July 7: Consider the Lilies

The Rev. Carol Armstrong-Moore

July 14: Spirituality: What the Heck Is That?

Mary Tucker

July 21: Voluntary Simplicity

Krissy Morrison

July 28: Science and Religion

Ron Rutowski

During the month of July our minister, Lone Jensen, will be on study leave/vacation and will be back in the pulpit on August 11. If you need help, please call your neighborhood contacts or Lauree Perry, Chair of Caring and Concerns. She and the church office will know how to contact Lone in case of an emergency.

Minister's Dusty Desert Corner

Just in case you were not here on June sixteenth, I am repeating these words:

A special milestone for this congregation at the end of our first year together: This is a candle of gratitude for our first church year together. It has been a very busy year, full of real accomplishments and many joys. We have stood by each other through tragedies and losses and weathered events over which we had little control. And we kept a sense of humor about it all.

Yes, it was a difficult year because of the events of Sept 11 and the eight Memorial Services we held. But listen to just a few of the things this congregation has accomplished:

You generously gave over $5000.00 for the relief effort. We had special services and hosted a forum on Islam. You put on an absolutely beautiful installation for me that I will always treasure. We welcomed sixty-nine (69!) new members. We survived major plumbing problems and still gave our staff a 5% raise. For the first time this congregation offered a pension plan as a step toward fair compensation practices, putting our values into practice.

We came up with a great mission statement after a visioning weekend where 180 people participated. We have collected the information we need now to draw a real map for where this parade is going. Our major and musical events went off great: Cabaret, Canvass Dinner, Madrigal, Heart and Hand Auction, Spring Concert, etc.

We changed our annual year and tried out several different service times, oh I could go on and on with this list.

Thank you for the trust you have shown me when you called me to be your minister. It was a very good year we had together, the first of many, I hope, that I will be here as your minister.

Did you miss a sermon and wish you could hear it? Is there one that sticks in your mind and you want to listen to again? Tapes of sermons are available for most services. Contact Lauree Perry at lperry98@earthlink.net, $1.00 per tape.

VUU Church Mission

The Valley Unitarian Universalist Church is a welcoming community that honors diversity in all its forms. We strive for social justice and environmental repsonsibility, nurture each person's lifelong spiritual journey, and create a place of peace and celebration as we encounter the mystery of life.

Board Bits

By Debbie Dinyes,
Board President

We have adopted our new mission statement and our Long Range Planning Group is using the goal information from our May 18 focus groups to design a plan. This plan will be voted on Sept. 21 and will be available before this date for study. If you are interested in seeing the goals please contact Duke Mertz at dukemertz@cox.net and he will provide you with a copy.

The board has authorized an appraisal of our property, which should be completed in a few weeks. All of this information will help us make a decision about where we go next. Now we find ourselves looking two big issues in the face: CHANGE and GROWTH.

These two things can and do make people anxious. People resist change, it makes them nervous. If the known is at all comfortable we want to keep it that way. Obviously we all love many things about VUU and feel comfortable here. We all know we have a space challenge and that we are growing. How will growth affect us? Will we lose our sense of community? Will we become faceless strangers to each other? How will people find a place in a large group? If we go for a new building, how much will it cost? Where will it be? What can we afford?

We in the leadership of VUU are aware of these concerns--we have them ourselves. We have no crystal ball to foretell our perfect future. We do have the will and ability to keep all of us on track together and deal with the challenges of change and growth. We are looking at small group programs to involve people and help them find a place. We want provide more opportunities for individuals and families to become involved in fun and service together. There are many ways to keep our community healthy during this time of change. To do this we need EVERYONE. The board can't do it alone, the minister can't, nor can the staff and committee chairs.

You can start right now to improve our community. On Sundays, greet each other and our visitors. Step up to someone you don't know and chat. If you think that someone is missing--you haven't seen someone for a while--give them a call or send them a note or e-mail. Let people know they are thought of. This is a good start. In the meantime the leadership will continue to work on organizational ways to involve and support people.

Some of our veteran members have gone through 2, 3, or 4 location changes and have seen us grow from a handful of members to our current 350+. It takes determination and involvement, but it can be done!

VUU Community Milestones

SEARCHING FOR THE FUTURE RESULTS TABULATED

Compiled by Duke Mertz

Approximately a hundred separate goals and concerns were identified during the Saturday sessions. These were distilled into the above categories for this report.

If you would like to receive a copy of an Excel spreadsheet which details this information, please send a request to Dukemertz@cox.net.

