Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix

Author: Nick Laux

  • Food Bins Out Front

    Food Bins Out Front

    There is a bin at the front entrance of UUCP, provided by the Black Mesa Resistance Camp group, whose mission is to deliver nonperishable food and supplies to those in need for Hopi and Navajo people in the Black Mesa area of Arizona. They also help with sheep herding, sheep shearing and wood cutting seasonally. Most of the people who receive food boxes are elders who live alone, without running water or electricity, and who resist relocation from their sacred land. The group follow the leadership of the Diné people as to what they need.

    If you want to contribute to the bin, feel welcome to bring your donations of nonperishable food items, hygiene items and cleaning products through March 10th. The volunteers from Black Lives Matter Phoenix Metro and Mutual Aid Phoenix will distribute these items.

    For more information about our BMRC’s charity efforts, visit them on Facebook @Black Mesa Resistance Camp or Instagram @blackmesaresistancecamp or on the web at BMRC.

  • Notes From Your Dance Partner

    Notes From Your Dance Partner

    In our Caring Ministry Team this week, I was reminded of one of my favorite stories. As someone who has always wanted to save the world, but has always been frustrated that I am only one person, this story really resonated with me. I’ve heard from several of you this week that you are overwhelmed with the pain and hurt in your world and in the world around us. From our national politics, to our world suffering, to the climate to our own personal and family struggles, it has felt like…a lot. And yet, here you are, showing up and making a difference one small act of compassion and community at a time.

    As you struggle to realize your impact, I hope this story reminds you that you make a difference in the life of this community and beyond.

    The Starfish Story:

    A young girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she would pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her with amusement.

    She had been doing this for some time when a man approached her and said, “Little girl, why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!”

    The girl seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into the ocean. Then she looked up at the man and replied,

    “Well, I made a difference for that one.”

  • Notes From Your Dance Partner

    Notes From Your Dance Partner

    This past weekend, we had some anti-abortion protestors who had targeted us because we are a collection site for petitions to put a woman’s choice to choose on the ballot in November.

    Boy, have we come so far in knowing how to deal with people who want to intimidate us!

    For those of you who don’t know, 2022 and 2023 brought us a number of protestors, both in-person and online that created quite an “opportunity for learning” and created a bit of trauma for me. Our Safe Congregations Team has done SO much work in helping us to prepare for it and it was SO apparent on Sunday. We knew exactly how to assess, what to do, who to engage, how to engage, what to say and what to do afterwards. Between our Welcoming Team, Brigitta and I and other level-headed helpers, we just assessed the situation and dealt with it–no drama, no incidents.

    And following the incident, we have our Cactus Wren team who is writing up the incident and checking on everyone who was involved.

    And I’ve come a long way as well, leaving the situation in good hands, going and grounding myself before worship and checking in with my body to realize that I felt safe and confident in the situation.

    I can’t tell you how proud I am of our community in what we stand for, how we respond, how we care for each other, and how we rely on each other to keep us safe.

    Unfortunately, we are in an environment where we will always need to be aware. We will continue to train and continue to enhance our culture of caring for each other–in all the ways we can imagine. There will be more opportunities to unpeel what “safety” really means and how we can be proactive AND compassionate at the same time.

    I am so proud of us, and so honored to be part of a community that is doing this work so intentionally.

  • Anarchists Bake Sale, Two Chances

    The local chapter of anarchists are hosting a BAKE SALE, on 1/26 and again on 1/28. Proceeds will benefit a Stop Cop Movement Summit happening in Tucson in late February. They are working to educate and inspire people to understand what is happening with the proposed Cop City in Georgia and getting more nationwide support around it. 

    WHEN: 1/26
    WHERE: Sanctuary
    TIME: 6:15pm – 7:00pm (Before the Joe Jencks concert).

    WHEN: 1/28
    WHERE: Sanctuary
    TIME: Between the service and the Congregational Meeting.

  • Notes From Your Dance Partner

    Notes From Your Dance Partner

    I love this time of year at UUCP! So many of our beloved snowbirds are back, bringing a vitality and warmth to the congregation that we don’t even realize we miss until they return. People come to us with energy, ideas, opportunities and step in for leadership in ways that continue to amaze me, plus we have this great energy after we’ve gotten a little bit of rest and rejuvenation from the holidays.

    There are three big things happening just this week that are examples of this energy:

    • This Friday is a concert by the wonderful justice-oriented Joe Jencks. His music will inspire and uplift you in ways that words cannot, and his spirit will raise yours–I promise. Tickets are on a donation basis and if you can’t afford them, I have some extras that others have donated.
    • On Saturday morning, we have a Workday to do some cleaning and organization of our community spaces. We’ll be helped by some members of Arizona School of the Arts, who had their homecoming dance at UUCP and want to show their appreciation. No matter your physical ability, we’d love to have your help.
    • Finally on Sunday after services, we have our mid-year congregational meeting. Come to hear what you all said at our 3-D discussions on how we can live into our mission, to hear about what is happening when the preschool moves out, and some grateful news about our finances.

    That’s just three days! In the meantime, we hope you will embrace the energy in the halls, the vibrant discussions at coffee hour and the friendly faces. I know I am soaking them up as a balm during these difficult and anxious times.

  • Notes From Your Dance Partner

    Notes From Your Dance Partner

    This past Sunday, the service was about how voting and the equal access of voting continues to be a Civil Rights issue. Boy, was that a topic that was just in time! With the 2024 election year in full swing, the Iowa caucuses this week, and the beginning of the Arizona Legislative season, we are now officially immersed in what I am calling “the season of anxiety.” I’m seeing it show up in all kinds of places–pastoral care, small groups, team meetings and parking lot conversations, and I know it will get worse. 

    Just to be very clear, we know the stakes are high, and I know many of us are involved, informed and invested in this election.  

    SO… please take care of yourself. Turn off the news when it gets too much. Remember that taking in more information doesn’t necessarily change the outcome. Find–or double up on–a spiritual practice. Do gratitude exercises. Find moments of joy in every day. Connect with the community. Get outside.  

    Whatever happens this year–in the country and in Arizona–we know the work will continue. Whatever happens this year, we know that we will continue to bend the arc towards justice. Whatever happens this year, we know we will be together in community.  

    Take care of yourselves, beloveds, and let’s hold hands and get through this together.