Sunday September 7, 2025
“Liberation and Collaboration: The Transformation of Belonging”
Rev. Sarah and Joel Sannes begin our month on the theme of Building Belonging through the lens of the work of anti-racism. Lynn De Muth leads the Spirit Choir and is joined by Music Director Meg Palermo.
| |  | IN THE EDUCATION BUILDINGS |
Faith Formation
Enroll your kids in Faith Formation! Fall Programming begins September 7.
Faith Formation Classes:
- Preschool (3/4 yr. olds)
- Kinder/1st Grade
- 2nd/3rd Grade
- 4th/5th Grade
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Middle School (6th–8th)
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High School (9th–12th)
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DALAI LAMA AND FRIENDS
8:30a Meditation
9:00a Discussion
In person, in the board room, and
Via Zoom here
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Mark Your Calendars for VUU's Next Steps Weekend: September 12–14
The VUU Board has contracted with the UUA’s "Stewardship for Us" program to help us strengthen stewardship and generosity at VUU by developing a long-term plan for financial resources that supports our mission and vision. This process will begin with a Next Steps Weekend scheduled to take place at VUU on September 12, 13, and 14. The entire Congregation is invited and indeed encouraged to participate in this important event, which will include a series of small group meetings and a special service on Sunday, September 14. Click here to view the agenda for the weekend and register to attend.
Let’s all demonstrate that at VUU, we are unafraid to talk about resources and money, and that we are all able to support our values in tangible, empowering ways. We can begin by completing a brief survey prepared by our consultant, Rev. Lydia Ferrante-Roseberry. The information gathered in this survey will help Rev. Lydia get to know who we are in preparation for her visit. Please click here to complete this survey at your earliest convenience! Thank you in advance for taking the time to ensure that your voice is heard.
Questions? Please email stewardship@vuu.org. We look forward to seeing you at the Next Steps Weekend!
| | | | Love is our doctrine · Service is our prayer · Justice is our calling | | | | | |
Calendar
Thursday, September 4
Friday, September 5
Saturday, September 6
Sunday, September 7
Monday, September 8
Tuesday, September 9
Wednesday, September 10
Thursday, August 11
Friday, August 12
Saturday, August 13
Sunday, August 14
Click here for the most current calendar, to view locations, contact information details for above events
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LAST SUNDAY'S PARTICIPATION
Worship Attendance:
91 in person, 25 online
Weekly Pledge/Plate Collection:
$8,313 actual, $7,241 budget
August Pledge/Plate Collection:
$55,839 actual, $36,724 budget
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Abbreviated information about upcoming events
more than two weeks out or without an article below
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VUUJAZ Coffee Conversation - Sep 21
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Singles Dinner - Sep 26
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I-HELP Meal Prep - Sep 29
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Parents & Pastries - Oct 5
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Congregational Conversation - Oct 5
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| |  | Over the last year I’ve become a WNBA fan, following the Mercury here in Phoenix (X Factor!) and attending games with my family and various friends and even UU colleagues. It came as a surprise to me how much we all fell in love with our team and with being at games. It’s hard to describe what makes this such an amazing experience, but let me try. Mercury games are a different spectator/fan experience than anything I’ve ever participated in. It’s a woman of color, queer-centered space. It’s also a family space–lots of people bring kids of all ages. From the DJ, to the host, to the hip-hop squad, the atmosphere is boisterous, warm, and collaborative. Even the team and player rivalries have a different flavor. Last night we witnessed a proposal! (between two women). The entire orientation of the experience is in contrast to the heteronormative + white culture of so many other spaces I occupy. Guess what? It’s super inviting to belong in this space. Rather than feeling like an outsider, I feel invited to be the most authentic version of myself.
Sometimes when we talk about doing the work of anti-racism and anti-oppression I think we are imagining something like rock climbing–exhausting, difficult, dangerous work that we need special training and skills to engage. What if the work was more like going to a WNBA game?–fun, exhilarating, frustrating, empowering, and transformative? Plus, you get to meet new and interesting people and dance spontaneously? I’m not suggesting the danger, difficulty, and exhaustion aren’t also there, or that we don’t need to learn new skills. I am suggesting there is also joy and connection and something worth fighting for, together. You may find you are learning from new voices and perspectives, or that you have a voice or perspective we need in order to do this work together.
–Rev. Sarah
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Help Wanted!
We need volunteers to help with several roles at VUU. If any of these look like YOU, let us know so we can support our staff during this reduced staffing period.
Handy with a toolbelt? If you are even just a little handy, we sure could use your help fixing and maintaining things on our campus. You don’t need to be an expert electrician or plumber, just a general handy person who can wield a screwdriver, paintbrush, and maybe a drill. If this is you, contact admin@vuu.org to let Todd know you can help. Even an hour or two every week or two will go a long way towards making sure things are maintained in useable condition, and small fixes are made without paying for outside services.
