Desert Notes October 16, 2025

Last weekend our Program Council meeting had 28 participants who spent three hours looking at what’s going well at VUU, what needs attention, and what we want VUU to know. Look for an article with more information! I really felt good about the conversations we had and ideas we shared, and I am grateful for the leaders who participated. We also had a New to VUU class after service Sunday, and it was a wonderful group of parents, kids, grandparents and even a spouse who’s been a “friend” but never joined. Two of our high school teens offered childcare for six kiddos and we were able to engage in a deeper conversation about what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist. We also managed to do some clean up and moving of large items for donation out of the office so that we can begin to make plans to painting and other beautification in the Office building.  

We had 120 folks at service this Sunday, and enjoyed a wide range of music while sharing stories about famous UU’s like Rev. James Stoll, our first out gay UU minister, and Dorothea Dix whose groundbreaking work with folks experiencing mental illness humanized care and changed our understanding of people’s needs. We made many bags of items for unhoused folks that included personal care items and cards made by our kids. Some families took them home to add a snack and give out to folks they encounter in need. There are more to give out, we’ll have them at services and at the end of the month I’ll take them to Azcend to give to folks in need.  

I hope to see some of you at the Chandler No Kings gathering on Saturday! On Sunday I will be in the Phoenix Pride Parade with the Arizona trans youth parent organization (AZTYPO). I’ll see you on October 26! –Rev.

–Rev. Sarah