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 Green Basket Charity for April is the Sierra Club Borderlands. (Wrong info was supplied to the newsletter; Sierra Club is correct.) The Sierra Club Borderlands takes a strong stance against policies that promote environmental degradation. They are seeking to restore and protect the borderlands that have been damaged by failed border policies. sierraclub.org/borderlands

Please remember to make checks out to MVUU and put the name of the charity in the memo line.

The Green Basket total for Interfaith Community Services in March was $425.20. Thank you for your generosity!

Coffee Orders

The last order before summer will be in May for a mid-May delivery. I will resume taking orders in August for a September delivery.

If someone wants to do this while we are gone (May 15 - Aug. 15) let me know. It's pretty easy.

Elizabeth Reed

Greeters Needed      

Here's an opportunity to meet a new people. We currently need volunteers to serve as regular or substitute greeters. Don't worry that our standards might be too high. About three minutes of intense training is all that's needed for you to join the ranks of the GREETERS.

If you're interested please contact Gene McCormick at genemick@comcast.net

From Our Treasurer

1. You can use checks in the woven basket but please make them out to UUCNWT or Mountain Vista UU, not to the actual charity. You can add the name of the charity in the memo line. Thanks for your generous support of the charities in our community.

2. Note: for those who currently donate stock for their pledges the account number at Scottrade has been changed to *** 80490999. We have a sample letter for those who wish to do this for the first time. Just contact the office. ***(The number listed in last week's e-minder was NOT correct. Sorry for any inconvenience.)

GA Reminders

June 20-24 General Assembly, Phoenix   

The main GA hotels are the Hyatt and the Renaissance where 1000 rooms have been blocked for UUs at $125 a night. But registration at these hotels must also be done online through the UUA housing office.

District Executive Ken Brown reminds us that as we get nearer to General Assembly, our own PSWD web site has a section on Migration and Border Issues which keeps getting bigger. This section is a resource for individuals and congregations in the PSWD and across the nation. Most of the material is there because in some way the issue or report may be part of events or education at GA and maybe our own District Assembly. Click here to access it.

Faith Communities & Mental Illness: Tools for Response and Care

Friday, April 27, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church
4440 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85718

Mental Illness Is a Community Issue

This important one-day conference will equip faith and community leaders to better understand the powerful intersection of faith and mental illness. You'll come away with useful insights and tools for compassionate response to those touched by mental health issues.

Register Now to Save

Register by April 25 with a team of three or more to save $10 per person! All attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the Reverend Susan Gregg-Schroder's resource book and study guide: Mental Illness and Families of Faith: How Congregations Can Respond.  
For more information and a registration form, go to http://www.icstucson.org/

Tucson Women's Chorus Spring Concert May 5

7:00-8:15 pm at St. Mark's Presbyterian, 3809 E. 3rd St. (nearest major intersection is Speedway & Alvernon).All are invited.

Lending Library

After the service, please feel free to check out books from the lending library in the Fireside Room. The lending library is open to everyone. It's easy! Select the book you want to borrow, sign the card inside the book, place the card in the plastic bin and that's it. Return the book when you are finished, and replace the card in the book. There's a wide selection of topics to explore. 

Diary of an Off Again-On Again Gardener

By Alberta Gunther

Well, I'm back and again gardening--but not very energetically. There was a good crop of weeds in the back garden. Also beets and carrots. Since only about four of my peas came up, we only had them twice. Now the plants are dying.

In front the radishes are going to seed as is much of the lettuce. I don't think I want to deal with collecting lettuce seed but we'll see.  

In Redmond, which is in the center of Oregon just east of the mountains, spring plants were just beginning to come up when I left. Naturally they could only be seen on days when it hadn't snowed. Just outside of the window at Mother's new apartment there is a small bare tree. I've been told it is redbud. If you're not familiar with them, they have magnificent purple flowers. I saw them in Northern California one time.

I know it's past time to be planting but it doesn't look like I'll be getting to it any time soon. I'll let you next month.

