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From UU Media Works
News from the Finance Committee
by Margot Garcia (Chair Finance Committee)
In the month of September, we deposited $39,014.79 into the checking account and withdrew $37,587.44 for expenses. That left a positive net of $1,427.35. The yard sale brought in about $2,000. Overall income is at 38% of what was expected in the budget for this period. Pledges are running at 44% of expected and room rental at 46%. Please be sure to pay your pledges. Expenses are running at about 50% of expected at this time in the budget. We continue to monitor carefully expenditures and income.
The Finance Committee spent its October meeting looking at income for the spring 6 months. We will be studying expenses at our next meeting on November 1st at 7 pm in the Servetus Room. We hope to have a draft budget to present to the Board at their meeting on November 9. There will be a congregational budget informational meeting on December 4 and a congregational meeting on December 11 to consider the spring budget for adoption.
We welcome Linda French to the Finance Committee as our new member.
You are always welcome to attend the Finance Committee meetings.
Who Can Identify This Church & Tell of Its History?
Civil Rights Question of the Month
Send your answers to newsletter@uuctucson.org
Reveille Chorus
Comes to UUCT Again
For the fourth year, Reveille Men’s Chorus will be featured in a Sunday worship service. On Sunday, November 6, Reveille will bring its message and its music to our sanctuary.
For 22 years, Reveille’s mission has been “changing lives through music,” and bothsingers and audience members will attest to that. Their repertoire is varied, includingclassical and popular selections, ranging from powerful and inspiring to just plain fun. Judging from previous years, it will be a full house, so come early for a good seat.
If you have any questions, contact Bob Gordon (bobgordonrg66@gmail.com), a UUCT member who has been singing with the chorus for six years.
Taking Care of Ourselves
by Liz Ravenwood (VP Finance Committee)
We take care of ourselves in many ways. It’s important to make sure that we have our own needs met, which includes a balance of body, mind and spirit, and of course, sound financial health. As we take care of our homes we do so as we have the time, money, and energy. It is often said that we can’t take care of others until our own needs have been met. I’ve been reticent in my financial giving because I feel that I need to know that the recipient needs my money more than I do. I believe that if someone is asking for money of mine, I have the right to know how that money will be spent. I am so honored to be part of a community in which transparency is not only honored and valued, but there is a commitment to openness from the President of the Board, the Chair of Finance, the Treasurer, the Administrator, others, and from me, the VP of Finance. Where we, as the church, spend money is the right of all members to know.
It has been only recently that I’ve actually done more at church than go and listen to the sermons and sing in the choir. I was in my own world and focused on my personal life and attending to those responsibilities, and, although I was appreciative of all that I enjoyed when I went to church -- such as the organization, the delicious coffee hours and lunches, an occasional covenant circle, etc. -- I still had an attitude when it came to giving money. Now that I’ve been more involved, I’m not just impressed with the work that goes on, I’m astounded.
I’m asking you to consider your lives and what comprises you. Take care of yourself first. Only give what you can feel good about. Don’t give more than is beyond your means. Doing so could raise resentment, and this is a church of love and acceptance. When I was 18 I worked at a call center that was the toll-free number for Jerry Falwell. He would advertise free “Jesus Saves” pins, and when followers would call in to get the free pin, we had to go through the script to ask them how much they wanted to donate. It put them on the spot and I’d hear many stammer and talk about their fixed income while I had to keep the phone call short and fast and put the dollar amount in the computer. Once that was done, I’d take the next phone call - most likely for our other biggest client, Playboy. Since the first UU principle is the inherent worth and dignity of every person, our church should never put anyone on the spot and should respect whatever amount a person is able to contribute and keep this confidential.
Stewardship in the larger sense of the church is vast. You’ve probably seen fund raisers and yard sales and volunteerism and administration, and the list goes on and on. Our annual Stewardship Campaign will soon begin in which we will have a time line of activities culminating in a fun celebration.
If you want to help out with this campaign, contact me at lizravenwood@gmail.com Please consider how this campaign is, indeed, very important in taking care of ourselves.
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Quote for November
You Must Not Lose Faith in Humanity
Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean
are dirty, the entire ocean does not become dirty.
Mahatma Gandhi
Updates from Samantha Meyer
Religious Education
In October, the Elementary RE classes continued work with the curriculum We Can All Get Along. Kids made paper dolls and discussed how everyone is different. They talked about ways they can feel happy and safe and began work on individual books. Ways friends support each other and things friends don’t do were also discussed and demonstrated with a science experiment.
The middle school group has formed their covenant for the year. The covenant can be viewed on the RE bulletin board in the Emerson room. They have discussed problems in the world around us and voted to work on homelessness/hunger, bullying, and taking care of animals that need help. The Middle School staff envision this going toward the following likely organizations and activities in the coming year.
- Casa Maria soup kitchen (volunteering on-site)
- Pima County Animal Shelter (bake sale to raise money followed by visit to donate $ and pet the animals)
- Wild Forever animal rescue (whatever work they need us to do, maybe also bake sale to raise $)
- In-class activities on strategies for handling bullying
YRUU met and presented Rev. Lyn with a welcome gift. There have been some very interesting discussions among the kids about peace, social justice and their impact on the world.
The Art of Principles exhibit will be coming down after the service on 10/30. All parents should pick up their child’s artwork by Thanksgiving.
Unitarian Universalist Justice Arizona (UUJAZ)
UUCT has joined 6 other congregations as a member of the Unitarian Universalist Justice Arizona Network. The district assembly, coming this spring, has an active website and will be updated with more information monthly: www.justiceda2017.weebly.com Raise some friends, raise some funds! UUJAZ is continuing their Faithify campaign. UUA has a matching donation if we can reach our goal of $5000. This year’s efforts will focus on helping young adults become active in their Unitarian Universalist churches. Together we can build a multi-generational and sustainable religious voice in Arizona.
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