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Sunday, September 1, 2024
“Unite Here! The Story of Local 11 in Phoenix”
Last spring Rev. Sarah participated in an action with Unite Here, a local union representing workers at the Sky Harbor Airport that are employed by the concessions contractor, SSP. They represent many other workers in Arizona and several other states doing similar work in hospitality.
This Sunday we’ll meet a couple of workers and hear their stories about workers rights and why joining a union is important to them and why supporting workers rights is good for all of us.
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IN THE EDUCATION BUILDINGS | |
FAITH FORMATION
Enroll for 2024-2025 Faith Formation Classes Here
This Sunday we start our new curricula for Faith Formation classes, Soul Matters. This year’s overarching frame is The Practices of Our Faith. We’re using this frame to focus on how Unitarian Universalism is a lived faith that inspires us to act, live, and love our values out in the world. Our classes help children and youth connect to our UUA’s core value of love, with each of our monthly themes being framed as a practice that helps us embody love in our daily lives.
This September explores the practice of Invitation. All month long we lift up a different way that invitation shows up in our religious lives. This Sunday we will be exploring Inviting Reconnection; Returning from the summer.
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DALAI LAMA AND FRIENDS
8:30 am Meditation
9:00 am Discussion
In person, in the board room, and
Via Zoom here
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Love is our doctrine · Service is our prayer · Justice is our calling | | |
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Thursday, August 29
- Ukester Friends 6p
- PIE ELL Traiing
Friday, August 30
Saturday, August 31
Sunday, September 1
- Dalai Lama and Friends 8:30a
- Sunday Service 10:30a
- Faith Formation 10:30a
- Aesthetics Meeting 11:45a
- OWL Class Grades 5/6 12:15p
Monday, September 2
- Labor Day - Office Closed
- I-HELP Shelter 5:30p
Tuesday, September 3
- EastVUU Women's Group 1p
- Communications Team 5p
- Men's Group 7p
Wednesday, September 4
- No Choir - summer break
- Policy Group Meeting
Thursday, September 5
Friday, September 6
Saturday, September 7
- New Participant Breakfast 9:30
- Social Suppers 5p
Sunday, September 8
- Dalai Lama and Friends 8:30a
- Sunday Service 10:30a
- Faith Formation 10:30a
- Immigration Action Team 11:45a
- Voices Lifted 12:15p
- OWL Class Grades 5/6 12:15p
- Parents of OWL Class 12:30p
Click here for the most current calendar, to view locations, contact information details for above events
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Abbreviated information about upcoming events that are further than two weeks out. Events that occur sooner may have a full article below.
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Choir Rehearsal - on summer hiatus
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Spirit of Life Reading Circle - on summer hiatus, to reconvene in September
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New Participant Meal - September 7, Nov 2, Feb 1, Apr 5 RSVP here
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Brown Bag Lunch with Rev. Sarah -September 10, Oct 8, Nov 12
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Paz de Cristo Dinner - September 13, Sign Up Here
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Page Turners Book Club - September 19, see the book here
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EVUU Dinner - September 26, Pita Jungle 6p
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Congregational Conversation - October 6, Nov 3
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Read with Rev. Sarah - October 16 RSVP here
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VIP Public Action - October 24
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New Participant Classes - October 26, Dec 7, Mar 22, Jun 7 RSVP here
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VUU Retreat - April 11-13 2025 at Friendly Pines Camp in Prescott
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This weekend’s multi generation service was so full of joy for me! Watching our kids make pictures on the river (which will hang in the Sanctuary for a week) and dance, sing, light the chalice, make the sounds of rainstorm–all of it felt so open hearted and inclusive.
As each of you added water to the fountain, the living water of this community, I was honored to be your minister and to share this ritual with all ages. This year it’s our goal to make sure our kids know that being in the sanctuary together can be fun and we also hope they learn what it means to be part of a congregational community, not just a classroom community. In congregational life we have friends of different ages, we listen and share together, and we engage in meaningful rituals together. Part of becoming lifelong UU’s is feeling included in this part of our congregational life and finding there’s still room for kids to be kids. Each month through Christmas we’ll have a service where we orient ourselves to include all ages in more than a story.
