Sky Island UU Church  

Weekly Connections

uucsea.admin@gmail.com 

 

Office and Service Location:   

4533A N. Commerce Dr. 

Sierra Vista, AZ  85635

  Sunday Services:  10:30AM

Office open:  Mon. & Fri. 11AM-3PM
ph. 520-378-0197

  

Minister: Rev. Christiane Heyde

Christiane can be reached by phone 520-393-9960   

or email  csheyde@msn.com  

  Sunday through Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
 

      

  
 Week starting 05/17/15


 
   
This Congregation affirms and promotes the full participation of persons in all our activities and endeavors without regard to race, color, gender, physical or mental challenge, affectional or sexual orientation, class or national origin.  
Click HERE for Important Links and Recurring Information for May.   

The Member/Friend Directory is on the WEB site
right hand side under "Sky Island UU Church Links"
March directory posted 03/04/15

Board minutes for March & April 20

Draft Minutes for Congregational Meeting Minutes 04/26/15

Policies & Procedures 2014-15 newly posted

Congregational Meeting Minutes 04/13/14

2015-2016 Approved Budget 
 
Church emails 
Please send any emails regarding the newsletter, calendar or the web site to the church email,  uucsea.admin@gmail.com 
Sunday Service May 17 @ 10:30AM:  Seeking Justice
Rev. Christiane Heyde will explore the topic of Seeking Justice, in this time where injustice is blatant and we are often at a loss of how to approach it.  Does it matter when others experience injustice, while we are comfortable?  How do we deal with the privilege we may have and stand up for what is right?  We will look at the power of community in light of our search for justice.

Sermon:  Rev. Christiane Heyde
Facilitator: Carolyn Edwards

Sunday Service May 24 @ 10:30AM:
Planting for the Future
The spring has long been a time when we humans look to planting for our needs.  The same might be true for our congregations. A good time to plant for the future.

Sermon:  Rev. Ken Brown
Facilitator:  Rita Aronna

2nd collection will be for the UUSC/UUA Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund.  Please make checks out to Sky Island UUC with "2nd collection" or "Nepal" notation. 

Christiane's Contemplations
Where is our minister?  I know this congregation is anticipating the new minister search, and a possible gap between ministers.  At the same time, I am not in the office as much as I have been.  That can be disturbing for some of you who are used to seeing me at the church just about any time you stop by.  In the interest of transparency, I want to let you know where I am, and why. 
I have NOT surrendered to a lame duck apathy, for instance, but continue to be very involved in doing my work as minister.  I care about this congregation as much as ever, and will give my best through the end of my contract.  It happens that I took almost no leave time in the first 6 months of this church year, and since UU ministers are granted 4 weeks of study leave in addition to their vacation, I will still not be able to take all of that before June 30th.  I did have a great ministerial training in early February, and I will be in Boston at the UUA this coming week for a seminar for ministers who recently received fellowships.  I will also attend the General Assembly in Portland Oregon in late June.  I missed taking a scheduled study leave last month, as well as a couple of scheduled Sundays off this Spring, so I have not been in the office on most Tuesdays, trying to make up my off days.  
I will continue to be available through email as needed, even when I am not in the office or in town.  You deserve to have ministerial support.  I look forward to seeing you this Sunday and next, as well as the first two Sundays in June.  I hope that we will have a good idea about the ministerial search process by then.  Please let me know if you need to connect with me one on one, and what kind of support I may be able to offer.  It is an honor and privilege to serve this congregation in our shared ministry.
With Love and Gratitude,
Rev. Christiane Heyde
UUA, State and District News

UUSC in Nepal
The 2nd collection on May 24 will be for the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund.
UUSC has partnered with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) to launch the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund.   Click HERE to donate.  We're assembling a crisis response team to conduct an initial assessment of the greatest threats survivors face. As always, our focus will be on those groups most likely to fall through the cracks of traditional rescue and relief efforts.  In the coming days, we will keep you updated on our work and the impact your gift is making. In the meantime, please keep the survivors in your thoughts.
Our deepest thanks,
Bill Schulz,  President and CEO
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

Camp de Benneville Pines
Check out the bulletin board for info on various camp events or go to their website
CAMP

Memorial Day Camping Weekend at SAWUURA Friday, May 22 - Monday, May 25
SAWUURA is our own UU 100-acre woods in the Sierra Ancha Wilderness near Young, AZ (about 4 hrs drive from Phoenix).  Join dozens of other UUs Memorial Day weekend for a relaxing weekend under the stars.  Disconnect from your phones, computers, and TVs and share meals, hikes, music and laughter with other nature-lovers.  Meals are provided with the cost of registration, just bring snacks, drinks, and camping gear.  Registration Fees: $45 per adult ($35 for SAWUURA members), $25 per child.  Registration due date: Monday, May 18. Registration forms available online sawuura . For more info please contact Heidi Parmenter, heidiparmenter@phoenixuu.org 602-840-8400 ext. 202.
 
Caring Corner


From Margaret Carlstrom:  "I am through with radiation and have elected against chemo etc. that might be only prolonging.  Please call directly here (to Margaret's home) to talk to me.  I will let them know if it is not convenient.  Mornings early I am at my best.  Evenings are definitely downer times as I am tired."