Trip to Northern Arizona

Registration is now open for an exciting trip to Northern Arizona October 13-20 to visit Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley, and the Petrified Forest among other interesting sites. This trip is sponsored by and is a fundraiser for the 22nd Street church, UU Church of Tucson. You will travel on a comfortable tour bus and stay at moderate hotels such as Best Western and Holiday Inns.

We have space for 24, and the cost is $1099 per person for a double room. Single room rates are also available. If you register now, you can cancel until July 1st, but after that we are committed to paying the hotels, etc., so no refunds after that date. Payment must be made in full by August 19.

For information and registration, click here. 

We Have a New Called Minister!!!

If you were at church a couple of weeks ago, you heard one of the members of the Ministerial Search Committee (MSC) say that the committee members were the people with the large smiles on their faces. She also said that after meeting Ron Phares we all would look like that. What a pleasure it has been to spend Candidating Week and seeing those big smiles appearing on face after face!

It was so very exciting for all of us to have an attendance of 175 people in church on Easter Sunday, the first day we all got to "see Ron in action." He did not let us down and gave a beautiful and thought-provoking sermon that made many of us reflect the rest of the week. That is, in between many other pleasant and informative meetings with him.

Saturday evening, the 14th, there was a truly celebratory feeling at the "music and mingle" gathering, where Ron and his wife, Katie, fit in very well. The vote had not happened yet, but "there was a feeling in the air."

The date April 15 usually means tax-day for Americans, but for a group of UUs in Tucson this year the date was voting day: again the sanctuary was filled to hear Ron speak. The strong service was followed immediately by a congregational meeting, one of our best attended ever.

When the votes were tallied 98.2% of them were in the affirmative. This means that Mountain Vista UU now has its new called minister, Ron Phares!

Ron and Katie and their little girls, Minnie and Cora, will be looking for housing in the Tucson area over the summer. They hope to move and get settled before Ron starts his ministry with us August 1^st of this year.

The MSC would like to extend a very big thank you to all of you who have made our work over the past year easier. The many people who spent time and energy on the design of the survey, and its analysis, those who helped get last minute announcements out, those who helped with all the many things, large and small, we asked of you . We'd like to thank the Board for their patience when we came "storming in" with our ideas and convictions. We'd like to thank each and every one of you who kept encouraging us. And all the many people who made Candidating Week so fantastic!

It has been a very intense year for the seven of us and our families. We are tired. We've gained weight (meeting at least once a week and food always present). We need rest.

Our reward is seeing the big, big smiles on our fellow congregants' faces and the knowledge that we truly did get the best minister for our congregation. We are looking forward with great anticipation to the next chapter in Mountain Vista UU's life!

It was an honor and a pleasure to serve you,

Your Ministerial Search Committee, 

Evalyn Bennett-Alder

Peter Beckskehazy

David Greene

Betty Meikle

Pat Reddeman

Anne Tatum

Sybelle van Erven

Religious Education News

Easter Sunday Egg Hunt

A big THANK YOU to everyone who donated eggs and other goodies to the recent after-service Easter Egg Hunt.

Another big THANK YOU to the "Secret Friend(s) of RE" that keep stocking our pantry under cover of darkness. Your generosity is much appreciated. 

 

"Share Your Passion" Summer Program

 We need volunteers for our upcoming summer R.E. program. Each Sunday, beginning in June, we will be welcoming a special guest fro the congregation to share with the students something they are passionate about. Last summer's topics included drumming, jewelry-making, Feng Shui, birding, mountain-climbing, being a prison guard, scrapbooking, and travel stories. Do you have a passion you would like to add to this summer's list, ot perhaps you would like to expand on one of the above topics.

This is a fun and easy way to help out RE. The kids have a good time, and the adults and kids get to know each other better. Please talk to Donna or Margaret if you can help. 

For more information, please call Donna any time at 406-5121 or e-mail her at mklo@earthlink.net.

