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Sunday, March 2
At the Speed of Trust
As we enter the month of March, a traditional time for UU congregational pledge drives, we ask how giving is linked to trust. We spent this past year looking deeply at relationships and ministries. Now we are ready to build on our deep learning. What gifts do we bring to our faith community? What does our faith community give to us? How is practicing trust an ingredient?
Worship will be led by Rev. Sarah Oglesby-Dunegan and Interim Director of Faith Formation Sara Sautter with “a little help from some friends” and music from Lynn DeMuth and assorted VUU musicians and singers.
Every week of pledge month, we will honor VUU members who have trusted us with their gifts. This week we honor Mary Erickson.
Stay after the service for a Congregational Conversation.
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IN THE EDUCATION BUILDINGS | |
FAITH FORMATION
The congregational theme this month is The Practice of Trust. In faith formation we begin our exploration by looking at trust in ourselves and how we can support the idea of, “I can do it” and “I can face hard things.” We’ll talk about self-confidence and how we each have unique special strengths (“superpowers”) we can rely on.
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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, February 27
- Board Meeting 5:30p
- Facilities Committee 6p
- EastVUU Online 6p
Friday, February 28
- AZCEND Food Bank 8:30a
- Singles Dinner Out 6:30p
Saturday, March 1
Sunday, March 2
- Dalai Lama and Friends 8:30a
- Spirit Choir 9:25a
- Sunday Service 10:30a
- Faith Formation 10:30a
- Soup Lunch Fundraiser 11:45a
- Congregational Convo 12p
- Coming of Age 12:15p
- Empathy Circle 12:15p
- VUU Scouts 12:45p
Monday, March 3
Tuesday, March 4
Wednesday, March 5
- Game Lounge 6p
- Harvest the Power 6:30p
- Policy Group 6:30p
- Four-part Choir 7p
Thursday, March 6
- VUU Ensemble 3:30p
- Ukester Friends 6p
Friday, March 7
Saturday, March 8
Sunday, March 9
- Dalai Lama and Friends 8:30a
- Parents & Pastries 9:30a
- Sunday Service 10:30a
- Faith Formation 10:30a
- Aesthetics Team 11:45p
- Immigration Action Team 12p
- Monthly Theme Discussion 12p
- Coming of Age 12:15p
- 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
more than two weeks out or without an article below
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Chandler Interfaith Connections Breakfast
Save the Date: Wednesday, March 12, 7:30-9:00 am
Location: VUU
VUU is hosting the next newly formed Chandler Interfaith Connections Breakfast. Come help Rev. Sarah host this gathering! A registration link will be available soon. This is a networking opportunity for area faith communities and their leadership.
—Rev. Sarah
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Pacific Western Region (PWR) Board Update
I have spent the last few months as a member of the Pacific Western Region (PWR) Board. This is a new board that grew out of the dissolution of the four western districts during the Pandemic. As we are new, our specific tasks, responsibilities and traditions have not been established.
There are some events coming up to take note of. First we will be holding our first ever PWR business meeting on Thursday, May 29 from 7:00-8:00 pm Pacific Time. Elections will be held, and there will be lots of information. If you would like to attend please let us know! The meeting will be held via Zoom, so there will be no expenses and limited time commitment. Also note there will be a PWR budget town hall in April, stay tuned for more.
Regional assembly will be held next year, please stay tuned for details to come. Think of Regional Assembly (RA) as General Assembly (GA) in miniature; Except it is closer and cheaper, so consider this as an opportunity to learn, enjoy and meet people.
NOTE: We are looking for volunteers (surprise!) to serve on the PWR Board or work on circles (read modern-day committees) to help accomplish our purpose. Click here for a list of our purposes. Please understand that as this is a new organization; much of the work will be establishing what we do and how we do it. Typically this will involve 2 meetings per month 90 minutes long (plus preparation time for each meeting). For board members, add business meeting planning plus one weekend retreat per year. If being on the ground floor sounds exciting, please let us know!
For some more details, take a look here.
—Submitted by David Sheh, PWR Board Member
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Let’s Have FUUNd Together Auction
A big thank you to all of the donors and bidders of the 2025 Let’s Have FUUNd Together auction. Our final net total is $22,725. Last Monday, February 24, all unpaid balances for auction purchases and credit card fees were automatically charged to the winners’ credit cards. Statements were emailed to all winning bidders and receipts went out to all donors last week. If you are having trouble locating yours, please email fuundtogether@vuu.org.
There is still room for you to join the FUUNd at a few upcoming events. Watch this space for details about the Last Chance Auction opening on Thursday, March 13. Questions can be emailed to fuundtogether@vuu.org.
