To help with Sunday morning hospitality, click here.

Abbreviated information about upcoming events that are

further than two weeks out.

• VIP Events- Nov 14, Feb 5
• AZCEND Foodbank with Rev. Sarah - Nov 15, 22; Dec 13 Sign Up
• New Participant Classes - Dec 7, Mar 22, Jun 7 RSVP here
• EastVUU Holiday Party - Dec 12
• FLP Events - Dec 13
• 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
• VUU Retreat - Apr 11-13 at Friendly Pines Camp in Prescott

Even as I knew this scenario was possible, the election results have hit me hard. Not because anything will immediately be different, but more because I don’t know what will happen and how it will impact me, my family, my friends, my neighbors, my community, my country, the world around us. All of us. 

Yesterday we held an open space for folks to gather and be comforted, share feelings, and engage in healing rituals. Many came, and many expressed appreciation even if they couldn’t come. UU congregations across the country also did some form of opening their doors to hold their communities in care.  

This Sunday, we are likely to have visitors looking for a safe haven and a community to find sanctuary in. It’s very important that you each find ways to acknowledge and welcome them–to make space for new faces and new needs. Remember that a smile is its own prayer, a hand offered and an invitation to conversation and camaraderie all make a difference. Some will be leaving a faith home that now feels toxic to them. They may discover Unitarian Universalism is the home they have been looking for, or this may be a place of respite for them as they look for the place that meets their religious and spiritual needs.  

What matters most is how we welcome and include people, making room for them to show up exactly as they are and to be cared for with deep love. May we offer this to ourselves and to each other, over and over again. 

-Rev. Sarah Oglesby-Dunegan



November's Theme: "The Practice of Repair"

Preschool: The weather is part of our natural world, and contact with the natural world is one of twelve main types of experiences connected with natural religious development. In this session, the children share their wonder about the weather (it’s cooler!)

Elementary Classes: Session Two offers kids a chance to mourn and grieve the loss of a loved one or pet through the session’s memory tree ritual or photo album. The goal with this session is to lift up how sharing memories is a way to heal and repair the sadness that comes with loss. 

Secondary classes: This week we will focus on the practice of repair by exploring the things we have had no say in, like the things we inherit from previous generations or that we experience before becoming an adult. As a secondary focus, since this week will be the first election some of the youth members have been allowed to vote for a president or the last election before they can vote, we will explore what does having a voice mean and how we repair things harmed by others? 

Social Justice Retreat

Rev. Sarah and Julia Allison are facilitating a social justice retreat Saturday, November 9 from 9:00 am-2:00 pm in the VUU sanctuary.

All members of committees and initiatives involved in social justice work at VUU are invited. This includes Environmental Action Team, UU The Vote, Immigration Action Team, I-HELP, Partners in Education, and Valley Interfaith Project.

Lunch will be provided. The purpose is to become better informed of the work these different groups are doing, build relationships, and support one another. We will also learn more about UUJAZ at the state level and plan for a possible 2025 UU Day at the Legislature.

If you are working on social justice at VUU, or would like to, and would like to attend, please email Julia. We would love to have you join us.

We Did Something! Gratitude Party

Sunday, November 10, after the service in the sanctuary

You are invited to share your story of volunteer election work, whether with VUU the VOTE, or directly with a campaign.

Let's celebrate coming together as a community and getting so much accomplished. With both wins and losses on Tuesday, it's important to acknowledge that we did our civic duty for the country and democracy we love.

ALL ARE WELCOME. Refreshments provided.

-UU the VOTE Leadership Team

Denise McLeod, Sandy Whitley, Mark Beehler, Karen Stucke

VUU Congregational Survey

The VUU congregational survey offers all of us us an opportunity to shape VUU. Please be next to return your survey. We can’t control other events, people and places, but VUU is ours and we each–young, old, and in between–may have a say in what happens here. Complete the survey here.

Please email the assessment committee if you have questions.

Thank you,

Katie Hurstwicker and Your VUU Assessment Committee

Monthly Financial Report

The first quarter of the VUU fiscal year is in the books and things continue looking reasonable. Pledge income was excellent in September, so thanks to everyone who has caught up on their pledges! Income and expenses are both under budget, so the numbers look good so far.

There is enough cash on hand for now thanks to one time monies from the endowment and the recovery funds; these will be available to cover monthly deficits for this fiscal year only. The new mortgage rate that goes into effect in March will be 7.25%, three percent higher than we are paying now. We have this covered in this year's budget, and will have to account for these higher payments in next year's budget as well.

ALSO, it should be noted we will need to balance our FY 2025-26 budget, so please pay attention to Pledge campaign notices when they arrive.

As always, thanks!

The full FA report can be found here.

-Submitted by David Sheh

Post-Election Huddle & Eat

Thursday, November 14, 6:00 pm

Join EastVUU friends for post-election huddle in the back room of MV Pita Mediterranean Grill, 1066 N. Power Rd, #103, Mesa, AZ 85205.

Save the date for EastVUU's holiday party: Thursday, December 12.

Our Director of Music Ministries, Katie Seiferth, is on extended medical leave.

Caring Neighbors Coordinator Needed

There is one neighborhood that is still in need of a Coordinator: Phoenix (not including Ahwatukee). This Neighborhood includes approximately 24 households that are spread across 14 zip codes: 85003, 85004, 85008, 85012, 85014, 85016, 85018, 85020, 85024, 85028, 85039, 85040, 85042, 85043.

If you are someone who enjoys connecting willing helpers to congregants in need, please contact either Joyce Donahue by email or call 480-221-6837, or Nancy Wittenberg by email or call 480-283-4725 for more information. Thank you!

Page Turners Book Club Meeting

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 Thursday, November 21 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 Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder, by David Grass. See the book here.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Killers of the Flower Moon, a page-turning story of shipwreck, survival, and savagery, culminating in a court martial that reveals a shocking truth. The powerful narrative reveals the deeper meaning of the events on the Wager, showing that it was not only the captain and crew who ended up on trial, but the very idea of empire.

For the meeting address or questions, please contact Johnnie at 480-231-8381 or send an email here.

New I-HELP Coordinating Team

Many thanks to Laura Rohlfing for keeping I-HELP going when we came back to our Sanctuary in 2022. This has been a heavy lift, and we are now moving to a model that doesn’t require the same person to be there every week! If you would like to sign up to help once a month or more with this team, please contact Rev. Sarah or Adrienne O’Donnell. 

We will be training new folks on Monday, November 18 from 5:15-7:00 pm. It’s a fun way to help our neighbors in need and to meet new people.

Laura Rohlfing adds: I want to thank each and every one of you for your steadfast support of the VUU I-HELP program over the last few years. It has truly been my honor to collaborate with all of you in this most vital social justice work. I am extremely grateful to the new I-HELP committee for their willingness to ensure VUU I-HELP's continued existence. It is my hope that they can continue to count on the outstanding level of support that I have received from all of you over these past few years. With immense gratitude, Laura.

Paz de Cristo

Volunteers needed this month!

Continuing the Tradition… Keeping the Commitment… Living our Principles

Date: Friday, November 8, 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 November, the 8th. Volunteers gather at the Paz kitchen/dining room from 4:00-7:00 pm to prepare several items for, and then serve, the evening meal. Additional tasks include cleanup of dishes, sweeping and mopping of floors. 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 at www.vuu.org/paz.