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SERVICE AT 10:30a
“Organizing for Change: People, Power and Purpose"
Rev. Sarah and Melanie Cloonan Schulte examine the power of interfaith organizing. What can we make of this opportunity for VUU to impact local housing policies and live the values of our faith? How can we deepen our own congregational commitments to building a future that is multicultural and anti-racist, economically diverse and wholly (holy!) inclusive?
And after the service...
This fall, VIP may have an opportunity to raise our public presence by organizing to support a proposed 55+ Affordable Housing development in Chandler. We believe there may be some some NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) pushback against the proposal.
Immediately following the service, the VUU-VIP housing core team will present a forum to explain the proposed development and give you a chance to ask questions and voice your opinion. We hope you will be there!
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IN THE EDUCATION BUILDINGS
- 8:30a Dalai Lama and Friends
- 10:30a Children and Youth Faith Formation
FAITH FORMATION 10:30
PreK - 1st graders: Rainbow Principles with Leo Lionni (includes a story and a craft)
2nd - 5th graders: Avatar the Last Airbender, UU Values through the lens of the popular kids TV show
6th-12th graders: 30 Days, watch and discuss the show by Morgan Spurlock (who also did the popular movie Supersize Me)
Water fun day is coming Sunday, Sept 3.
Fall classes start Sunday, Sept 10.
DALAI LAMA AND FRIENDS
8:30 am Meditation
9:00 am Discussion
In person: Room 5
Via Zoom here
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Love is our doctrine · Service is our prayer · Justice is our calling | | |
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Calendar
Thursday, August 10
Friday, August 11
- Paz de Cristo Meal Prep 4p
- VUU Singles Zoom 6:15p
Saturday, August 12
Sunday, August 13
- Dalai Lama and Friends 8:30a
- Faith Formation 10:30a
- Sunday Worship Service 10:30a
- VIP Forum 12p
- Voices Lifted 12:00p
- Burrowing OWL Class 12:45
Monday, August 14
- Pastoral Care Team Mtg. 6:30p
Tuesday, August 15
- EVUU Women's Group 12:45p
- I-Help Shelter 5:30p
- Men's Group 7:00p
Wednesday, August 16
- VUU Singles Zoom 1pm
- AlAnon 7:00p
Thursday, August 17
- EVUU Coordinators 10:30a
- Religious Exploration 12p
- Finance Committee 5:30
- Worship Assoc. Mtg 6:30p
- Spectrum Conn Circle 6p
- Page Turners Book Club 7p
Friday, August 18
Saturday, August 19
- New Participants Luncheon 11a
Sunday, August 20
- Dalai Lama and Friends 8:30a
- Faith Formation 10:30a
- Sunday Worship Service 10:30a
- VUUJAZ Coffee Convo 12p
- Spotted OWL Orientation 12:45
Click here for the most current calendar, to view locations, contact information details for above events
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A quick note from Rev. Sarah...
Dear Ones! If you experienced our online technical difficulties last Sunday, we are very sorry! Ryan, our new Tech Booth Lead, is helping us sort out the source(s) of the issues. In the meantime, I know many of you missed the sermon, and I’d like to share the script I worked from. I know it’s not the same as hearing it, and of course I do sometimes wander off-script a bit. I listed the links to the books I reference in the sermon.
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New Participant
Welcome Luncheon
Saturday, August 19 11-1
New to UU? New to VUU? Want to meet new folks at VUU? Never got around to joining and now you’re thinking about it?
Start your path to membership! Join us for lunch, a short introduction to Unitarian Universalism, and a chance to ask your burning questions!
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| Education Complex, Rooms 1-2 |
| 08/19/23 11:00am - 08/19/23 1:00pm US/Arizona |
| Come for lunch, a short intro to UU, a chance to meet people & ask questions! RSVP below: | | | Save the date: Next class for new participants will be Sept 2 9a-1p. | | |
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Summer Break!
The summer choir will perform this Sunday, August 13, with a final rehearsal tonight, August 9 at 7p.
We will be starting rehearsals for the VUU Voices Choir soon - watch here for more information. Chalice Ringers and Drum Circles are also on a break for the hot summer months. If you are interested in leading a drum circle in the fall, please contact Katie Seiferth, Director of Music Ministries.
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EastVUU Monthly Zoom mtg:
TONIGHT! Thursday AUG 10 6:30PM
How has your sense of trust been affected lately? Has your trust in persons, beliefs and institutions changed?
How can we bolster trust and be trustworthy for others?
Additional Reading:
Trust - March, 2023 Touchtones
Join Zoom Meeting here
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Back to School Already!
What a happy connection! Randall Casillas (VUU/PIE) was volunteering at Adams' "Meet the Teacher" night when who should walk in but one of our Columbian families! It turns out that a child from each of the families is attending Adams! This is lovely convergence of two of our social justice commitments! PIE is now hearing firsthand about the challenges our refugee families experience in school.
We are in the planning stage of establishing an afterschool program to support Adams' ESL students. Please let us know if you or someone you know would be interested in helping with this greatly needed initiative. For more information, contact Perii Skolnick (sperii1@gmail.com) or Beverly McCormick (tempebev1@gmail.com)
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CPR & First Aid Certification Training
Saturday, September 9th, 9 am - 12 pm
(An afternoon session will be offered when this 1st session fills)
Valley UU Congregation
Education complex, Room 8
Training is open to adults and middle/high school youth
Fee: $25 per person
No cost for Faith Formation teachers, nursery workers & classroom assistants. Childcare available with advance request (see form)
Click here to Register
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We're Doing a Photo Shoot!
