July Light (DRAFT)

^{Newsletter of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Las Cruces, Vol. 73, Num. 7
Services Every Sunday of the Year
We are a transformational Force for Love and Justice in Our Community
We gather to inspire spiritual growth, care for each other and our community, seek truth, and work for justice.}

Our church administrator is Nancy Zacarias. The church office is open Mon.-Fri from 10 AM until 2 PM

Join our streamed worship service on YouTube every Sunday at 10 AM, See past worship services on our YouTube channel
Deadline for Light submissions is the 25th of every month

Our Minister

The Reverend Rod Thompson

Rod’s Ruminations

Well, this is it, my last Ruminations as your Minister.  My Agreement with your Board ends at the end of July as I re-retire.  I won’t be going back to Ohio.  With the help of my son-in-law Jim, I am selling my condo back there, which will enable me to purchase a home in Trails West Senior Community.  So, that means I will still be living in Las Cruces, but I won’t be your minister anymore.  Starting August 1^st, for Pastoral Care, Worship and Governance Leadership and Support, and for all other aspects of Ministry you will need to look to Rev Ali.

The State of the Church is Great! So, I leave you in good hands and ready to welcome Rev Ali as your Minister.

Our President

Linda Ruchala

In my covenant group this week, we discussed the topic of “Joy”. There were several quotes about Joy that we were, well, Joyful. One by George Bernard Shaw was hands down the most joyful in our group and I’ll abbreviate it here: “This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; … the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.” What a way with words!

In a world that outwardly has many ailments and grievances and complaints, I truly believe that our church community has much to be joyful about. We have a wonderful new music director and will soon be celebrating a new three-quarter time minister beginning next month. Our oldest living member, Clayton Flowers, was honored by the local NAACP as one of the few surviving Tuskegee Airmen. Our members and our Church are making a difference throughout our community – the Church is a sponsor of the local NAACP chapter, and our members are very visible in so many other social justice actions and organization. Within our doors, our church is full of more activities within than any congregation that I have seen in my years as a UU. We have much to celebrate – and over the next months we plan on doing just that! Plans are in the works for a kick-off celebration for the fall (keep September 20 open!) and are looking forward even beyond our 70th anniversary this year to celebrating our 75th.

I hope you find that the joy in all of the above is contagious. Back in the day, on many a summer’s afternoon, I would roll down the car windows and sing at the top of my voice: “Joy to the world, all the boys and girls. Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea. Joy to you and me.” It still works today.

Board of Trustees

Religious Education

Kellie Ingram, Director of Religious Education

“The long days of July are perfect for creating memories and embracing new
adventures.”

Over the last year Religious Education has seen a shift in age attendance. Especially
since the farewell of our three Bridging seniors, we have gone from primarily having
older youths to now having mostly younger students who are bright, fun, and full of
energy! Three of my favorite things! In an effort to give that energy somewhere to go on Sundays, while also building fellowship between our medley of students, Religious Education is beginning a new outdoor project for the summer. Starting this month, youths of all ages are invited to join us in planting pumpkins and other Fall harvest veggies and flowers. Ideally the pumpkins will be ready near Halloween for carving, or perhaps by Thanksgiving for decorating.

On Sunday mornings we will take the time to water the plants and chart their growth. Perhaps over time our project will move to building garden boxes and community involvement. Speaking of involvement, this project needs your help! Religious Education is requesting the following items to get this new adventure going:

• Bags of soil
• Fertilizer Large planters (20- to 25-gallon pots)
• Mini shovels, and anything else that may help this garden grow!

Please reach out to to me for any questions or suggestions. Thanks!

If you, or anyone else you know may be interested in learning more about Religious Education or it’s events, please reach out to DRE-Kellie Ingram at .

