Sunday May 18, 2025
This Sunday’s service will be led by the Coming of Age students. There are 13 who will help lead the service and share their credos and talents. We will all participate in a ritual to honor them, their parents and their mentors and prepare them for their trip to Boston.
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Final Coming of Age Soup Lunch
11:30 Sunday, May 18
Come and enjoy a bowl of soup and a salad after worship while helping the Coming of Age Youth reach their fundraising goal for their upcoming Heritage Trip to Boston. Vegetarian and vegan soups are available for a minimum donation of $10.
| |  | IN THE EDUCATION BUILDINGS | |
FAITH FORMATION
This Sunday is an All Community worship service with children kindergarten and older staying for the worship service. The Coming of Age youth will be leading the worship service, providing readings, music and their personal credos. Soul Work tables will be up with mandala coloring, and other activities for children and people of all ages. The Play Church will be there!
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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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Find Jesus Game
Lynn DeMuth says: He has risen and now is hidden
Continue the search for Jesus... when you find him, take a picture, send it to Sarah, and then rehide him on campus. The game is afoot!
No burials. Jesus has risen;-). No dangerous locations. Plain sight is fine. Let those who have eyes… Note where you’ve left him in case he's too hard to find.
| | Love is our doctrine · Service is our prayer · Justice is our calling | | | | | |
Calendar
Thursday, May 15
Friday, May 16
Saturday, May 17
Sunday, May 18
Monday, May 19
Tuesday, May 20
Wednesday, May 21
Thursday, May 22
Friday, May 23
Saturday, May 24
Sunday, May 25
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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Pacific West Region Meeting - May 29
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New Participant Class - Jun 7 RSVP Here
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Congregational Annual Meeting - Jun 8
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UUA General Assembly - Jun 18-22 Register Here
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Safety/Security CERT Training:
Safety/Security Training at VUU: Tuesday May 20 1-3; Please RSVP to Rev. Sarah. This is a preliminary training, and will be followed by more opportunities. If you serve in a leadership role and are available, please join us.
—Rev. Sarah Oglesby-Dunegan
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If you are new to VUU or Unitarian Universalism, you may be used to clergy who never get a Sunday off and have very little leave time. Our denomination recognizes the importance of clergy rest and renewal, and our standard clergy contract includes one Sunday off a month for all religious professionals (not just clergy) and 8 weeks of vacation and study leave (four of each). In addition, we get one month of sabbatical leave per year of service that we can use after 3 years service. It’s recommended that we use our sabbatical before serving six years to avoid burnout and to make sure the time away isn’t too much of a burden. This is paid leave.
I usually spend four of my eight weeks with my family during the year–fall break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break. Then the other four are spent after I attend the UUMA ministry days and UUA general assembly in June. This means I am out of the pulpit in the summer for part of June and most of July. Lay leaders and guest speakers are arranged for these Sundays. Starting in January 2026, I will take 2 months of sabbatical this year as well. In my 11 years of ministry, I have not been able to take sabbatical leave due to moving to new locations and serving as an interim minister. I am so excited to finally get this special time, and hope to travel to Costa Rica to see my daughter. I haven’t planned it all yet! I am putting together a sabbatical team to help plan for this time away.
This is why we call this a shared ministry–it is never my work alone nor the work of the lay leaders alone. We work together to make VUU the best we can make it–and it takes all of us. I am looking forward to time away and also to returning with new energy. If you need to see me before I head out, please contact me so we can get our calendars lined up! In addition, I am planning the calendar for next year. Please send me dates you are looking at for events and activities in the 25-26 program year!
–Rev. Sarah
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VUU New Participant Class
June 7 from 9:30-1:00 is our next class for folks to learn about VUU. We will also have lunch together to make up for missing our last scheduled brunch so that folks could protest together. Please RSVP. Class is led by Rev. Sarah and the Membership team. We will meet in Classroom 1&2.
--Rev Sarah
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Announcing our Interim Music Coordinator, Meg Palermo
Over the last month VUU conducted a search for an interim music coordinator. The search team included: Rev. Sarah, Beth Wyman, Lynn Demuth (also on Personnel team), Lisa Bonine (serves on Board of Trustees), Laurie Fagen, and Felix Werwer. We made an amazing match!