It was also wonderful to honor our elected congregational leaders and I also got to peek in on the parents of our current Our Whole Lives Sexuality Curriculum class. There are many areas in our shared life that need helpers/leaders/followers right now! Are you looking for a way to serve with us? Let’s talk! minister@vuu.org
Rev Sarah Oglesby-Dunegan
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Announcing VUU Small Group Sharing Circles!
Join us for a monthly journey discovering our monthly themes with Soul Matters. “The Soul Matters Sharing Circle LLC is a network of Unitarian Universalist congregations who follow the same monthly themes so we can more easily share small group material, as well as worship, sermon, music and children’s religious education resources. We are a web of support and connection. Companions traveling a new journey together each month.” From Soul Matters Sharing Circle.
Small group sharing circles is a way of moving from just talking about the monthly theme to experiencing it. As such it is a new and unique way of being together. We’ll move from the safety of analytical/abstract analysis of the themes to courageously diving into vulnerable, honest and heart-centered sharing. Small group sharing circles are focused on deepening our spiritual connections with each other by utilizing 3 listening practices including:
- Listening to each other deeply and with discipline
- Listening to our lives and seeing life as a companion and a host of holy moments versus a challenge
- Listening to our deepest selves
Soul Matters small group sharing circles open the potential to connect to the larger whole. We hope you’ll join us for a year of exploration and spiritual connection. For more information and to sign up, please complete this form. We’ll get back to you with dates and times for our first meetings in September.
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Let's SprUUce Up Our Sanctuary!
Join the Facilities Committee on Saturday, August 31st, at 8am to freshen up our Sanctuary and grounds. There will be treats! We hope to see you there!
Sign up here
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Monthly Financial Report
The first month of the VUU fiscal year is in the books and things are looking reasonable. Pledge income was about $3K under budget, however most expenses were under budget as well. There is plenty of cash on hand thanks to one time monies from the endowment and the recovery funds. Again it needs to be noted that one time funds are exhausted, so what we have needs to last until next June.
Also, it should be noted we will need to balance our FY 2025-26 budget, so please pay attention to Pledge campaign notices when they arrive. A careful observer will notice that Administration was way under budget for July; this is because monies that were budgeted for cash reserves and paid were not expensed. This will be corrected in addition to corrections in reported one time income that will leave July looking a little better on paper. However we all need to watch expenses, as always, and pay attention to our financial needs next year.
Finance will be developing a desired budget for FY 2025-26 soon so all of us can understand our needs for the future. As always, Thanks!
The full FA report can be found at Financial Analyst Reports 2023-24 - Google Drive
-submitted by David Sheh, VUUFinancial Analyst
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Join VUU, Showing Pride In Chandler!
Seeking folks interested in planning and implementing VUU's booth at Pride in Chandler, Saturday, November 16 from 4-9PM
Plan, Set-up, Represent VUU, Interact with the community, or run a crafting table...There are lots of ways to participate.
Email Mark B with your interest and he will add your name to the planning committee that will start meeting in early October.
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VUU Voices Choir - Wednesdays 6:00–7:30p (on summer hiatus)
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One Hour Choir - First Sundays 9:00–10:00 am (on summer hiatus)
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Chalice Ringers - contact Katie Sieferth if you are interested.
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Drum Circle - contact Katie Sieferth if you are interested.
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Play with the Band! - contact Katie Sieferth if you are interested (on summer hiatus)
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East VUU Zoom Meeting
Thursday, September 12, 6:00–7:30p
Rev Sarah Oglesby-Dunegan will share a new lens on repentance, atonement, forgiveness and repair—from personal transgressions to our culture’s most painful issues. All are welcome!
Join Zoom Meeting
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EVUU PIE Happenings
See Social Justice/Volunteer section below for details.
