.org  

Office Hours:

8 am - 1 pm  MWF

Newsletter Editors  John and Margaret Fleming
888-7059

margefleming@earthlink.net 

Deadlines: 12th & 24th

Board of Trustees

President:

1st Vice President:

Treasurer:

Jim Gessaman 

Circle of Life

We send healing thoughts and prayers to:

* Marion Erickson, who has recovered and is making her way gradually home from Alaska;

* Ann (Jorgi) Jorgenson, who is recovering from a stroke;

* Roberta Price, who is recuperating from knee replacement surgery at the home of a friend.

Attention, Potential Editors

Is there anyone out there who would like to do an apprenticeship on putting together the newsletter. I've done it for a long time now, and I love doing it, but it isn't a good idea to have anything in a congregation dependent on one person only. We really should have a backup person available in case something happens to me.

I have a list of instructions on file in the office for emergencies, but it's always easier to learn a new skill if you can work with someone who can show you how to do it. If you're interested, let me know and we'll figure out when we can get together and work on it.

Margaret Fleming   888-7059 or margefleming@earthlink.net

Rummage Sale and Book Sale

Got stuff or books? Get them donated to the church any time between now and the spring. The book sale will be in the fall, with exact day to follow. The Rummage sale will be in March, with exact dates to follow. Call or see Catalina to arrange a mutually convenient drop off time. Catalina, 572-1881.

Donations Wanted for This Year's Service Auction November 4 

What type?   

Dinner--pick a theme, create a menu, set the date. You've got a money-maker.

Gift basket--an assortment of food items, wines, craft beers-you name it

Service--such as pet or house sitting, a ride to the airport, handyman work

When?             By Friday, October 21

How?               Three ways to get your donations listed:

1. Get your donation forms at Sunday Services and return to Jane Paul-put in the Membership box in the office.

2. Email the details to Jane at janerpaul@yahoo.com.

3. Online form to be added to the website soon!.  

It's going to be a roaring good time when Mountain Vista UU Goes Back to the Roaring '20s on Friday, November 4, 2011. Your donation will be the cat's meow and also ensure that the auction is a success.

Partial Gift Baskets Are Also Possible Donations

If you'd like to donate a gift basket, but don't have time or enough items to fill one, Jane Paul, Catalina Hall, and a few others will create baskets from the donations you provide. Pampering items make a great basket, so donate new lotions, soaps, spa items, or anything for pampering.  

Also popular are small items like towels, gloves, and anything a lady or gentleman could use. Cute dog and cat irems would make up a great pet basket. How about a good bottle of wine or a six-pack for quality or craft beer? Or sweet little wine flutes or beer mugs?  

How about some gourmet non-perishable food items, honey, and honey pots, packaged herbs and spices, or a gift certificate to any of our smaller local shops?  

Need more ideas?  Comtact Catalina at 572-1881 or catalinahall_9@msn.com for more information. Donation deadline is Friday, October 21.

Tucson PRIDE October 8 

Tucson Pride Parade is Saturday October 8 at 8 pm, in conjunction with 2nd Saturdays. The Tucson Pride Interfaith Worship Service is Tuesday, October 11, in the evening, at First United Methodist Church near the U of A campus. Tucson Pride in the Desert Festival is Saturday, October 15, 10 am to 8 pm, at Kino Memorial Stadium (formerly Tucson Electric Park).  

The UU Congregation of NW Tucson Interweave group wants to gather all the southern AZ UU's to support and participate in these events! Stay tuned. Roberta Price is the chair of the Interweave group at UUCNWT.

Diary of a Determined Gardener

By Alberta Gunther

So here it is, September. The garden is toast. I pruned the tomato plants mid-summer but maybe not enough. But it doesn't matter because I don't think they will survive. As soon as the weather cools some more, I'll dig up the back garden, add more compost and see what I can plant for fall. I thought some maybe carrots and spinach. I'll wait a while longer for my front salad garden. I've had good luck with that.  

I rebuilt the fence around the back garden and I don't think the rabbits can get in. I suppose the pack rats can always tunnel in but I'll spot a tunnel, I think. I took the old fencing and used it to cover the compost pile. It's working much better than the black plastic did. The dog can't get in but sun and rain can. And of course the pack rats.

