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
 
Director of

Religious Education 
Donna Pratt  406-5121

mklo@earthlink.net   

Choir Director

Lyle Brown

579-7094

lbrownvh@yahoo.com 

Congregational

Administrator

Donna Pratt  579-7094,
 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 

Charity of the Month

The woven basket for January is Our Family Services. Last year Our Family helped more than 25,000 people in Southern Arizona through mediation, counseling, education, case management, housing, and information and referral.

Help Wanted

Please sign up to make coffee for December, January and February on the new sign-up sheets hanging on the new Coffee Hour bulletin board in the Goldblatt Building.

Firewood for Sale

Help SAWUURA raise funds to protect the 100 acres owned by UUs of Arizona:

Please ask friends and neighbors if they need firewood. Trailer load is $150 for ¾ cord and can be divided into ¼ cord deliveries.To arrange a purchase, please call SAWUURA Board Member Eb at 520-622-6966 or email eb@dakotacom.net

SAWUURA is the Sierra Ancho Wilderness Unitarian Universalist Religious Association. The SAWUURA-owned camp is located five miles south of Young, Arizona at an altitude of 5500 feet. SAWUURA is a beautiful 109 acres of wilderness nestled in the heart of the Sierra Ancha Wilderness and surrounded by thousands of acres of national forest. For more information, visit www.SAWUURA.org

Survey Summary Available On-Line

The Executive Summary of the Mountain Vista UU Survey is available to all on the congregation website (uucnwt.org). We on the Ministerial Search Committee encourage you to read it to learn about the makeup of our congregation and our priorities in seeking a new minister. Those who do not use computers can order a printed copy by calling Anne Tatum, MSC Chair, 742-4007.

Calling All Fabric Artists

Our Choir Director LB has requested that we make stoles for the choir. They are needed before the end of January. Several people have already volunteered to help, but this is an open invitation to anyone who quilts or sews to participate. For more information, contact Margaret Fleming 888-7059 or margefleming@earthlink.net.

Be a Buddy

The Membership Team is now asking for members to step forward to be a Buddy to a new person in the congregation. When you volunteer as a Buddy, you serve as a liaison between a new person and our congregation-introducing the new person to Unitarian Universalism and to others in the congregation, and communicating about the many programs we have.

It is hoped that each Buddy will have at least 2 years of membership in the congregation and will commit to one to three months of service as a Buddy. The Buddies will assist people in making connections and learning about the congregation, but they are not expected to provide pastoral care.  

Help give newcomers a head start--become a Buddy!

To learn more about the Buddy Program, contact Steve McGeeney and Tandra Goodwin: steveandtandra@q.com, 247-0241 or 572-4741

Grocery Gift Cards

EASIEST way ever to help our church. Just see Alberta Gunther and let her know which store you frequent. She will explain how each time you visit the store can result in MONEY to MVUU! She has accounts set up with Albertson's, Fry's, Basha's and Safeway. It is quick and easy to get started. Help our church each time you shop! Please sign up today!

Name Tags Need Names

We currently have a huge surplus of name tags with no names on them. You don't have to be a member of our congregation to wear one of these beautifully crafted tags.

Whether you're a member, friend, visitor, or have an old blurry tag, just ask one of the greeters for a form, fill it out, and turn it in to a greeter. Then in a week or two you should find your new tag hanging on the wall.

Aluminum Cans Needed

Please bring your empty aluminum cans to church and place in the special bin. The price of aluminum is currently 81 cents a pound. Proceeds from cans go to the Camp de Benneville Pines Scholarship Fund. Thank you to Emily Ricketts for sponsoring this worthwhile project.

Interim Minister's Column     

Words of Joy

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2012!

This year will mark a turning point year in the life of this congregation. The Search Committee will be presenting a ministerial candidate for your vote sometime in April or early May. And before that, you will have the opportunity to participate in a Visioning workshop for the entire congregation, in which we will explore together some issues, opportunities and challenges in the life of this congregation. The workshop process will generate some SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound) to work on in such areas as finances, programming, outreach and physical space. This workshop will occur on a Sunday after the service in February--exact date to be set soon. Everyone is encouraged to attend, to help move MVUU into a bright and healthy future.

Meanwhile, may your personal passage into this New Year be peaceful and fulfilling.

