About Us

WHO WE ARE
WHO WE ARE
The formation of the American character, culture and political life was influenced by such Unitarians and Universalists as: Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, Thomas Paine, Ethan Allen, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Louisa May Alcott, Henry David Thoreau and Joseph Priestley.

Unitarian Universalism has been in the forefront of the struggle for human rights throughout our history. Theodore Parker’s harboring of fugitive slaves and support of the abolitionist movement, leaders in the women’s rights movement, including Margaret Fuller and Susan B. Anthony, and civil rights leaders such as Whitney Young and James Reeb exemplify our struggle.

The first woman ordained by any denomination was Olympia Brown, a Universalist. Today, UU has a significant number of women serving as senior pastors of major churches. For over 25 years, Unitarian Universalism has also been in the forefront of the battle for gay rights, ordaining openly gay ministers and celebrating gay unions.

If you are new to UUism, you will find many answers to your questions at the Unitarian Universalist Association website. The links below provide access to some useful information there.

Principles & Purposes
Newcomers to UUism
UUism: The Uncommon Denomination

A NOTE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
A NOTE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
Join us in a church built in the spirit of caring, acceptance, compassion, and service.

Seven principles are our guide:

  • We believe that each and every person is important.
  • We believe that all people should be treated fairly and kindly.
  • We believe that we should accept one another and keep on learning together.
  • We believe that each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life.
  • We believe that all persons should have a vote about the things that concern them.
  • We believe in working for a peaceful, fair, and free world.
  • We believe in caring for our planet Earth, the home we share with all living things.

We are non-creedal: there are no required beliefs about God, the after-life, or other religious questions, but we do learn from other religious. We all have a common approach to life in our on-going search for meaning.

The most common comment we hear from prospective members is: “I’ve always been a UU. I just didn’t know it!”

Our Members

Our founders’ vision was to establish a liberal religious presence in west Phoenix. For more than 20 years we have provided that home to our members and visitors. We are a growing multi-generational congregation of more than 250 members.

Our members come from nearly all west valley cities. Our location is a convenient and easy drive from both Sun City and Sun City Grand, and many of our members come to us from those cities. Over the last 10 years, as new families moved into the cities of Peoria, Surprise, El Mirage and Youngtown, the number of families with children in our congregation has significantly increased.

Just as Phoenix is a city full of non-native people, most of our members have roots in some of the cooler parts of the country. Many are also part-time residents and have a home congregation here and another home congregation where they spend their summers. So if you’re a part-time resident, you are welcome here.

Service and volunteerism is important in Unitarian Universalism, our members are involved in almost every aspect of the operation of our church. From decisions about the order of service and the coffee we serve, to the organization of the ushers and the maintenance of our facilities; member volunteers make it happen. Our members also take the lead in organizing community outreach programs for adult education and the adoption of local schools to ensure they have volunteers for tutoring and other tasks.

Our founders’ vision was to establish a liberal religious presence in west Phoenix. For more than 20 years we have provided that home to our members and visitors. We are a growing multi-generational congregation of more than 250 members.

Our members come from nearly all west valley cities. Our location is a convenient and easy drive from both Sun City and Sun City Grand, and many of our members come to us from those cities. Over the last 10 years, as new families moved into the cities of Peoria, Surprise, El Mirage and Youngtown, the number of families with children in our congregation has significantly increased.

Just as Phoenix is a city full of non-native people, most of our members have roots in some of the cooler parts of the country. Many are also part-time residents and have a home congregation here and another home congregation where they spend their summers. So if you’re a part-time resident, you are welcome here.

Service and volunteerism is important in Unitarian Universalism, our members are involved in almost every aspect of the operation of our church. From decisions about the order of service and the coffee we serve, to the organization of the ushers and the maintenance of our facilities; member volunteers make it happen. Our members also take the lead in organizing community outreach programs for adult education and the adoption of local schools to ensure they have volunteers for tutoring and other tasks.

Our Covenant

We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote:
  • The inherent worth and dignity of every person
  • Justice, equity and compassion in human relations
  • Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations
  • A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
  • The rights of conscience and the use of democratic process within our congregations and in society at large
  • The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all
  • Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision.  As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support.

The living tradition we share draws from many sources:
  • Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life
  • Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love
  • Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life
  • Jewish and Christian teaching which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves
  • Humanistic teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit

Our Chalice

May this flaming chalice remind us of our highest aspirations, our deepest commitments and our most earnest  intentions.
May this flaming chalice remind us of our highest aspirations, our deepest commitments and our most earnest  intentions.
A flame within a chalice (a cup with a stem and foot) is a primary symbol of the Unitarian Universalist faith tradition. Many of our congregations kindle a flaming chalice in gatherings and worships and feature the chalice symbol prominently.

Hans Deutsch, an Austrian artist, first brought together the chalice and the flame as a Unitarian symbol during his work with the Unitarian Service Committee during World War II. To Deutsch, the image had connotations of sacrifice and love. Unitarian Universalists today have many different interpretations of the flaming chalice, including the light of reason, the warmth of community, and the flame of hope.

