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Sunday, November 3
On Repentance and Repair: Less Harm, More Healing
Rev. Sarah shares some thoughts about human relationships and repair as we slide into the home stretch of an election cycle with plenty of us and our relationships in need of repair.
What can we do to foster more healing and less harm?
After service, we’ll have a congregational conversation and volunteer fair to help folks learn about opportunities to get more involved on the life of VUU.
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IN THE EDUCATION BUILDINGS | |
FAITH FORMATION
Faith Formation Classes:
- Preschool (3/4 yr olds)
- Kind/1st Grade
- 2nd/3rd Grade
- 4th/5th Grade
- Middle School (6-8th)
- High School (9-12th)
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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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Calendar
Thursday, October 31
Friday, November 1
Saturday, November 2
- New Participant Breakfast 9:30a
- Social Suppers 5p
Sunday, November 3
- Dalai Lama and Friends 8:30a
- Sunday Service 10:30a
- Faith Formation 10:30a
- Congregational Conversation 12p
- OWL Class Grades 5/6 12:45p
- Parents for OWL 12:45p
Monday, November 4
- Communications Team 5p
- I-HELP Shelter 5:30p
Tuesday, November 5
Wednesday, November 6
- No Choir
- Policy Group 6:30p
- Tending the Flame 6:30p
Thursday, November 7
Friday, November 8
- Paz de Cristo 4p
- Game Night 5:30p
Saturday, November 9
- Social Justice Retreat 9a
Sunday, November 10
- Dalai Lama and Friends 8:30a
- Sunday Service 10:30a
- Faith Formation 10:30a
- Aesthetics Meeting 12p
- Immigration Team Meeting 12p
- UU The Vote Party 12:15p
- OWL Class Grades 5/6 12:45p
- Voices Lifted 12:15p
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.
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AZCEND Foodbank with Rev. Sarah - Nov 1, 15, 22; Dec 13 Sign Up
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New Participant Meal - Nov 2, Feb 1, Apr 5 RSVP here
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FLP Events - Nov 8, Dec 13
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Brown Bag Lunch with Rev. Sarah - Nov 12
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Page Turners Book Club - Nov 21 See the book here
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New Participant Classes - Dec 7, Mar 22, Jun 7 RSVP here
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EastVUU Holiday Party - Dec 12
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Senior High Winter Camp at de Benneville - Dec 28 - Jan 1 Register here
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Ethics for Unitarian Universalists - begins Jan 8 Sign Up
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VUU Retreat - Apr 11-13 at Friendly Pines Camp in Prescott
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As many of you know, I sustained a small injury while canvassing voters a couple of Saturdays ago. I have a small break in my right fibula, which means I am in a boot for 4-6 weeks, and I am not able to drive at the moment. This has meant major disruptions to both my personal and professional schedules, and also to my own energy levels. I hope you can be patient with me. If you have scheduled an appointment with me, it likely needs to be online. I have canceled some activities in order to manage my reduced energy while I heal. I have asked others to step in and lead some activities as well, to avoid cancellation. I may ask you to reschedule an appointment and I may even have lost track of some correspondence during this time. It’s OK to confirm appointments ahead of time or re-send a correspondence if you’re not sure I received it. However, please expect a slower response time and give me some space to triage–some things may take priority over others in the short term. Last week I prioritized a wedding that had been on my calendar for 6 months, a VIP event that had also been on my calendar for months and which I had a central role in, and our Sunday service. This week I am planning a memorial service for the family of Roz Hawkins, whose father died last weekend. We also have been awarded a major grant for safety infrastructure, and several of us are involved in beginning the implementation of this grant. Training for implementation began this week.
I continue to work with a music steering team to plan music for Sunday services as well as engage the interim and developmental work we identified with Rev. Sam Wilson over the last year. I know that sometimes the answers to questions you may have don’t come as quickly or clearly as you or I would like them to. I appreciate the grace and trust you afford me that progress is being made even when it isn't entirely visible or the direction is different than you may have hoped for. I believe in shared ministry and I am always working with a team–which also means I am considering multiple points of view and waiting for collective discernment at times. #speedoftrust
Post Election Care: I know many of you may want a safe space to connect after the election. No matter the outcome, many have expressed concern to me about what will be happening in our communities and in our country on the other side of it. We are looking at setting up some online and in person opportunities for us to gather. We’ll send an email with some offerings next week. Let me know what might feel supportive to you. minister@vuu.org
Rev. Sarah
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Adult Faith Formation Classes
Tending the Flame: The Art of Unitarian Universalist Parenting with Sara Sautter, CRE
This adult class for parents and guardians of children of all ages, invites parents not just to do Unitarian Universalist parenting, but to be Unitarian Universalist parents. It is an invitation to a style of parenting which is values-based and values-sharing. We will explore ways in which parents can help Unitarian Universalism guide children in their development. In so doing, we will also find ways in which Unitarian Universalism deepens for ourselves as well. The class is based upon the work of Michelle Richards and provides practical, empowering and grace-filled resources for parents who yearn to support their children in deepening and living out their Unitarian Universalist faith.