Earth Day Sunday, April 22

4^th Sunday Green Speaker Series

"7 Billion & Counting"

Amy Harwood, Director of the 7 Billion and Counting Campaign, which is an initiative of the Center for Biological Diversity, will speak at 12 noon on Earth Day, Sunday April 22. The talk will follow the regular Sunday service at 10:30am and a pot luck lunch at 11:30. Plan to hear this important, informative talk.

Our planet is in the midst of its sixth mass extinction. Hundreds of plant and animal species are disappearing from our planet every day, never to return. In fact, scientists say species today are going extinct 100 to 1,000 times faster than normal. They're going extinct because of us - people.

Overpopulation and overconsumption are the root causes of environmental destruction.They're driving species extinct, destroying wildlife habitat, and undermining the basic needs of all life at an unprecedented rate. It has to stop. The world's human population has doubled since 1970 and shows no signs of letting up. After hitting a harrowing new high of 7 billion on Oct. 31, 2011, it has continued to skyrocket - and will do so for the rest of the century, when human population is expected to top 10 billion.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a 501(c)3 nonprofit conservation organization with 255,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

4^th Sunday Green Speaker Series 

Potluck Lunch April 22 

Next Sunday another exciting event is taking place. Amy Harwood will be speaking about world population issues entitled 7 Billion and Counting. Prior to her talk there will be a potluck lunch in the Fireside Room. Please bring a dish to share.

Kitchen Clean-up 
Someone is in the kitchen with.......? YOU!!!!!

If you use the kitchen, it is YOUR responsibility to leave it clean and orderly.

1) Please clean and replace all dishes, cups, and pots and pans.
2) Please put all the garbage out.
3) Please run and unload the dishwasher even if you have to come back later! (No, you do not have to run it unless it is full.)
4) Please wipe down surfaces, and vacuum, if needed.  

THANK YOU! 

District Assembly April 27-28

First Unitarian Church, Los Angeles, CA  

"Beyond Borders"

Who should come to the Pacific Southwest District Assembly
. Current and future leaders in all congregations
. Those going to GA who want a chance to meet with other UUs to discuss the issues
. Those not going to GA, this is your chance to meet with other UUs
. Those who want an update on the directions of UUA, Regions, and Districts
. People who want a chance to meet with their neighbors in the PSWD to create and build relationships that will continue through the year
. Those who want to support and celebrate the PSWD and deBenneville Pines
. People who want a chance to celebrate with our youth in their Bridging Ceremony
. High School youth grades 9-12 who want to learn and laugh together in a program coordinated by Emmalinda MacLean
. Those who want a chance to hear one of the foremost thinkers on issues related to oppression, border, and migration. Ruben Martinez will not be at GA only DA!

Friday night will include the opening celebration, music, banner parade and Ruben Martinez. Saturday will include worship, a special panel on migration, oppression and border concerns, 16 workshops, Bridging Ceremony, Business meeting and closing celebration. For more info, please visit: http://www.pswduua.org/pages/district-assembly.php

Human Rights on the Border--BorderLinks Trip April 27-28

Columbine UU Church (Littleton, CO) invites you to join us on a journey of service, learning, and reflection, engaging in the issues of human rights and immigration at the Nogales Mexico border. Working through BorderLinks, we will visit with individuals and organizations that provide basic assistance to migrants, create community-based alternatives, and advocate for just policies on both sides of the border. The trip will run April 27 and 28th and costs $260- this includes lodging, meals and ground transportation. Passports needed. See www.borderlinks.org, or contact Dory Pinkham at dory.pinkham@gmail.com, 303-601-9255.

Visit from No More Deaths April 29 

On April 29 the TAMS class with be having a visit from Regan Wendell and John Heid of No More Deaths. They will describe the group's mission and activities and answer questions. Any adults who are interested are welcome to join the kids or to come by afterward and ask questions.

Kids, be sure to plan to attend that day. We want to have a good turnout for these visitors.

Weekly Activities

Book Group on Sundays, 8:30 am 

Anyone interested in writing is invited to join the Writers' Workshop on Wednesday mornings from 10:00 to 12:00. Participants share their writing, critique each others' work, and offer suggestions for such aspects of writing as plot development, organization, tightening, and word choice. Come any time for one session or a series of sessions. If you have writing to be critiqued, please bring at least 7 copies.