Volunteers are needed to move chairs in the sanctuary (and some smaller furniture moves/set ups around campus) on this Saturday, August 12, for a photo shoot at VUU. Help wanted on Saturday 9 am - 12 or 1 pm (will go faster with more people!) and Sunday morning at 9a to reset everything for services.
Tricia Amato is helping Rev. Sarah and Todd put together promotional materials for attracting rental income for VUU. She is going to take professional photos of our spaces and some will be virtually staged. Saturday morning we need to clear chairs from the sanctuary (no need to reset as the afternoon renter doesn’t need/want all of the chairs). A couple spaces with less moving involved will also be photographed.
We’ll provide some drinks and snacks!
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| RSVP Below and we'll send a detailed plan! | | | |
Is it yours?
Someone left this beautiful tablecloth in the VUU kitchen. If it is yours, please retrieve it from the lost-and-found box in the foyer.
Submitted by Laura R.
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VUU Environmental Action Team (EAT)
Date: Monday, August 21st
Time: 6:30pm
Place: ZOOM Link
Please join the Environmental Action Team to continue our discussion of strategy and direction as we move into a new year. As climate change continues to capture headlines all over our country, we must recognize its impact on all of us and on the most vulnerable in our community. Our goal is to respond on multiple levels through education, actions and advocacy.
We will continue planning for team actions and specifically for our planned “I Love the Earth Day” celebration October 1st. We will also hear an update from our very busy solar team regarding its progress with various inquiries for solar installation at VUU.
We welcome the voices of all Valley UU Congregants into the discussion, so please plan to attend - we need everyone’s input to address the effects of our warming world.
For more information, please email Sandy W. or Denise M. Thank you!
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Cured Screening, V2
Did you miss the Cured screening last Sunday? No worries, we're going to give you two opportunities to see this documentary from the comfort of home/Zoom, with a short/optional discussion following the film.
About the Film: Cured is an award winning film from PBS’s Independent Lens about the 1970s LGBTQ+ activists who fought the establishment to remove homosexuality as a mental illness and won! Facing treatments such as electroconvulsive and lobotomies therapy as “cures” for homosexuality, LGBTQ+ activists recognized that overturning the mental illness label was a crucial step on the road to equality. This is a pivotal part of US history many people are unaware of. (80 minute film). Cured is not available to view online.
At last week's screening and quilt raffle, we raised $700 to donate to one-n-ten, our partner organization dedicated to service to LGBTQ+ teens and young adults.
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| RSVP here and we'll send you the zoom link prior to the screening! | | | |
Fellowship and Social Activities | |
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FUUNd Times!!!
VUU members and friends enjoyed several FUUNd and educational get-togethers over the past few weeks. Six of us attended a movie screening and discussion of George Balanchine’s ballet masterpiece Serenade at the home of Jessica Blonde, and another group spent an afternoon learning about improving family harmony through better communication with Paul & Amanda Schneider. Look at all the happy faces below!
You can still get in on a few of the upcoming FUUNd events, and/or purchase a beautiful writing journal. Check out the possibilities here.
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The 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 August 17 at 7:00 PM, we will meet at the home of Johnnie G in Tempe (near Baseline Rd. and the 101). The book is The Time Travelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.
A dazzling novel in the most untraditional fashion, this is the remarkable story of Henry DeTamble, a dashing, adventuresome librarian who travels involuntarily through time, and Clare Abshire, an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course.
For the meeting address or questions, please contact Johnnie at 480-231-8381 or email Amy M.
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Immigration Action Team
Phoenix area Asylee Shelters are in need of women's and children's gently used summer clothing. There are currently four Hispanic churches and the IRC (International Rescue Committee) offering services that assist asylees on their way to family once dropped off there by Border Patrol.
Your donations of lightly used or new summer clothing will go to very good use. Size small/medium for men/women and starting with size 4 up for children.
Every Sunday in August there will be a table set up to take clothing donations. A handout is available noting Facebook groups of 501(c)3 humanitarian aid groups with boots on the ground reporting the reality of Border Immigration issues.
An ongoing collection bin is the sanctuary marked for Refugee Aid who coordinates supplies for the five shelters. Needs change, so Happenings will keep our membership updated.
Sharon K. will coordinate this Clothing Drive with Refugee Aid as well as the ongoing Borderland Produce and Grocery weekend deliveries to Shelters.
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August Donation of the Month – New white t-shirts, new underwear, new socks (must be in original unopened packaging)
Socks, shirts, and underwear are the three most requested clothing items for the homeless. Please support our focus charity, Paz de Cristo, by bringing in a donation of NEW white t-shirts, underwear, and socks. Items must be in original unopened packaging; no used items accepted.
Drop your donation in the designated container in the foyer of the sanctuary at any time during the month of August. Thanks for your generosity!
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Paz de Cristo
Continuing the Tradition… Keeping the Commitment… Living our Principles
August date: 2nd Friday, August 11, 4pm - 7pm
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 with Paz de Cristo on the second Friday of each month from 4-7p to prepare and serve the evening meal to Paz guests, followed by cleanup. If you are joining us for the first time, don’t worry, Paz staff and experienced VUU volunteers make the work easy and the evening goes fast.
Seventeen volunteers are needed and can range in age from 12 on up. Volunteers must be able to stand and participate in all tasks during the entire evening. Have questions? Contact Joanne at 602-620-3100. Please sign up for this rewarding experience here.
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Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation | vuu.org | | | | |
