Nov28: Faith Development Newsletter

Baja 4

Unitarian Universalists from across Southeast Arizona

Stronger Together

We are the Baja 4!

Representing Unitarian Universalists across southeastern Arizona, we love beyond belief and find inspiration from a wide array of spiritual, religious, and secular sources. We come together as a Baja 4 because we know we are stronger together.

Learn more about each congregation!

Amado: Borderlands Unitarian Universalist
Sierra Vista: Sky Island Unitarian Universalist Church
Tucson (Northwest): Mountain Vista Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Tucson (Eastside): Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson

Celebrations and Special Days

It's always fun to celebrate and at the same time learn about cultures around the world. Here are a few things happening this month.

Interfaith:

Hanukkah (Jewish) - Dec. 11, 2020, begins on the evening of the 10th (more here and here)

Unitarian Universalist:

James Luther Adams birthday - Nov. 12 (more)
Francis David died in prison on Nov. 15 (1579) (more here)

National Holidays & Cultural:

Native American Heritage Month
Alzheimer's Awareness Month
U.S. Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation on public buses was unconstitutional - Nov. 13, 1956
Jamar Clark is shot by police in Minneapolis - Nov. 16, 2015
Transgender Day of Remembrance - Nov. 20 (more)
Thanksgiving Day - Nov. 25
Tamir Rice is shot by a police officer after carrying a toy gun in Ohio - Nov. 23 (2014)
Grand jury decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson for the killing of Michael Brown, sparking protests in Ferguson and cities across the U.S. - Nov. 24 (2014)
Origin of Species published & Evolution Day - Nov. 24
Black Panther Party founded - Late Nov (1966), exact day in Nov. varies among sources

For Fun and On the Fringe:

Sesame Street” first aired on PBS - Nov. 10, 1969
World Kindness Day - Nov. 13
Mickey Mouse's Birthday - Nov. 18, 1928
International Guinness World Records Day - Nov. 19
Buy Nothing Day - Nov. 29
Charles Schulz B Day - Nov. 26 (1922) (more here and here and on his spirituality)

Beloved Community

This month we’re exploring the many ways our UU faith invites us to become “A People of Beloved Community.” Beloved Community is a special type of community.

Henri Nouwen, the treasured catholic teacher, activist and pastor, once described beloved community as “the place where the person you least want to live with always lives.”

It has multiple characteristics such as honoring leadership from people with marginalized identities, growing love beyond boundaries, healing our wounds, and staying in our community when things get difficult. Let's explore!

Chalice Lighting to Share

Drawn Together

By Jennifer Gracen

We come together...

Bound not by a creed,

Or a mutual desire to please one God

Or many Gods

Yet we are drawn together

By a belief, that how we are in the world,

Who we are together

Matters.

We light this chalice,

together in the knowledge

That love, not fear, can change this world

Find more chalice lightings here.

Show Some Love to Casa Alitas

The month of November, our LFD Social Justice Project partner is Casa Alitas, also known as the Alitas Program of Catholic Community Services (CCS), a humanitarian aid project committed to providing assistance to asylum-seekers released from ICE and Border Patrol detention into our community. Volunteers offer support by providing hospitality, including housing, food, clothing, toiletries, advocacy, and travel assistance. Our goal is to provide a welcoming, comfortable, safe, and healthy location for the guests to await their journeys, and to prepare them to reunite with family across the country. More at https://www.casaalitas.org/

They are specifically in need of donations of:

New underwear for men, women, and children
New warm clothes (including hoodies, sweats, and leggings) for men, women, and children
Backpacks of all sizes

Special Service Project

This month we also want to collect and donate lap-blanket sized blankets to send with the guests heading to cold weather. One options is to create a No-Sew Blanket! Instructions for the blankets are here for those with their own fabric or who can purchase their own. Kits will be available by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This week, Sonora joined in a Blanket Making Party! We hope that the blankets the humans make will be a little bigger than this.