Know your way around a balance sheet? The Finance Committee is looking for someone with an accounting background to join the team. If you are–or have been–a bookkeeper, accountant, or related profession, contact Jim Horton to ask about joining this critical team as we manage the finances of the congregation. The Finance Team meets once a month during the year by Zoom, usually for an hour, with some additional meetings around budget time, and some offline review time between meetings. About two hours a month total commitment.
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It's a Breeze...
Breeze is VUU's membership database. It's where we keep all of your contact information, pledges and donations, and track who does what and when.
We're making it a focus this year to get all members logged in to Breeze so you can find each other, like you would using a directory. You can update your own contact and address information, upload or change your photo, and see your giving information (no one else can see yours, though!). If you are a Friend or a Visitor, we keep your information there also, but you are unable to login to search information - it's one of the perks of membership, and a way that we help safeguard our member data. We’ve sent login invitations to all members this week on Tuesday. If you didn’t get it, have an account but haven’t used it in a while, or aren’t sure, please email DeeAnne for a link to Breeze, along with instructions.
—Submitted by DeeAnne McClenahan
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New to VUU Class
Want to know more about Unitarian Universalism?
Thinking about joining VUU?
Want to get involved in VUU activities and programs?
Come to our New to VUU Class (even if you’re not NEW, maybe there are things you wish you KNEW about VUU?)
2-Part class:
Sunday, September 14, *times are shifting—RSVP for more info.
Sunday, September 21, 12:00–3:30 pm *reflects a schedule change
in the VUU Board Room
Bring a lunch or something to share. Click here to RSVP.
Led by Rev. Sarah and Membership Team
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Office Volunteers Needed
Each week, a team meets to prepare VUU's weekly bank deposit. This small but mighty group needs more folks. If you can spare an hour on a Monday morning, please contact Lynn DeMuth at (480) 345–2626. Training will be provided, and you will work with an experienced partner to start.
—Submitted by Lynn DeMuth
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EastVUU Dinner
Thursday, September 11, 6:00 pm
Want to try some new flavors? Zola Cultural Kitchen serves African and global cuisines from around the world. Join UU friends for a great dinner together! Address is 6209 E Main St, Mesa.
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EastVUU Online: "Building Belonging"
Save the Date:Thursday, September 25, 6:00 pm
—Submitted by Janice Miller
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Check out FUUNd's Mindfulness Foundations for Living and Being!
In this time of change and concern, how can we learn to meet intensity and uncertainty with some degree of ease and steadiness? Mindfulness is the awareness that comes from paying attention to present moment experience (sensations, feelings, thoughts) with kind, warm, receptivity in order to reduce habits of reactivity and enhance our capacity for wise, caring response.
This 6-week introduction to Mindfulness, offered online over Zoom on Wednesdays, September 17 to October 22 from 6:00–8:00 pm, blends Buddhist teachings on the four foundations of mindfulness with research-supported practices for cultivating mindful awareness and a greater sense of ease and well-being. Each class will build on the previous one, so it is important to be able to make a commitment to attend regularly.
We will practice a variety of mindfulness meditations and explore practical ways to integrate mindfulness into daily activities at work, home and in relationships. All are welcome, whether you are a beginner or just want to refresh or deepen your practice. The course will be taught by Ann Sebren, Ed.D., Certified Mindfulness Teacher - Professional. Ann has been teaching mindfulness for 15 years and has decades of university experience teaching courses related to health, wellness, and stress management.
The cost for Mindfulness Foundations for Living and Being is $125. Call Debbe Simpkins at (480) 244–6570 to register and arrange payment. Email fuundtogether@vuu.org for questions.
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Did you miss the sign-up for 8th–9th Grade OWL? Never fear—reach out to Molly McNamara before class starts on Sunday, September 7!
Support your teenager to navigate life with confidence, integrity, and compassion. Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a comprehensive, age-appropriate sexuality education program. Supporting the “three Rs” of sexuality education: respect, relationships, and responsibility, OWL empowers youth with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed, healthy decisions.
VUU is excited to offer OWL classes for both 8th–9th graders and 10th–11th graders this year. Each group receives tailored content that meets them where they are developmentally—creating space for meaningful conversation, peer connection, and personal growth.
Spectacled Owls (8–9th graders):
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26 weeks, Sundays, September 7–May 10, 12:45–2:15 pm
- Cost is $55, with a $15 discount for pledging VUU Members and Friends.
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Parent Orientation has come and gone, so please email Molly McNamara or call or text (515) 450-0843 to get signed up and ready to go!
