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Announcement

The VUU Office will be closed on Monday, February 17 for President’s Day. Rev. Sarah will be on retreat with UUMA chapter Monday-Thursday, February 17-20.  

Abbreviated information about upcoming events that are

further than two weeks out.

• FUUNd Auction - Feb 2-16 Register Here
• Empathy Circles - Feb 16, Mar 2, 16, 23, 30 Topic or format requests
• VUUJAZ Coffee Conversation - Feb 16
• I-HELP Program - Feb 17, 18, 24
• VIP Documentary Film Screening - Feb 22
• EASTVUU Online: Roz Hawkins on DEI+ - Feb 27
• Volunteer at AZCEND Foodbank with Rev. Sarah - Feb 28 Sign Up Here
• Congregational Conversation - Mar 2
• VUU Scouts - Mar 2
• New Participant Classes - Mar 22, Jun 7 RSVP here
• Read with Sarah - Mar 26 Read the book
• New Participant Meal - Apr 5 RSVP here
• VUU Retreat - Apr 11-13 at Friendly Pines Camp in Prescott Register Here
• UUA General Assembly - Jun 18-22 Register Here

I am about to have a weekend off and a week of retreat with UU colleagues here at the Franciscan Renewal Center. During my week away I am having a little skin cancer surgery on my face, so I’ll be glad to be “out of the limelight” for a few days. Remember that the office is closed on Presidents Day 2/17.

Azcend Eggs benefit: Thursday, February 27, 7:30 am Check-in & breakfast begin;

8 – 9 am Program; Join Rev. Sarah at a breakfast event supporting Azcend. This is a great way to learn about the other programs that Azcend provides to our community and how we can be partners in this work. I’d love to have a tableful of UU’s again this year!  

Current Side With Love resources from the 30 Days of Love Campaign: are available here.

Security Needs: I am looking for 3+ people willing to be trained (it’s simple training) on how to secure our space when we are in worship if ICE or disruptors show up on our campus. Let me know you are willing. minister@vuu.org

—Rev. Sarah

The FUUNd Auction Closes on Sunday February 16 at 2:00pm

BID NOW!

There is still plenty of time to get your bids in for VUU’s 2025 Let’s Have FUUNd

Together auction. FUUNd is VUU’s largest annual FUUNdraiser bringing members and friends together for outings, dinners, crafting, and workshops and raising FUUNds to support our beloved congregation. There are 85 different opportunities to have FUUNd this year, and they are all detailed in the online catalog. We are sure that EVERYONE, even YOU can find at least one item to bid on!

Sunday will be the final day that display tables will be set up on the patio before and

after the service. We have a new auction category this year, VUUniversity, offering 18

separate talks and workshops that will be given by VUU subject matter experts on

Saturdays throughout 2025 and into 2026. For the modest donation of $20, you can

attend a very FUUNd presentation designed to boost your knowledge, celebrate your

spirit, harness your creativity, or even improve your health!

To date, almost $15,000 has been raised, which is 60% of our $25,000 goal. If you

haven’t bid on anything yet, won’t you please sign up now?

You can register to bid at www.auctria.events/VUUFUUND2025. For assistance, email fuundtogether@vuu.org, phone Debbe at 480-244-6570, or see us on the patio this Sunday. Don’t pass up your chance to support VUU while you have FUUNd in 2025! Many thanks!

—Submitted by Debbe Simpkins

In the Interim

Save the Date - UUA/VUU Visioning Workshop, April 5, 2025

As I move into the final months of my interim work at VUU, Rev. Sarah and I are bringing Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) consultants to VUU to help us re-envision our faith formation programs. After nine months of experimenting, learning and (yes) changing it is time to assess what we learned. 

The goal of the workshop is to use the lessons learned during the interim time to create a new vision for the future of lifespan faith formation programs. We want that vision to be one that is robust, growing, in line with VUU’s mission, inclusive and reflects the goals of our parents and members of our faith community. More information to follow as we continue planning with UUA staff.