Why are we so attached to our things? with Christian Jarrett

After witnessing the “violent rage” shown by babies whenever deprived of an item they considered their own, Jean Piaget – a founding father of child psychology – observed something profound about human nature: Our sense of ownership emerges incredibly early. But why do we become so attached to things? Christian Jarrett details the psychology of ownership.

What’s Your Fig Tree Story?

The poet Ross Gay offers us one of the most beautiful stories about everyday Beloved Community with his poem To the Fig Tree on 9th and Christian. For your spiritual exercise, simply listen to him read it (maybe a couple of times) and let it take you back to your own “fig tree story.” Come to your group ready to share your fig tree story, as well as why it has such a special place in your heart. (Maybe even write a poem about it!)

Here’s Gay reading his poem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aT0A28IW7E

Questions for Discussion

By yourself or with a discussion partner and ask each other one or more of the questions below. Don’t treat these questions like “homework” or try to answer every single one. Instead, make time to meditate on the list and then pick the one question that speaks to you most. The goal is to figure out which question is “yours.” Which question captures the call of your inner voice? Which one contains “your work”? What is that question trying to get you to notice or acknowledge?

Often it helps to read the list to a friend or loved one and ask them which question they think is the question you need to wrestle with!

What was your first experience of Beloved Community?
Who taught you the most about creating Beloved Community?
What do you think is the most unrecognized impediment/threat to Beloved Community?
It’s said that Beloved Community isn’t about the absence of conflict, but the willingness to stay at the table and work through it. What has been your best strategy for staying at the table? What practice or wise words keep you from running (or attacking) when things get hard?
How well are you doing at staying at your current table of conflict? What grade would you give yourself?
What is your first response when you hear the call to “Love your enemy”? What does “loving your enemy” mean for your right now?
Ibram X. Kendi writes, “One either allows racial inequities to persevere, as a racist, or confronts racial inequities, as an anti-racist. There is no in-between safe space of “not racist”.” Looking back, how were you first taught that the space of “not racist” was real?
It’s said that Beloved Community requires us to “get proximate to the marginalized.” What are you learning about the “right” and “wrong” way of doing that?
What one new commitment will you make this year to build Beloved Community?

What’s your question? Your question may not be listed above. As always, if the above questions don't include what life is asking from you, spend the month listening to your days to hear it. Or maybe the question or call you need to hear is waiting in one of the quotes listed below. Consider looking there!

Want to share your thoughts? Check out the blog on UU Quest!

Tucson UU Younger Adults

Tucson UU Young Adults (TUUYA) (18+, Generations X, Y, Z though it skews a little older) –If you identify as a young adult and would like to virtually meet up with others. This group is open to all Tucson UU or UU curious people who would self-identify as a younger adult. Activities include movie watch parties online and other social events when we’re back in person. Join our Facebook page or reply to Jamili at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I’ll add you to our email list.

The Young Adult Revival Network (YARN)

Calling all UU Young Adults! "The Sweet Potato" is a Young Adult Revival Network monthly roundup of online UU young adult ministries, media, and more. See the November issue hereand subscribe!

Coming Events

What's Happening This Month?

Mission: JOY with Rev Karla

Dec 2, 2021 | 6pm | Zoom

Baja 4 loved ones! Interfaith Power and Light is making a new film available for streaming for a limited time. It is inspired by The Book of Joy, about the friendship between Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

See the website and register:

https://interfaithpowerandlight.salsalabs.org/missionjoystartstoday-a?wvpId=2e979ef6-3138-4b07-bd1a-1bf200d59a47

We will be holding a Zoom viewing for the Baja 4 congregations starting at 6pm and hold the space for discussion afterwards.

You must register on the IPL website; if you want to view the film with us, list Baja 4 Unitarian Universalists as the faith group you are with. You can also register instead just for you (put "NA" in the faith group space) to view at your convenience. Dec 2 is the final day to stream the video.

