December Christmas and Seasonal Services and Activities

Saturday, December 7, 1:00-4:00 pm in the sanctuary.

Hanging of the lights and decorating!  Bring or donate extra decorations. We’ll need someone who is comfortable on a ladder and help getting decorations down from the storage room. If you have a large pre-lit tree you’d like to donate, let us know! The one we have has been around a long time… SIGN UP HERE

Sunday, December 8. “The Gift of Presence.” A multi-generational service exploring the idea of presence (as opposed to presents!). We’ll have Soul Work tables for all ages with activities to create seasonal items and seasonal treats. We’ll celebrate the secular songs and traditions of the season including a special visit from Santa after service, when families can get pictures with Santa. If you are willing to bake sugar cookies for decorating or assist with set up and managing the activities, contact Sara Sautter.

Sunday, December 15. “Practicing Presence.” Rev. Sarah and Amanda Schneider share experiences and practices that can be grounding for us in times of stress, overwhelm, busyness–whether it’s a busy holiday season or the many curve balls that life throws at us.

Sunday, December 22. “Winter Solstice.” This service will celebrate the pagan observance of winter solstice. Based more in ritual and rhythm, this service is perfect for those who appreciate seasonal metaphors and spiritual practices that are more embodied.  

Tuesday, December 24, 3:00 pm. “All Ages No-Rehearsal Christmas Pageant.” In the past, VUU has held a Christmas pageant led by the kids that involved several Sundays of rehearsing. This year we change it up a bit! We’ll have a no-rehearsal pageant that invites audience members to choose a part in the pageant when they arrive! It's narrated, so no lines to memorize! No rehearsal necessary. We’ll sing the songs and tell the stories of the birth of Jesus together, with costumes and imagination.  

Tuesday, December 24, 7:00 pm. “Christmas Candlelight.” A traditional lessons and carols service that emphasizes the possibilities of peace and love that come with stories of the birth of Jesus. How can we live into these possibilities in the coming year? 

To help with Sunday morning hospitality, click here.

Abbreviated information about upcoming events that are

further than two weeks out.

• FUUNd Donations Accepted - Now through Jan 5 Donate here
• New Participant Classes - Dec 7, Mar 22, Jun 7 RSVP here
• AZCEND Food Bank with Rev. Sarah - Dec 13 Sign Up
• Page Turners Book Club - Dec 19 Book: Mr. Timothy
• VIP House Meeting - Dec 22
• Senior High Winter Camp at de Benneville - Dec 28-Jan 1 Register here
• Ethics for Unitarian Universalists - begins Jan 8 Sign Up
• New Participant Meal - Feb 1, Apr 5 RSVP here
• VIP Leaders Retreat - Feb 1
• FUUNd Auction - Feb 2-16
• VUU Camping Retreat - Apr 11-13 at Friendly Pines Camp in Prescott

Last Sunday we had a very successful multi-gen service with nearly 200 in attendance. The Soul Work tables (see photos below) gave some folks an option to create a flower arrangement, a pot holder, or a holiday themed artwork, and our cornbread communion table included offerings from several people. We shared stories that were funny, moving, and thoughtful. We celebrated Nick Carr’s volunteerism. Our new Toddler and Baby space has been a real hit, too–a great space for parents and littles to be in service together. On Monday, I created the last two flower arrangements from the leftovers and used them to decorate the I-HELP dinner tables. We had a crew of VUUers bringing food and serving and eating with our guests.  

Our safety grant crew has been diligently working to finish an important step that outlines all the details of our project to the grantors. It’s been a steep learning curve, but we’re getting all the necessary pieces put together. I look forward to next steps and starting the work in the new year. 

I was glad to be a part of the VIP delegation that went to the Maricopa zoning commission last week to advocate for an affordable housing development in Chandler. The commission approved the application, and now it is on to the next step. Want to know more? Read the VIP news later in this Happenings. There are many more updates to share, so stay tuned next week!  

This week, VUU staff will be away Thursday-Sunday for the holiday break. We are also off from December 25-January 1.

-Rev. Sarah Oglesby-Dunegan



Santa is Coming to VUU!

That’s right! We will have (a real bearded) Santa here for our All-Community Holiday Party after our December 8 worship service. So plan to stay after worship, decorate the VUU tree, take some pictures, make decorations, decorate and eat some holiday cookies, sing some carols, and have the kids talk to Santa.

Donate Now to the 2025 Let’s Have FUUNd Together Auction

The Let’s Have FUUNd Together Auction is an annual tradition at VUU that has been going on for over 40 years! From now until Sunday, January 5, we are asking you to donate events and services that will then be sold during the on-line auction that starts on Sunday, February 2. FUUNd offers unique opportunities to spend time with old and new friends while raising FUUNds to support VUU. In 2024 we raised over $23,000!