Burrowing Owls (10–11 graders):
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13 sessions, Sundays, September 7–January 25, 12:45–2:15 pm
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Mandatory Parent Orientation is Sunday, September 7, 12:45–2:45 pm.
- Cost is $55, with a $15 discount for pledging VUU Members and Friends.
Learn more about Our Whole Lives or email Molly McNamara.
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Faith Formation Enrollment for 2025–2026
Enroll your kids in Faith Formation! Fall Programming begins September 7.
It's time to enroll your children in Faith Formation classes at Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation for the new school year. Please complete the information in the enrollment form.
In 2025–2026 we will explore our Unitarian Universalist values through the lens of the following themes:
- September: Building Belonging
- October: Cultivating Compassion
- November: Nurturing Gratitude
- December: Choosing Hope
- January: Practicing Resistance
- February: Embodying Resilience
- March: Paying Attention
- April: Embracing Possibility
- May: Awakening Curiosity
- June: Flourishing Together
We will also be exploring anti-racism in our new MOSAIC curriculum the first Sunday of each month. Once your enrollment form has been received you will then be sent sign-up forms for volunteering in faith formation.
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Join Spirit Choir
The VUU Spirit Choir sings this Sunday, September 7! Please arrive at 9:20 am at VUU, ready to learn music that we will sing at the service. If you can carry a tune, come join us!
—Submitted by Lynn DeMuth
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Announcing Cabaret!
We will be hosting our 'Cabaret' on Friday, February 13, 2026 at 7:00 pm. It will have a Valentine's Theme, so all music can be about Love (or heartbreak, or loving yourself!). We need 3–4 more people for the committee to plan all of the logistics. We will plan meeting times around your schedule. Please contact Meg Palermo if you'd like to join the committee.
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Want to join the VUU Ensemble?
This group rehearses the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month at 3:30–4:30 pm in the Sanctuary. If you have an alternative work schedule or aren't able to commit to weekly evening choir rehearsals, please join us. We rehearse two three-part choral pieces and sing one Sunday each month. Some musical experience is helpful but not a must. Contact Lynn DeMuth for more information.
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Partners in Education Report: Observations from our Adams Elementary Liaison
"I would love to give you an update on some students who attended the Rumbo al Exito program during the 2024–2025 school year.
Some students from Kinder to 5th grade have shown a lot of growth in speaking, reading, and writing in English. I have observed 2nd and 4th graders in their classrooms, and they have grown confident enough to raise their hands and read aloud or answer questions! A 4th grader even presented in front of his class fully in English! A kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Skinner, told me that she noticed her students have improved a lot in English and are able to do more class assignments. She was very thankful for the program!
This school year, 2025–2026, I have a student, Alex, who attended the Rumbo al Exito program last year. He participates every single day by raising his hand, answering questions, and completing his assignments. He has been doing really well when reading word math problems. He is able to read and speak more in English. His confidence has grown so much from August 2024 to now!
The volunteers were amazing, and it shows in the students' growth! Thank you for everything!"
Kassandra Flores, Adams Elementary 3rd Grade Teacher
—Submitted by Perii Skolnick
| | Fellowship and Social Activities | | |
Team Resistance Arizona is proud to be hosting, “Resistance in Action: A Social Justice Resource Fair”
Join us Saturday, September 6 from 1:00–4:00 pm at VUU for a FREE community-centered event bringing together organizations and individuals ready to take action for justice.
Click here for the event flyer
Look forward to:
🗣️Our INDOOR gallery of 25+ community groups—learn how to get engaged, support existing efforts, and get better educated!
🍔 3 food trucks on-site
🧒 FREE childcare (first-come, first-served, ages 4–12)
🎤 A variety of FREE timely 30-minute workshops hosted by our amazing community partners
📦 Donation hubs for 3 valley support groups. Click here to see what donations we are collecting.
🗳️ Voter registration on-site
🧘 FREE yogic grounding sessions and 🫂 Guided Empathy Circles
🗓️ Mark your calendars, be sure to follow @teamresistanceaz on Instagram and "Team Resistance Arizona" on Facebook for updates, and tag the friends you want to see there!
Sign up to volunteer here.
—Submitted by Adrienne O'Donnell
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Soul Matters Sharing Circle
VUU follows a monthly theme program called Soul Matters. The Sharing Circle complements our worship services, where ministers and service leaders also weave the monthly theme into sermons, music, and rituals. As such, it offers a chance to engage more deeply with yourself, the theme, and our community. At the start of each month, participants receive a resource packet filled with reflections, practices, and readings to explore at their own pace. As the hymn reminds us: “Let it be a dance.”