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/94064919594

Meeting ID: 940 6491 9594

Passcode: 973902

Youth Meet Up

Dec. 2 | 5pm to ??? | Zoom

For youth ages 10+

Join some of our wonderful UU Youth Leaders for a fun hour or so of games, socializing, and plotting! We’ll start with a little lighthearted competition on a game of our choice (think PG rated games like Kahoot and Jackbox Games). Having the ability to open zoom and a 2nd browser (on a computer, tablet, or phone) will be helpful, but not necessary. This meeting happens the first Thursday of every month. This is a super FUUN event so don’t miss it!!

https://zoom.us/j/5716364277

Meeting ID: 571 636 4277

Password: 973902

Death with Dignity

with Gary Wederspahn, Rev. Dr. Samantha Wilson, Rev. Tina Squire, and Jamili Omar

Dec 4 | 2 to 4PM | Zoom

**Content Warning** This series will examine frankly and directly death and end of life choices. Please consider the appropriateness of this event for younger people.

We kick off our series with a special guest speaker: Gary Wederspahn is a board member of Final Exit Network, a successor to Hemlock Society, the original death-with-dignity organization. Gary is a former lay leader at Columbine UU Church. He will explore ethical and practical considerations regarding the right to have a “Good Death” on our own terms when facing the end. There will be much opportunity for discussion, questions, and answers.

Zoom link: https://uuma.zoom.us/j/98717013906

Meeting ID: 987 1701 3906

Passcode: one isn’t needed for this meeting.

2nd Hour

December 5, 2021 | 12:15-1:15pm | Zoom

Please join us for 2nd Hour: a once -per -month afternoon of a variety of educational, spiritual, interesting, and fun workshops. The final date for 2021 is December 5, 2021

See the UU Quest website for links and descriptions!

Working Through Climate Anxiety: Cultivating Hope with Hanna Coy
No-Sew Blankets and Craft Time with Jamili Omar

**Seeking 2nd Hour Workshop Leaders**

Right now I’m building a schedule of workshops for 2nd Hour and would love to include you in the line up. What do you have to share with the world? Bring me an idea and we’ll work together to develop it! No need to worry about technical support. I’ll have assistants available to manage the Zoom, so you can simply lead.

If you have any questions or want to lead a workshop, please contact Jamili at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Parenting of Preschoolers (POPS)

Join on Zoom others with children ages birth to 6 years old to offer support as we come to understand our child's spiritual development, to build rituals that support this development, and to see ourselves as spiritual teachers. Zoom link will be sent out to all that are registered for the classes. Not registered? Please fill out this form and we will add you to the emailing list. Thank you!

Dec. 4, 1-2pm --Children's Story Time --Designed for children ages birth to 6+, but everyone is welcome. We will participate in storytelling, crafts, spiritual reflection and much more. We hope that you will join us.

Dec. 11, 1-2pm --Grown Up meet up --Designed for those adults raising children who are ages birth to 6, but everyone is welcome. This is an amazing group of parents that come together once a month to talk about topics relevant to our daily lives. We offer support, words of wisdom, and connect to those around us. We hope that you join and share with us.

Heart Space: An Evening Worship

Dec. 9 | 6:30pm-7:30pm | zoom

Evening Worship returns! In this dynamic, all-ages worship, we will experiment and play with different ways to be in a reverent community together. While we are still online, we’ll listen to music, listen to words, explore, and experiment. There will be creative, hands-on time and time for reflection, laughter, and joy. Please join us!

The room opens at 6:15pm for some social time and a heart-felt worship to follow at 6:30pm.

Zoom in at: https://zoom.us/j/5716364277

Meeting ID: 571 636 4277

Password: 973902

PS. Did I forget to mention our Parenting Club? It is a resource for Parents and Guardians and All People Who Are Doing The Work of Raising Children! Because raising children is amazing, magical, wonderful --and difficult, challenging, isolating, frustrating, we come together as caregivers for children to share this ride to see if we can make it a little smoother. Activities are online until it is safe to meet in person. Find us on Facebook or contact Jamili at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.