Minister’s

Dusty Desert

Corner

C

By Lone Jensen

Let us know praise, second chances, starting over, and making our dreams living realties.

In other words, Happy New Year! Another year to use as we choose, wisely or otherwise. How was this old year for you? Did you bid it farewell in a spirit of nostalgia and regret at this parting, or did you breathe a sign of relief, oh, I am so glad this one is over! Or perhaps like most of us, you look back over this past year with mixed feelings. Joys and woe are indeed woven finely into our lives and shape our souls.

So it is with this congregation. We accomplished a lot this past calendar year. We saw what our future could be in our visioning week and began our journey when the congregation voted, in October, to adopt our Long Range Plan. All year long, our board, our leaders, and our committees worked hard to make our church better in many small and large ways. This made it possible for the work of this church to go on in the midst of economic down turns, and many demands upon our resources.

We added new staff and increased the professionalism of our office. Our worship services, which have always been our strength, continued to be well attended as our choirs grew and attendance stayed high.

Now we just have to get some of you to get up a bit earlier and go the first service where parking is at least possible. Our Lifespan Religious Learning and Growth Program are prospering despite having to overcome many difficulties this year. We are doing more community outreach. We are exploring possibilities -- looking at properties and are planning an exciting Annual Canvass.

Oh, yes, we have done a lot of good things this year. And we have also mourned the loss of far too many of our members. Our leadership has battles, not dragons, but a persistent budgetary shortfall due to many repairs to our now aging building and other inevitable expenses. Yet, our financial difficulties have been mostly due to a pledge shortfall, that is now being made up here at the cusp of the New Year. Next year, let us do better in reminding each other of the promises we have made. Which is to support this church with our energy and resources and that, of course, includes a fair share pledge.

Overall, we have done well and I am very hopeful. This Congregation can do anything it sets its collective mind to! So, in our personal lives and in our congregation’s lives, let us celebrate what we have done well. And look to the future where we will, I have faith; make of our dreams a living reality.

Have a Happy New Year! May God bless you, the Universe smile upon you, and Your Heart give you peace and joy!

BOARD BITS

By Debbie Dinyes,
Board President

WARNING: THIS COLUMN CONTAINS EXPLICIT FINANCIAL TALK WHICH MAY BE OFFENSIVE TO SOME READERS.

There, you have been warned. Our ongoing financial challenges are moving me to do something all too rare at VUU--speak frankly about money.

We have had money challenges in our past. We once had to pass the hat for the utility bill; we had to let one of our ministers go because we had no money to pay him. We overcame those challenges by working together and being honest about our money, which is what we need to do now.

We are running a deficit budget. What this means is that we have no financial cushion to meet our obligations when the weekly plate comes in light or too many pledges are outstanding. The size of the deficit has shrunk, but is still a factor in our day-to-day operations. In addition we have had unexpected expenses for building maintenance that have pushed us into the red. Other unexpected expenses as well as the stock market have reduced our contingency fund to a shadow of its former self.

The people on the very front line of this situation are our staff. Their checks have bounced; they get the phone calls from our bank warning of overdraft; they make the emergency calls to the plumber and AC Company; hoping it will all work out. Despite all this, they continue to work cheerfully for us and have even accepted the fact that their salaries will be frozen until July 1 to accommodate the transition to our new fiscal year. We, as their employers,

cannot continue to put them under this kind of stress.

The financial leadership has not been sitting idly by. We are working to resolve this situation and being honest and realistic about money. We are faced with two challenges: our current deficit and a shortfall in the interim budget due to increased expenses. Our interim budget comes at a time when we are trying to move forward with facility plans which necessitate funds for building repair and related matters. We cannot just cut the current budget in half because some areas, such as canvass, need most of their money in one short period of time. Our budget committee is grappling with cutting the interim budget to the bone and beyond.

We are all responsible for the funding of this church. The leadership is responsible for letting you know where we stand with our income. The rest of us are responsible for knowing where we as individuals stand with regard to paying our promised share. We all can do a better job.

In this New Year, my resolution is to see that we are honest and forthright about our money. This means asking for what we really need and making a realistic budget. You will be seeing signs of this attitude in the months to come. There will be more financial information coming your way in a simplified format. There will be closer tracking of pledges.