After interviewing Meg Palermo, we knew she was “the one!” Meg has had a rich career in music, and she has continued to grow and learn along the way. She began with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with a piano performance minor and worked in several public high schools as a choral music teacher. During this time she also completed a Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting at Westminster Choir College, graduating with distinction. She has conducted for and performed with many choral groups and has the honor of being chosen to travel to Italy this summer to conduct in the Sarteano Choral Workshop in Sarteano, Italy. She is currently finishing a Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting with a minor in Jazz Studies at University of Arizona. (She is finishing her dissertation.) She has experience working with faith communities, too. She is enthusiastic about all kinds of singing and music–from contemporary and pop music to jazz and classical and everything in between. She is excited about the diversity of music at VUU and the engagement of our volunteer musicians and music leaders as well as the opportunity to do interim work with us while she completes her PhD. We look forward to beginning our work with her. She’ll begin meeting with the choir, ensemble, band and other interested musicians and singers over this month.
As with our Interim Faith Formation Director, this position is not permanent, and offers us an opportunity to learn about ourselves–to ask questions, to experiment and try new things, and hopefully to build a mission and vision we can live into together. As we've experienced, this means we will be learning new ways to do things and also continuing to learn about and from each other. This is an imperfect process, and we will all experience it differently. I like to remind folks that practicing pluralism is about space and grace–making space for other people’s needs and desires which may different from yours and giving each other some grace to make mistakes and make amends–to show up together and learn means sometimes we won’t get it “right” and it also means that “getting it right” is not always an objective experience. When we center love, it is easier to make room for this diversity and to remember that congregational life is about relationships.
-Submitted by Rev. Sarah
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VUU 2025-26 Budget Details
Thanks to everyone who participated in our congregational conversation on May 4, and to everyone who attended small group house meetings to provide input.
One of the items we will be voting on at our annual meeting on June 8 is our 2025-26 congregational budget. This budget takes into account the drop in revenue, and consequently makes staff cuts, most notably in reducing Director of Faith Formation (DFF) to 1/2 time and the Director of Music Ministries (DMM) to 1/4 time.
There are many other changes; to see them all please follow this link. Note there are two workbooks (tabs) - a summary and a detailed spreadsheet with comments.
—Submitted by David Sheh
And Speaking of the Small Group Conversations....
This is the YouTube link for the slides from the Sunday May 4, 2025 Conversation. Forty people have viewed some part of the video so far. The slides and narrative for the ideas from the small group conversations are between 1:20:10 and 1:45:27. To get there, please use the slider at the bottom of the video screen. When you want to study a slide, stop the video and restart it when you are ready.
—Submitted by Nancy Egly
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Living In Covenant
Hello VUU! It's been a year since our Faith Formation Director of 15 years, Marci Beaudoin, retired from VUU. She is returning as a member this month, and we'd like to share with you the covenant we've agreed to and would like your help upholding.
In order to ensure new leadership has the leeway to try new things and make decisions, Marci agrees to not engage with or comment on anything related to faith formation except as a potential participant in adult faith formation opportunities. If she has concerns about something, she will communicate directly with Rev. Sarah and avoid triangulating conversations with other members about faith formation. This will be the case for at least 2 more years as we complete interim work and move into a settled position.
VUU Members and friends are asked to talk to current staff and leaders about faith formation if they have concerns, ideas, or needs. If you approach Marci with these concerns at VUU or at an off campus event, she will redirect you to the current staff/leader, avoiding triangulation.
We sent Marci off with a big party and a lot of care to show our gratitude for her service. When she returns, she prefers to do so on her own terms and without fanfare. It's been quite awhile since she was "just a normal member" and not on staff. VUU and VUU staff agrees to give her space and time to acclimate to this change without pressure to serve on any team.
Thanks for your support in this next transition!
–Rev. Sarah & Marci Beaudoin
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The FUUNd Continues!
So far this month we’ve had a Ladies Night of Debauchery (pictured near the bottom of the article), Queen Creek Olive Mill Luncheon & Tour, Make a Beaded Windchime (pictured at left), Made To Order Quiche and our first VUUniversity: We Are the Stories We Tell - The Art of Storytelling.
There is still time to join in a few events this month:
VUU Chooses You! Pokemon Party (Sunday, 05/18/2025; 12:30- 2:30 PM) Calling all the Pokemon fans for a Pokemon tournament and a couple of other games and PIZZA! If you have a favorite tournament deck, bring it on! We promise a FUUNd time for all, and everyone will leave with some Pokemon loot and new trainer friends.