We will meet tentatively from 10:00am - 3:00pm with a Day Camp for children available. Mark your calendars. If you are ready to RSVP, please sign up here.

Sara Sautter

Interim DIrector of Faith Formation

ADULT OWL Introduction Workshop Session

Sunday, February 23

Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a program which recognizes and respects diversity of all involved while offering a series of sexuality education classes to address sensitive topics and supports open communication within families. Every question is welcome.

An introductory session is being offered Sunday, February 23 at 1:00 pm. This is a 12-week class with a 1-2 hour introductory workshop session used to determine the customizable content and time commitment for the remainder of the sessions. For example, in the introductory workshop session, participants may decide to do all 12 workshops or to do only some workshops. If doing only some workshops, the participants decide which ones. Participants are not required to attend or belong to any particular group or faith.

Adults—Recommended age groups for each adult age range are listed. Register for the one aligned with your needs and interests!



Young Adults: 18-35

Adult: 36-50

Older: 50+

Tell us which date and time suits your needs! 

Email faithform@vuu.org for details!



February Pacific West Region (PWR) Newsletter

The February PWR Newsletter can be found here. There are many articles which would be of interest to VUU members. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.

Demystifying Dementia

Earlier this year, Melissa Bush told the congregation that Lay Pastoral Care Associates and Caring Neighbors are planning to provide information about the challenges of aging and its impact on older individuals, families, friends and the wider community. Dementia is a major health problem that affects many people. It is a growing health crisis in Arizona.

Our first event will be a workshop, "Demystifying Dementia" presented in the Sanctuary on Saturday, February 22nd, 2025, 10am - 12pm

Topics will include:

• An overview of dementia
• How dementia impacts the individual, caregivers and families
• The importance of becoming dementia aware and dementia capable

Melissa Bush, RN, MSN, A/GNP, has been an adult and geriatric nurse practitioner for over 30 years. For the last 15 years, she has worked in hospice care. Her particular area of interest is dementia and improving the quality of life for all of those affected.

Mark your calendar and plan to attend. Feel free to invite family members, friends, neighbors and coworkers who may not be affiliated with VUU.

We will be meeting in the Sanctuary. There is no charge to attend.

-Submitted by Joyce Donahue, Caring Neighbors Co-Chair

Seeking Aesthetics Committee Members

Interested in keeping our sanctuary both beautiful and functional? Consider becoming a member of the Aesthetics Committee. Contact one of our members (Mary Erickson, DiAnna Farmer, or Ruthie Graham) for more information or check out the committee's responsibilities on the VUU website.

EastVUU Buffet Dinner and Bingo

When: Thursday, February 13, 6pm

Where: Friendship Village, 2645 E Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282

Our February social night will be hosted by Joe and Jeanne Gerber at Friendship Village in Tempe, AZ in the Courtyard Buffet Dining Room. Please arrive between 5:50 and 6:10 to get through the buffet line, which closes at 6:30. There are many entrees available for $21, including salmon, pork, chicken, and vegetarian options (cards only, no cash, no potluck). Sides, desserts and drinks are included. There is also a salad buffet for $12. We will play Valentine’s bingo with prizes, and also have plenty of time to socialize with UU friends. Join us for a fun night!

-Submitted by Janice Miller

Doug Feisler

Carlin Knight's husband, Doug Feisler, was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday 1/28/25 for cardiac issues and has been moved to a rehab facility. He's doing well but no word on when he can return home. Cards would be appreciated and can a be sent to 9026 E Nacoma Dr, Sun Lakes, AZ 85248.

-Submitted by Carlin Knight

Update on Sandy Whitley

Sandy Whitley’s treatment (including pt and speech therapy) for meningoencephalitis is progressing. She is in Santé Rehabilitation Center in Chandler. Her friends are encouraged to visit after 4 pm weekdays (Dinner at 5pm) and all day on weekends especially during mealtimes (7:30 am, 11:30 am and 5:00pm) You can schedule a mealtime visit here.