Our canvass goal is to fully fund our operating budget from pledge income. This is an ambitious goal, but not impossible. During canvass, we will be trying something completely new: suggested pledge amounts for each pledge unit. As the saying goes, "To-Whom-It-May-Concern helps those who help themselves". Help us by keeping up your pledge, giving a little more if possible and putting some cash in the plate. Happy New Year.

Valued Volunteers: Thanks to our volunteers for many building repairs, and for work on our computers and to everyone who carries out the many tasks of keeping us going every day.

¯Musical Notes ¯

Kellie Walker,

VUU Director of Music Ministries

Our Children's Choir is taking the month of January off, but will start rehearsing again on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 6:30 PM in the sanctuary. This would be a great time for newcomers to join us.

I am particularly proud of our Children’s Choir singing. During December-they sang in 3-part harmony, something many adults cannot do!

Also a special thanks to all of our musicians that made the holiday services so wonderful. Our brass group, our youth string group, the bagpipes of Michael Fowler, our young soloists on Christmas Eve, and all the dedicated choir members who give of their time and talent season after season-

a big thank you to all of you!

Hear ye, Hear ye,

Madrigal Dinner Tickets

Will be

Available on January 12

For Performance on

February 1

Committee on Ministry

The Committee on Ministry would like your help.

Our mission is to ‘facilitate the ministry of the church such that its members feel accepted, inspired, involved, and safe throughout transitions in the church’s life cycle’.

So we’ve been working closely with Lone to identify areas where the ministry of the church could be more effective. We believe that our current church structure with its plethora of committees is fertile ground for introducing improvements. The Board has recently given us the green light to come back to them with recommended changes in that structure.

We’d appreciate your input on not only these recommendations, but any suggestions, complaints, and/or comments you might have on any aspect of the ministry of this church. You can identify us by the ‘stars’ on our name tags, or call or e-mail any of us. We’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

Thanks, Committee on Ministry members.

Musical Tables

No, you don’t have to sing! Musical Tables is reorganizing for the New Year. Come and join the fun of getting to know other UUs in smaller groups over delicious potluck meals. Hosts and attendees change every month. We will meet on the third Saturday of each month through May.

If you participated in the Fall Musical Tables, you will be automatically included. If you wish to be either removed, or join in on this fun event contact the church office.

Social Action Committees

Our participation in Social Action activities is expanding. Currently VUU members and friends are deeply involved in Social Action. Listed below are the committees.

Adopt-A-School (Frye Elementary)

Planning Social Action Forums

Paz de Cristo

Shoe Box Ministry

UUDay at the Legislature

UU Service

United Blood Drive

Unlimited Potential

Now, as we go into 2003, based on our survey results and other expressed interests, we are becoming involved with additional groups and, organizations listed here:

World Peace/Anti-War

Parent-Child Volunteers

Environmental Protection

Arizona Advocacy

Amnesty International

Habitat for Humanity

As we work with and support these groups, our leaders often need and appreciate assistance. Anyone interested in helping, please contact the church office

January Social Action

Committee Meetings/Events

Our next Social Action Meeting will be January 14th, 7:15pm in the Sanctuary.

United Blood Drive

The Bloodmobile will be at Church on Sunday, December 29th. Blood supplies are dangerously low in December and there will be more needed in January. If you can give at this time, please do.

Environmental Action Group will meet

Sunday January 12, 12:30pm

The Cottage

As you are probably well aware, the pro-business politics of our current government are often at the expense of the environment. What can we do as a community and individuals to best educate ourselves, our diverse congregation, and others? How can we most effectively act to reverse the current trend and preserve our remaining natural treasures? Suggested activities thus far include working with national environmental groups, organized community hikes, involvement with RE classes, clean-ups, and more. Questions? Contact the church office for details.

UU Day at the Legislature

January 20, 9AM-3PM

Have you registered yet? Not much time left to be part of the annual trek to the Arizona State Legislature. UUs from all over Arizona are joining together on January 20 (Martin Luther King Day) to voice our concerns.