Music and Choir

Erick Ramirez, Director of Music

Pride has been on my mind this month – for obvious reasons, but it has been especially on my mind because of coming to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Las Cruces. I have enjoyed how the church seems to be so open and caring for not only the local church, but also the community. The best thing about it, in my opinion, is how it is such a non-event to show compassion here. I have loved to hear fervent and opinionated arguments, well, let’s say “discussions” on current events and what is going on in the world. Pride is something that has come up more than once, and I have been encouraged by the support and care I have heard.

This is something that I have discussed with our new pianist, Isabelle Lescombes. Please say hi to her, by the way, when you get a chance. This is a very new experience for her. I talked to her about coming into the Unitarian Universalist Church and feeling such a breath of fresh air. Musically, I have spoken to her about the myriad of things we will be working on, and how varied our musical selections will be. I get excited when I speak with her, or with anyone, about the possibilities of what is to come. In a sense, it
makes me feel like a new musician, and one that is definitely full of pride as I journey with this community.

Administration

Nancy Zacarias, Church Administrator

Office and library hours are Mon.-Fri. 10 AM until 2 PM. You can email the office at .

Committees and Programs

Caring Ministry

What Is The Caring Ministry

We are a committee of church members and friends who work to provide a variety of services to our church community. Currently the active members include Rev Rod Thompson, Hale Huber (chair), Linda Ruchala, Lori Miller, Sheree Brown, Vijay Bhalla and Susan West.

We have created a list of VOLUNTEERS (about 18 people) from the congregation who are willing to do some of the following:

• Provide transportation to medical appointments
• Make hospital and home visits
• Provide meals on a short term basis
• Visit home-bound members
• Make telephone visits
• Do emergency errands
• Provide bereavement home support
• Provide out of town hospitality
• Provide emergency pet care
• Transport medical equipment (walkers, crutches and more)
• Send cards

If you have a need for help, either as an emergency or a planned issue, you can call Nancy at the church office, send her email at or call Hale Huber directly.

CUUPS by Cassandra Calway –

_{“Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.” The Sixth Source of Affirmation of the Unitarian Universalist Association.}

CUUPS is an eclectic group of Pagans and others exploring different spiritual paths. On July 19, we will celebrate Aset Luminious. This ritual is inspired by the Goddess Aset (Isis) with a focus on light. Our Kimetic Orthodoxy (ancient Egyptian religion) priest and priestess will guide the ritual. We will make paper boats and take them down to the river to float. The group has done this ritual for several years and it is  beautiful. We will meet at 6:00 in the Religious Education Building great room for potluck and the ritual will begin at 7:00.

Please take a look at our beautiful Wheel of The Year that is hanging in the Religious Education Building great room.

Yule: Celebrates the winter solstice.
lmbolc: An ancient festival welcoming the first wave of spring.
Ostara: Celebrates the spring equinox
Beltane: Celebrates May Day
Litha: Celebrates the summer solstice
Lughnasadh (Loo-nas-ah): Celebrates the beginning of the harvest season
Mabon: Celebrates the autumnal equinox
Samhain (saa-wn): Celebrates the end of harvest season

The Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS) is an organization dedicated to networking Pagan-identified Unitarian Universalists (UUs), educating people about Paganism, promoting interfaith dialogue, developing Pagan liturgies and theologies, and supporting Pagan-identified Unitarian Universalist religious professionals.

Facilities by Charlie Scholz –

Good News From Facilities!

We’ve been keeping up with repairs and replacements this past month.

The buckled sidewalk at the Handicapped spot in the South Parking Lot has been repaired. Thanks to Greg and Karen for spotting it and spraying some yellow paint to warn people, and to Gilbert, who laid that great sidewalk on the North side of the sanctuary, for a quick repair.

By the time you read this, we should have a a new drinking fountain in the lobby. The old one, which was at least twenty-five years old, finally gave up the ghost. The new one is being installed by Maddox Plumbing with the help of Bill and Dave.

Bill also ground down the rough spot on the walkway from the Handicapped parking to the front door of the Sanctuary.

Kudos to Karen for her great work in refinishing the railings on the ramp to the Administration Building front door.