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August 29 - ELL Volunteer Training
- Art Masterpiece Program - call for volunteers
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Meet our New Nursery Caregiver
Hello! my name is D’Mesha or Dee (whatever one is easiest for you), I’m 34 years old, born and raised here in beautiful hot Phoenix, Arizona. I am a mother to a very energetic, athletic boy named Anthony. He is 11 years old; he is my absolute world and baseball is pretty much all of his. We love being outside as much as possible on our free time. I am very passionate about children, their growth and development, as importantly allowing children to be children, problem solve and having fun while doing it. Throughout the week I am a behavioral specialist for a visually impaired school, preschool to 4th grade, which also serves multiple diagnoses. I absolutely love what I do. I’m so grateful to be here and so excited to meet everyone.
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Fellowship and Social Activities | |
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Calling All Young Adults
Be part of an amazing Young Adult Camp from August 30–September 2, where adventure meets spiritual growth! Come join us for a fun and relaxing 3-day weekend up in the beautiful San Bernardino National Forest at Camp de Benneville Pines! Young Adult Camp is an annual summer retreat for 18 to 35 year-old Unitarian Universalists and people of all faiths.The theme for this year's Young Adult Camp is "In Touch." You are invited to spend a weekend reconnecting with yourself, others, and the natural world. Immerse yourself in archery, canoeing, swimming, and unstructured free time amidst stunning mountain views and starry skies. Enjoy fabulous meals, lively dance parties, and deep conversations with friends old and new.
Explore UU spirituality, engage with social justice initiatives, and create lasting memories in a welcoming, supportive community. Don't miss out on this magical retreat where you can laugh, grow, and enjoy time in nature. Reserve your spot today and answer the call of the mountain! Click here for more information.
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“Democracy means participation; but participation is not primarily about ‘taking part,’ as in elections or office holding. It means originating or initiating cooperative action with others.” – Sheldon Wolin, “Contract and Birthright”
On Thursday, October 24, at 6:30 PM, VIP will hold a large Public Action. We are anticipating 500 people in attendance—members of VIP’s 30 member institutions and invited guests including State Legislators, City and School Council members, and other public officials. VUU’s VIP Core Team has pledged to have 50+ VUU members and friends in attendance. We want you with us! This is not a call to
join the Core Team or the Chandler Strategy Team or the Housing or Mental Health teams—though we’d love to have you do that. This is a call for support for the work we’ve been doing and the work that is planned for the year ahead. The location—in central Phx—is still being determined, but the date is set! Mark your calendar now for October 24.
Other important dates:
Core Team Meeting Sept 5, 9:30AM, VUU office
Fall Action Planning Zoom Meeting: Wednesday, Sept 11 6:30p
VUU Caring Neighbors & VIP small group conversation House Meeting. Sunday, Sept 22 after the service in the sanctuary Flex Room
For more information, contact Barb Quijada
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Partners in Education (PIE)
Here we go! Our first session will be on August 29! We have been gathering and training on assessment tools, new curriculum materials, and student proficiency levels. Thirty students are registered! Adams would like us to serve 75 students. We still need volunteers. Even if you don't speak Spanish, you can help with recruitment and fundraising. This is a great need and so important! This may become a model for other schools. We need you and your friends in the community. Let's reach out to grow this essential service to these kids. For more information contact Perii, Beverly, or Randall.
Looking for volunteers for the Art Masterpiece program and Arts and Craft projects. LOTS OF FUN! No art experience is necessary. Contact Perii for more info.
-Submitted by Perii Skolnick
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Paz de Cristo
September Donation of the Month:
Pasta Sauce (any kind)
Paz Donation List
Please leave donations in the "Paz de Cristo" box in the sanctuary foyer.
Contact: Megan Kimball
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Border Support
Donations needed for asylum seekers at the border:
- small handheld fruit cups
- small handheld juice
- veggie cups or squeezies
- used clothing (all sizes, all seasons)
Please put donations in the "Refugee Aid" box in the sanctuary foyer.
Contact: Sharon Kopina
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Partners in Education
Adams Elementary's after-school support group for English learners (Rumbo al Exito) and their Art Masterpiece program need:
- School supplies
- Art Supplies
Bring donations to our table after services.
Contact: Perii Skolnick
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Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation | vuu.org | | | | |