The group will meet for three evening sessions at 6:30 pm on November 6, 13 and 20 both in person and online. Enroll here.
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From the Board
Following our recent board retreat and our chance to reflect on areas where we have perhaps not fully addressed important issues, we would like to respond to the desire of some congregants to reduce our contribution of UUA dues as protest of our strained relationship with the UUA, highlighted for some VUU members by the recent passage of Article II.
As most of the congregation is aware, as part of our budget austerity for the current fiscal year, we reduced our dues to the UUA to the bare minimum we could afford, $1,000. We wish to make it clear that we do not feel a reduction of dues as a “protest vote” is appropriate at this time. Before we would engage in any form of financial protest, we would insist that we meet with representatives of the UUA to engage in some level of attempting to repair our relationship with the leadership of the larger denomination. We feel it would abdicate our responsibility as the board if we engaged in a permanent dues reduction as a form of protest without first attempting to engage in some effort of repair.
It must be clear that we on the board are committed to the repair of the relationship and not the severing of it. Pending the result of such repair efforts, the board may be open to revisiting the discussion of what an appropriate level of dues for VUU to pay to UUA would be.
VUU Board of Trustees
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Upcoming Congregational Conversation
Join us on Sunday, November 3 immediately after service for a Congregational Conversation and Committee Interest Fair. We'll have pizza as always, and Colombian arepas will be available for purchase.
The meeting will cover the following topics:
- Launch of the Congregational Survey
- Principles and Sources Amendment Update
- Mortgage Refinance
- Committee Interest Fair
We'll see you there!
-VUU Board
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Congregational Insight Survey
Please come to the Congregational Conversation on November 3, 2024 to get a heads-up from the Board about the new Congregational Insight Survey so you may be one of the first to respond!
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Colombian Arepas for sale!
Many of us enjoyed the arepas our Colombian friends were selling after services last Sunday…
They will be back this Sunday, November 3 offering these savory homemade treats perfect for the break between the service and the congregational conversation. $10 cash, Venmo, or Zelle.
Get yourself some lunch, discover Colombian culture, and help our immigrant friends help themselves.
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New Participant Breakfast
This Saturday, November 2, 9:30am -11:30am in Classroom 1/2
Come meet other newcomers and members and enjoy some time learning about each other. RSVP Required.
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Social Justice Retreat
Rev. Sarah and Julia Allison are facilitating a social justice retreat Saturday, November 9 from 9AM-2PM in the VUU sanctuary.
All members of committees and initiatives involved in social justice work at VUU are invited. This includes Environmental Action Team, UU The Vote, Immigration Action Team, iHELP, Partners in Education, and Valley Interfaith Project.
Lunch will be provided. The purpose is to become better informed of the work these different groups are doing, build relationships, and support one another. We will also learn more about UUJAZ at the state level and plan for a possible 2025 UU Day at the Legislature.
If you are working on social justice at VUU, or would like to, and would like to attend, please email Julia. We would love to have you join us.
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Looking Ahead
Read with Sarah: “Transforming Conflict: The Blessings of Congregational Turmoil” by Terasa Cooley. (UU Minister and leader). I will schedule a time to discuss this book later in the year. I am inviting VUU leaders, members and friends to read it with me as we continue the work (and play!) of building our shared future. Our first November Sunday service will be related to the first book I invited you to read with me - "On Repentance and Repair" by Danya Ruttenberg.
Cancellation Notice: The theology class we hoped to offer across congregations – Creating Theology Together – did not have enough enrollments to roll this Fall. We may try again after the election or in another program year to implement this curriculum. I apologize if you registered and did not get this message. This decision was made while I was on Fall break, and I thought the congregation managing registration would send a message to everyone who registered. That did not happen, and I did not get a list of who registered from VUU to reach out to directly. I am sorry for that!