If you would like to follow get updates on Sandy, here is her Caring Bridge link. Once you're on Sandy’s page, you can click the Updates tab to be sure that you’re seeing the most current progress report.

—Submitted by Janet Cantley

Page Turners Book Club

The Page Turners Book Club is open to all members, visitors, and friends of VUU who enjoy reading and discussing a variety of books. The next meeting is February 20 at 7:00 PM, we will meet at the home of Johnnie Godfrey in Tempe (near Baseline Rd. and the 101).  The book is The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead.

Cora is a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia. Life is hell for all the slaves, but especially bad for Cora; an outcast even among her fellow Africans. In Whitehead's ingenious conception, the Underground Railroad is no mere metaphor--engineers and conductors operate a secret network of tracks and tunnels beneath the Southern soil. Like the protagonist of Gulliver's Travels, Cora encounters different worlds at each stage of her journey.

For the meeting address or questions, please contact Johnnie at 480-231-8381 or email here.

VUUJAZ - Coffee Conversation Sunday, February 16

Valley Unitarian Universalist Justice Arizona (VUUJAZ) is part of the statewide UUJAZ network, working together to promote social justice throughout Arizona. At VUU, we host a Coffee Conversation on the third Sunday of every month after the service, and we invite everyone to join us!

Anne Schneider, former long-time chair of VUUJAZ, is the author of AZ Legislative Alert, a newsletter that tracks the Arizona state legislature's activity. During our Coffee Conversations, Anne provides insightful updates on proposed bills and shares valuable guidance on how we can engage in activism to promote social justice at the state level.

Members from the other four social justice committees at VUU are encouraged to attend, as well. These committees include Valley Interfaith Project, Partners in Education, UU the Vote, Immigration Action Team, and I-HELP. Our monthly gatherings are an opportunity for us to stay informed, support one another, and exchange ideas that can further our collective work for justice.

Our Coffee Conversations are always thought-provoking and inspiring, and we hope you'll join us as we continue our mission of building partnerships to challenge systems of oppression and create a more just, sustainable, and healthy world for all.

-Submitted by Julia Allison

Partners in Education (PIE) - Be a Mensch!

Want to get a tax credit and help fund programs for the kids at a Title I public school? Our gifts to Adams Elementary School in Mesa help support Science Camp, Literacy Tutoring, and more. You can make a difference with a financial contribution to Mesa Public Schools, while receiving a tax credit equal to your gift (up to $200 for single filers/$400 jointly).

Pick up a contribution form that designates Adams School from the PIE table at VUU on Sunday or follow these instructions to donate online. Sign in and search for “8002” or “GENERAL-ECA”. Look for Adams Elementary and add amount to cart, then check out. When you file your tax return, deduct an equal amount from taxes due (up to AZ tax liability). Thanks so much on behalf of the kids and teachers!

-Submitted by Janice Miller

I-HELP Program

February 17 and 18, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Help host and serve a meal for folks staying here overnight.  

February 24. Help prepare, host and serve a meal for folks staying here overnight

*Sign up genius published a week ahead

Contact Adrienne to sign up.

This last week VUU folks put together a taco bar and served dinner (see photos below). It was a lot of fun!

A Pilgrimage to Montgomery, Alabama

The Ecumenical Catholic Communion's Truth & Reconciliation Commission invites you to join us on "A Pilgrimage To Montgomery, Alabama."

Tuesday-Friday, April 8-11

Rev. Joan Crawford, who has led workshops and worship for us, has extended this invitation for folks to join the ECC on this trip to visit the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. I am considering joining them, and hope some of you may have the opportunity to also join. If I am able to attend, I will plan follow-up education and reflection opportunities for our whole community to share the experience and growth from this trip. Please contact me at minister@vuu.org for more information on costs and registration.

—Rev. Sarah