What do you want for Arizona? Children’s issues? Prison reform? The environment? This is our chance to be heard!

This celebration and gathering of concerned UUs, was organized many years ago by our own Jan Christensen and Rich Bitner. Now about 100 UUs attend each year!

There is a $12.00 registration fee, which includes a catered lunch and an information packet for the 9AM-3:30 program.

Contact the church office for details.

Momentum Building for
Habitat for Humanity

We are developing a list of Unitarian Universalist Fools with Tools for Habitat for Humanity (UUFTAH). We are recruiting volunteers to build houses for Phoenix H.H. at 15^th Ave. and Southern. More information can be found at H.H. Website: www.habitataz.org.

Requirements:

Volunteers may have any skill level (must be at least 16 years old).

Work commitment from 7AM to 3 PM.

Individual volunteers must first attend an orientation held at 8:30 AM every Sat. Phone H.H. office (602) 268-9022 to schedule an orientation.

Note: Volunteers in the UUFTAH group would not need an orientation; and would receive necessary forms in advance.

A group must have at least 12 people committed to work on a specific date.

If you wish to volunteer to help H.H. build houses for the working poor (and you are not already on the UUFTAH e-mail list) contact the church office.

VUU January Happenings

Congratulations to

Long-Term Members!

VUU would like to recognize the people who have been Members of this Church for 10 years or more! We truly appreciate everything they have contributed over the years to help make this a welcoming and growing community. When you see them, tell them "Thank You!"

— Humanists
Several people have asked that we provide a one-sentence definition of Humanism---
So here 'tis.

"Humanism is a progressive lifestance that, without supernaturalism, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead meaningful, ethical lives capable of adding to the greater good of humanity."--The American Humanist Association.

Humanist meetings are held in the Sanctuary at 7PM on the first and third Sunday of each month.

January 5th

Eleanor Eisenberg, Executive Director of the Arizona ACLU, will speak on the U.S.A. Patriot Act. This legislation was passed, without much debate in the aftermath of the 9-11-2001 World Trade Center attack and is a must-attend program for all persons concerned about the increasing restrictions on our civil liberties. All are encouraged to attend.

January 19^th

Dr. David A. Williams, Ph.D., of the ASU Department of Geological Sciences will give a presentation on "NASA'S Galileo Mission to Jupiter." This is a fascinating talk given in a dynamic manner. I am certain your will enjoy it.

Contact the church office for details.

January New U.U. Class

If you would like to learn more about our U.U. faith, our fellowship, and the pathway to membership, consider attending our next New U.U. class. The 4-week session will begin after the holidays on Thursday, January 9^th at 7PM. After the course is completed, an evening reception will be held. Then we will have a Sunday service and potluck to recognize new members on February 9th. Childcare can be arranged if given at least 48 hours notice. For details and to register for the class, call the church office.

We’d love to see you there!

-The Membership Committee

U.U. Women’s Circle

Open To All

This group, which welcomes everyone, meets once a month—sometimes in a member’s home---sometimes in the church Cottage,UU Building #3. The regular meeting day is the second Thursday at 1:00 PM. The December group included several most welcome newcomers and all enjoyed exchanging holiday cookies and humorous anecdotes. Thanks to all for bringing toys for IFCM.

The January meeting theme is

Sharing Your Readings.

Call the church office for details.

Come and tell about or share small excerpts from your favorite poem, book, play, meditation or whatever you choose. It promises to be interesting and uplifting.

New name for VUU Pagan Group!

Sacred Earth Circle

Is the new name of the VUU Pagan Group, formally called the Pagan Bunch.

Upcoming VUU Events

Madrigal Dinner

Saturday, February 1
Tickets sold at VUU

Starting January 12

All-VUU potluck February 9^th after the second service. Help welcome our new members!

Women’s Circle meeting for February will take place at the Church Cottage on the 13^th at 1PM. Save the date.

Chinese New Year Party

Come one and all to our church’s Chinese New Year Party on Saturday, February 22^nd from 5-9 PM. Bring potluck Chinese food, wear a costume, try Chinese crafts and games, give children good-luck coins in red envelopes, and cook pots