Want to get in on the FUUNd? To donate your own special event or service, visit the auction table on Sunday mornings or fill out the donation form online. You can also contact us by email.

Not sure what to donate? Click here for suggestions

VUU Congregational Survey

Happy Thanksgiving from the Assessment Committee. Enjoy your day! You are encouraged to relax and Complete the survey by Monday, December 16 when tabulations will commence. If needed, email the assessment team with questions.

Thanks, Katie, Nancy and the rest of the Assessment Committee

EastVUU Holiday Party

Thursday, December 12, 6:00 pm

All are welcome to join potluck and holiday fun at Barbara Peter’s home in Leisure World, 2114 Capri Dr., Mesa, AZ 85206. Bring your favorite potluck dish to share. Also bring a cheap “white elephant” gift—something used or useless, just for fun! Bring a sweater if you’d like to enjoy the fire pit and s'mores. All are welcome!

Looking for Talent!

Are you a singer or musician? Are you interested in singing or playing an instrument with an ensemble for Sunday services? Contact Lynn DeMuth or Noell Hyman. A small steering committee has been working with Rev. Sarah to plan music while our Music Director has been on sick leave.

Dear Ones,

It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the death of beloved member Jodi Cicirello. Jodi joined VUU in 2017. She was an avid motorcyclist, and when I first met her had been on adventures in her RV. She loved being of service to the community and loved VUU for giving her opportunities to do so with other like-minded people. She died last Friday on her motorcycle out near Globe on Highway 60. No doubt she died doing something she loved fiercely. When we know more about plans for a Celebration of Life or other arrangements, I’ll be sure to let you know.

-Rev. Sarah

Safety Grant Submitted!

Here is a photo of the Safety Committee working out the last details on our grant submission. Thanks for your hard work!

Pictured: Charlie Thomas, Mark Beehler, Debbe Simpkins, Kimberly Light, and Todd Sirrine. 

Not pictured: Rev. Sarah and David Sheh.

Brown Bag Lunch with Rev. Sarah

The next Brown Bag lunch with Rev. Sarah will be on Tuesday, December 10 from 11:30 am-1:00 pm in the Board Room. 

Bring your lunch and come join us for conversation and community. Bring yourself and whatever else you want to share–a dessert, a story, a snack, a question–you choose! 

Celebrating House Meetings

VUU’s VIP Core team is celebrating the success of our partnership with Caring Neighbors. Since July, on the Fourth Sunday of each month, we’ve collaborated to host small group conversations—also known as “house meetings”—to discuss the challenges facing VUU members and friends and their families. Fifty people have come together to share concerns around loneliness, building safety, mental health, housing, election anxiety, communicating across generational and political divides, and others.

Our goal is to help foster relationships among people in the congregation who may not have known each other before meeting face-to-face for a small conversation—and finding that we’re not alone in our concerns. All are welcome to join the conversation. The next one will be on Sunday, December 22 in the sanctuary flex room after the service.

Our People Gonna Rise: An Emma's Revolution Concert to Benefit UURISE

Date: Sunday, December 8. Reception at 2:00 pm. Concert at 3:00 pm

Location: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix, 4027 E Lincoln Dr

And via Livestream. Buy tickets here.

As Unitarian Universalists across the nation reaffirm our unwavering commitment to human rights in the face of fascism, we invite you to support a beloved UU organization: UURISE (Unitarian Universalist Refugee and Immigrant Services and Education). UURISE needs our help to build capacity for their programs so that they can meet the urgent need of our time. 

We know that even as we face the uncertainty and threat of harm that is coming, our resilience is grounded in community and joy. Buy your tickets now and let's come together in song with Emma's Revolution to affirm that Our People Gonna Rise!

One Small Step for Affordable Housing

On November 21, the Maricopa County Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5-1 to recommend the zoning change VIP’s been organizing for since

December 2022!

Next step is the Board of Supervisors vote on Wednesday, December 12 at 9:30 am. Please join us in person or online to support affordable housing in Chandler! More information next week.

-Submitted by Barb Quijada

Partners in Education (PIE)

You can make a big difference for the kids at Adams Elementary School in Mesa by making a financial contribution to Mesa Public Schools, while receiving a tax credit for a Public School, 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. 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 Arizona tax liability). Thanks so much on behalf of the kids and teachers!

Thank you from I-HELP Team

Thanks to the entire crew serving dinner to I-HELP guests on November 25. Our team even included a group of three generations.