On a completely unrelated note. The other day I saw what appeared to be a piece of cord hanging out of the storage closet in the garage. It was a loop that looked like what you would see on a duffel bag or similar item. I couldn't imagine what I had in there with that kind of cord. It was about the diameter of a pencil. Just before I opened the door to check, the cord moved. A small pinkish tan snake about 8-10 inches long dropped down and then found a seam between two slabs of concrete and disappeared.  

I looked in a book I had and the closest I found was a coach whip. I didn't freak out like I usually do with snakes. But I wonder what he was doing in my closet. I don't think it was big enough to eat mice. I do have them in the closet and elsewhere in the garage. Oh well, one of life's little mysteries. Until later.

Reaching Out 

We now have a number of ways to reach out and to stay in touch electronically. Many of their uses overlap, but there are certain media more appropriate than others for specific items. Here's a brief rundown.   

Our New Website   http://uucnwt.org or http://mountainvista.squarespace.com 

The website is a major vehicle for outreach and for marketing our congregation to outsiders. This is our public face. Most of the visitors and new members who come to us have found us on the website. So keep in mind when posting items that their tone should be positive and enthusiastic to appeal to and attract potential members.  

Congregation Builder  http://congregationbuilder.com    Username: uucnwt, password: mychurch

Our research has revealed that Congregation Builder has a number of features that we have not previously used. For example, Donna is now sending out a weekly e-Beacon called Mountain Vista UU Flash with congregational notices, as well as the e-minder for events. Our calendar is linked to the website, the newsletter, and Congregation Builder. In addition to the directory of contact information that we all have been using, there is a photo directory, which John Fleming is in the process of putting together. We don't yet have good photos of everyone, so if you see him coming toward you with a camera, smile.   

The program also has an Event Registration; Church Management; Camp Management; a Directory of Skills, Interests, and Passions; and a Contributions section, all of which we may want to consider using. It's a full-blown in-house tool.  

The Newsletter

The newsletter is mainly for information about our congregation for our members, but there are others on the mailing list. UUA and PSWD leaders, and ministers of other Arizona congregations also receive it, as well as persons who have expressed interest in our congregation. Send articles and notices to publications@uucnwt.org or margefleming@earthlink.net  

UUConnect http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MVUUConnect/ 

This is a new Yahoo group, a community bulletin board for informational use. It is not for discussions on theology, church practices, or church policies. Use it to share short messages that would NOT be official MVUU announcements, newsletter articles, or posted on our website. Examples:

     *rides needed or offered
      *outside events that YOU will be attending like concerts,   
        ball games, lectures, movies
      *housing or childcare needed or offered
      *lost and found items  

Another Yahoo Group has been started for those who are interested in attending GA next year. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GA2012_for_Southern_AZ They can talk about housing, transportation, fundraising; exchange resources and ideas, programming, and anything else that pertains to Justice GA. For general (nationwide) GA discussions, subscribe to the UUA-GA listserv: http://lists.uua.org/mailman/listinfo/uua-ga .

Facebook

We have created two Facebook sites, one for our congregation:     http://www.facebook.com/pages/Unitarian-Universalist-Congregation-of-Northwest-Tucson/160919233932801, and a wider-ranging one called UUs in Tucson: http://www.facebook.com/groups/111947242216833/ 

YouTube

This is where our recorded sermons are posted. http://www.youtube.com/user/uugateway1 and where our future immigration documentary will be posted.

UU Gateway Project

The UU Gateway Project, in addition to making a documentary video on immigration for GA 2012, is now working with Sandy Weir, director of the Arizona Immigration Ministry, to set up some web meetings and conferences. So instead of a group of 7 from our congregation having to make the trek to Phoenix for the next statewide meeting, those 7 and others can meet in our large RE room and take part in the meeting via Gotomeeting, Webex, or Skype software. Groups from Prescott, Sierra Vista, Flagstaff, and others can do the same. John and Sandy are still experimenting with the technology, but look for some electronic conferences on immigration in the near future.

What We Stand For

Some people have said that they aren't aware we have a vision and a mission statement. These documents were on the old website, but here they are again for us to review.

Activities and Events

Sunday Morning Book Group

A Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank chronicles a young New Yorker's journey through love, sex, and relationships. Remember those days? Both funny and painful, this collection of short stories follows Jane, beginning at age 14 and continuing through adulthood. We learn, as we already figured out, that all happy endings are provisional. We'll be discussing this book on Wednesday night, September 28th, at 6:45 in the Fireside Room, and we've got a chair reserved for you.  

