Table of Contents:

Contacts

Worship:

• Worship Associates Program

Music Ministry:

• Desert Chorale
• Family Singers
• Guest Musicians

Lifespan Faith Development:

• Childcare:
  • Creative Childcare
  • First Friday Parents’ Night Out
  • Safe Sitters
• Religious Education:
  • Children’s Religious Education (RE)
  • Coming of Age (CoA)
  • Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU)
• Adult Faith Development :
  • Covenant Circles
  • Exploring Spirituality as a UU
  • Listening for the Spirit
  • Men’s Group
  • UU Christians
  • Yoga

Social Justice:

• Economic Justice Groups:
  • Economic Justice
  • Homeless Hospitality
  • Church Food Bank
• Immigration Group:
  • Immigrant Rights Working Group
  • No More Deaths
• Peace Groups:
  • Peace Group
  • Balkan Peace Support Group
• Other Groups:
  • Green Team

Community Life:

• Alliance
• Artist of the Month Gallery
• Bridge Club
• Book Club
• Concerts
• Friends in Deed
• Grocery Program
• QUUilters
• Sundays Together Lunch and Coffee Hour

Leadership:

• Board of Trustees
• Buildings and Grounds Committee
• Chalice Lighters
• Committee on Ministry
• Empowerment Team
• Finance Committee / Fun Raisers
• Lifespan Faith Development Council
• Membership Team
• Memorial Team
• Nominating Committee & Leadership Development Team
• Young Adult Committee

Worship

Worship is central to the life of our religious community.  The Sunday worship service is a weekly communal event that gathers the entire community together for celebration and reflection.

Worship Associates Program - A Worship Associates program is a special kind of shared ministry, in which the minister and associates challenge each other to offer the richest, most diverse, most thoughtful and inspired worship they are capable of. If you would like to be part of shaping the worship life of the congregation by working with the minister, guest speakers, and other members of UUCT to develop and lead worship services, please consider applying to become a Worship Associate.

Music Ministry

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson has a vibrant music program that focuses on choral and instrumental music, congregational singing, and the social harmony amongst members.

Desert Chorale - A volunteer choir of about 30 members who sing for Sunday morning worship services twice a month and on special occasions. Rehearsals are every Wednesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Family Singers - Children, young adults, and their parents join their voices in rehearsal every Sunday morning during the academic school year. Rehearsal time is from 8:45 to 9:40 a.m. They sing during the Extended Family Worship service once a month, on All Music Sunday, and become a part of the Holiday Choir on Christmas Eve.

Guest Musicians - In order to bring a wider variety of music into our Sunday morning worship services, we occasionally engage the talents of guest musicians.

Lifespan Faith Development

Learning experiences in our congregation include the offerings of the Lifespan Faith Development (LFD) Program as well as many lay led groups. The LFD Program offers age appropriate and intergenerational opportunities for members of our community to develop and articulate their individual beliefs and Unitarian Universalist identity.

Childcare at UUCT:

Creative Childcare - To encourage church activities here at UUCT, it is church policy that childcare will be provided for any church sponsored function so long as it is requested of the Childcare Coordinator, Heather Reed, at least one week prior to the event. It is our goal to provide safe, nurturing, childcare while promoting our values. We will always strive to provide age appropriate activities that support the principles and mission of the church.

First Friday Parents’ Night Out - A service provided on the First Friday of each month from 6-10 pm in Blackwell. Parents may leave their children at the church for well supervised fun that includes a movie, snack, crafts and games. A flat fee of $12 per child is charged. Financial aid is always available.

Safe Sitters - A Nationally Accredited course taught annually by trained facilitators for adolescents entering 6th grade or older. Those who complete this course successfully are then eligible to become paid Safe Sitters, assisting our child care staff at various functions.

Religious Education:

Children’s Religious Education (RE) - Sunday morning Religious Education classes are available for children in preschool thru middle school. Children’s RE emphasizes experiential learning and addresses UU Principles, Social Justice, UU history and Heritage and World Religions.  Please check the UUCT website for current information on what time classes are held.