Here are some words of wisdom for your New Year contemplation. May you be "afflicted" with this set of "symptoms," in this next year and beyond:

Symptoms of Inner Peace

1. A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experience
2. An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
3. A loss of interest in judging other people.
4. A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
5. A loss of interest in conflict
6. A loss of ability to worry (this is a very serious symptom!).
7. Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
8. Contented feelings of connectedness with people, places and things, especially with nature.
9. Frequent attacks of smiling.
10. An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than making them happen.
11. As increased susceptibility to the love extended by others, as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

© 1984 Saskia Davis. Saskia can be reached by email for permission to reprint at: sweetamazinggrace@earthlink.net

3 Days Left to Join

Huumanists are raising membership rates to $60/yr, $110/2yr, in 2012. So for another 3 days you can still join the group which is the heart of humanism in the UUA, for $50 -- LESS THAN 14¢/day! -- or even less, $90 for two years. Just email your intent to Huumanists@yahoo.com; we will get back to you! * Send name/address in email " I'm joining " check to 907 N 2nd St #306, Rochelle IL 61068 *

Activities and Events

First Friday Hike January 6

The next First Friday MVUU Hike will be on Friday, January 6. Everyone is welcome. We will meet at the Juan Santa Cruz picnic area in the Tucson Mountain Park. The entrance is the driveway just south of the entrance to the Arizona Desert Museum. We will meet at 10 am. We will divide up into two groups: One group will hike to the top of Brown Mountain. About three miles with 300 ft. gain. The other group will take an easy walk along the wash at the base of Brown Mt. We will walk out for about one hour, then turn around and go to the picnic area. We will all meet for lunch around noon. Wear weather appropriate clothing, good walking shoes, walking sticks are recommended. Bring water and lunch.  

Movie Night January 14

"Midnight in Paris," Saturday, January 14, 7 pm at Dave and Irene Sattinger's, 12223 N Sterling Avenue, Rancho Vistoso, Oro Valley. This is Woody Allen's fantasy about Americans in Paris in current times, including the writer played by Owen Wilson who returns to the time of Fitzgerald, Hemingway and the other legends of Paris in the 1920s. Please bring a snack to share. We are limited to 12 persons by space considerations. See the poster and review, a signup and directions at Mountain Vista. john.wilcox2008@comcast.net 531-1413

Bookaholics Unanimous January 25

January 25th: The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell

February 29th: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

March 28th: The Pickup by Nadine Gordimer

These books begin our sixth year. Not bad for a bunch of fun-loving, opinionated readers!

Contact: Elaine azbooklover@comcast.net 290-1026

Finding Heart Groups to Start in January 2012

 

Start out the New Year by joining a Finding Heart Group. Share a topic and get to know other members and friends more deeply. You can sign up by calling or emailing Elizabeth Reed at 520-269-3414 or reedeliz@gmail.com.  

Mondays 10 am -noon: Life Stories and Values
Members share stories starting from a common topic used as a starting place.
Begins January 9
Meets at facilitators' home--Steve McGeeney & Tandra Goodwin

Tuesdays 10 - noon: Heart to Heart
Members select topics from this inspiring book for discussion.
Begins January 10
First meeting is in the Small RE Room with facilitators Donna and Milt Francis.
Members will decide on future meeting places.

Wednesdays 10 am -noon: Exploring the Sources of Our Personal Power
Discussion centers on tapping into your inner strengths.
Begins January 25
Meets at facilitator's home--Meg Kidwell

Thursday 10 am - noon: Reflections on Sunday's Sermon
Members will discuss the previous Sunday's sermon--or another "meaty" sermon of their choice-sharing how it "spoke" to them.
Begins January 26
Meets in Small RE Room with facilitators Debbie Gessaman and Elizabeth Reed

Thursdays 1-3 pm: Games Improve Your Memory--Let's Play
Learn about ways to improve memory through a variety of games.
Continues from the fall--come any Thursday.
Meets in the Fireside Room with facilitator Clare Toth

Thursdays 7-9 pm: Myth Busting-And Other Topics
Beginning with the concepts from Christiane Heyde's sermon about the myths we learned in childhood, the group will continue with other topics of interest.
Begins January 19
Meets at facilitator's house--Cheryl Hiller

Calling for Male OWL Facilitator

OWL (Our Whole Lives) is a fun and rewarding opportunity to help the youth in our church learn about sexuality and relationships. We currently do not have any males certified as facilitators. There is an upcoming training in Phoenix January 27-29. We can pay for your training. If you would like more details, please see Donna before January 13.

Super Bowl Party February 5

Stewardship is planning a Super Bowl Sunday Party for February 5th, 2012. Food, pretzels, chips, dip, and a front row seat for $10.00 per person, plus beer and wine for $2.00. Free soda and water.

We'll have betting pools for quarterly scores, most yards, most completed throws, the score at the end of the game and who won.....and more. However, if we can't get a crowd to attend we will have to cancel the plan and stay home.

If you would attend the Super Bowl Sunday party, please RSVP to office @uucnwt.org and tell me how many will attend from your group. All the money goes to the general MVUU operating fund.