We’ve also looked at our 2025 Budget allotment so see if we could squeeze out any additional monies for currently unfunded projects. As of June, our expenses are running right on target, so the answer is no. Those unfunded projects will go into the 2026 Budget request.

Finance by Ed Long –

It may seem early, but July starts the cycle of preparing a budget for the 2026 fiscal year.  We will soon be asking committee chairs for budget requests and preparing a preliminary budget to present to the congregation in September.  We know there are a lot of hopes and dreams of what we want to do as a church next year, and a lot of excitement with the arrival of our new minister. 

If you have questions about the church finances, contact us at the above e-mail address. Ed Long and Shirley Davis, Co-Chairs

Generous Giving by Jack Welch

As is usually the case we receive many Change 4 Change donations the final month of each quarter. Our generous donors for June are: Marsha Adkins, Jane Asche, Jennie Buckingham, Steve Deger, Holly Goettlemann, Stepfanie Hart-Hults, Autumn Patton, Dave and Ginny Rice, Lucy Silva, Sarah Thomas and Rabbitt Loring, Rod Thompson, Karuna and Marie Warren, John Welch and Gayle Trantham.

The contributions from the above will go to the Mesilla Valley Community of Hope. We also thank Nancy L Anderson for her support of our Minister’s Discretionary Fund and Cathy Carver for her support of our Little Free Pantry. We have again shown that we are a generous congregation.

Hospitality

Hospitality Rotation Schedule

This schedule is now permanently located on the Members page of our website under Sunday Hospitality Rotation. A new addition to the hospitality rotation is the Caring Committee, which will be handling 5th Sundays throughout the year.

Library by Rabbit Loring

New Common Read

As the Common Read for 2025-2026, the Unitarian Universalist Association chose Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection by Deepa Iyer. The book focuses on action to lead us through these turbulent times. As the title suggests, the book is a resource for connection to social change movements,
so relevant in our current political climate. What role do we play following our values as a church? What part can each of us contribute individually? How do we come together as a social change ecosystem where we all embody different parts of a dynamic whole?

Iyer suggests there are ten distinct roles of individuals in an organization: Front-line Responders, Visionaries, Builders, Disrupters, Caregivers, Experimenters, Weavers, Storytellers, Healers and Guides. The
roles you play takes into account your skills, strengths, experiences, knowledge and interests. Whether you are comfortable on the front lines or in the background, all roles are necessary to make change happen.

Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection is 172 pages in a spiral bound workbook style. When the study guide becomes available, we would love someone to facilitate a study class. We already have a copy of the book in the Social Justice section. Come check it out! See you in the library.

Membership by Lyn Pearson –

Not that we’re keeping count…

We now have 166 church members! Please welcome our two newest members, Marsha Adkinson and Wendy Lara.

Coming Up

In July, we’re planning on welcoming our new members into the congregation at both the July 13 and July 20 worship services.

Eating Out by Janet Martinique –

Hope you made it to El Paisanos in June and had a good time. Sorry I couldn’t join you.

On July 18, we will be at El Sombrero Patio Cafe at 363 S. Espina near downtown. Please make reservations by Wednesday, July 16, at , or text me. 

Reservations must be made not later than noon on Wednesday, July 16.

Thank you June greeters!

2026 Pledge Campaign – Charlie Scholz

We’re rolling! Our theme is Pledge 2026: Here’s to the Next 70, a reference to the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the UUCLC and to our future. The campaign will begin with a celebration on September 20 and a kickoff on September 21.

Right now we’re working on the nuts and bolts of the campaign including pledge cards, pledge letters and our approach to canvassing. We’ll keep you posted as to our goals and timelines.

Charlie Scholz, Chair, Pledge 2026: Here’s to the Next 70.

Social Justice –

The Social Justice Committee meets on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 1:30 PM in the library and on Zoom.

Climate Action Group – Greg White

The Climate Action Group (CAG) is active! We meet by Zoom at 3:30 pm on the first Thursday of each month. Our emphases for this year are creating or supporting educational outreach programs, supporting efforts to make the Church and our campus more environmentally efficient, and supporting the Church through volunteer work.

