To help with Sunday morning hospitality, click here.

Abbreviated information about upcoming events

more than two weeks out or without an article below

• New Participant Meal - Apr 5 RSVP here
• Parents & Pastries - Apr 6
• Pacific West Region Meeting - May 29
• New Participant Classes - Jun 7 RSVP here
• UUA General Assembly - Jun 18-22 Register Here

VUU has been building our budget based on the pledges and other income we have received and continue to receive from each of you. At the beginning of March we celebrated Mary Erickson as someone who has consistently supported VUU financially and as a volunteer in a number of different ways. “Wise elder” is not a term we use at VUU often–not because we lack wise people, but because so few want to be named an “elder.” However, I think we need to cultivate this role more. Someone who has given so much over many years and continues to learn, grow and lead is an asset we should celebrate! 

We also have many new folks showing up and contributing to VUU who are sharing new perspectives, resources and ideas for how we can grow as a community–also bringing new questions and a desire to feel a sense of belonging and connection. Last weekend we were blessed by an opportunity to learn together and remember together the legacy of Cesar Chavez and other leaders in the United Farm Workers Union. This program was the result of planning and conversations with members Beatriz Arias Cisneros and Sheila Lopez, who joined within the last two years. At a time when our current administration is destroying our connections to important and diverse leaders by taking down web pages or editing out their contributions, it feels important to be honoring these legacies. Simultaneously, it feels important that we look for ways to show up in our community and speak up against the destruction of our democracy.  

There are so many ways to do this, but I want to encourage us to be thinking more about how we can be doing this together. Are you going to a protest? Reach out to let us know so some of us can join you. Make signs that reference our VUU community support! Wear UU shirts! Going to a meeting? Volunteering somewhere? Writing letters to legislators? Invite members of the VUU community; create a team to do these things with you! I was listening to AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes at a Civic Engagement Beyond Voting Meeting (CEBV) this week (more than 400 people on a zoom call, a number of them VUUers!) She emphasized that two strategies right now are “courts and crowds.” We can’t all be the AG and fighting the court battles, but we can show up and create crowds to draw attention to what is happening. We can make phone calls, write letters, and plan actions. And we can take care of the needs that arise, whether it’s helping pay for the legal costs of an immigrant family we are accompanying, providing safe space for groups to meet and discuss actions and needs, or participating in mutual aid structures. And friends, I can’t organize all of these pieces by myself or even initiate all of these. Some of you are going to have to organize meetings, post information, and invite others to join you. (And some of you are doing this! Thanks!)  I can help you get the word out to other VUU folks, we can offer meeting space resources and share ideas. Sometimes having “300 roommates” is a great way to start a movement.  

—Rev. Sarah Oglesby-Dunegan

Would you like to represent VUU at General Assembly in June?

The VUU Denominational Affairs Committee (DAC) is looking for candidates to become VUU delegates to the UUA General Assembly (GA), which will be held June 18 - June 22 in Baltimore, MD. We are looking for interested members who are willing to represent VUU, make connections among GA attendees, and to learn and bring ideas back to our Committees and the Congregation. They will need to represent the diverse perspectives of VUU members and congregational opinions in discussions and voting matters.

This year, GA will be held in person and virtually. Delegates must attend the Business Sessions at a minimum, but ideally they would also attend the workshops and lectures, where many of the ideas to be brought back to VUU will be found.

Details about GA can be found at uaa.org/ga. Please reach out to us at dac@vuu.org with any questions, or to let us know you are interested in becoming a delegate.

Save the Date: PWR Business Meeting

Please save the date for our 1st Annual PWR Business Meeting! 

We are meeting via Zoom on Thursday, May 29 from 8:00-9:00 pm MST. We will provide a regional update, approve the annual budget, and approve board members. As we approach the meeting, be on the lookout for further details, including meeting materials. 

—Blessings, PWR Board 

2025 FUUNd Last Chance Sale is Open

The Last Chance Sale for the 2025 FUUNd is open. All items are being offered at 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 here.

Here are a few events coming up in April. (See the website for additional items.)

EFT Workshop: Tapping Away Undesired Emotions and Pain (Sunday, April 13, 1:00-3:00 pm) In this self-help workshop, you will learn about the benefits of using the Emotional Freedom Technique (Tapping) to release undesired emotional attachments of your past.

Hand And Foot Card Tournament (Saturday, April 19, 5:00 pm) The hand and foot card game is a fun and exciting card game that is played with multiple decks of cards. It’s great for family gatherings or friendly competitions.

Beginner Line Dancing Lesson (Saturday, April 5, 1:00-2:30 pm)

Tie-Dyed Easter Eggs (Saturday, April 12, 1:00-4:00 pm)

Texas Hold’Em Poker Tournament & Dinner (Saturday, April 26, 5:00 pm)

Workshop on Creating a Connected World with Empathy Circles (Sunday, April 27, 1:00 - 2:30 pm)

Email fuundtogether@vuu.org for questions or other assistance. Come join the FUUNd! Get your bids in today!

Special Funds Grant Dollars Remaining



As we approach the end of our fiscal year, the Special Funds Committee wants to remind you that we still have $7,760.15 available for grant distributions from the Endowment Fund for the fiscal year. Applications and instructions can be found on the VUU website at "About VUU/Elected Leaders/Special Funds Committee," then open "SFC Grant Application and Process." Or use this link.

Here is a list of the Grants we have already funded this fiscal year.

Please contact Carl Anderson at 480-529-4365 if you have any questions.

