Borderlinks Celebration December 3

Borderlinks celebrates another wonderful year of raising awareness and inspiring action with an evening of live music and a raffle for prizes, 5:30-10:00pm, Tuesday, Dec 3rd at La Cocina, 201 N Court Ave.  La Cocina will donate 10% of the evening's net profits to BorderLinks. Call 520-628-8263 or visit www.borderlinks.org for more information.

Help Wanted: Worship Service Coordinator 

Commitment: One Sunday a month

Time: On the Sunday you are on duty, arrive 1/2 hour before the service. Completion of duties is approximately 10 - 15 minutes after the end of the service.

Specific Duties:

• Turn on the lights and unlock the door to the sanctuary (set the crash bar to unlocked position)
• Fill Joys and Concerns water bowl
• Put out microphone for the Joys and Concerns and test it
• Make sure celebration table is squared away,
• Put out appropriate hymnals based on the order of service,
• Hand out Order of Service to people coming into the service
• Get volunteers to help with the collection (greeters will usually help).
• After the service, put away hymnals, police area to pick up stray orders of service or other loose papers left behind.
• Put stones back where they belong and dump the Joys and Concerns water, wipe out the bowl.
• Turn off the lights, relock the door to the sanctuary (reset the crash bar to lock automatically when door is closed).

If you are interested in helping out, please contact Conrad Paul, conrad.paul@yahoo.com.

Adult Religious Education  

every Wednesday from 6:30-8:30 pm

2 new series!

12 Steps to a Compassionate Life

A 6 week series of discussions and reflections on how we become a more compassionate people. Based on the book by the same name by Karen Armstrong, who was the Ware lecturer at GA in 2011. It is helpful to read the book, but not absolutely necessary it you don't have the time. Even though the first meeting has already happened (and was very stimulating!) it is fine to join in for the next session, which will be on Wednesday, November 27, from 6:30-8:30 pm in the Fireside room. If you want to, read through Chapter 4 for that day.
Upcoming dates: 11/27, 12/11, 1/8, 1/22, 2/5

Facilitated by Elka Love and Peggy Zeramby

UU History through Movies

A series of 3 sessions where we will watch movies and learn more about the history of our faith. 3 more are scheduled for next spring.

Upcoming dates: 11/20, 12/4, 12/18
Facilitated by Marge Fleming and Rev. Ron

New Group "Processmind" Forming

A new group is forming around process work.  We meet the first and third Thursday, 10-noon, starting November 21, 2013, length TBD, at the home of Kathy Kouzmanoff in Oro Valley.  Our current study book is the new 2013 release of Dance of the Ancient One, by Dr. Arnold Mindell.  We will discuss a reading assignment from the book and share stories of using the three steps of processmind, given here.       

How to Do Processmind  (Be both half in and half out of your experience.)

1.  Step back from being all in.  * 

2.  Enter your totem earth space/processmind. ** 

3.  Act from process mind to understand, even become, the other, and so unify, heal and create. *** 

Processmind  (Universal intelligence, energy field, quantum mind, etc. in which we all participate and are entangled, or connected.)

1.  *  (Ego, identifying with your point of view.)  Become both observer and one who experiences.   (Your feelings, thoughts, body symptoms, group energies, projections onto the other, dreamland images, etc.)

2.  ** Your personal power place, totem place, earth spot, home, etc. and touch it to take in its energy for you.   This lets go of your mere personal identity to enter the deeper underlying and supporting processmind.

3.  *** Use processmind wisdom and strength, aware of all points of view, to experience and participate in the unifying, healing and creative magical qualities of processmind.  

Kathy is a former Franciscan nun and retired Jungian oriented psychotherapist, now teaching and writing.                                                                              Kathy Kouzmanoff, 10950 N La Canada, #11 202, Oro Valley AZ., 85737,  414 617 7979, kathykouzmanoff@mac.com

Thanksgiving Feast November 28 

November 28 at 2 pm we will have a feast to celebrate the joy of living. We will offer our thanks for the good things in our life, especially our UU fellowship. The event will be open to all of you; please invite friends. If weather is good, it will be outdoors. If not, it will be in the Goldblatt Building. 

We will need two roasted turkeys.  if you are willing to provide one, please let me know. If the response is large, we may put out a call for more turkeys. 

In order for it to come together properly please send an email to me indicating: 

1. How many people will be in your party? 
2. What you are bringing: side dish, salad, dessert, (including vegetarian dishes). 
3. Are you willing to work on set up? Clean up? 

When we get your responses we will balance out the menu offerings and make adjustments. 

Please bring your own beverage, plates and tableware

Please bring a gift of several non-perishable food items, or a toiletry care package to be given to those in need. 

Please contact Hobie Denny at hobied@gmail.com or 253-857-5171

Upcoming Schedule

November 17 Regular class

November 18 RE Committee Meeting, 4:30, Large RE Room  (open to all, will be making Winterfest Plans)

November 24 Thanksgiving Service (students will be in the service the entire time)

December 1 Regular class

December 8 Rehearsal for Winterfest

December 15 Winterfest Skit

The students will be performing a Winter Solstice play for the congregation on Sunday, December 15th.  WE REALLY NEED HELP!  

1. We need help with rehearsal on Sunday, December 8th, 10:30-11:45.  (Corralling kids, helping kids learn lines, etc.)

2. We need help during Winterfest.  (Again, corralling kids, helping with costumes, etc.) 

3. We need help  with the creation of costumes and props in the weeks prior to the skit performance. (Nothing fancy, I promise!!)

This is an easy and short-term way to help the RE Department. We have a wonderful group of kids, and it should prove to be fun and rewarding. Please let Donna know if you are willing to help out a little, or a lot.  Any assistance will be appreciated!  cdpratt1@live.com

WISH LIST 

We still are in need of a donated glider or rocking chair.  Thanks!

