Update for Online Folks: We are working out the complexities of opening the zoom room with online hosts, and I am grateful for the few people who have stepped up to help us host the post service coffee hour. This is a chance for those who can’t make it to service to enjoy a conversation with others after service and for new folks visiting us online to meet a few people and ask questions. We’ve had 30 and more people on YouTube live most weekends, and a handful joining the zoom room after service.

Both links are on our website front page. Pastoral care folks are present in both spaces with info about how to reach out to them for folks who want a 1:1 conversation. If you are interested in a brief training on how to host the zoom room coffee hour after service (30 minute commitment more or less) let me know at minister@vuu.org.

To help with Sunday morning hospitality, click here.

GA 2023 - The Week in Review

More than 4,000 Unitarian Universalists participated in General Assembly last June. 1,800 were online and 2,300 were in-person in Pittsburgh, including over 100 youth and children. Discussion on the GA app was robust, with over 200 active community boards.

Sit back and enjoy this captivating 2023 General Assembly recap video, skillfully crafted by Jay White Media and featuring photography by Nancy Pierce, Chris Northcross, and Lamar Davis.

Public Videos from GA 2023

Regardless of registration status, everyone can now view and share the Public Videos from GA 2023.

Public Videos include all General Sessions, plus three mainstage worship services: Service of the Living Tradition, Synergy Bridging Service, and Sunday Worship.

Help Us Plan Adult Faith Formation Opportunities! Fill out this quick survey and let us know what you’re interested in! This is the last week to weigh in on what we may offer this year.  

Quick Desert Notes: One of the books that influenced my reflection last weekend was a book called “How We Show Up: Reclaiming family, Friendship, and Community” by Mia Birdsong. I hope some of you have a chance to read it! In addition, my colleague Kimberly Debus has a blog and a couple of the recent posts have felt very connected to the work we are doing and the experiences I’ve had. https://holdmychalice.substack.com/

-Rev. Sarah

Dominic has Arrived!

Conner Campini and Nic Del Valle are overjoyed to share the birth and adoption of their first child Dominic Manuel Del Valle. Dominic was born on September 10th 2023 in Austin, Texas. They were able to bring him home to Arizona on the 21st and are soaking up every minute with him together at their home in Gilbert.

Members and friends can express support for Connor and Nic by mail to 1612 E. Laurel Ave. Gilbert, AZ 85234. They are also accepting congratulations via email at

connercampini@gmail.com, and by phone or text at 480-818-3343.

The Caring Neighbors Committee would like to know of your ability to provide various types of assistance to congregants who might need some help (with errands, visits, cards etc). Please complete a short survey so that we can update and expand our Care Bank consisting of willing volunteers. Please click on the link below to volunteer.

Valley UU Caring Neighbors

For questions about the Care Bank, contact Johnnie Clemens May, our Care Bank coordinator. 

Partners In Education

Trauma-Informed Safe Spaces

Grades 3-5

Adams Elementary School, Mesa, AZ

Ms. Rozum

Help me give my students a social emotionally focused classroom that promotes emotional health, trauma informed coping strategies, and a welcoming calming corner for them to de-escalate.

For more information and to support this worthy request, click here: https://www.donorschoose.org/project/trauma-informed-safe-spaces/7419582/

Spirit of Life Reading Circle

Anne Schneider, Rebecca Riggs, and Mary Rothschild are delighted to begin a new year of Spirit of Life Reading Circle on Zoom! Our first meeting will be on October 5th at 7:00 pm.  We'll send out our links to read before in plenty of time, as usual.

AV/Tech Booth (Especially for events after service)

We need a couple of volunteers to help open the Zoom room for coffee hour on Sundays after service. A quick training will get you set up and you can help us keep folks connected when they’re attending services online. Email Rev Sarah if you are willing to help. Until we have someone to help run the zoom room, we won’t be able to offer this opportunity to connect online. 

Professional Photo Shoot

We need a crew to help us prepare the sanctuary for a professional photo shoot so we can promote rentals. Can you come help us move all the chairs out of the Sanctuary (and back into it) so we can stage the room digitally? We have a couple of others rooms that have less furniture move needs to photograph as well. 3 hours should do it! Email Tricia if you’re interested so we match our schedules!

Facilities Committee

Are you a doer who likes fixing things? Or maybe organizing? Do you want to get involved around campus? Join the Facilities Committee! We work with staff to keep our buildings and grounds up and running and looking good. Email facilities@vuu.org for more information! Mikaela Young, Facilities Chair

As we leave behind an extreme summer and move into a season of life-sustaining temperatures and regeneration, let’s celebrate what we love about the Earth.

Please participate in these events on October 1:

• Add a heart-felt message to our “I Love the Earth” banner.
• Share solutions to protect our environment.
• Discover new ways to live at peace with the Earth through personal actions.
• Take immediate steps through collective action to save our Earth!
• Learn the latest about solar installation possibilities for VUU.
• Pick up a scavenger hunt activity to take home (For kids! And the curious)
• Learn about Arizona’s water future and how we can ensure enough for all!
• Attend a talk on solar energy after the service in the sanctuary.

Food and drinks provided!