Our October 26th book choice is Freedom by Jonathan Franzen. This is a portrait of a Midwestern family from St. Paul and how their lives align at times with some of the Big Issues of our age (mountaintop removal, war profiteering, and cloth diapers, to name but a few.) Called a spiraling epic, Freedom reveals how obliviously we squander life and love. Don't skip this one. For November 16th read two short but powerful memoirs by Jeannette Walls: The Glass Castle and Half Broke Horses. These also will have you up late reading "just one more chapter."

Contact: Elaine azbooklover@comcast.net 290-1026  

Religious Education News

Upcoming Events

Saturday, September 17
YRUU meeting, 6:00 pm, small RE room. Contact Steven Ballesteros

Sunday, September 18
Kick-off of 2011-2012 RE Program (Students start in service for Story for All Ages)

Tigers: K-5^th graders: small RE Room

"Holidays and Holy Days"

TAMS: 6-8^th graders, large RE Room

"Immigration Experiences" 

Sunday, September 18
OWL Orientation for Parents. 1:00 - 3:30 pm

Tuesday, September 20
OWL Orientation for Parents, 6:30 - 8:00 pm

Friday, September 23
Owl Sleepover, 5:00 pm

For more information, contact Sybelle van Erven, uusybelle@gmail.com

Every Sunday (unless there are conflicts) 

Documentary Project, 12:00, large RE Room 

Wish List: Snack Food

The RE Department is running very low on foods to serve as snacks after class. We could use items like crackers, Goldfish, bagged popcorn, pretzels, etc. Items can be placed in the RE Pantry beside the sink in the Fireside Room. All donations are greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions, please email me or call me any time.                                         Donna    406-5121  

Adult Religious Education

We have some exciting and intriguing adult education offerings this year. For more information, contact the instructors listed below.

"The Way of Mastery" with Jolie Hoskkin  395-7486 or jhoskkin@msn.com
6 weekly sessions, starting October 12

"Immigration as a Moral Issue" with John & Margaret Fleming and Anne Jagnow 888-7059 or margefleming@earthlink.net
6 weekly sessions, starting November 7  

On the horizon, but not yet scheduled

"The God Within Us: Inner Freedom, Love, and Philosophy's Heart," with Bob Wallace

4 weekly sessions bob@robertmwallace.com 617-7979

A course with Rev. Joy Atkinson, possibly a repeat of "The Transcendentalists" or "Building Your Own Theology"

"Bible Studies for UU Adults: the Hebrew Prophets" with Margaret Fleming
6 weekly sessions

Finding Heart Groups Begin in October

Sign up September 18, 25, and October 2 at the table outside the sanctuary or contact Elizabeth Reed (reedeliz@gmail.com) with questions or to sign up via email. More information about our Finding Heart Groups is in the brochure at the back of the Sanctuary.  

Beyond Categorical Thinking
Sunday, October 23

Can we be intentional in our quest to become truly diverse, truly multicultural? This question lies at the heart of the Beyond Categorical Thinking workshop arranged by the Ministerial Search Committee as part of our congregation's search for a called minister. Immediately following the service on Sunday, October 23, be prepared for a powerful experience that will create a lasting impression on us all. Lunch will be served; there will be child care. Ask a Ministerial Search Committee member about details.

From Our UUA President

Thought piece (based on excerpts from UUA President Peter Morales' column in the UU World (summer 2011) entitled, "Everything Changes."

--Did you know that the UUA celebrates its 50^th Anniversary this year?

Peter Morales says this arbitrary occasion provides us as UUs with an opportunity to consider how the next 50 years may bring far greater change than the last fifty, for instance, the impacts of technology as well as cultural and ethnic diversities due to mass immigrations and world migrations.

--Did you know that "the fastest growing religious group in America today is people who practice no religion"?

Surprising, yes? Morales suggest that this means church programs that worked 50 years ago will not work tomorrow.

--How do we use our successful religious past and our spiritual core as a springboard to the future? Here are some of President Morales' ideas:

"Everything changes. This is a fundamental truth of life and a central spiritual lesson. Yet it is a lesson we all resist learning. I find myself trying to keep things the same, to freeze time....Resisting change brings suffering. Embracing possibilities together brings joy, meaning, and fulfillment.

