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

L. H. 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 charity for July will be our prison ministry with the UU fellowship at La Palma Correctional Facility in Eloy. The money will be used to purchase hymnals for use in their weekly services. For more information about this Standing on the Side of Love initiative, contact Margaret Fleming.  888-7059 or margefleming@earthlink.net 

Summer Office Hours

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 7 am - Noon  

Sign Placers Wanted

Here is an easy way to help the congregation. We need volunteers to put out our directional signs on Sunday mornings. Some of us who have been putting them out are mobility-challenged with arthritis, back problems, and so on. So all you younger folks (younger than 70, that is), please step up and take your turn.

The fire/ambulance station at the corner of Thornydale and Cromwell has agreed to let us store the signs inside their utility room, just to the left of their back door. So all you have to do is go in--there's no door-it's an open entry--take the two signs and put one on the median strip and one on the sidewalk in front of the station. There's a sandbag for each one to keep it in place. Then, after the service, you retrieve the signs and store them away until the next week. That's all there is to it.

If you can do this once a month, or more often, please contact John or Margaret Fleming at 888-7059 or elfuturo@earthlink.net   

Thanks for your help.

Announcements  

PRIDE in the Desert

I want to thank the Social Action Committee for their generous donation to enable the MVUU Congregation to have a booth at Pride in the Desert on October 13, 2012.

The Interweave Committee and any volunteers who are interested to help out will have a Fund Raiser once a quarter to help replace the funds donated by the Social Action Committee--this is the agreement I made as Chairperson of Interweave in order to have our presence at this Event.

I have some ideas that I think would be helpful to raise the funds for replacement:

1. Fund Raiser Breakfast

2. Fund Raiser Luncheon

3. Fund Raiser Dinner and Movie @ the church

                  Roberta Price

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

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! 

Free Books 

While reorganizing the RE rooms, we found that we have more books than we have room to store. Books in the bookcase next to the bulletin board in the large R.E. room are free for the taking. We wanted to give congregation members the first chance to take them, after which they will be donated to a library. 

14th Annual Yoga and Wellness Retreat  

at Camp de Benneville Pines, Angelus Oaks, CA
Friday September 7th - Sunday 9th, 2012
Early Registration Discount ends on June 30, 2012 

2012 UU Living Legacy Civil Rights Pilgrimage

The next UU Living Legacy Civil Rights Pilgrimage is scheduled for October 6-13, 2012, and registration is now open. This unique bus trip is much more than a Civil Rights history tour through Alabama and Mississippi. We will be visiting historic sites and meeting veterans of the Civil Rights Movement, and but will also be spending time together and with guests exploring what racism, white privilege, and barriers to equality look like today in Southern towns we visit---and in our own hometowns.

Beyond experiencing first-hand the civil rights legacy, our goal is to develop commitment, vision and mechanisms within our group to work on issues of race, injustice and inequality that still bedevil our congregations and our society. The Living Legacy Pilgrimage is hosted and organized by the Reverend Gordon Gibson and Judy Gibson; the Reverend Hope Johnson; the Reverend James Hobart; Janice Marie Johnson; Annette Marquis; and Donna Sequeira, and co-sponsored by the Southeast District of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

For more information and to register, please visit www.uulivinglegacy.org. Don't miss your chance to be on the bus! Register early --costs are discounted for those who register before May 15.

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. 

Thank You Note from Joy    

Weekly Activities

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.  

Conversation about Stewardship on Wednesdays, 7 pm

The MVUU Community Growth; Stewardship, Leadership, & Membership group is discussing chapters 4-6 (through page 55) of Creating Congregations of Generous People. Anyone interested is welcome, whether you have read the book or not. For more information, please contact Tom Bunch at www.sparky9132000@yahoo.com   

Grief Support Group 1st and 3rd Thursdays 4:30-6:00 pm

For Members of the GLBTQ Community, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson, 4831 E 22nd Street, Tucson. This is an informal and relaxed group for anyone grieving a loss of any kind, no matter how long ago it was. We are sponsored by TMC Hospice. Before attending, please call Karla Brockie 269-9573,            

Monthly Activities

Movie Night July 15

"A Better Life", 7 pm, Sunday, July 15, at Conrad and Jane Paul's, 9922 N Sumter Creek Pl. Demian Bichir was nominated for an Oscar for his role as an illegal immigrant who is trying to keep his son out of trouble. Please bring a snack to share. Please email John at john.wilcox2008@comcast.net or telephone at 531-1413 to reserve and receive driving directions if necessary. There will no longer be a signup at Mountain Vista UU.

Bookaholics Unanimous July 25

Our July 25 pick: The Perfect Gentleman: A Muslim Boy Meets the West by Imran Ahmad. Yes, he's the one who spoke here on May 19th. Ahmad has been praised by audiences around the world, and his book has received acclaim from readers on many continents. We hope you'll read his book and join us on the evening of July 25th in the Fireside Room at 6:45 to laugh with us as we give our observations and opinions. It's always a fun time.  