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Register Now for the 2025
VUU Prescott Retreat
Dates: Friday–Sunday, April 11–13
Location: Friendly Pines Camp,
933 E Friendly Pines Rd, Prescott, AZ 85303
The Prescott Retreat is an amazing opportunity to connect with your fellow VUUers in a fun, relaxed, and welcoming environment. It’s a perfect setting to build meaningful relationships, enjoy shared experiences, and deepen your sense of community, all while having a great time.
Register Here. The deadline to register is March 28.
The cost is $160 per person (scholarships available).
Email Megan Kimball with any questions.
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Lost and Found
We are starting to amass a fair amount of unclaimed items in the VUU kitchen. These items are located on wire rack at the rear of the kitchen. If any of these belong to you, please claim them at your earliest convenience.
—Submitted by Laura Rohlfing
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EastVUU Online
Roz on DEI and Her Story
When: Thursday, February 27, 6:00 pm
Where: Zoom (link below)
Rosaland Hawkins has shared her wisdom and pastoral care from the VUU pulpit as a Worship Associate. Join us on Zoom to hear more of her story and reflections on social justice. Roz had a career that spanned many industries, locations and roles, including the implementation of DEI programs. Let’s be enlightened by her experiences and engage in a conversation about continuing to bend that arc toward justice.
New(ish) Zoom link: Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 812 3702 9733
Passcode: 597613
—Submitted by Janice Miller
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First Sunday Soup Lunch
Sunday, March 2
Plan to stay after this Sunday to enjoy Soup, Salad and post worship conversation. This is a fundraiser for the Coming of Age Class of 2025 as they plan their heritage trip to Boston.
Soup and Salad are available for a minimum of $10 each. Desserts are available this week for an additional donation.
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Game Lounge Starts Wednesday, March 5
Come, play and create! Game Lounge is for people who want to play D&D, board games, card games, do some crafting or just hang out. It's a time to meet and make new friends or do stuff with old friends! All ages welcome!
We will meet on Wednesdays, starting March 5, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in Room 1, 2, and 5.
RSVP here
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Parents and Pastries
Sunday, March 9, at 9:30 am
Want to meet other parents? Do your kids want to play with their Sunday friends? Got ideas to share about faith formation programming with VUU staff?
Drop in to Parents and Pastries on Sunday, March 9 anytime between 9:30 and 10:15 am. We’ll start out in Rooms 1&2 and eventually end up on the playground if the weather is nice.
RSVP here
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UUA/VUU Visioning Workshop
Save the Date: Saturday, April 5
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
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VUU Scouts
VUU Scouts meet the first Sunday of each month from 12:45-2:00 pm; our next meeting is Sunday, March 2. All school-age kids and parents are welcome to participate.
We will meet at Desert Breeze park for a trash clean-up service project, followed by some play. Meet us by the splash pad area. Hope to see you there!
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Help VUU come alive with the sound of music!
Love to sing but can't commit to a regular rehearsal? Sing with the VUU Spirit Choir. Show up early on the first Sunday of the month, learn a song, and sing at the service. We will learn rounds, chants, call-and-response, and other simple pieces. You don’t need to read music or be an experienced singer. If you can carry a tune, come join us! Contact Lynn DeMuth for more information.
Want to join the VUU Ensemble? This group rehearses the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month at 3:30 pm in the Sanctuary. If you have an alternative work schedule or can’t/don't want to commit to weekly evening choir rehearsals, please join us. We rehearse two three-part choral pieces and sing one Sunday each month. Some musical experience is helpful but not a must. Contact Lynn DeMuth for more information.
We’ve started jam sessions for the Rotating Band! If you want to play in the band but have not received emails inviting you to choose a service to participate in or inviting you to jam sessions, contact Noell Hyman.
Are you passionate about collaborating with vocalists and ensembles? We're seeking talented musicians to join our expanding network of Accompanists. We're particularly interested in individuals with experience supporting diverse musical styles and genres, ranging from classical to contemporary. If you have a strong background in musical accompaniment and a passion for supporting singers and groups in achieving their artistic best, we invite you to send a brief description of your experience and musical specialties to Lynn DeMuth and/or Noell Hyman. We look forward to hearing from you and exploring how we can collaborate!
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Choir Enthusiasts
Get ready to make some beautiful music! Do you love the rich harmonies of a Four-Part Choir? Then we invite you to join us!
Whether you're a seasoned soprano, a soaring alto, a resonant tenor, or a powerful bass, your voice is needed and welcomed. We're seeking talented singers of all experience levels to participate in this exciting musical journey.
Our first rehearsal will be held on Wednesday, March 5, at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow music lovers, develop your vocal skills, and contribute to a vibrant and uplifting choral experience. We look forward to seeing you then!
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Update on Sandy Whitley
Sandy Whitley’s treatment (including PT and speech therapy) for meningoencephalitis is progressing. She is in Room 162 at the Santé Rehabilitation Center in Chandler, 825 S 94th St, Chandler, AZ 85224.
