To help with Sunday morning hospitality, click here.

Tuesday night I co-chaired a regional VIP action meeting that focused on our work with Chandler Unified School District on mental health supports for students and with Chandler City Council on affordable housing strategies. We had 92 VIP participants, largely members from VUU and St. Matthews Episcopal here in Chandler. Many other member organizations were represented as we reported on our successes and the ongoing challenges of these issues. We heard compelling stories from folks impacted by shrinking affordable housing stock and soaring prices–2 from VUU members and 2 from St. Matthews members. VIP leaders also taught us about this issue and shared statistics and research they had done. We heard responses from CUSD leaders and Chandler Council member Christine Ellis. We also began planning for a Delegates Assembly on Dec 12 (who can come) and we are developing a rapid response team of folks responding to affordable housing policy opportunities to work with elected officials and attend meetings. I was inspired by our shared work, as well as the dedication and relationship building held by it. So many VUU folks worked together over the last year to get to where we are now! Last year I attended a week long training with VIP and this year I can see our work building and growing. THANKS!!! I hope more of you will get involved as you are able.  

Also of note, a small group of staff and members are working on a grant application for funds to help us identify and respond to campus safety needs. We have been learning with other congregations about safety strategies and about opportunities to help build a safety plan that prepares us for many different emergency situations.

Thursday I will be at the Chandler Senior Center with Azcend board serving a holiday lunch. Participating on the Azcend board is helping understand our community better and be part of the efforts to respond to needs in our community. This is also important work, and I know many of you are involved with this organization as well.  

Last week I spent several days with Borderlinks and with other UU colleagues in AZ learning together and planning how we will deepen our work with people crossing our borders and with organizations supporting migrants. In addition, we are thinking about how we do this work together, as a coalition of congregations who are theologically and communally connected. 

Finally, we had a beautiful “homegoing” celebration of life for Debbie Dinyes with her family and friends, celebrating her role as a beloved elder at VUU and her deep values as a lifelong UU. It was an honor to lead this ritual, and to hear the stories about her life and the things she brought passion and commitment to. What a beautiful thing to be in community.

After extensive engagement with UUs across our faith tradition, the Article II Study Commission have completed their Final Proposed Revision to Article II of the UUA Bylaws. Links to the text and additional important information are in this email, including a deadline of 5pm ET on February 1, 2024 for submitting any new amendments. The Commission's letter that follows lifts up all of the creative energy around the process, reflecting generations of UUs actively shaping our faith.  

As your congregation prepares to review the language describing Unitarian Universalist shared values, it’s worth noting that this process began in 2020, when the Article II Study Commission was charged by the UUA Board to review that section of UUA Bylaws that includes the Principles, Purposes, and Sources. The Commission was to propose revisions that will enable our faith tradition to be a relevant and powerful force for spiritual and moral growth, healing, and justice. Learn more about the history of this process in the Article II section of UUA.org. 

The Commission held thousands of conversations with UUs and developed a proposal that went before a vote at the 2023 General Assembly. Delegates voted to move forward with a process to discuss further changes and approved several amendments to the Commission’s proposal. In the months since GA 2023, the Commission has worked to incorporate those amendments into a final document for congregations to review. That document, the Final Proposed Revision to Article II, is now available.  

At GA 2024, we will come together and vote on whether to adopt this revision as the new Article II of the UUA Bylaws. This email shares links to the proposed revision, information on submitting amendments, and resources to support engagement with this important opportunity to connect more deeply with what it means to be UU.

With you on the journey,

Rachel, Unitarian Universalist Association

The UUA invites all UUs to review the Final Proposed Revision to Article II and absorb what it means to you and your congregation or community. To help you engage deeply with the text, we offer multiple formats of the Final Proposed Revision: an online webpage, a PDF version linked from the webpage, and a PDF version with line numbers linked from the webpage, to support the work of proposing amendments.

Board Update

Hello VUU Members,

At the last Congregational Conversation, the Board said we would set meetings to let you share and share with you about our congregation’s understandings of and feelings about upcoming Article II proposals to be voted on at 2024 GA. The Board has planned those sessions. Check your email for the details. Please join us for a meeting.