Home Hospitality Needed

As part of our spring planning for the General Assembly, the UU Ministry for Earth Board of Directors will meet at MVUU this March 1-4, 2012. Your help will be greatly appreciated. In particular, we will be looking for homestays for the other six members. What has worked best in the past are nearby places with room for more than one spare bed, as most of the board will not have cars. In most cases, the board members make a donation to the church in lieu of paying for hotels.

Please contact Vincent Pawlowski by email at uuvince@ultrasw.com or phone at 520-887-4101 or 520-400-7517 with your offer, or for more information.

Stay Connected through Yahoo Groups

For anyone who is interested in finding out more about General Assembly, June 20-24, 2012 in Phoenix, there is a Yahoo group for any UUs in Southern AZ to exchange information, ideas for fundraising, housing options, ride sharing, and so on. Join the group to stay in the loop.

Find the group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GA2012_for_Southern_AZ/ and ask to join. Or send an email to Sybelle at UUSybelle@gmail.com to be added.

MVUU Connect is a fun and easy way to stay connected to your UU Friends!
MVUUConnect@yahoogroups.com is our Electronic Community Bulletin Board. Use it to share short messages. Post any notices of interest to our community that would not be official MVUU announcements, newsletter articles, or posted on our website. This group is not intended for discussions on religious questions, church practices or policies.
If you have not received your invitation, and would like one, please let Donna know in the office, 579-7094, or email her at office@uucnwt.org 

3^rd Annual Alternative Gifts Holiday Market A WINNER!

(Final Report from Debbie and Jim Gessaman, co-chairs)

Even during America's continuing financial recovery-and MVUU's early Canvass for our new minister search--35 members and friends came through to support efforts to reach out to others in need, both locally through Youth On Their Own (YOTO) and around the world through Alternative Gifts International (AGI). Drives for both organization ran concurrently on Sundays following church services from November 6 to December 11.

YOTO, a local non-profit organization, lends support to nearly 500 students who may lack sufficient family support to stay in high school to graduate. Director Teresa Baker requested $!0 gift cards from discount stores, fast-food restaurants, and/or grocery stores. MVUU children and youth decorated envelopes for donors to use to return their cards each Sunday (thanks, Sybelle Van Erven, for that great idea!). Eighteen congregants responded with a grand total of $530 in gift cards, which students from Tucson high schools received at a YOTO Christmas party.

From the AGI "Gifts Inspiring Change" catalog, 17 members and friends bought a total of 33 alternative gifts for $1063 this year (imagine breaking $1000, just $97 less than 2010!), choosing gifts to support 19 projects out of the 35 available. A Dessert Buffet on December 4 raised $87 toward AGI gifts, which Jim and I asked RE Director Donna Pratt and daughters, Robyn and Rachel, to choose this year; they selected meals for Haiti's children, food for hungry and homeless Americans, and leg braces for disabled students in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Sincere thanks to all MVUU donors who, over six Sundays, gave a total of $1593 to YOTO and AGI this holiday season!! We're especially grateful to Paula Trahan and Bonnie Grant-Baird, who volunteered at our table one Sunday each; to Irene Sattinger and Keith MacLoughlin, who helped Debbie and Jim with the Dessert Buffet; and to Catalina Hall, who provided our YOTO table Christmas tree.

Sunday Services for January

January 1, 2012

"Facing Value Conflicts"

Christiane Heyde and Margaret Fleming

Sometimes occasions arise when the UU values we try to live by conflict with each other. Christiane and Margaret will present some examples and discuss how to deal with the conflicts.

January 8, 2012
"Random Acts of Kindness"

Rev. Joy Atkinson

On this anniversary of the tragedy in Tucson last year, let us take a look at how we can participate in creating a healthier, more caring community and world at large.

January 15, 2012
Martin Luther King Sunday

"Still Dreaming"

Rev. Joy Atkinson

The sermon will be a tribute to Dr. King and a personal reflection on the effects of ingrained racism.

January 22, 2012

"The God within Us"

Robert Wallace

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "That which shows God in me, fortifies me.... That unity, that common heart within man is the soul of the whole; the wise silence; the universal beauty; the eternal One." Bob Wallace will share his experience of becoming aware of this soul, this common heart within us, which is the kernel of truth in the traditional notion of God.

Bob is a friend of our congregation and describes himself as a trained philosopher who has been bowled over by love. He has published academic work in philosophy and an essay on ecstasy.

January 29, 2012
""The State of the Congregation"
 Rev. Joy Atkinson

Our interim minister will offer some perceptions on where Mountain Vista UU is and may be going at this mid-point in our second transitional year.