For more information, contact Margaret Fleming at 888-7059 or margefleming@earthlink.net .  

Drop In Dream Group on Thursdays  

Every Thursday until May 8 from 10:30 am - noon

Enhance your dreams through basic techniques and group feedback. Good to bring dreams you have written down as a story, or fragment of the story, in present tense, with as much detail as possible. Sign up is appreciated, but not necessary. Bring your own snacks. Hot water and coffee available.

At home of Kathy Kouzmanoff 10950 N La Canada #11202 Oro Valley AZ (414) 617-7979. Apartment 11-202, in the Golf Villas Complex, 10950 N La Canada, Oro Valley AZ 85737, on La Canada, between Lambert and Naranja, on east or mountain side of La Canada.

Games Suspended

Clare Toth's Games Group will not meet again until October. If you want to be in on the fall fun, call Clare  887-6240.

Monthly Activities

Bookaholics Unanimous

Notice of date change: Our April 25th meeting has been changed to May 2nd. We'll still meet at 6:45pm in the Fireside Room. Hope you can join us. 

May 2nd: Stones From the River by Ursula Hegi
May 30th: A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley
Our June and July selections aren't finalized yet, so you may wish to read ahead for the August 29th book: Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer.  Contact: Elaine azbooklover@comcast.net 290-1026

Movie Night    April 29

"Footnote," Sunday, April 29, time to be announced, at The Loft, 3233 E. Speedway. Supper before or after at La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill, 3007 E. Speedway. Roger Ebert gives four stars to this fight between father and son in Israel over research and publication. Ebert says it is a smart and merciless comedy and a deep study of human nature. We will aim for a late afternoon/early evening showing. In Hebrew subtitled in English. Look for a poster, a review, directions and a signup at Mountain Vista. john.wilcox2008@comcast.net 531-1413   

Annual Women's Retreat

Camp de Benneville Pines 

The retreat is Friday, April 20th- Sunday, April 22nd, 2012. Keynote speaker is Rev. Jennifer Owen-O'quille. For more info, please go to uucamp.com

Attending GA on a Budget

Planning to attend General Assembly in Phoenix this June but concerned about the cost? Here are some ways to attend some or all of GA on a budget:

Go for One or Two Days Only
Registration is $320 for adults attending full time ($365 after April 30th) But you can register by the day--$130 per day ($145 after April 30th).

Go by Chartered Bus for a Day
An option from the UUs in Green Valley:?The UU Congregation of Green Valley is arranging to have a chartered bus take people to Phoenix on Sunday, June 24, to attend the GA Sunday service (open to the public whether registered for the conference or not) and browse the exhibit halls (also open to the public that day). The cost per person would be $30 or $20 depending on the size of the bus. Pick up time would be approximately 7 am and return time approximately 6:30 pm. Contact Loretta Carmickle (carlor3344@q.com) or Charles Burkholder (cburkholder2@cox.net), co-chairs of the Justice Action Network of the Green Valley congregation for questions and indications of interest.

Stay at a Local Hotel and Drive to the Convention Center
The two official GA hotels (Hyatt and Renaissance near the Convention Center) cost $125 per day, and parking is extra. You can find a local motel to drive to the convention center from. Parking at the Convention Center is $12 per day.

Stay at Arizona State University Residential Facility, 120 East Taylor Street, $260 for fixed 5 night stay Arrival Wednesday 6/20, Departure Monday 6/25. All double rooms; roommate matching is not provided. You can stay in a double as one person and not utilize the second bed, but the price remains the same. No cooking, laundry, pets, alcohol, or smoking. All rooms have two single beds with bedding provided. Cleaning, towel, and linen services are not available during the five-night stay. Free wireless Internet. All ASU reservations must be made or reservations cancelled by May 10, 2012. UUA will charge your credit card for the full fixed room rate amount of $260 for your room reservation on or around May 11th. UUA needs to prepay for the dorms in order to secure them. No refunds will be provided after May 10. 2012.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Keyboard Auction 

Q. Were the donors contacted?  

A. Because Juliannah James donated the grand piano, Dorothy talked to her in early April to give her advance notice of the Committee's decision. She was completely supportive. Incidentally, she is moving to California this month to live with her brother.