Night of Debauchery - All Genders Welcome (Friday, 05/23/2025; 6:30 PM) Katie H.'s annual Ladies Night of Debauchery is the stuff of legends. And this year’s was no exception as a wonderful time was had by all. It’s a celebration of over eating, over drinking (your friends will call you a cab), gambling, and gaming! It's possible that a few of you who are not ladies have felt excluded up until now. Well weep no more! This year there’s a second night for ALL GENDERS!!! Spend the night with old and new friends laughing and having FUUNd!
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!
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VUUniversity is a series of 18 talks and workshops being offered by subject matter "experts" on a wide range of FUUNd subjects. Beginning May 10, talks are held at 1PM on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays in the VUU Board Room unless otherwise noted. Meet your presenters, see details, and purchase your tickets today via FUUNd 's Last Chance Auction at www.Auctria.Events/VUUFUUND2025.
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- From Grave to Coffee Table -- Archaeological Resource Crime (5/24/2025) - Sold-out!
- Retire Well! (06/14/2025)
- Practicing Joy (6/28/2025) - Sold-out!
- Dance Performance Screening and Discussion - Alvin Ailey's "Revelations" (7/12/2025)
- Sharpen Up Your Scrabble Game (7/26/2025; 6:00-7:30 PM)
- Homeopathic Remedies for You & Your Family (08/09/2025)
- Abbott and Costello Re-visited (8/23/2025)
- How to Sing in a Choir Even if You Don't Read Music (9/13/2025)
- SoulCollage® Workshop with Rev. Sarah (9/27/2025)
- "We are called to preach!" Early Unitarian and Universalist Women Ministers Challenge Their Faiths 10/11/2025)
- How Green is Your Garden? The Art of Home Composting (10/25/2025)
- Do YOU Have a Last Will and Testament? (11/8/2025)
- Put That Cookie Down! Living a Healthier Life by Lowering Your Blood Sugar (11/22/2025)
- Exercises to Improve Balance and Help Prevent Falls(1/10/2026)
- Re-Visiting Folk Music of the '60s and'70s (1/24/2026)
- Creating a Connected World with Empathy Circles (2/14/2026)
- Everything (Almost) You Need to Become a First Time Home Buyer (2/28/2026)
—Submitted by Tricia Merrill
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EastVUU Online
Thursday, May 22, 6p
Let’s activate our imaginations together! If you had 3 other lives to lead, what would you do in each of them? Would you have been an archeologist, an astronaut, or a folk singer? Or maybe a screenwriter, a marine biologist or a painter? Where does your attraction to each imagined life come from? Join us as we lift our spirits and learn more about each other.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 812 3702 9733
Passcode: 597613
Save the Date: EastVUU Dinner, June 12, 6p
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Janey Marquez Celebration of Life
Longtime member Janey Marquez passed away last month and we will celebrate her life with her family and friends on May 23 at 3p. Janey had Alzheimer's and had been away from VUU for a few years, but her heart was always with VUU.
If you are able to help me with setting up or wish to share something about her time at VUU, please let me know. The family is planning a reception at their home afterwards, so our hospitality will be simple.
--Rev Sarah
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Sandy Whitley Update
Our VUU member Sandy Whitley continues on her path to better health. Her sons moved her from the Sante care facility to a new location in south Chandler with 5 residents, where she will continue to get care, speech and physical therapy. She appreciates visits from us! There are 2 chairs in her private room, and a living area for visiting too. Visiting hours are 10am to 6pm everyday. NOTE: May 15 Sandy will be off-site for a medical appointment.
Here is what her son shared about the home:
“Keep in mind, this is just a regular house in a regular neighborhood... The owner/manager is Sothy Keo (pronounced so-tee). Sometimes it takes them a little time to answer the door, mainly because they may be busy taking care of one of the residents.”
The home is at 4820 S Robins Way, Chandler, AZ 85249
She would also appreciate cards sent to the address above!
--Submitted by Karen Stucke
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VUU Singles Dinner Out
When: Friday, May 23, AT 6:30
Where: Zorba’s Greek Café, 1964 Alma School Rd., Chandler (near the corner of Warner and Alma School in Pollack Plaza)
RSVP to Claudette by phone or text 973-768-6047
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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 May 15 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 Henna Artist by Alka Joshi.
Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist—and confidante—to the wealthy women of the upper class. Vivid and compelling in its portrait of one woman’s struggle for fulfillment in a society pivoting between the traditional and the modern, the novel opens a door into a world that is at once lush and fascinating, stark and cruel.
For the meeting address or questions, please contact Johnnie at 480-231-8381 or email: membership@vuu.org.
--Submitted by Amy Monahan
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Counselor-In-Training
Dear UU Camp supporter,
If you have already signed up for summer camp already – we look forward to seeing you!