Coming of Age (CoA) - Our CoA Program takes our early adolescent “sojourners” on a journey to develop and articulate their own beliefs and their relationship to our UU faith.  CoA meets on Sunday mornings and for weekend retreats throughout the year, concluding with a Wilderness Journey Camping trip as well as a worship service where sojourners present their credos.

Young Religious Unitarian Universalist (YRUU) - Our high school aged youth group meets on Sundays at in Emerson and for special events. They follow a self designed balanced program that incorporates learning, worship, community building, social justice and leadership.  The group is guided by a team of advisors and organized through the Youth Adult Committee.

Adult Faith Development:

Below are AFD offerings which continue throughout the year. For current AFD offerings which meet for shorter periods of time (4-8 weeks), check the newsletter, order of service, or the Adult Faith Development table Sundays in Goddard Hall.

Covenant Circles - Are you looking for a way to deepen your spiritual life? For more meaningful connections with others in our church community? Are you willing to listen deeply and share deeply? To open yourself to the experience of spiritual intimacy? Covenant Circle groups meet monthly and registration is on-going.

Exploring Spirituality as a UU - A drop-in discussion session that meets before church on Sunday mornings in Servetus. The purpose of the discussions is to encourage each participant's own spiritual growth and understanding. Newcomers are very welcome. Pick up a list of dates and topics from the LFD table in Goddard Hall after Sunday service.

Listening for the Spirit -This long-standing group will continue its exploration of religion and spirituality through a comparative study of the world's religions. The class uses a combination of Huston Smith's landmark work The World's Religions: Our Great Wisdom Traditions (also available as The Illustrated World's Religions) and excerpts from The Teaching Company's DVD series, Great World Religions. Using the book and their own experiences, participants examine the histories of the major religions, their relationships to one another, and what they may or may not share with Unitarian Universalist principles and ideas. The group meets on Thursday afternoons from 1 to 3 pm in the Awareness Room.

Men’s Group - The Men’s Group meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month from 7 - 9 pm in the Awareness Room. It provides an opportunity for men to share issues, concerns, and celebrations, allowing everyone to engage in supportive conversation about what is most central in their lives. Open to adult men of all ages.

UU Christians - This is a group for people who would be interested in discussing Christian ideas and concepts that have personal meaning for them, but who want to talk about them within the framework of Unitarian Universalism. The group meets the first and third Monday of each month from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in the Servetus room.

Yoga - Yoga helps you to become more centered and peaceful as you develop a new relationship with your body, mind, and spirit. This class is suitable for high school youth and for adults of ALL ages and mobility ranges. No previous experience with Yoga is needed. The facilitator is a certified yoga teacher and a licensed massage therapist.

Social Justice

Our congregation is committed to the work of social justice guided by justice and compassion. Involvement in social justice offers opportunities for transformation in our community and world, as well as for the individuals who participate in them.

Economic Justice Groups:

Homeless Hospitality - Volunteers from the church collaborate with an interfaith group in providing meals and overnight accommodations for the homeless in Tucson. This has taken place two Thursday nights each month between December and March in Goddard Hall from 4:00 pm to 6:00 am the next morning.

Church Food Bank - The Church Food Bank is maintained by a combination of church staff and volunteers. The food bank offers one, well balanced food bag a month to walk-ins per request. The food bank is funded by a special collection that is taken during our Christmas Eve services and by donation.

Immigration Groups:

Our congregation was the 2010 winner of the prestigious UUA Bennett Social Justice Award for its partnership with No More Deaths and the work of its Immigrant Rights Working Group.  Rev. Diane Dowgiert and Leila Pine, Immigrant Rights Chair, were presented with the award at the 2010 UUA General Assembly in Minneapolis.