For more information, contact Greg White personally or at .

Sunday Services by Katie Fitzgerald –

We welcome new members to our committee or any input or feedback you would like to share.  Contact Charlie Scholz or Katie Fitzgerald, in care of the Sunday Services Committee.

July 6, Love of Country, Katie Fitzgerald

What does love of country mean and how does that affect our choices?

July 13, Remembering our UUCLC Heroes, Reverend Rod Thompson

July 20, The Joy of the Return Engagement, Reverend Rod Thompson

July 27, Changing Partners, Reverend Rod Thompson

Tombaugh Gallery by Lurene John –

The gallery will be closed until September.

Gallery Hours (when the gallery is open)

First Fridays, 5:00 to 7:00 pm
Friday and Saturday, 10:00 to 2:00
Sunday, 11:30 to 2:00 Or by appointment (575) 522-7281

Requests and Items of Interest

UU Crafters

We will not be meeting in July.

Call for Instructors for Fall Adult Enrichment

Fall UUCLC Adult Enrichment classes will be starting in September, with the catalogue going out next month in August. That means instructors need to respond now with their course offerings.

Previous classes have included: Paganism, Sharing Your Story, Casino Games, Silk painting, Hiking, Knitting and Crocheting, Mahjong, Memoir Writing, Intro to Technology, and Mindfulness, to name a few. It’d be wonderful to offer Bridge or Spanish or (your idea here).

If you have an idea for a class you’d like to offer, please fill out an instructor proposal form, available in the church library, or you can ask Sara Thomas to send you an electronic form. The deadline for submitting your class proposals is July 20, but please submit earlier if possible.

After July 20, a catalogue of all offerings will be sent in an e-blast to the congregation. Classes will have a charge of $15 to register, payable to UUCLC. Classes are also open to the community through word-of-mouth (invite a friend). This outreach brings more people in contact with UUCLC. Adult enrichment has many benefits: new skills, fellowship, possible new members, and more visibility for our church.

If you are interested in teaching a class or have more questions, contact Sara Thomas, Adult Enrichment Coordinator.

Join the Mindfulness Group

We meet every Tuesday at 3 pm in the Religious Education Building great room to spend an hour with relaxation and mindfulness.

Join us for quiet meditation for 2 twenty minute sets with a short silent walk in between. 

This is a drop-in group. Donations welcome. 

Class Update for Qi-Gong+Indian-Club Movement

Carol Allen, the instructor, invites you to sign up at any time. 

This is a gentle exercise class done either standing or sitting in one place. It can increase strength, balance and concentration. There are a maximum of 7 students per class. Classes are held in the Religious Education Building great room. 

There is a one-time registration fee of $10 for the full session or a drop-in fee of $1 for a single class. All fees go to the church. 

The first class is free for potential new students or visitors.

Session 3 – Summer 2025 – Jul/Aug/Sep -12 classes

• Tuesdays at 2 pm – Jul 8 thru Sep 23
• Thursdays at 12 pm – Jul 10  thru Sep 25 (NO class Sep 25) 

If interested please contact either Carol Allen or the church office.

Registration for this class is with Carol Allen. 

Events of Note

WomenSpirit Retreat News

It’s here! WomenSpirit Registration forms are available in the library and in the lobby. They are also emailed to past participants. Here is the electronic registration and payment form. You also can find this registration form on the church website under the MEMBERS tab.

Limited scholarships are available. Carpools will be arranged for those who need it. You can ask Sara Thomas or Rabbitt Loring if you have questions about the forms or the retreat.

The retreat will be held on Sept 26 – 28 in the beautiful Sacramento mountains. A great way to make new friends!

Regularly Scheduled Activities

Always check the calendar on our website or, if you receive them, Week at A Glance email notices for changes to dates and times or events not listed here.