Nancy Egly, BoT Vice President and the Board of Trustees

Save the Date: December 14 Monthly Meeting 6:30pm

Our 2024 planning meeting to decide how our EastVUU group can grow and prosper. Suggestions welcome before our meetup. Email us and we will compile a listing to present and discuss. Suggestions also welcome night of meeting!

Join Zoom Meeting

Partners in Education (PIE)

What a wonderful experience for our Adams students! We are opening the world to them. We are so excited to have had this collaborative effort with Denise McLoud and PETA. Please think about resources or network contacts that you can bring to Adams! 

Class schedule for the next 2 months

• Nov. 19 - MS & HS classes meet, Pre-K - 5th grade NO class  Pageant Rehearsal (assistants assist with pageant.) OWL classes meet
• Nov. 26 - NO classes, all age game day (assistants join us) OWL classes do NOT meet
• Dec. 3 - MS & HS classes meet, Pre-K - 5th grade NO class  Pageant Rehearsal (assistants assist with pageant.) OWL classes meet
• Dec 10 - NO classes, everyone attends Pageant, 10:30 am OWL classes do NOT meet
• Dec. 17 - ALL classes meet, OWL classes do NOT meet
• Jan. 7 - Everything is back!! All classes and OWL meet.
• Jan. 14 - ALL classes meet, OWL classes do NOT meet

Maren Kay Long born Oct. 27

Doug Feisler and Carlin Knight are happily welcoming the newest member of their family: Maren Kay Long, born 10/27/23, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to Dave and Aimee Long, Carlin and Doug's youngest granddaughter. Although this is their first great granddaughter, they already have two wonderful great grandsons, Charlie and Ben. Carlin took daughter Laura to Italy to celebrate major birthdays this year. When they returned to Philadelphia, the icing on the cake was the birth of Maren the day before Carlin returned to Arizona so they all got to meet. What a wonderful blessing!

Remember when we used to have FUUNd? – We’re back!

These photos are from some of the many popular events from the 2023 Let’s Have FUUNd Together Auction. You can hike, bicycle, bird watch, have dinner or sip wine at happenings throughout the year at 2024 Let’s Have FUUNd Together Auction. What event, dinner or service can you contribute? Games, a dinner, baked goods or a specialty service are all possibilities.

Look for the FUUNd Together table to see photos, get ideas and pick up a form for your special donation.

We’ll be there this Sunday, November 19 and are eager to meet you.

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 November 16 at 7:00 PM. The book is The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende. In one of the most important and beloved Latin American works of the twentieth century, Isabel Allende weaves a luminous tapestry of three generations of the Trueba family, revealing both triumphs and tragedies.

For the meeting address or questions, please contact Johnnie at 480-231-8381 or email: agmonahan@gmail.com.

Immigration Action Team

VUU Holiday Immigration Actions

Want to be a part of the IAT's robust plans to boost spirits and spread joy during the holidays?

Here are two big efforts that YOU can participate in:

Support Our Winter Clothing Drive

Donate lightly used or new winter clothing, especially sweatshirts, sweaters and coats for men and women (Sizes S/M/L) and children to teens (all sizes). We also accept all seasonal clothing.

Asylum Seekers often travel into winter condition states with no protection but what Refugee Aid can supply by your and others' donation

Place items in the Refugee Aid Bin in the Sanctuary or hand them to us at the Immigration Action table and we will get them where they are needed for you (and out of your overstuffed closet!)

Choose a Gift to Give from our Gift Tree 

Visit our Holiday Tree on the patio Sundays before and after services loaded with gift items from the wishlists from our families.  Select a tree tag item that you'd love to give, and then bring the item to Sunday service, order it from the Amazon wishlist link, or give cash and we'll order it for you! We will have the items wrapped and delivered to each family before the holiday! So easy...  

...or choose to give a gift card or cash for groceries or gas in denominations of $10, $20, or $50 and it will double in value thanks to Special Funds' matching grant.

Sponsor Ian in a Turkey Trot

Ian is collecting pledges for his 6th Grade classes' Turkey Trot at Adams Elementary (Our PIE supported school). He needs to raise $210 to attend a one-week science camp in March.