In 2005, Mordecai Roth lit the chalice at the beginning of Friday morning’s GA plenary session. It was a chalice he had made-but not the only one. UU Congregations all over the Country share these Intricate pieces of art – his chalices – with their members each Sunday during Services.

Roth, was a retired dentist and a member of the UU Church of Surprise, Arizona, and had made 132 chalices, most in use by UU congregations. His chalices range from 9 to 23 inches in height and feature two interlocking hoops above the chalice bowl.

The first one he made was used at General Assembly 2005 in Fort Worth. Roth made the chalice for his own church as well and now one of the special pleasures for our members is attending services and seeing it lit each Sunday.

Mordecai liked to sit in the front row of the Sanctuary and just look at it. When you see the details, the spaces between the elements, you can’t help but feel just as he did. The chalice just keeps giving back to us every Sunday. It was indeed a labor of love for Mordecai when he created and began making these chalices.

Mordiecai once explained that the design for the interlocking rings just kind of evolved. “Once I got started the process just took on a life of its own.” He used the “lost wax” process, where wax in a mold is replaced by hot metal. “It’s not all that different a process from making a dental crown,” he noted. If you visit our Congregation in Surprise, AZ, you will find our Chalice on display in the Sanctuary. Designed and fashioned by our own Mordecai Roth, it is a spiritual gift left to us by a generous and caring member. Mordecai Roth passed away in 2013.

Mordecai Roth, who made the chalice the UUA has used for General Assemblies since 2005, lights the chalice at Friday’s plenary. (©Nancy Pierce)
FURTHER INFO

Our Organization

Rev Sam Schaal
TRANSITION MINISTER
Rev. Samuel Schaal
The Rev. Samuel Schaal is Transition Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Surprise, AZ. An Accredited Interim Minister with the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, he has served churches in Texas, Wisconsin, Missouri and Florida.

As a career transition minister, Sam enjoys his consultative practice with churches to manage change and help congregations thrive during the time between settled ministries. He’s grown a special love of stewardship and generosity, helping congregations connect money and spirit to empower church mission. Prior to ministry, Sam was Public Information Director for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas in Dallas. He is the author of Lone Star Legacy, the history of that company where the Blue Cross idea began.

He holds a Master of Divinity cum laude from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, a Certificate in Financial Planning from SMU, a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Center for Nonprofit Management, and is a Registered Life Planner© with the Kinder Institute of Life Planning, helping individuals discover deep life goals and values as a preliminary step to financial planning.

He makes his permanent home in Dallas where he enjoys his family of two sons and daughters-in-law and six grandchildren.  Sam is, he says, “at home in the desert,” having been born in the panhandle of West Texas and widely traveled in New Mexico. He looks forward to deeper discovery of desert spirituality while in Arizona.

Judy Gilmore-Administrator
CONGREGATIONAL ADMINISTRATOR
Judy Gilmore
DIRECTOR OF FAMILY MINISTRY

Lisa Lawrence

Maggie Mahan
ACTING MUSIC DIRECTOR

Maggie Mahan

2021 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

PRESIDENT
Sherry Robinson
VICE PRESIDENT
Brooke Gaunt
Jan Murphy-Treasurer v2
TREASURER
Janet Murphy
SECRETARY

Susie Cole

Maggie Mahan
TRUSTEE
Emily Whitmore
TRUSTEE

Liz Thomas

TRUSTEE

David King

Our church is governed by its bylaws. Click button below to read the most current.
The bylaws specify that we have a Board of Trustees elected at our annual meeting who serve for a 2 year term.
Board members meet the second Sunday of each month at noon following our service. Click below for the most recent agenda.

Click here to read the most recent President’s Report to the Board. Click here to read the most recent Minister Report.
Visitors are welcome, but comments should be withheld until the end of the meeting. To view the most recently approved board meeting minutes, click below.

COMMITTEES

The Board of Trustees establishes committees to carry out most of the operations of the church. Committee chairs are either appointed by the Board or the Nomination Committee. The committees and their chairpersons are listed below.

Aesthetics
(Co-Chairs)

Carol Calkins
Priscilla London

Building & Grounds
TBD

Finance
Janet Murphy

Investment
Steve Shanklin

Lay Pastoral Care
Sharon Beard Barbara Hughes

Membership
Libby Christianson

Memorial Services – Hospitality
David & Janet King Berta Czeczyk

Music
Maggie Mahan

Memorial Garden Caretaker
Darnell Kirksey

 

Nominating
TBA

Questers (Adult Education)
Juliet Gustavson

Social Justice (UUJAZ)
Tom Reemtsma

Stewardship
(Co-Chairs)
Janet Jeffrey
TBA

Sunday Support Services (Ushers, Greeters)
(Co-Chairs)
Mary Ellen Baker
Sharon Steigmann

Worship Team / Services
Minister
Amy St. Peter

INDIVIDUAL POSITIONS

Librarian
MaryAnne Balzar

Newsletter Editors
Gus & Juliet Gustavson

Web Manager
To Be Filled

Unitarian Universalist Church in Surprise

We welcome you!
Sundays at 10:30am

17540 N Avenue of the Arts
Surprise, AZ 85378
(623) 875-2550

A Progressive, Inclusive Faith Community