Join Us This Sunday for Worship
February 25, 9:15 & 11:15 a.m.
Spiritual Perseverance
Sermon by The Rev. Beth Miller
Social and political activist, Paul Loeb, asks the question: How do you set up your life so that when you look in the mirror you see reflected in your own face the very best self you are longing to be?
It takes spiritual perseverance to be and continue becoming our very best selves. We each have to grow our own selves, but a vibrant community of faith certainly helps.
Music:
Maya Rogers, UUCA's Artist in Residence, brings her soulful song-craft with an original piece of music.
Sophia Morreale and
Topher Dunne perform Bach pieces for piano and cello. In the second service, the Children's Choirs sings
I Believe in the Sun, a song of hope in the darkest time.
Worship Associate is
Robert Blinn.
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Sunday Parking
Did you know UUCA has two auxiliary parking lots available on Sunday mornings?
To help UUCA be a more welcoming community to first-time visitors, newcomers and those with limited mobility, we ask that all able-bodied drivers park in one of our auxiliary lots. There is the Mason's lot directly across from the church on George Mason Drive--PLEASE cross at the light when parking there. And, we have access to the Arlington Hall Park lot off of S. Fourth Street, one block south of the church off of George Mason. Also, there is street parking along George Mason, First Place S., and the Arlington Blvd. frontage road.
See map here.
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WIFI - PW Change
Please call the church office or see a staff member on Sunday for the new WIFI password.
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Our next Transmissions meditation service will be on Tuesday, February 27, 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Transmissions is a healing service and sound meditation for reflection and spiritual deepening. Come for an evening of contemplative meditation accompanied by music and soundscapes by Woven Green. Yoga mat or blanket is optional. Freewill donation.
Schedule here.
Date: Tuesday, February 27, 7:30 p.m.
Location: Sanctuary
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LAST WEEK
If you were in church services
last week, you were treated to a special musical and spiritual experience as well as a tantalizing introduction to an exciting music ministry initiative. If you missed service, you owe it to yourself to see the archived video on the church webpage livestreaming page. This is the kind of barrier breaking work that this congregation can achieve through your support.
If you pledged your financial support last year and intend to make a pledge for next year, now is the time to do that. If this is your first time to pledge, we welcome you. Your pledge makes a difference.
February 25 is the
last Sunday of the annual giving campaign. We have made an excellent start. As we shared in last Sunday’s service, the congregational pledge response is one of commitment and engagement with 85% of renewed pledges being at the same or at an increased level. Increased pledges averaged an increase of 20%. Twenty-three renewed pledges at least doubled to an average of $1444. Twenty-five pledges were first time pledges (averaging $529). Six pledges moved into our group of approximately 60 sustaining congregants who have pledged more than $4800 each. We need and honor all commitments of support, at the level that you decide is right for you, if we are to meet our goal for the campaign in this
last week.
After Sunday’s service we had received 413 pledges (58% of our participation goal) totaling $881,819 (59% of our dollar goal). Even though we have more pledges at this point in the campaign than last year, there are about 300 of you out there who pledged last year but from whom we have yet to hear.
Now is the time.
If you have questions regarding pledging, you will likely find
answers here (LINK TO Q AND A). You can ask an individual question at
pledge@uucava.org. If you are ready to pledge, you may also do so
online here.
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"We fall down, but we get up ... For a saint is just a sinner who fell down and got up."
The lyrics from the choir's song "We Fall Down" from last week has been playing on loop in my head. I have been noticing lately how "falling" is a part of the human experience. It's not a matter of "if" we will make mistakes, but rather "when" we will make mistakes. Sometimes we make even more mistakes when we are trying to get back up! However, I have to confess that I feel RELIEF in the realization that we will inevitably fall again and again. It helps me "make room" for imperfection in my life. Making room for mistakes provides room for learning and growth.
Did you see 18-year-old Nathan Chen figure skating in the Olympics recently? Before he broke a world record of spectacular rotations in the air, he had two of the worst performances of his career! How did he get back up? He explained in an interview, “I start every day just trying to narrow down little tasks so I don’t get so overwhelmed by the whole picture."
What helps YOU get back up again?