Every Monday

6:30-7:30 PM — Aikido in the Religious Education Building great room. Contact Trish Rude if you wish to attend this class. NOTE: The class does not meet the last Monday of every month.

Every Tuesday

10-11 AM and 5:45-6:45 — T’ai Chi in the Religious Education Building great room.

2-3 PM — Qi Gong in the Religious Education Building great room.

3-4 PM — Mindfulness — We meet every Tuesday at in the Religious Education Building great room to spend an hour with relaxation and mindfulness. Join us for quiet meditation for 2 twenty minute sets with a short silent walk in between. This is a drop-in group. Donations, which go to the church, are welcome. 

Every Wednesday

9-10 AM — Caring Conversations meets on Zoom. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87064121421?pwd=QmNhYVlrUTltK1cxRDhSRVdOU01rdz09, Meeting ID: 870 6412 1421, Passcode: 564007

9:30-11:00 AM — Weight Watchers in the Religious Education Building great room.

2 PM — The Bridge Group plays bridge in the church lobby. If you want to play, contact Nancy Anderson by email, phone, or at church to let her know you would like to be on her weekly contact list.

6:30-7:30 PM — Aikido in the Religious Education Building great room. Contact Trish Rude if you wish to attend this class.

Every Thursday

10-11 AM and 5:45-6:45 — T’ai Chi in the Religious Education Building great room.

12-1 PM — Qi Gong in the Religious Education Building great room. (beginning of March at 12 pm)

Every Friday

12-1 PM — Yoga in the Religious Education Great Room.

T.G.I.F. – Zoom Together. A great way to end your week with your fellow Unitarian Universalists. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5755227281?pwd=OEp3RTNkcWNid0tTNHFDNHEzUFNIUT09
Meeting ID: 575 522 7281
Passcode: 7777777

1st Thursday

7-8 PM — Sound Meditation and Relaxation in the Sanctuary for an hour of relaxation. Bring your yoga mat, if you like.

2nd Thursday

3:30-5:30 PM — Book Club. If you would like to join us, please email Danny or Deb Hawkins. We meet in the library.

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm — Shape Note Singing in the church lobby. Contact Cathy Cox for more information.

3rd Thursday

6:30-8:00 PM — Death Cafe. Please join us the third Thursday of each month for an opportunity to sit with others and share your experiences with death and grieving.  We meet in the church library.  Contact Brooks Lewis at or leave a voice message at 512-826-1472. 

4th Thursday

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm — Shape Note Singing in the church lobby. Contact Cathy Cox for more information.

2nd Friday

6:30-8:30 PM — Game Night. Join us in the Religious Education Building Great Room. Bring a snack to share and a favorite game. Hope to see you there.

3rd Friday

5:30-7:30 PM — Eating Out. A group of members and friends meet for dinner at a local restaurant on the 3rd Friday of the month. Please contact Janet Martinique at to make your reservation the Wednesday before the dinner.

2nd Saturday

1-3 PM — The UU Crafters Group meets the second Saturday of each month at 1:00 in the Religious Education building. Come join us to learn new crafts, share your projects, and have fun. All are invited, guys, gals, teens, members, non-members, new crafters, and experts. We share project ideas and always learn fun new crafts. Carol Stanfill and Sara Thomas. Questions? Email

2nd Saturday in Feb, May, Aug, Nov – Fine Dining Experience

Dinner at the J Paul Taylor Detention Facility with a group of 14-21 year-old young men. Contact Haney Pearson if you would like to participate.

3rd Saturday

1-2 PM — Drumming Circle. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience drumming with Yolanda Martinez in the Religious Education Building great room.

6:00-8:30 PM — CUUPS. This is the Las Cruces chapter of the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans. We practice and educate others on Earth-centered spirituality. We gather monthly on the 3rd Saturday of each month at 6 PM for a potluck and either ritual or an informative class. All events are open to everyone interested in learning and/or growing in their spiritual path. Events held at the church unless otherwise noted. Visit http://www.facebook.com/desertspiritcuups or email .