Welcome Our Newest New Members 

Katie Phares

Katie Phares has identified as a Unitarian Universalist for about 12 years. She was an active member at First UU Church of Austin, where she met her husband, Ron.  Katie is the proud mother of Minnie Belle and Cora Bird. She also wears the hats of an aesthetician and a student of art and design.  Katie is currently starting her first desert vegetable garden and is ready to make some mistakes.

Here at Mountain Vista, she is an advisor to the youth group and enjoys singing in the choir. When she isn't wiping little noses, giving skin treatments, chasing toddlers, planting seeds, dancing in the kitchen, hanging out with teenagers, studying, digging holes, making dinner, doing the hokey-pokey, tidying her house, or studying, Katie finds peace in artful meditation and vivid day dreams.  She is glad to be in Tucson and to call MVUU her spiritual home.

Cathy Becskehazy

Cathleen Pintek Becskehazy was born and raised in Bisbee, AZ, and attended Arizona State University before embarking on an overseas trip that resulted in a lifetime abroad. She met her husband, Peter, a U.S. diplomat assigned to the American Embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. For 30 years, they rotated between overseas and U.S. assignments.   

During one of their Washington, D.C., assignments, Cathy became involved with the Women's Commission of Montgomery County, MD, as a workshop leader in stress management, assertiveness training, and the multiple roles of women. Once overseas again, she continued with a series of workshops conducted throughout Europe for the Federation of American Women's Clubs (FAWCO). Her other Embassy, or U.S. Consulate-related positions, included Community Liaison Officer, Embassy Apartment Manager, Embassy Commissary Manager, and instructor in English as a Second Language.   

After Cathy returned to the United States, she worked with Action in Montgomery, a grassroots organization that is an affiliate of the Industrial Areas Foundation. Following her training in community organizing, she helped organize rallies, met with county commissioners, and addressed state legislators.    

On returning to her native state in 2003 and settling in, Cathy became a Commissioner for the Pima County/Tucson Women's Commission; taught English for Literacy Connects; worked as a Precinct 210 Committee person for the Pima County Democratic Party; and for the past two years, she has volunteered two mornings a week with the Southern AZ Food Bank. Cathy and Peter have two adult sons, Thomas and Paul.

Bibiana was born in Tucson and now lives in Benson. She started coming to MVUU with her parents, Arnold and Sybelle, and her brother, Ingo, when she was about four years old. Bibi has participated in MVUU's December "Winterfest" celebration from the beginning and likes coming to RE classes. She's homeschooled and, when she was around six, went to De Benneville Pines to Homeschool Family Camp. At 12, she decided to go to UU camp there and loved it so much she tries to go every summer and winter.

Bibi loves being a UU. She went to a one-week leadership training with the UUA in Boston two years ago and hopes to be able to go to a different training for three weeks next summer. She has been on the RE committee and helped teach RE classes and OWL; she has also observed Board meetings, helped in the nursery, and more. She would like to be a Worship Associate.

Bibi loves science and riding horses, saddle-seat style, and really enjoys being in shows. She's raised a puppy, Zelda, for Guide Dogs for the Blind, which she'll be returning to Guide Dogs this November 16, perhaps to become a breeder. That same day, she'll get a new puppy and will bring her to church to introduce to all of us. Bibi also loves doing things with her friends and really likes being part of YRUU. Recently, she learned to crochet and is finding that quite addictive!

Bibiana is bilingual (Dutch and English), and her extended family lives in the Netherlands. She just returned from a six-week visit there and had a good time with them.  

Join Our UU Gateway Fellowship

We have just come from another stimulating and inspiring visit to our UU Gateway Fellowship at the prison in Eloy. As usual, the inmates were happy to see us and welcomed us heartily.

After our opening words, joys and sorrows, and a wonderful meditation led by a man they call "the professor," we had a presentation in which three of our members played the roles of famous UUs in a panel discussion. One of the inmates acted as moderator.  

The three were Joseph Priestly (T.J.), Julia Ward Howe (Margaret), and Tim Berners-Lee (John). They were asked to tell a bit about their lives, what they were best known for, and how their lives and work exemplified UU principles. It was very successful, and we'll probably do it again with other famous UUs.

Other times we have had sermons or talks by volunteers or inmates, discussions on various topics, music from the prison's interfaith choir, and sharing of writing. We hope to be able to have a separate writing workshop after the new year.

Volunteers have to undergo orientation annually, and this is coming up in January, so if you would like to join the fellowship, now is the time to do it. See Margaret Fleming for application forms.

A Spaghetti Western is in the making...

Save the Date for A Fistful of Dollars!

Our Western-themed Service Auction annual fundraiser, will be held Friday evening, January 10, 2014. Start thinking about what you could donate to the cause. Perhaps you can provide a service, host a dinner, lead an outing, or fill a basket of goodies.

Auction info and donation forms will be available outside on Sundays starting Oct. 20.  Contact Anne Tatum (742-4007) ahtatum@mindspring.com, or Michelle Vedus-Deeney (638-7516) mvedusdeeney@comcast.net, if you have questions or want a donation form sent by email. They will gladly help with ideas for donations.

Happy Trails!

Jane Paul, Chair

Service Auction Committee

janerpaul47@gmail.com

Sunday Morning Book Group, 8:30 

Wednesdays, 9:30 am, Writers' Workshop

1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at 6:30 pm at the church. We are interested in learning and discussing topics important to MVUU Community growth; Stewardship, Leadership, Membership and Outreach.   

1st and 3rd  Mondays, 6:30 pm, Global Chant Group