--Christin Green, Ministerial Intern
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Nominating Committee Wants You!
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The Nominating Committee is in search of members to serve in a variety of capacities.
- Trustees to the Board, Board Secretary, and members of the Nominating Committee. All are 2-year terms, starting in July 2018.
- Members for a ministerial search committee.
- Members to serve as delegates to the annual UU Association General Assembly to be held June 20-24, 2018, in Kansas City, Missouri. GA details here. Online delegate application here.
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Lifespan Religious Education
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Child Dedications this Spring
If you would like your child/children dedicated this spring, please contact either
Rev. Beth or
LeeAnn Williams, Director of Lifespan and Religious Education.
Read the rest of RE news below.
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Next All Welcome Service
Our next All Welcome service will be on Earth Day, Sunday, April 22, when we celebrate our annual Flower Communion. Kids remain in the Sanctuary for the entire service with their families. Childcare will be available for the very young in the nursery.
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Peter and the Starcatcher Opens February 23!
Tickets normally sell out, so buy your tickets early!
Come see the 22nd annual Chalice Theatre production and see how Captain Hook lost his hand, how starstuff changes fish, and other oddities and amazements! Proper British seaman, pirates, mermaids, mollusks, and magic populate this tale of the origins of the Peter Pan stories. Suitable for children from 6 to 90+.
Shows are Friday and Saturday evenings and a Sunday matinee every weekend through March 11, with an added matinee on Saturday March 10.
Tickets are available here or after service on Sunday.
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Spring Allyship Workshop Registration Now Open
As part of our congregation's Live the Pledge campaign to end racism, UUCA has partnered with
Service Never Sleeps to offer a racial justice Allyship training. Over 100 UUCAers have already taken this training. Now it’s your turn. This workshop will teach you about the causes of racial injustice, how to be an effective ally for marginalized communities of color, and how to actively influence and educate others. This is a natural follow-up to the two-day Live the Pledge to End Racism workshop but is also appropriate for first-timers. More information and
sign up here. UUCA contact
Alex Ziehm,
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VOICE Victory for Affordable Housing
A four-year campaign to bring more affordable housing to Alexandria ended in victory last month when Alexandria City Council voted unanimously to give the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, a
VOICE (Virginians Organized for Community Engagement) member, a $9 million loan to build 113 multifamily units. This past year a 200-strong VOICE coalition pushed the council to reaffirm its 36-year commitment to build affordable housing on an even par with market rate housing.
Families earning 40 to 60% of median area income now have options beyond the 50 private low-income housing apartment complexes in Alexandria. The number of affordable units has decreased 90% the past 17 years, according to a city report cited by the Washington Post. Although there are 1,150 public housing units, the waiting list is long. VOICE gains strength by every achievement, and will continue to hold local government accountable for helping keep northern Virginia families in the communities they know and love.
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DIG (Do it Green) is Doing
UUCA's landscape/garden maintenance team, DIG, conducts workdays twice a month. In February, removal of invasive Japanese honeysuckle and English ivy will be the major focus. Also, we will mulch in places where the ground has hooved as a result of freezing and thawing. All are welcome to lend a hand. Bring gardening tools if you have them. Extras will be available.
Workday:
Saturday, February 24, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
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Peace Camp Registration OPEN
The 2018 theme is “Explore a Path to Peace,” and reflects the goal of creating a summer camp environment where campers and counselors alike can experience, learn, and practice peace. Rising K-6 graders are eligible to apply; rising 7-9 grades can be Counselors in Training (same fee, longer hours). Lunch is included! Before and after-care, as well as partial or full scholarships, are available (See
www.peacecamp@lffp.org). UUCA Peace Camp volunteers will be at tables in Fellowship Hall thru March 18 for more information or to register. To register on-line
click HERE!
This year's dates for Peace Camp are June 25-29 ($315) or July 2-6 ($265, no camp July 4).
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Young Adult Sunday Brunch
The Young Adults meet for brunch every other Sunday after the second service and the next one is this Sunday, February 25! Ages 18-35 are welcome to come get to know other young adults over a good meal.
Date: Sunday, February 25, 12:30 p.m.