–Rev. Sarah Oglesby-Dunegan
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Let's Celebrate!
You are invited to share your story of volunteer election work, whether with VUU UU the VOTE or directly with a campaign.
ALL ARE WELCOME. Refreshments provided.
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Our Director of Music Ministries, Katie Seiferth, is on extended medical leave. | |
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Charles Hawkins
Member Roz Hawkins' father, Charles Hawkins, passed on Saturday October 26.
He moved here in June 2023 to be closer to family and we are grateful for the time we were able to spend with him here. His funeral will be held this Saturday, November 2 at 1p, officiated by Rev. Sarah at Legacy Funeral Home, 1374 N. Arizona Ave. Chandler 85225. Your calls, cards and emails are greatly appreciated.
Roz Hawkins | 480.209.3957 | 814 E Saragosa St Chandler 85225
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Fellowship and Social Activities | |
Game Night!
November 8 - Join us on the second Friday of each month for an evening of games and potluck snacks. Bring a snack and your favorite game or something you haven't played in years. 5:30 - 9pm in room 1/2. Contact Nick with questions.
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New IHELP Coordinating Team
Many thanks to Laura Rohlfing for keeping IHELP going when we came back to our Sanctuary in 2022. This has been a heavy lift, and we are now moving to a model that doesn’t require the same person to be there every week! If you would like to sign up to help once a month or more with this team, please contact Rev Sarah or Adrienne O’Donnell.
We will be training new folks on November 18 from 5:15 to 7p. It’s a fun way to help our neighbors in need and to meet new people.
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THANK YOU!!
Many thanks to the 38 members and friends of VUU who attended last
week’s VIP assembly. Special thanks to Noell Hyman for telling her story
and to Mary Erickson, Eileen Garces, Linda Stenholm, Mary Rothschild,
Rebecca Riggs, Anne Schneider, Carlin Knight, Linda Horton and Beth
Wyman who sang in the choir!
Next Steps
1. Attend VIP’s post-election meeting to process the results of the election
and consider how we will move forward. November 14 6:30 at St Patrick’s
Catholic Church, Scottsdale.
2. Support Affordable Housing in Chandler (See the VUU VIP webpage for email addresses, dates, times, locations, etc.). ASAP: Email your support of the zoning change for the Sonoran Landings 55+ affordable housing project.
Join VIP in person on November 21 at the County Zoning Commission
hearing in support of the Sonoran Landings development.
Join VIP in person on December 11 at the Maricopa County Board of
Supervisors meeting in support of the Sonoran Landings development.
3. Plan to attend the VIP Leaders Retreat on Saturday, February 1. Details
to follow.
Thanks, again!
VUU’s VIP Core Team: Barb Quijada, Nancy Wittenberg, Kathy Melamed, David Melamed, Linda Stenholm, Bill Elliott, Kim Light, Nancy Egly, Amanda Schneider
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Paz de Cristo
Volunteers needed this month!
Continuing the Tradition… Keeping the Commitment… Living our Principles
Date: Friday, November 8, 4pm - 7pm
Location: 424 W Broadway Rd, Mesa, AZ
Click here for the sign up link
Families welcome!
Please join us as we keep VUU’s 34-year tradition of serving the evening meal to Paz de Cristo guests on the second Friday of November, 11/08/24. Volunteers gather at the Paz kitchen/dining room from 4 to 7 pm to prepare several items for, and then serve, the evening meal. Additional tasks include cleanup of dishes, sweeping and mopping of floors. If you are joining us for the first time, don’t worry, Paz staff
and experienced VUU volunteers make the work easy and fun and the evening goes fast.
Seventeen volunteers are needed for the evening and can range in age from 12 on up. Volunteers must be able to stand and participate in tasks during the entire evening. Have questions? Contact Joanne at 602-620-3100.
Please sign up for this rewarding experience at www.vuu.org/paz.
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Partners in Education (PIE)
Visit us at the Interest Fair, before or after Sunday service on November 3. Learn about fun and meaningful ways to volunteer at Adams Elementary School in Mesa, helping kids with after-school tutoring or teaching in class about Art Masterpieces! Also, you can make a contribution to the school and pick up a form to receive a tax credit equal to your gift.
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Paz de Cristo
November Donation of the Month:
- Peanut Butter (any kind)
- Jelly (any kind)
This high-protein staple is always in great demand!
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 the Welcome desk after services.
Contact: Adrienne O'Donnell
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Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation | vuu.org | | | | |