Congratulations to Howard Dumont on his full time job at the home improvement center that the editor is not allowed to mention by name, but it starts with an "L".

Congratulations to Christopher on his awesome show stealing performance in "Beauty and the Beast".  Christopher also sang/emoted handsomely at the Buena HS concert on Tuesday May 12.  Maybe we can twist one or both of his arms and have him sing a solo hymn some Sunday soon.


Contacts:  Simplified instructions
For submitting announcements for "Connections", the deadline is Wednesday at 5PM.  For those without email, please place a typed copy in the folder in the wall file holder in the office marked "Terry Z".  For the above, for directory changes or calendar entries, or for issues with podcasts, the Sky Island UUC web site or the office computers, please contact

Calendar

Every Sunday: Services @ 10:30AM    + Freethinkers of SV @ 2:30-4PM

Every Wednesday:  Anthology Committee @ 2PM

Every Tuesday:  Dharma Buddhists @ 7PM
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Saturday May 16 @ 10AM:  Coffee House

Sunday May 17 @ 5-7PM:  Teen Youth Group

Monday May 18 @ 4PM:  Cooking at GNA

Thursday May 21 @ 11:30AM:  UU Men's Lunch at the Landmark Cafe

Thursday May 21 @ 1:30PM:  Stewardship Committee

Saturday May 23 @ 6PM:  Executive closed board meeting

All events held at 4533A Commerce Drive unless otherwise noted.  Board and committee meetings are open to the congregation unless noted otherwise.

Sky Island UU Church Information

Children's Religious Education for May 17 
The children will read the story "Miss Rumphius" by Barbara Cooney.  The focus will be on the 2nd and 6th principle- all people should be treated fairly and kindly and how to make the world a better place for all.

Greeters, Welcomers, lunch Hosts Needed 
We need more Greeters.  It's an easy job.  All you have to do is show up early, stand at one of the doors, greet people, offer each an order of service and a name tag.  This is a great way to meet new people.
We need Welcomers.  This is a new job and the job description has yet to be written.  So if you volunteer, you will get to have some input into what you'll be doing.   Basically we need people who will take over once a new person is greeted.  You will show them around; introduce them to members of the congregation; take them to the sanctuary; follow up with them after the service.
We need at least 3 people to act as hosts for Sunday lunch so at least 1 person is present each Sunday to invite newcomers to lunch.  The only requirements are the commitment and time to eat lunch on Sundays.
If you are interested in any of these positions, contact Rev. Christiane Heyde or Terry Z for more info and scheduling. 

Singers Awake! 
All you need is the desire to come together with some other UUs and have some fun singing.  Simply email the church at  uucsea.admin@gmail.com with "Want to sing" in the subject line. Please add any comments, ideas or suggestions. It's high time Sky Island UUC woke up the sleeping singers; carpe diem and send in your name now!  Don't even think about it.  Just do it. 
If you don't have email, please write a note with your name and contact info and put it in the offering basket on Sunday.    
 
Arivaca Town Hall Meeting
The citizens of Arivaca invite you to participate in a town hall meeting on May 27th at 10:00 AM. The meeting will be at the Arivaca Border Patrol Checkpoint on Arivaca Road to discuss the removal of the checkpoint. Representative Grijalva has been invited to attend.   

Circulo de Amigas
CDA is a non profit organization working to alleviate poverty in Jinotega Nicaragua, one girl at a time.  Girls and young women are helped to acquire the skills and tools needed to improve their lives, which in turn makes a significant impact in the entire community.
CDA offers you a chance to make the world a better place by providing the basic necessities of life to a needy child.  Become a part of the change and give to the Change For Change Jar located on the church information table.
Richard Kruger and Rikki Martin expect to be visiting Nicaragua and the Circulo de Amigas in Jinotega soon.  If you are sponsoring a student through the CDA and would like them to visit with your student, please send them an email with the name and address.  riki2060@gmail.com.  

Attention Contributors to the Sky Island UUC Anthology: Deadline for Submissions is May 31 
Please send (asap) digital copies of your poems or short stories (20 pieces or less) to Chris Braswell at braswellcommunications@gmail.com
or hand them to Pamela Lee.  For those of you still writing, the deadline is May 31. 

Mark your Calendars May 24
Rev. Dr. Ken Brown from our Pacific Southwest District (PSWD) will facilitate an unofficial congregational meeting to discuss the assessment by Nancy Edmundson at noon in the sanctuary. 
 Rev. Ken Brown has served us as the District Executive for this Pacific Southwest UU district, and is now working as regional support staff for the Western Region.  He is visiting our congregation and will lead a congregational meeting after church, to assist us with upcoming changes. 

Farewell Potluck for Jena & Christiane June 14 @ 11:30AM Sue Mitchell will have the sign up sheet and there will be another on the information table. 
 
Information on Cochise County Reentry Coalition (CCRC)
The CCRC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Rev. Kathy Boston, who accompanied Tom Reardon to our service.  The CCRC meets every fourth Thursday at 3 PM in the Mona Bishop Room at the Sierra Vista Public Library.  Learn more about the CCRC on Facebook www.facebook.com/cochisecountyreentrycoalition   
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