Location: Youth Room
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Beer, Pizza, and Questions About the Universe
Folks between the ages of 21 and 35 are welcome to join the Young Adults for beer, pizza, and questions about the universe every other Tuesday. The event is BYOB--bring your own beer, but the pizza will be provided. We discuss topics ranging from politics, to science, to philosophy. Every time the topic is different but the discussion is always interesting.
Date: Tuesday, February 27, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Fellowship Hall
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New UU Class w/ Rev. Beth Miller
Learn about Unitarian Universalism and this church in this one-session class. There will be plenty of chances to ask questions and to get to know others in the class. It's also part of the path to membership at UUCA. The class is free and includes lunch. Free childcare is available on request.
Register here. Email
Sarah.Masters@uucava.org with questions or to request childcare.
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Let's Take a Hike
Please join UUCAer
Bill Fogarty for a family-friendly congregational hike on March 3 at Potomac Overlook Park in Arlington.
The park has bathroom facilities, and a number of trails for both novice and experienced hikers. Volunteers interested in helping as hike leaders, please contact Bill,
wafogarty@aol.com. RSVP not required but if you plan on hiking, please let Bill know for planning purposes.
Date: Saturday, March 3, 10 a.m.
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Men's Book Group
You are welcome to join the Men's Book Group when they meet to discuss the fun and witty mystery,
The Burglar Who Traded Ted Williams, by Lawrence Block, on March 11, 7:30 p.m. And, on April 8 they will discuss a non-fiction read yet to be determined. Watch this space for the announced title. For more information on the group, please contact
Ken Marshall,
kenmar42@gmail.com or call 703-533-8004.
Date: Sunday, March 11, 7:30 p.m.
Location: Chapel
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Divine Reading Group
The Divine Reading Group is a Young Adults Group which treats secular short stories as though they were sacred texts. The belief behind the strategies is that personal truth and meaning can come from a wide variety of sources. This group is ideal for those who love reading and discussion. It is also a place where deep and meaningful introspection occurs, friendships are made, and the very nature of religion is explored. No advance prep needed. Questions? Contact
Elisabeth Geschiere,
Date: Thursday, February 22, 7-9 p.m.
Location: Youth Room
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Telling Our Stories
Part III - The last in a three-part series
Portrait of a Life: Renee Gholz
In the last of this three-part story, Renee tells of her early years of teaching in economically disadvantaged areas, how she helped integrate the National Education Association, young married life, how she became a UU and how life comes full circle.
“I taught for 41 years—mostly first grade. When I was in second grade, I had a very good teacher and at that time I made up my mind I was going to be a teacher and I was going to marry a teacher. And by golly I did. I taught in eight different states. In all but one of those years, I taught in economically depressed situations, and I often taught kids who didn’t speak English. But, then, I had grown up poor and knowing many people who didn’t speak English!”
“I’ve always believed that everyone is equal and should be so treated. While I was teaching in Austin, Texas, I went to a National Education Association meeting, and looked around and there wasn’t a Black face in the crowd. I knew that there was a Black school just three blocks away from the school where I was teaching. I stood up, all five feet and a half inch of me and said, ‘I will not belong to any organization that doesn’t accept everybody who’s qualified,’ and I stomped out. They were impressed and they took a consensus vote and accepted the fact that the Black teachers should be at the NEA meeting. I integrated the NEA.”
Read more.
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NEW newsletter deadline begins next week:
Beginning February 26, Connections deadline for submissions is EACH Monday at noon with publication on Wednesday.
See below on how to submit an announcement.
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How to submit an announcement to UUCA's Connections newsletter:
- Deadline is noon each Wednesday.
- Please put "Connections" or "newsletter" in the subject box.
- Send announcement (150 words or fewer) in body of email or Word doc attachment.
- Images and attachments accepted, though no guarantee of publishing
- Send announcements to pubasst@uucava.org.
- Questions about Connections? Contact MaryAnn@uucava.org.
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Thank you for using
this link when shopping Amazon.
UUCA benefits each time you shop.
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Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, VA
4444 Arlington Blvd
Arlington, Virginia
Call: (703) 892-2565
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