Immigrant Rights Working Group - The Immigrant Rights Working Group presents educational forums, speakers, films and slide shows about comprehensive immigration reform, border justice and immigrant rights to the congregation. They also participate in Social Witness such as immigrant rights candlelight vigils, marches, and rallies in Tucson and Phoenix, including protests against SB 1070 and other racist bills in the State Legislature. They hosted an Immigrant Rights and Border Justice Fair for partner organizations. They conducted a special service on No More Deaths with Rev. John Fife as the guest speaker and gave awards to 17 members of the congregation who volunteered for No More Deaths. They successfully introduced a Study/Action Issue at General Assembly in 2010 on "Immigration as a Moral Issue" that was approved by a large majority of the delegates.

No More Deaths - No More Deaths is a humanitarian group that provides direct aid to migrants crossing the US/Mexico border in an effort to end the deaths and suffering at the border. UUCT adopted the work of No More Deaths as a ministry of the church in July 2008. Church members have supported No More Deaths by contributing food, supplies, and clothing, by making special contributions through our Share the Plate ministry, and by involving all ages of our Religious Education groups and Campus Ministry in education and charitable activities for No More Deaths. Members are encouraged to volunteer at both the desert aid camps and border aid stations that No More Deaths runs.

Peace Groups:

Peace Group - The purpose of the Peace Group is to create more peace and human harmony in our world. If you are interested in this objective, please join us in discussion and in action.

Balkan Peace Support Group - This group focuses on the Balkan culture and languages through dialogue, role modeling, and reconciliation. They meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the church for education, films, discussion and projects.

Other:

Green Sanctuary Team- The mission of the team is to educate, demonstrate and facilitate programs to help the congregation and individual members move forward toward more sustainable ways of living.

Community Life

Embracing our church community in a hospitable manner is something we strive for. Community Life in our church begins when visitors walk through our doors on Sunday and extends to all members in various stages of their lives. You are encouraged to come and connect with us by participating in any of our
activities.

Alliance - The Alliance is a service group that has been active in the church for 59 years! Many members of the group are retired but there are no age restrictions.

Artist of the Month Gallery - The Artist of the Month Gallery strives to bring high quality artwork to the walls of our sanctuary. We invite and encourage artists from a wide variety of media to exhibit in our gallery. Our goal is to enhance the religious experience of the congregation through artistic expressions. Members of the committee are engaged in inviting and evaluating prospective exhibiters, hanging the art show, sales, publicity, and staffing the reception for the artist. The group meets the second Tuesday at 9:30 am.

Bridge Club - Bridge players meet every Monday afternoon from noon to 3:00 pm. Coffee is provided. Cost is $1.25 per person. Five tables are set up, 4 rounds per table. It's open to members and non-members of UUCT and you do not need to bring a partner. Most people play at an intermediate level.

Book Club - The Book Club meets the 3rd Thursday of each month in Awareness at 7:00 pm. The Book Club is open to anyone, not just church members. We have lively discussions and a lot of fun. Readers Unite! Come and express your opinions.

Concerts - A cabaret and three or four concerts are held each year by ad hoc committees. This is an excellent way to showcase the beauty of our sanctuary and to do community outreach at the same time.

Friends in Deed - This group coordinates a network of volunteers who provide personal service, comfort and care for members and friends. The mission is to be a helping hand to our church community in times of need. New volunteers and helping hands are always needed. FID meets once each quarter at a member's home.

Grocery Program - This is a program whereby members and friends of the church can purchase groceries from Albertsons, AJs, Bashas, Frys, Safeway and/or Sunflower and UUCT will receive a rebate on those purchases.  There is no extra cost for you. A Grocery Program table is set up weekly after services inside the door of Goddard where information and necessary material are available to become involved. It is easy, only takes a moment and is most appreciated.

QUUilters – The QUUilters meet every Wednesday afternoon at 2 pm, at the church in the Awareness room for quilting and socializing. They welcome experienced quilters, needle workers of any level or anyone who would like to learn.

Sundays Together Lunch and Coffee Hour - Sundays Together is an ad hoc group whose mission is two-fold:

• to strengthen the spirit of community at UUCT
• to support Sunday afternoon programming for the spirit by providing Coffee Hour, and (on most Sundays) an easily accessible and reasonably priced lunch after the morning worship service.

During the winter season, Coffee Hour is offered between the two morning worship services.

