Easter Sunday April 20, 2025

All Community Worship! “Up Rising: A Spontaneous Pageant” for All Ages. Last year, I attended the large Mormon Easter pageant held in Mesa every year with a number of UU ministers on retreat at the time. Afterwards, we discussed which stories were included about the life of Jesus or left out. We felt like, if we had a UU version of an Easter pageant, it might have some different elements. So this year we get to experience a piece of the answer to that wondering as we recreate some stories about Jesus, including those at the very end of his life. And instead of just listening as they’re told, we’re going to tell them together. Music will include VUU Voices and Ensemble and the VUU Band! After service we’ll have an egg hunt and finish with a brunch prepared by the Coming of Age youth and families. More details in the Faith Formation section!

-Rev. Sarah

To help with Sunday morning hospitality, click here.

Abbreviated information about upcoming events

more than two weeks out or without an article below

• Pacific West Region Meeting - May 29
• New Participant Class - Jun 7 RSVP Here
• UUA General Assembly - Jun 18-22 Register Here

It's been a very full week. On Saturday I marched in downtown Phoenix with many UU’s and thousands of Phoenicians, and then met with a small group of leaders and Dr. Melissa James and Rev. Tania Marquez from the UUA to talk about Stewardship issues. These were both moving experiences, and one I was glad to prioritize. Sunday we enjoyed a soup lunch from the Coming of Age kids and a post service workshop on the Future of Faith Formation with Tania and Melissa. This coming weekend I will be supporting Sol’s fundraiser (see the article about it), and also in Prescott for part of the retreat this weekend. I’ll return for Sunday service.  

The book I am giving to new members is one that is edited by our UUA President, Sofia Betancourt, called “Love at the Center: Unitarian Universalist Theologies.” You can order it from the UU Bookstore and I highly recommend it. (New members–it’s in! Come by my office to get your household copy!)

This month you will be invited to participate in small group conversations about our budget and our future, and I am looking forward to your creative ideas for how we can continue to grow and meet the needs of our members, friends, and new participants while also connecting with our larger community in ways that are transformative, healing, and hopeful. Look for an email soon that gives you a chance to register for a conversation.  

Finally, we are beginning our search for a part time interim music coordinator. This person will be helping with some of the administrative and coordination tasks of our music program while current volunteers continue to lead the aspects of the program that bring them joy. They will also help us begin to consider our music program and its future–how we are changing, what we need to grow, and how music engagement helps us fulfill our mission and vision. A small hiring committee has been formed and is made up of music leaders and musicians. We look forward to sharing more with you when we are ready to hire someone!

—Rev. Sarah Oglesby-Dunegan



PSW Service Area Annual Assembly

The Annual Assembly will take place April 25-27 at the First UU Church, San Diego.

More information and registration is available here.

2025 FUUNd Last Chance

The Last Chance Sale for the 2025 FUUNd is open. All items are being offered a “buy-it-now” price. Payment must be made at the time of purchase. You can view the items, make your purchase(s), and pay via credit card at www.Auctria.Events/VUUFUUND2025

Email fuundtogether@vuu.org for questions or other assistance.

Come join the FUUNd! Get your bids in today!

—Submitted by Tricia Merrill

EastVUU Dinner

Thursday, April 10, 6:00 pm

Join UU friends at Zona Cantina to enjoy Mexican cuisine with a modern twist!

Address: 5609 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, 85215

—Submitted by Janice Miller

Youth Class Time Change Starts This Week

We have worked this year to help children feel included. Now we will bring the youth into our worship every week.

Starting on Sunday, April 13 and continuing through the end of the church year, youth in both high school and middle school will begin in the worship service and walk to their classes after the time for all ages.

Books about Trans Lives Available at Library

The Chandler Public Library has a copy of the book in which Jozeppi Angelo Morelli is featured, “Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families.” You can check it out with a Chandler Public Library card, available to anyone in Maricopa County (and a few outside). 

Here is a list of other books about or featuring people who are Trans.

—Submitted by Deidre Mears

VUU Green Sanctuary Garden

Four years ago, the Food for Life and the Planet (FLP) Committee assumed responsibility for VUU’s Green Sanctuary Garden. Kat Karpinen and I became co-chairs, and along with Ken St. John, numerous gardeners and volunteers, and grants from Special Funds, we made many significant improvements and successfully provided vegetables to the community and to our members.

Although we thoroughly enjoyed our time at the garden, Kat and I feel that it is time to hand the responsibility over to the next garden leaders. Krista Zabor has graciously stepped up to be a chair. We would like to have a co-chair to assist.

If you love gardening, won’t you please consider joining us to bring the garden to its next phase? Kat and I will be available to provide direction and Ken is remaining actively involved.

Please contact Kat Karpinen and/or Denise McLeod if you have an interest and would like to learn more. Thank you!

Warmly,

Denise

Resilient Relationship Team Training

Interested in Resilient Relationship Team Training?

A group of us will be gathering for potlucks and training starting in April, using this UU Institute Tending Covenant training resource. In a low pressure, no homework, no deadline environment with yummy foods to share, we will explore how to weave ourselves into a community that practices conflict as learning, growth, and faith formation opportunity. Want to join us? Contact Teri McGovern-Nintzel.

—Submitted by Teri McGovern-Nintzel

Event to Support Invisible Disabilities

Sol Oglesby-Dunegan is planning an event for Saturday, April 12 to deepen awareness and support for invisible disabilities. "Poems I Wrote From My Bathroom Floor" is a poetry and spoken word event for those with POTS, EDS, and Epilepsy to share their experiences as disabled people in our society. There is a $5 entrance fee, and it is a fundraising event. All money earned will be split three ways and donated to three organizations that work closely to help those with these disabilities. The program itself runs from 11:30 am-2:00 pm, and doors open at 11:00 am. There will be resources available for those interested and a Q&A circle will run after the program ends. Volunteers to help with set up, take down, and donation collection are needed. Come and bring some friends! Contact Sol for more information or to volunteer.  

—Submitted by Rev. Sarah

Resistance Volunteer Fair

Feeling frustrated with current events? Enraged? Sad? Us too! Join us to plan a Resistance Volunteer Fair aimed at connecting people to opportunity. We'll bring in area organizations committed to helping those most impacted by our current shift in policies. Groups will represent our LGBTQIA+ friends, our immigrant neighbors, our trans family members and our Latino friends. We'll invite groups that work on housing and food insecurity, gun safety, voting rights and more. 

Contact Amanda Schneider or at 480-567-2155 to express your interest and join our first planning meeting!  

—Submitted by Amanda Schneider

Paz de Cristo

Volunteers needed this month!

Continuing the Tradition… Keeping the Commitment… Living our Principles

April date: Friday, April 11, 4:00-7:00 pm

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 the month, April 11. Volunteers gather at the Paz kitchen/dining room from 4 to 7 pm to prepare several meal items and then serve the evening meal. Additional tasks include cleanup of dishes, sweeping and mopping of floors and taking out the trash. 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 here.

—Submitted by Joanne McGrath

Partners in Education (PIE) – Your tax credit helps kids!



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:

To donate, click here and create a guest account or sign in. In the search box, enter 8002. Look for Adams and add amount to your 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