Desert Notes
Word of Warning: If you received a phishing message from an account very similar to my email address (but slightly different!) please report it and remember that I will never email you requesting gift cards or cash.
9-1-2022
The VUU Staff had a staff retreat, which included some team building activities including bowling together. We are looking at the year ahead of us and planning how we can help VUU move into its dreams of updating our sanctuary, welcoming new members, and working for justice in our community. These are all related because our sanctuary isn’t just where we gather on Sundays–it’s a space used by Nefesh Soul, a Jewish community that rents space from us, and a space where folks experiencing homelessness come to rest and renew. It’s a space we hope will attract more collaborative partnerships and be used for events that members and friends are planning in their own lives. They’re related because when we welcome new friends to become members, we are also building more capacity to do justice work in our community–to build the beloved community.
We know that some of the changes we are looking forward to seem to be taking more time than hoped for! Every Sunday we have fresh challenges to the technology we are using–technology soon to be replaced. Right now we have two speakers trying to bring sound to the whole room–getting the volume right for everyone is tricky! This will be so much easier soon, so please give us some grace and space and we navigate an old sound board that loses channels, microphones waiting to be replaced, old speakers, and a listening assistance set up that is also in need of replacement. There’s also a whole list of welcome changes being planned by the Sanctuary Transformation Team, and I know they are eager to share this information with you soon!
A lot goes on behind the scenes to make VUU a thriving community, and your staff often wear multiple hats to make it all come together–and because no Sunday is the same, none of our jobs are exactly the same every week, either! We attend meetings, research solutions, facilitate and support lay leadership, and try to develop a plan for the whole year that is hopefully cohesive and coherent. August and September are extremely busy for all of us, and it is more so with a new minister on board who is learning and leading with new expectations and ideas! We appreciate your patience as we work together to get this year off to a great start.
If you are interested in setting up a time to meet with me, or you’d like me to join a meeting or small group event already scheduled for VUU members, please fill out this form. I can also be reached at minister@vuu.org. Things are busy as I meet with many of your committees and members and we plan together for a shared future!
See you soon! Rev. Sarah.
PS: Reminder: Love In Action – Join Rev. Sarah in this new collaborative class with UUJAZ! Starting this coming Tuesday!
Enjoy a couple photos from the bowling event err VUU Staff Retreat!