Faith Formation Poolside Get Together

Sunday, Oct 8th: 

Hamilton Aquatic Center

3838 S Arizona Ave, Chandler.

12 pm - 5 pm closing - Come when you can!

You can bring food and drink - check out the rules here *Pool Rules*. No flotation devices or mermaid tails/monofins allowed, 6 pack sized coolers only.

No need to sign up - just show up!

Fees (credit cards accepted) 

2-17 yrs  $1

Adult    $2.25

Seniors (55yrs) $1.25

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 September 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 Cloud Cuckold Land by Anthony Doerr. Among the most celebrated and beloved novels of recent times, Cloud Cuckoo Land is a triumph of imagination and compassion, a soaring story about children on the cusp of adulthood in worlds in peril, who find resilience, hope, and a book. For the meeting address or questions, please contact Johnnie at 480-231-8381 or email: agmonahan@gmail.com.

Singles Dinner, Friday Sept. 22, 6:30 pm

We're a warm welcoming group. If you're single and haven't checked us out yet, come on out to dinner and make some new friends!

WHERE: Rigatony’s, 1850 E. Warner Rd, Tempe 

RSVP to this email or text Claudette at 973-768-6047.

This venue has been a Singles VUU favorite, so we selected it for our 2023 Homecoming.  We’ll also take a moment to honor Liz who has been part of the group and recently passed. Peace be with her.

FUUNd Update

Here are a few pictures from the sustainable gardening and “kindness rocks” parties that were sold last Spring during the 2023 Let’s Have FUUNd Together Auction. In the past few weeks, VUU members and friends also got together to celebrate National Potato Day at a Spuds and Suds dinner (featuring actual potato beer!) and to sharpen their Scrabble playing skills at a workshop hosted by a nationally ranked player!

There is still time to get in on the FUUNd if you enjoy hiking in Arizona in the fall or if you fancy a stay in a cabin in Payson. Check out these activities and others at www.auctria.events/VUUFUUND2023

In the next month or so, we will begin working on the 2024 auction. There is always room for new members on our auction team. If you are interested in finding out more, please email Debbe at fuundtogether@vuu.org or give her a call at 480-244-6570.

September 25 I-Help Dinner

This month's menu will feature oven fried chicken with all the trimmings. 

PLEASE NOTE: Due to a schedule conflict, our I-HELP guests will be arriving closer to 6:30 pm.

Therefore, I am asking for food to be dropped off at the sanctuary between 6:00-6:15 PM. If this does not work for you, please contact me to make alternate arrangements. 

As always, cold or non-perishable food can be labeled and dropped off at the sanctuary on Sunday, September 24. Again, please contact me to make alternate arrangements.

Sign up here.

Many thanks for your generosity!

Laura Rohlfing

VUU I-HELP Coordinator

larohlfing@gmail.com

AZcend Gala

We partner with Azcend to help provide shelter and meals to folks in our community in need and as one of the newest members of this board, I’d love to have some of you buy tickets and join me at a table for the 2023 Gala on September 22, 2023 from 6-9 p.m.  I am also looking for 3 auction items to be donated. Let me know if you have an item for their silent auction you’d like to donate. If you can’t attend, but want to donate on behalf of VUU to Azcend, we’d love that, too. If you’d like to sponsor a table of 8 for $1,200 and invite VUU folks to join you, that’s also an option.  

We partner with organizations in the community that are making a difference and allow us to live our values by supporting their work. Azcend has many important programs that support seniors and families with young children, folks experiencing economic struggles, and much more. Their services are offered with respect and dignity and a commitment to making a difference while also helping our community understand and respond to the root causes of the economic challenges so many face. I am excited to be on their board and to be deepening our relationship with this important organization. Contact me at minister@vuu.org if you have questions or want to come to the Gala!

Paz de Cristo Donation of the Month

September - Pasta Sauce



Please support our focus charity, Paz de Cristo, by bringing a donation of pasta sauce (any kind) during the month of September. Drop your donation in the designated container in the foyer of the sanctuary. Thank you for your generous support!

Immigration Action Teams

The Immigration Action Team continues to integrate VUU's active programs under one umbrella - the Immigration Action Teams, including Border Support and Family Support. Our meeting on 9/10 was productive and well attended.  

The next meeting is October 8 in the sanctuary after services. There are lots of ways you can get involved - fulfilling a one-time need, planning a short-term action, or participating in one of our ongoing programs. Please come!

Stop by our table before or after services to learn more.

Queer Your Faith Tee-shirts for Tucson + Phoenix Pride

Attending pride this year? Want to show up as a UU, with others from your congregation, proclaiming that our UU faith not only "tolerates" or affirms LGBTQ+ folks, but uplifts us as leaders in our congregations, state action network, and Unitarian Universalist Association? This historic year, your Co-Executive Directors and Co-Chairs of the board at UUJAZ, and your UUA President and Co-Moderator of the Board, are proudly queer!

Order a "Queer Your Faith" tee-shirt and show up with pride, on Pride weekend, and every day of the year. Order by Thursday September 21st for Tucson Pride delivery, or Thursday October 5th for Phoenix Pride delivery. Want a shirt just because? You can also order a tee delivered to your door, through this link.