September 26th: In the Garden of Beastsby Erik Larson

Religious Education News

The "Share Your Passion" Summer RE Program continues. Thank you to all the members and friends who have agreed to help out this summer. The Tigers and TAMS will meet together in the Large RE Room.

July 15th- Crayon-Making with Sybelle van Erven

July 22nd- Homemade Paper with Clarke Gillette

July 29th- Wax Casts with Lara Brennan  

***************************************** 

R E Swim Party

WHEN: Saturday, August 18th

TIME: 4-7 PM

WHERE: Tucson Racquet Club

ADDRESS: 4001 N. Country Club

WHO: Students, parents, siblings, teachers, RE Committee Members, and any other MVUU members who just like to hang out with RE Kids!

RSVP: We need to give a head count to the pool beforehand. Please RSVP to office@uucnwt.orgby Monday, August 13th.

We will have a ramada at the pool. Pizza and dessert will be provided.

************************************************** 

Thank you to Jim and Debbie Gessaman for donating some packages of Goldfish and Teddy Grahams. Also, a special thank you to the person who has been anonymously adding items to the RE pantry. All donations are greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions, please call Donna anytime, (520) 441-0870 or email her at cdpratt1@live.com

Alternative Giving International

"Christmas in July? Never too early for good news!"

On behalf of the MVUU Social Action Committee, Debbie and Jim Gessaman would like to pass along some important news they've received from Alternative Gifts International, the non-profit charity that we've supported for the past three years with donations to their projects for humanitarian and environmental causes.

During our November and December Alternative Gift Markets, members and friends have generously contributed, beginning in 2009 ($944); in 2010 ($1160); and $1063 in 2011,when AGI funded 35 Global Projects by distributing total funds of $608,008. Yes, our action can bring HOPE to those who need basic human needs: food, water, clothing, shelter, education, equality, and medicine. As a matter of interest, projects for Asia, Europe, and Middle East received the highest total, $225.707, followed by Africa at $176,922, Haiti at $109,408, and the remainder to North America, Caribbean/C. and S. America, and Global needs.

AGI's new Executive Director, Tony Princ, has recently sent news via email about other matters of concern to our contributors. "BBB WISE Giving Alliance" has granted full Accreditation to AGI for meeting all 20 Standards for Charity Account Ability.  

Many of you have also asked about AGI's Charity Navigator rating, which stands at "3 Stars," which could only be raised to 4 Stars should AGI grow through starting more markets. For AGI, which depends on word-of-mouth expansion through churches, schools, and other smaller non-profit agencies, allocating 90% of donation revenues to 35 projects--and only 8% to Administration costs-- seems to us to ring true for our Social Action's Alternative Gift Market for the holidays 2012!  

Please contact the Gessamans by email or phone if you have further questions or thoughts on AGI.

Volunteers of the Month

Don and Alberta Gunther

For years Don was in charge of the ushers and getting the sanctuary set up for services. Even now, he is one of the few persons who understand the quirks of our ancient sound system.

Don and Alberta sold Entertainment Books every year before Christmas until the company started doing it all on line. They collect and recycle printer cartridges. Alberta sells coupons that enable us to shop at local groceries and get a percentage for the church.

You all have seen Alberta's monthly column on gardening in this newsletter. What you may not have seen is her commitment to RE. Years ago when Jeff Knowles was our DRE, she was chair of the RE Committee. She has regularly taught OWL to kindergarteners and first graders, and she also taught regular RE classes until she decided to make a change.

Alberta, an interesting creature,

Retired from her job as a teacher.

   She loved what she did,

   And she loved every kid,

But she wanted to go hear the preacher.

Now she is organizing the lessons and scheduling teachers for the Tigers class. That way she can help with RE while not missing the service. She is currently participating in the Writers' Workshop, creating a novel based on her grandmother's diary.

Don and Alberta have contributed and continue to contribute a lot to our congregation, both individually and jointly.

Volunteer of a Few Months Ago

Editor's Note: When I first starting doing this, I featured one person at a time, but I soon decided to change to doing one family at a time; otherwise there are so many wonderful volunteers it would take forever. In the transition, there was one person who fell through the cracks, Debbie Gessaman. So here is the catchup description of her to go with her husband Jim, who was featured a few months ago.

Debbie Gessaman

Debbie has been an enthusiastic participant in congregational affairs since she and Jim moved here and joined our congregation. She served as Board secretary for two years. For the last three years, she has, along with Jim, organized the Alternative Giving holiday program, and it's been very successful.

Last fall Debbie collaborated with Chuck Tatum to start a Standing on the Side of Love initiative. This program was divided into three strands: Navajo elders, immigration, and prison ministry. All these have been functioning well since then. Steve McGeeney and Tandra Goodwin have carried on the Navajo program; the entire congregation focused on immigration issues, which led to the highly successful GA with that theme; and the prison fellowship is thriving, with 12 congregation members now approved as volunteers and more waiting to take the orientation. 

An organization needs people who take the initiative to get things going. Debbie is one of those people, and we are lucky to have her as a member.