But the Sharing Circle is about more than conversation. It invites us into a unique way of being together—courageously practicing vulnerability, honesty, and heart-centered connection. Through deep, intentional listening, we create spiritual community that helps us step out of our heads and into our lives. The circle encourages us to disrupt routines, shift perspectives, and open ourselves to new growth. In doing so, we make space for spirit and practice discernment in everyday living.
Come as you are: whether you attend every month or occasionally, whether you engage the materials deeply or simply listen, your presence matters. Unitarian Universalism values the lifelong spiritual journey—and Soul Matters Sharing Circle is a beautiful way to live into it.
For more information and to be added to the email list send an email to soulmatters@vuu.org.
—Submitted by Barbara Face
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Page Turners September Book
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, September 18 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 Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride.
As the novel unfolds, it becomes clear how much the people of Chicken Hill have to struggle to survive at the margins of white Christian America and how damaging bigotry, hypocrisy, and deceit can be to a community. When the truth is revealed about the skeleton, the boy, and the part the town’s establishment played in both, McBride shows that it is love and community—heaven and earth—that ultimately sustain us.
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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CPR Certification Class
CPR certification class on Saturday, September 20 from 9:30 am–12:00 pm to be offered by Katie Hurstwicker, who is certified to teach this. Please RSVP. There are limited spots, so please let us know your reason for taking it. We can set up another class later if needed. Priority spots will go to VUU teachers and childcare providers.
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Singles Lunch Bunch
When: Friday, September 12 at 1:30 pm
Where: Kura Sushi, 1928 W Chandler Blvd, Chandler. (520) 479–2707
This is a delightful revolving sushi bar where the sushi rolls past you and you grab the one that looks good. Drinks are delivered by a robot.
Click here to RSVP by email or contact Claudette by phone or text (973) 768–6047. Texts are strongly preferred.
—Submitted by Claudette Wassil
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National Drive Electric Month Event
I'm John Martinson and my wife and I are longtime members of UUCP, where our children grew up and benefited from OWL. I now serve as Co-Founder and President of Drive Electric Arizona, a nonprofit promoting EV adoption through education and hands-on experiences.
One of our most effective programs is our Ride & Drive series, where people can test drive EVs, talk with owners, and learn about charging, incentives, and cost savings. These free events reflect UU values of environmental care, equity, and community well-being.
I invite you to join us for our next Ride & Drive
When: Saturday, September 20, 8:00 am–12:00 pm
Where: Mesa Community College
1833 W Southern Ave, South Parking Lot
Mesa, AZ 85202
Come see how EVs are not only cleaner, but also more affordable, fun, and better for our communities!
—Submitted by John Martinson
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You're Invited: A Series on Transgender Inclusion
Please join us in reaching our goal of 100% congregational participation in Transgender Inclusion in Congregations from the Transforming Hearts Collective a course for all people, from novices on trans identity to those with decades of life experience.
We’re offering a 7-session course to provide participants with skills to move to the next level of congregational welcome, deepen understanding of current political attacks and misinformation against trans people, and to create safety and belonging for trans people in UU congregations.
The series counters mainstream narratives about who trans people are, supports understanding of the diversity of non-binary identities (such as genderqueer, agender, gender fluid, and Two-Spirit), and employs a deeply intersectional approach to understanding transgender matters.
We hope to engage 100% of our congregation and youth in this learning so are offering this course FREE of charge in a number of formats, including self-paced online classes.
The series will be facilitated by VUU members Carrie Smith-Hardee (she/they), Christine O'Donnell, Ph.D. (she/they), and Rowan Evans (they/them).
Register here now!
—Submitted by Carrie Smith-Hardee
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Paz de Cristo
A few more volunteers needed!
Continuing the Tradition… Keeping the Commitment… Living our Principles
When: Friday, September 12, 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, September 12. Volunteers gather at the Paz kitchen/dining room from 4:00–7:00 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 here for this rewarding experience.
—Submitted by Joanne McGrath
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Paz de Cristo
Donation of the Month:
Hamburger Helper and Macaroni and Cheese
Paz Donation List
Please leave donations in the "Paz de Cristo" box in the sanctuary foyer.
Contact: Paul Reed
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Immigrant Support
Donations gratefully accepted:
- Small handheld fruit cups
- Small handheld juice
- Veggie cups or squeezies
- Used clothing (all sizes, all seasons)
Please drop donations in the "Refugee Aid" box in the sanctuary foyer.
Contact: Randall Casillas
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Partners in Education
Adams Elementary appreciates your TAX CREDIT donations. Get dollar-for-dollar credit to offset AZ tax liability for 2025.
Contact: Perii Skolnick
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Unitarian Universalist Congregation | vuu.org | | | | |