The donors of the upright piano no longer attend. The organ was a bequest from Ruth Knittel's estate.

Q. Was the Board of Directors contacted?

A. Because our plan involved the selling of MVUU property, the Committee presented their proposal to replace all three instruments. The Board approved this proposal.

Q. What brought about this decision?

A. Several factors came together to prompt the Music Committee to assess the instruments:

1. Religious Education needed the space taken by the Upright piano. It had been moved there from the Fireside Room to make room for the new coffee carts and it was in their way.

2. The Ambiance Committee has been working on a floor plan for the Sanctuary and felt that additional seating would give us more room to breathe and improve the overall feel of the sanctuary. Reducing the footprint used by instruments frees up space for chairs.

3. Moving the grand piano damages the plywood floor. The sound of splintering wood is noticeable. Thus it was determined that the piano should not be moved. This causes problems when the room needs to be rearranged for renters.

Q. Why choose an electronic keyboard over a real piano?

A.   1. The sound quality of the electronic keyboards is remarkable. The electronic sound is not as good as $50,000 acoustic piano but it is a better sound than what we have now.

2. The electronic is many instruments in one. It replicates the sound of organs, period instruments, grand pianos, a harpsichord, and much more. Thus the choir can provide more variety of music authentically.

3. Because electronic is many instruments in one, we can free up floor space for seating by removing the organ and the grand piano. It's important to have more seating available. If every chair is filled, this sends a message to Visitors that we are already full and don't need new members.

4. No maintenance is required. The grand piano should be tuned several times a year because it reacts to the constant temperature changes in the sanctuary. This is unlike a home setting where temperatures are held consistently.   This will save us money.

Volunteers of the Month

Leon and Evalyn Bennet-Alder

Leon and Evalyn Bennet-Alder have been with this congregation from the time we all met in Cross Middle School gymnasium, over 20 years ago. They were both active in the congregation, doing a little of everything, as we all did.

After we moved to our present site, Leon was one of the facilitators for our first OWL class. Then he served a term as Board Secretary. As a retired hospital administrator, he is familiar with business and accounting practices and has regularly done our annual audit. He is a Pastoral Care team member, and outside of the congregation volunteers as a patient advocate at hospitals and retirement facilities.

Evalyn, in addition to helping to set up many congregational events and co-chairing several barn sales and service auctions, served for a number of years as Chair of the Endowment Committee; in fact, for some of those years, she was the Endowment Committee. She is still a member, but no longer the only one. She is currently on leave from the Finance Committee due to her Search Committee duties. She and Leon regularly count the offerings on Sunday, getting them ready for a bank deposit the next day.

Leon and Evalyn presented a Sunday service a couple of years ago which was a conversation about end-of-life planning. They took an unconventional, but very successful, approach. It was videotaped and can be seen on YouTube.

Most recently, Evalyn has been serving on the Ministerial Search Committee, and Leon is a member of the weekly Writers' Workshop, working on poetry and a novel about a predatory priest. These two exemplary members have contributed in many diverse ways to the health and welfare of our congregation.

Sunday Services for April

April 22, Earth Day

"Earth Teach Me"

Rev. Joy Atkinson

The service will celebrate the 42^nd annual Earth Day and explore the principle of "biophilia"-our human sense of kinship with other living things that share this planet.

April 29, 2012

"I Am Awake: The Gifts of the Buddha"

Rev. Joy Atkinson

It has been the tradition at MUU for the last several years to acknowledge Hana Matsuri, the Japanese holiday celebrating the Buddha's birthday. This year, we will acknowledge another holiday, celebrated widely in other parts of the Buddhist world--Wesak-the Buddha's Awakening. We will combine these holidays and conduct a tea ceremony. You are invited to bring flowers for the altar.