EastVUU Online: "Where is Your Faith?"

Thursday, March 27, 6:00pm

Where are you placing your faith in these difficult times? How do UUs bolster their faith when shared values and institutions seem to be crumbling? Let’s talk about what faith means to us individually and what works to keep our spirits whole.

New(ish) Zoom link: Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 812 3702 9733

Passcode: 597613

—Submitted by Janice Miller

VUU Green Sanctuary Garden Seeking a Co-Chair

Four years ago, FLP 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

Game Lounge: First and Third Wednesdays

Next date is Wednesday, April 2 at 6:00 pm.

Parents and Pastries

Our first Parents and Pastries was held on Sunday, March 9 on the playground. We will be hosting this event monthly on the Second Sunday of the month. Is your family new to VUU? Join us and get to know other parents while your children make new friends. 

Next meet-up, Sunday April 6 at 9:30 am.

Playground or Rooms 1&2 depending upon the weather.

—Sara Sautter, Interim Director of Faith Formation

Building Community Relations: House Meetings

Every Fourth Sunday, immediately after the service, we host a "Building Community Relations: House Meeting," coordinated by Valley Interfaith Project (VIP) together with Caring Neighbors.

The purpose is the share stories of challenges currently affecting you and your family/friends. The goal is to build compassion, connection, and solidarity in our VUU community.

Please join us in the Flex Room after the service on Sunday, March 23 for a chance to get to know each other better. We offer a friendly, safe space--and we look forward to talking and listening together. And feel free to bring a friend.

—Submitted by Kathy Melamed

Update on Sandy Whitley

Sandy Whitley is making noticeable and steady progress in her recovery, albeit at a slow pace. She needs volunteers at meal-time, occasionally for assistance, but mostly for interaction and visiting.

You can sign up for a meal here.

Thank you for your care and concern.

—Submitted by Janet Cantley and Sandy's son Zach Green

Trans and Non-Binary Community Resource Day

Saturday, March 29

at VUU, on west side of campus

RSVP Here

View Flyer Here

10:00-10:30 am: Opening Ceremony in the Courtyard, led by Indigenous leaders

10:30-11:00 am: Welcome and Itinerary in the Courtyard

11:00 am-12:00 pm: Potluck & Resource Fair, Classrooms 1&2

12:00-2:50 pm: Workshops

Save the Date: Sunday, March 30

Trans Day of Visibility Service at VUU

For Questions contact minister@vuu.org.

Singles Dinner

When: Friday, March 28 at 6:30 pm

Where: Ryu Sushi and Teppanyaki,

2512 S Val Vista Dr #101, Gilbert

(near Val Vista and Williams Field)

This was described to me as the inexpensive Benihana, with the same quality at much lower prices. Lively chef performances as he prepares this 5-course meal including vegetarian choices.

RSVP to this email, or contact Claudette by phone or text 973-768-6047

—Submitted by Claudette Wassil

Empathy Circles at VUU: Hybrid Option Coming Soon!

I’m working on making Empathy Circles at VUU hybrid (in-person/online) to include those who can’t attend in person. This would allow experienced facilitators and interested individuals from outside our community to join, expanding the reach of this resource and potentially posing unique challenges. With both pros and cons considered, I believe this growth could strengthen our collective capacity to practice and embody diverse connection skills and expand our choices beyond habitual responses like comparison, judgment, avoidance, the need to be right, interrogation, defensiveness, fixing, pleasing, intellectualizing, interrupting, minimizing, withholding, and sarcasm—just to name a baker’s disconnection dozen.

To accommodate as many people as possible, I’m considering offering this up to four times per month, alternating between daytime and evening. I’ll be creating a Doodle poll with potential times—if you'd like to receive it, please reply here!

Save the Date

The next scheduled Empathy Circle is Sunday, March 23, 12:15-2:00 pm in the chancel area of the Sanctuary.

—Submitted by Teri McGovern-Nitzel

I-HELP Meal on Monday, March 24

Our meal will feature the ultimate comfort food: stew. Coming Of Age participants are making the stew, but we still need some help with the other meal items!  

Sign Up Here

Volunteer at the AZCEND Food Bank with Rev. Sarah

Date: Friday, March 28.

Meet at 8:30 am at 345 S California St, Chandler, AZ 85225. Go inside to the Food Bank area, sign in, and make a name tag. Wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes.

Email me if you’re planning to come: minister@vuu.org. This is a great way to learn more about this organization and also help out.  

—Rev. Sarah

Support My Fundraising Efforts for AZCEND!

Did you know I have the honor of serving on the Board of AZCEND? AZCEND provides food, housing support, and essential services to families facing hunger, poverty, and homelessness. I’ve seen firsthand how this organization transforms lives, and I’m reaching out because you have a unique opportunity to make a direct impact—and also earn a valuable Arizona state tax credit. 

As a Qualifying Charitable Organization (QCO #20491), AZCEND is eligible for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit. This means your donation—up to $470 for individuals or $938 for couples—can be claimed as a dollar-for-dollar credit on your 2024 Arizona state taxes when you give by April 15. Learn more about the tax credit from the Arizona Department of Revenue.

Every dollar helps local families in need and can reduce what you owe in state taxes. I’d love for you to join me in supporting this mission, and if you can, please share this with others who may want to give.

Make your tax credit donation today.

Thank you for being part of something that truly changes lives! For more information about AZCEND and our campaign, please click here.

—Best, Sarah Oglesby-Dunegan, AZCEND Board Member