Leadership

The quality of the leaders of our church is assured through its carefully crafted bylaws, policies, and procedures. Copies of these documents, as well as of the current Strategic Plan, are available. Please ask a church leader for current copies.

Board of Trustees - Members of this board are elected by our congregation at the Annual meeting. Typically trustee candidates are chosen by the Nominating Committee but may be nominated directly. Trustees are responsible for setting our long range plans and running the church between meetings. Members of the Board of Trustees must be members of the church for two years before they can serve as a trustee.

Buildings and Grounds Committee - The Buildings & Grounds Committee provides lay leadership on all matters related to the church's facilities. Established in August 2007, it is a merger of the former Buildings & Grounds, Aesthetics, and Campus Planning committees. It meets the 1st Tuesday of every month in Awareness at 7pm. All are welcome to attend, and people may help out without coming to the meetings regularly.

Chalice Lighters - A program that assists UU congregations with the initial financial hurdles that most experience as they grow. UUs throughout the district pledge monies for grants, responding to needy or growing congregations within PSWD. Becoming a member of Chalice Lighters means that you agree to contribute at least $20 for each call for action, with the expectation that there will be no more than three calls per year.

Committee on Ministry - The COM meets the third Wednesday of each month. The meetings are closed due to the confidential nature of the business discussed. For more information, please see a Committee on Ministry Brochure available in the main office.

Empowerment Team - The Empowerment Team (ET) is the management arm of the Board of Trustees, in charge of the day-to-day management of the church. The role of the ET is to facilitate the smooth operation of the church in fulfillment of its mission.

Finance Committee - This is the committee of the congregation charged with monitoring the income and expenses of church finances. They are also responsible for the Year-round Stewardship, Endowment and Planned Giving committees, and budget preparation. This is a seven person committee, in addition to the non-voting Treasurer and Financial Secretary. The Chair of this committee is elected by the congregation. The duties and authority of the Finance Committee are outlined in the bylaws and are further defined in policies and procedures developed by the committee in collaboration with the Empowerment Team and Board of Trustees. The group meets the third Tuesday of the month at 7pm in the Awareness Room.

Fun Raiser - The UUCT "Fun Raisers" are a group of people who like to both have fun and raise money for UUCT. There are no set meetings: the group gathers as needed to plan and implement fund raisers, such as the annual auction, and to brainstorm new fund raising ideas. The group welcomes anyone with an interest in having fun while creatively generating money for the church!

Lifespan Faith Development Council—The LFD Council is comprised of lay leaders who coordinate with staff to design and implement the Religious Education Program for children, youth, and adults. The goal is to provide offerings that cover the five strands of the LFD Program and meet the needs of both newcomers and long-time church members of all ages. If you are interested in offering programs, reviewing curricula, taking registrations at the LFD table on Sundays, or helping with logistics, then the LFD Council is interested in you!

Membership Team - The Membership Team consists of one staff member, the Membership and Community Life Administrator, a chair and three other members. The Membership Team is also an umbrella for the Ushers, Greeters, Scribes, and the Sunday Welcoming group. The team works collaboratively to welcome Sunday morning visitors, coordinate Newcomers Orientations and New UU class, facilitate the Pathway to Membership, process and retain information related to membership, and follow up with members throughout their time here at UUCT.

Memorial Team - The purpose of the UUCT Memorial Team is to handle funds donated in memory of a church member or friend. The funds should be for appropriate projects to keep the memory of the deceased available to the living members and friends of UUCT.

Nominating Committee & Leadership Development Team - This committee is elected by the Congregation and is a Congregational Committee. It is responsible for nominating Board of Trustees candidates for election by the congregation at the Annual Congregational Meeting. In addition to its duties and authority as stated in the church's bylaws, it has recently accepted Leadership Development responsibilities in an effort to develop trained leaders for church leadership positions.

Youth Adult Committee (YAC) - The YAC is a group of YRUU youth and advisors who meet 3 times a year to plan the program for our senior high youth group (YRUU). Event specific YACs are formed throughout the year for youth to organize and implement special events and projects.