Primavera Dinners

The Social Action Committee met on Sunday, June 10th and decided to use $200 of our budgeted $500 fiscal year money, from 2011 - 2012, to purchase grocery gift cards to underwrite purchase of supplies for the 3rd Wednesday Primavera dinners. Two $50 cards for Fry's market were bought by Alberta Gunther and one $100 card for Costco by me. Both Alberta and I have been reimbursed.  

The Primavera Dinner coordinator will be in charge of the card distribution and collection. That person will keep a record of how the card was used and what amounts were spent. If you or any of your volunteers want to use the card, see me. Funds are limited, therefore we have to use discretion.  

The meeting attendees were T.J. Boothroyd, Catalina Hall, Debbie Gessaman, Susan Glen, Paula Trahan, Joseph Scott and me. The decision re the above was made by consensus.

 Emily Ricketts

Wednesday dinner schedule for the rest of the year:

• July - Pat Desai
• August - ??
• September - Ann Tatum
• October - ??
• November - Gwen Goodman
• December - ?? 

Diary of a Hot Gardener

By Alberta Gunther

Well.....there's good news and the rest of the story. I figured out what was wrong with the tomato plants. They were getting too much water. The pear tomato plant is lush and has produced a number of little yellow toms. The Cherry tomato is scrawny from losing so many leaves but is producing. But I wouldn't call them cherry sized, more like very small currants or maybe small wild blueberry size. However they taste like real tomatoes. When you've been eating super-market food, you sometimes forget what real food tastes like. The plant that is supposed to make big tomatoes is also scrawny and is still trying to find itself.

Also in the front bed with the tomatoes are a dozen okra plants. I wish they weren't so polite about taking turns. I would like to have several produce okra at the same time. All I can harvest in the next few weeks I will save and take to Redmond. We are celebrating Mother's 100th birthday and she loves fried okra.

Now to the back. I have four cucumber plants. So far I've just had one pickling cuke. Here again it's amazing what real food tastes like. There are two squash plants, one yellow and one green. I've had two yellow squash so far. Both plants have a lot of blooms but little boy blooms don't make fruit. The two pumpkin plants are growing and blooming as well. Apparently they don't understand about making pumpkins. I think they also only have little boy blooms.

Now to the beans. There are three plants, out of 40 or so seeds, about three to four inches high. I'm hoping to have some beans by Thanksgiving.

'Til next time.

Our New Fellowship

On July 13, seven volunteers joined ten inmates at the UU Fellowship in the La Palma Correctional Center (we are going to come up with a name for it soon) for our monthly meeting. Emily had found a small chalice for us to use, so we began by lighting it and hearing some opening words. Two new volunteers and five new inmate members, guests from another compound, were introduced. Perhaps they will become permanent members of the fellowship.

Each month the group reads the on-line newsletter Quest, published by the Church of the Larger Fellowship, and discusses the various articles and poems in it. There's a different theme each month, usually an abstract one-word concept. This month's was JOY. We broke into three small groups and discussed the material. Joy didn't seem a very appropriate subject, since one would expect it to be in very short supply at a prison, but it was inspiring to hear how the men were able to find it in such things as a view of the mountains, watching a dove on the railing, and recalling childhood experiences. Some of them said they experienced joy when interacting with us.

After the groups came back together, we had a presentation on Restorative Justice by one of the men. He began by reading an article he had written to be submitted to the UU World. It was excellent, very clearly and eloquently written, but still needed a little polishing, so he will bring it to our next month's meeting, which is to be a writing workshop. He then went over some other ideas--he had obviously given a lot of thought to this subject-and we had a brief discussion.

When we talked about a name for the group, someone suggested using a local desert plant. Since this is a California prison, the men are all from there and not familiar with cacti. It's ironic that they are living in the middle of the Arizona desert and none of them knows what a cholla is.

We will be visiting this fellowship on the second Friday of every month, and there will be another orientation, probably in August or September, for others who want to become volunteers. Ron Phares, our new minister, will be most likely be one of them; we know he supports this initiative. We are also going to see if there is interest among members of the UU congregation on 22nd St.

If you have any questions, please contact Margaret Fleming (888-7059, margefleming@earthlink.net) or Paula Trahan (742-6657, socalgirl@comcast.net)

Sunday Services for July

July 15, 2012

"Science versus Philosophy. Who Is Winning?"
Adrian Korpel

Evolutionary biologists explain love, altruism, and belief in God as a consequence of evolution; neuro-scientists discover how this translates into the structure of our neurons, which makes "free will" a superfluous notion; and physicists conceive of a self-generating universe of universes. Where does this leave philosophy and religion? John Clark is Worship Associate.

July 22, 2012

"Stepping out of Our Comfort Zone"

Galina DeRoeck

Galina De Roeck will share from her memoirs about her physical and spiritual travels and evolving social action perspective. Galina's history with our congregation goes back to our early days. Her talk dovetails with the themes from the recent UUA General Assembly. Sher Hakes is Worship Associate.   

July 29, 2012
"Is God a White Racist?"
Christiane Heyde

Christiane Heyde will share a sermon with this provocative title, exploring African American Liberation theology, the cause of injustice and evil, as well as our concept of the divine. Margaret Fleming is