"What is true of an individual is true for a congregation and for our religious association. When I served as a parish minister I often joked that as soon as I figured out what I needed to do to be a better minister my congregation would change....I have seen too many congregations try to hold on to a past that is gone forever. The result is spiritual implosion and organizational decline.

"What is central to our faith tradition is our willingness to leave behind what no longer serves us and to embrace the possibilities of today and the promise of tomorrow. This is what all of the great women and men we honor had in common: They were visionaries who...understood that everything changes. They got it at the core of their being. And they boldly created a new religion for their time.

"We must do no less."

As we at MVUU enter our second interim year with Reverend Joy, please consider these ideas for all of us to move forward toward our future in 2012.          

Submitted by Debbie Gessaman, MVUU member 

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!!  

Preview of MVUU's 2011 Holiday Giving Projects

WHEN?            Sundays after church, 11:30-12:45, November 6 to December 11, 2011

WHERE?          At a table set up outside the Goldblatt Building 

From Hymn 318, Singing the Living Tradition

Our 3^rd Annual Holiday Gift Market is a unique, "feel good about the holidays" kind of shopping experience! Let's preview our two non-profit organizations for the 2011 season:

1. Alternative Gifts International (AGI)-This is the third year we have supported AGI, a smaller non-profit charity that is celebrating its 25^th Anniversary this year. They are sponsoring 35 hand-chosen agencies that give people around the world "gifts inspiring change" through donations of our financial support.

• Look for colorful posters in the Sanctuary, the office hallway, and the Goldblatt Building that list categories like Hunger, Education, Gender Equality, Child Mortality, Maternal Health, Medical Services, Environmental Sustainability, and others. When you choose the exact project to support, you can be assured that your donation will go there.
• Pick up a shopping list in the Sanctuary or stop by our table on November 6 to look at our catalogs. Volunteers will be happy to guide you through the purchasing process.
• The real beauty of AGI's program is that you can give $1 on up, meaning that MV's children, youth, and all adults can experience the joy of reaching out to others! 

2. "Youth On Their Own" (YOTO)-MVUU Social Action Committee has chosen a worthy organization as our local non-profit for holiday financial support.

• Their Mission is "to support the high school graduation and continued success of homeless youth by providing financial assistance, basic human needs, and guidance."
• For 26 years, YOTO has been serving eligible teens ("without stable, permanent homes and parental involvement") through referrals by students' school counselors.
• With 600 students to help this holiday season, Teresa has decided to streamline and equalize donations by asking donors to purchase individual $25 gift cards from Target or WalMart. Once we at MVUU (and many other organizations as well) turn in our gift cards, YOTO's volunteers will hand write Christmas cards to all students and deliver them to participating high schools across Tucson.

Once again, our RE kids and youth will design handmade ornaments for the Sanctuary tree, to be erected on Sunday, November 20. We invite you to take an ornament; purchase a gift card from Target, WalMart, or some local grocery stores; and return it to co-Chairs, Debbie and Jim Gessaman by Sunday, December 11 so we can deliver them on your behalf. Contact us at 572-6713 or by email at gessaman@biology.usu.edu, if you have questions.

Most important of all, the Alternative Holiday Market is a perfect way to get into the true spirit of the season. Think of your outreach as a Gift of Peace, one that comes from your abundance to share with world neighbors in order to create, person by person, a most peaceful, equitable global community.

Sunday Services for September 

Sunday, September 18, 2011

"What You've Been Telling Me About Your Hopes and Fears"

Rev. Joy Atkinson

Last year, many members and friends got together in small "house meetings" to explore current aspects of this congregation and to express some hopes and dreams for its future, and all year long in different venues I heard viewpoints from many active members. As we begin a second interim year together, we will gather to digest some of this information, to explore the distinct "personality" of this congregation, and to interact with one another regarding the health and ongoing life of "Mountain Vista UU."  John Clark is Worship Associate.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

"The Legacy of Heresy: The Story of Michael Servetus"

Rev. Joy Atkinson

As we approach the 500^th anniversary of his birth on September 27^th, we will take a fresh look at the contributions of an important forebear of our free faith: the Spanish nobleman Michael Servetus, whose questioning of accepted church practices and beliefs got him into serious trouble but inspired many who came after him. The choir will sing. David Sattinger is Worship Associate.