Congratulations

Esmé Simone Crawford-Paz Soldán was born on April 5, 2002 to Neil Crawford and Michelle Paz Soldán. She arrived at 5:43 pm weighing 7 pounds 3 ounces and measuring 19 1/2 inches long. Esmé is healthy and happy and the rest of her family, Neil, Michelle, and big sister Elise are doing well.

With Appreciation

Thanks to our outgoing committee chairs for their service this past year. Thank you for devoting your time and energy to organize and carry out the vital work of the church.

VUU Community Announcements

Please turn in your Life Crisis Forms!!

This information is essential in case of emergencies. If you are still working on completing part of the form, consider turning in a preliminary form with emergency numbers. You can pick up extra forms from the church office and turn a completed form later. These are strictly confidential and are stored under lock and key. You will receive a small gift for your participation. Thank You.

Knit-Wits

...meet after services on summer Sundays for about an hour. Learn about knitting and each other. Contact: Neria Ryder.

Women's Circle

Women’s Circle does not meet in July and August.

Yoga in July

Yoga classes will be held on Mondays, July 1, 8, and 29 and Wednesdays, July 3, 10, and 3. Classes are $10/class, drop in, or $36/4 classes. Contact Linda Martin.

Deodorant Sunday a Rousing Success!

Shoebox Ministry accepted an avalanche of donations on June 2nd. Besides mounds of socks, toothbrushes, and toothpaste, it looks like we have about a year’s supply of deodorant! Thanks to all for your generous contributions! On June 2nd, Sunday school children in kindergarten through 5th grade classes carried donations to the cottage and assembled twelve boxes of personal care products for families. The last two Sundays in June, Sunday school crews will learn about the homeless, organize supplies, and assemble more shoeboxes of toiletries. When I recently delivered the twelve family shoeboxes to Paz de Cristo, I was blessed many times by a wonderful nun there. She wanted my assurance that VUU would continue its support. I told her to expect more boxes soon. (Now I realize that I should have told her, "No sweat!"

Karen McBeath,

Queen of the Shoeboxes

Coming VUU Events

The Susan B. Komen 5K walk/run for Breast Cancer, Komen Phoenix Race for the Cure, takes place in downtown Phoenix Sunday, October 13. The deadline for teams to register is September 24. Contact Laurel Hardin at laurel.hardin@rsd.k12.az.us.

The first part of "The Parent Trilogy: Three Programs for UU Parents and Other Adults" will start in August.

UU Day at the Legislature Needs Helpers

Early every year here in Arizona, we have a UU Day at the Legislature with all congregations involved. To promote our interests and to have an effective influence, well advanced planning is necessary. For 2003, the UU Church of Phoenix is organizing the UU Day and leaders from all our church are needed to assist. Also, the state committee wishes to know what we most wish to stress with the legislature this year. The next planning meeting will be 7pm, July 9th. Our church needs a leader. If you can do that and/or wish to express your legislative interests, contact: Rachel Nelson, Social Action Committee at Raerock25@aol.com

Also coming in August will be "Rise up and Call Her Name," a "herstory" of women and religion all over the world. Men invited, too!

Summer is here, and people will be going on vacation and reconnecting with friends and family. However, if something happens and your family is far away, and you find yourself needing support, give your contact a call. And if your closest Neighborhood Contact happens to be away on his or her vacation, please call one of the others. Any of us will be happy to help.

If you haven't met your contact(s) yet, introduce yourself at services. If you would be willing to help when the need arises, be sure to call or email and let them know what you can provide.

VUUpoint is published by:
The Valley Unitarian Universalist Church
1700 W. Warner Rd. Chandler, AZ 85224
Editor: Vicki Kulik
Phone: (480) 899-4249
Fax: (480) 899-2408
Web page: http://vuu.org
Email: vuu@qwest.net
Church Office Hours: See Calendar for Summer Hours
Rev. Lone Jensen's hours:
She will be on vacation in July
For an emergency, contact Lauree Perry lperry98@earthlink.net Or the church office: (480) 899-4249
Services: June 16-August 4, one service at 10:00

VUUpoint is distributed free of charge to members and friends. The annual subscription rate for others is an identifiable contribution of $15 or more. Articles, announcements and other VUUpoint material may be e-mailed to vuu@qwest.net. If possible, send as an attachment. Typed, printed or legibly handwritten material is also acceptable and may be dropped off in the VUUpoint box just inside the office door.

Article Deadline is 3rd Sunday of the month.

Love is the doctrine of this church
The quest of truth is its sacrament
And service is its prayer.
To dwell together in peace
To seek knowledge in freedom
To serve humankind in friendship
Thus do we covenant.