Her son Jeremy posted the following details about visiting Sandy.
Visiting hours are Monday to Friday from 4:00-8:00 pm. You can just show up; no need to make an appointment on the calender link. Weekends are wide open for any time you wish to visit. No need to sign up, just show up.
That said, her friends are encouraged to visit after 4:00 pm weekdays (Dinner at 5:00 pm) and all day on weekends especially during mealtimes (8:00 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 Bill Elliott and Janet Cantley
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Fellowship and Social Activities | |
Dive Deeper into Connection at VUU!
Looking for other resources to find your niche within our vibrant VUU community? Our Fellowship site is the place to explore our established groups and ongoing activities!
Whether you're passionate about music, strumming a ukulele, mastering bridge, joining social dinners, or exploring other interests, there's a welcoming community waiting for you.
Discover lasting friendships and shared passions on our Fellowship site.
Let's connect, share, and grow together at VUU!
—Submitted by Doug Nitzel
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Singles Dinner Out
When: Friday, February 28, 6:30 pm
Where: Legends Showcase Bar and Grill
2386 N Alma School Rd, Chandler
(by Warner and Alma School)
This will be a special treat with live music featuring Les Paul singing hits from the 50’s to 80’s.
RSVP to Claudette by phone or text 973-768-6047 (Texts preferred)
—Submitted by Claudette Wassil
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Upcoming Empathy Circle at VUU
When: Sunday, March 2, 12:15–2:00 pm
Where: Room 5
Facilitator: Teri McGovern-Nintzel
Topic: How do you balance the information you take in from the world around you with discerning how you'd like to respond to it? (or whatever is alive in you)
RSVP Here (limited to 8 participants).
This Empathy Circle offers a structured yet deeply human way to practice active listening, using a simple but profoundly effective format taught by The Empathy Center. The practice fosters meaningful and life giving connection—not through agreement, but through presence and understanding. Before we begin, we’ll spend 15 minutes with gentle neural exercises—warming up our bodies and minds to help us open to presence, ease, and connection.
Save the Dates! More Empathy Circles in Room 5: Sundays, March 16, 23, 30. Please share topic or format requests Here.
Empathy Training Opportunity
The Empathy Center offers ongoing free/by-donation online Empathy Circle Facilitator Training. The next cohort begins Saturday, April 12.
—Submitted by Teri McGovern-Nintzel
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Webinar:
Grounded, Resilient, and Responsible: Responding and Organizing in Authoritarian Times
Tuesday, March 4 at 5:00 pm
As ministers and faith leaders, we are called to support our communities through uncertain and challenging times. With the rise of authoritarianism, disinformation, and fear-driven policies, our moral leadership is more essential than ever. We must model courage, resilience, and a commitment to justice that inspires others to do the same.
Register Here
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Documentary Screening
Fifty people attended last week’s screening of the documentary “Fault Lines: Inside the Housing Crisis” hosted by the VUU VIP core team. The discussion afterwards with panelists Dan Klocke of Gorman Development, Chandler Council member Jane Poston, and Substack writer Kevin Erdman was robust and informative. Special thanks to Mark Foote, Garry Cantley, Paul Reed, Eileen Garces and Todd Sirrine for helping make the event a success.
Next Steps
YIGBY Lives! AZ House Bill 2191 passed out of the Appropriations
Committee by a vote of 11-5-2 on Monday. There is still a lot of work to get the
“Yes! In God’s Backyard” bill passed and signed into law, and we will need your
help. Stay tuned for how you can best support VIP’s organizing to encourage
development of affordable housing on under utilized property owned by
religious institutions.
VIP Delegates Assembly. Wednesday, April 23, 6:30pm. Location TBD. A great way to show your support for Valley Interfaith Project and to find out more about how organizing for the common good works. Contact the VUU VIP Core Team at vip@vuu.org for more information.
Photo below is VUU members attending the VIP Research Action Training at Dayspring Arcadia UMC in Phoenix on February 18.
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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
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What is love calling you to do?
Side with Love is a public advocacy campaign that seeks to harness love’s power to stop oppression. The work that we do together to build a world in which all of us are free and thriving is interrelated. When we ground our spirits, grow our skills, and act strategically for justice in deep relationship with each other and our movements, we choose to Side With Love. Together we take action, Side With Love, and make deep impacts in this critical moment.
Watch the Sides with Love Weekly Updates for ways to be engaged, or Subscribe here.
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Paz de Cristo
We are currently not collecting donations for Paz. We need someone to take over this role. Please reach out if you are interested.
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 appreciates your TAX CREDIT donations. Get dollar-for-dollar credit to offset AZ tax liability this tax season!
Contact: Adrienne O'Donnell
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Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation | vuu.org | | | | |