There is also a training opportunity for high school youth during Elementary Camp. Your camper may now be old enough and inclined to apply to become a Counselor-in-Training during Elementary Camp. Please read all about it here and let me know if any questions. Feel free to share with others in the high school age range who enjoy working with younger people. Applications due soon!
We count on new youth counselors (and adult volunteers) to make camp possible for future campers. If you are passionate about our camp and would like to learn valuable skills and help create the camps that develop our youth to become independent, caring leaders, come and join us! Click here to find out more.
Yours in community,
Laura Lunn
She/her/hers
(949) 300-3645
Incoming Camping Ministries Director
Camp DeBenneville Pines
--Submitted by Patricia Reed
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IHELP
IHELP Dinner hosts for Monday, May 26: Help us provide a meal and serve it to our Ihelp guests: Sign up here!
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IHELP Over the Summer
Over the summer both Rev. Sarah and Adrienne O’Donnell have travel plans (and Rev. Sarah will be taking her vacation and study leave time). This will take us away from helping IHELP guests and dinner hosts get set up. If you have been trained or are willing to be trained to do IHELP hosting, we need you! This basically is a commitment from 5:15-7:00 four-five times a month. The dates we need help are: May 26, June 2, 16, 17, 23 and 30; July 7, 15, 21, and 28. Adrienne is available for some of these dates but needs help. The highlighted dates are the ones when we provide the meal and host. Please reach out to Adrienne if you can commit to one or more of these dates.
--Rev Sarah
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Valley Interfaith Project’s Delegates Assembly / Medicaid Civic Academy was a great success!
- More than 120 people attended the Assembly at PVUMC—the room was packed!
- Twenty-three people from VUU were there!
- Two of the seven Medicaid storytellers were from VUU or related to VUU members—their stories were originally shared at one of the three house meetings the Core Team hosted on the VUU patio over the last month.
At the end of every VIP meeting or assembly, we agree to Next Steps. Whether or not you attended the Assembly, here’s what you can do now:
- Call your U.S. Congressional Representatives and ask them to oppose any cuts to Medicaid. We especially ask anyone who lives in Congressional District 1 to call Rep David Schweikert. 202-225-2190
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Attend Arizona Interfaith Network’s meeting in Tucson (Rep Ciscomani’s district) on Thursday, May 15, 6:30-8:00 PM at St Cyril of Alexandria Catholic Church, 4725 E Pima St, Tucson 85712. VUU members are organizing a carpool. Contact Eileen Garces for more information.
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Learn more about how cuts to Medicaid and AZ AHCCCS will affect Arizona’s healthcare system, citizens, and economy by attending the VUU VIP Core Team’s Civic Academy on Medicaid in the VUU Sanctuary after the service on May 18.
Questions? Contact VUU’s VIP Core Team at vip@vuu.org
For more information or to get involved, contact the VIP Core Team,
vip@vuu.org.
--Submitted by Barb Quijada
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UU The Vote
HANDS OFF! TEMPE Bridge Rally
Saturday, May 17, 2025, 7:30am - 9:30am
Starting at: Cole Park, 2000 E Carson Dr, Tempe, AZ, 85282
Keep the pressure on! Let's make our voices heard! Join Indivisible on the Tempe Pedestrian bridge with VUU friends!
This pedestrian Tempe bridge crosses over the busy US 60 freeway between Price and McClintock. Carry a large sign, flag or banner if you can. Wear sun protection and bring water. (Come for as long as you can - 30 minutes, an hour, or the full two hours!)
Meet up at Cole Park which has an entrance to the bridge from the south end. Park in the neighborhood. Please do not block a driveway or fire hydrant. Or Carpool! There are no bathrooms, but there are businesses close by. Look for me (Karen) and the VUU group near the back of the playground.
Indivisible will repeat this protest every Saturday until the weather is too extreme, so not much longer! After the rally, join Indivisible and build community at Brick Road Coffee.
For more information and to RSVP, please visit: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/776126/
Questions? Contact VUU member Karen at kjstucke@gmail.com
SAVE the DATE!! June 14 is a national day of protest for "NO KINGS!" Day. More info to come.
--Submitted by Karen Stucke
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Paz de Cristo
April Donation of the Month:
Canned Beans and tuna (pull-tab lids preferred)
Paz Donation List
Please leave donations in the "Paz de Cristo" box in the sanctuary foyer.
Contact: Paul Reed
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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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Unitarian Universalist Congregation | vuu.org | | | | |
