Join Us for Worship this Sunday
|
|
|
|
|
Join Us This Sunday for Worship
March 4, 9:15 & 11:15 a.m.
CULTIVATING POSITIVE PRESENCE
Sermon by The Rev. Beth Miller
Positive presence is a sense of well-being or basic happiness combined with the feeling that ones life is meaningful and worthwhile. How do we cultivate this in our lives, especially when we live in such a tumultuous world?
Our music includes the adult choir,
Clerestory Choir, and the
Free Spirits jazz trio.
David McTaggart is the Worship Associate.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
Family Mindfulness Meditation Classes
The
IMCW Family Mindfulness Class and the Middle School Mindfulness Class both include short meditations, movement, hands-on activities, and discussion. The classes
share practices for fostering greater balance, compassion, and awareness in the midst of the highs and lows of everyday family life. The child-friendly mindfulness toolkit provides the foundation of the class. Investigating the fabric of our inner lives, the causes of emotional stress, and the possibility of freedom from suffering are explored within the spirit of play and curiosity. Parents attend with their children, and there is a separate time for parent meditation and discussion.
Family Class: Ages 5-13 years. Parents, grandparents, guardians attend with children.
Middle-Schoolers: Grades 6-8. Parents attend the Family Class, which is where everyone, including middle-schoolers begin the session. This is not a drop-off class. A guardian or parent must be present.
|
|
|
|
Our Next Steps
The Board would like to thank everyone in the congregation for their strength and resilience during this fundamental time of change in our church leadership, and for stepping up to help and support each other as we move forward.
As we go through this transition following Rev. Aaron's departure, we would like to provide an outline of the next steps so that everyone can have a better understanding of what lies ahead. While target dates have been outlined, please keep in mind that these are merely goals we are setting for ourselves. The actual outcomes will depend on many circumstances beyond our control, so we will have to adjust our expectations as we move forward and see how things play out. (
Click to read full text).
|
|
|
|
WE GATHERED THIS SUNDAY
This past Sunday was another momentous February day for UUCA. We began the month with Celebration Sunday to commemorate the 70th anniversary of our congregation, we exulted in our Music Ministry last Sunday, and we processed sad news this past Sunday with the announced resignation of Rev. Aaron. We gathered to consider our thoughts, our prayers for the future, and our commitment to UUCA.
This past Sunday was the last Sunday of our public annual giving campaign. During February we have received pledges of financial support from more than 460 congregants who have pledged more than $950,000 to the continuing support of UUCA in the next fiscal year. We are encouraged by receiving more pledges this year than last year at the last Sunday of the campaign, but as last year we have not reached our goals.
We will now reach out to congregants who have not yet pledged and invite them to gather with us to propel our congregation to our 71st year and beyond.
Have you pledged?
If you have, thank you.
If not, why not?
Will you get a phone call?
No, if you have pledged.
If you have not pledged, we call you. You count. That’s why we call you.
Beginning next week, the Annual Giving Team and members of the Board of Trustees will make phone calls to ask for support for our church. Each year these volunteers spend many hours reaching out to congregants, who have not yet pledged, in the interest of fulfilling our responsibility to the congregation to conduct a thorough canvass.
Before receiving a phone call, you will receive at least one email asking you to express your intention by making a pledge or replying with your intention to the email. If you receive an email, that means we have not recorded a pledge for you and you are on the call list. Volunteers will be spending their time calling you unless you express your intention.
It would be easiest for all of us if you would express your intention now or reach out to the links above with any questions or concerns that are impediments to your making a pledge to the continuing operation of the church you attend.
|
|
|
|
Seeking Our Best Selves
The Rev. Beth Miller, Temporary Senior Minister
Last week was quite a week with the news of Rev. Aaron’s resignation, his letter to the congregation, the Board’s follow-up letter, and the meetings with the Board following both services on Sunday. Even though some of you are newer or weren’t particularly attached to Rev. Aaron and aren’t feeling significantly impacted by this news, feelings are running high among many. Some are sad, some depressed, some angry, some relieved that the shoe everyone has been waiting for to drop has done so. Many are grieving and grief has stages. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately, who knows?) the symptoms of grief do not show up in everyone in the same ways at the same time. So while some may be feeling very sad and fragile, others may be feeling angry. All of this is normal and we need to be as understanding as we can with one another. But we must also remember to treat each other with kindness and respect. There were a couple of incidents at the Sunday meetings where this didn’t happen and the
UUCA Congregational Covenant was broken. Board members chairing the meeting failed to speak up at the time, also a breach of covenant, and feel badly about that. Some participants may not even have noticed, while others were shocked and hurt. We each have our own experiences.
Read more.
|
|
|
|
Nominating Committee Wants You!
|
|
|
|
The Nominating Committee continues to seach for members to serve in various capacities:
- Trustees to the Board, Board Secretary, and members of the Nominating Committee. All are 2-year terms, starting in July 2018.
- 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.
As the Board has recently shared, we are now also in search of members for ministerial search groups being formed. We encourage those interested to indicate their interest as soon as possible. Interest form and more details, include tentative timelines, can be
found here
- Interim Senior Minister Task Group
- Contract Assistant Minister Task Group
- Senior Minister Search Committee
We particularly welcome candidates of diverse backgrounds including gender and ethnicity. If you're interested in learning more, nominating someone, or nominating yourself please stop by the Nominating Committee table after services on Sunday or contact the Nominating Committee at
UUCANomCom@gmail.com
. Members of the NomCom are
Ben D’Avanzo, L
iz Fuchs,
Tina Hinh,
James Tsai, and
Bill Turner.
|
|
|
|
 |
About This Year's GA
General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of our
Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and this year will be in Kansas City, Missouri, June 20-24. UUs from across the country, and Canada, gather to worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association. (And, it's a lot of fun!) Anyone may attend; and that means you! UUCA is granted 17 delegate slots and we have several slots available. Registration, housing requests and financial aid applications open on March 1. Deadline for Financial Aid Application is March 31, and early-bird registration ends April 30. Off-site delegate options are also available to those who are unable to travel to Kansas City. Learn all the details at
www.uua.org/ga or stop by the Nominating Committee table on Sunday.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Budget Matters
By Tamara Srader, Acting Executive and Chief Administrative Officer
As discussed in our last Board of Trustees meeting, I am sharing the planned budget meetings with you. As you can see below there are six meetings on the calendar. These meetings are meant to provide an opportunity to talk about the budget and how our money is spent. The first three meetings in March are more educational than discussion of the FY 18-19 budget. During these meetings we will discuss last fiscal year and how the budget was determined. The second three meetings will be more discussions specific to next year with draft budget numbers to discuss. All of these meetings are meant for opportunities to provide input on how we shape next year's budget. I hope that you can join us for as many meetings as possible. The Board will present the budget during the May meeting after these six meetings are held.
Open Budget Meeting Dates
Sunday, March 11, 1-2:15 p.m.
Wednesday, March 14, 6-7:15 p.m.
Sunday, March 25, TBD
Sunday, April 8, 1-2:15 p.m.
Wednesday, April 11, 6-7:15 p.m.
Saturday, April 14, 1-2:15 p.m.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lifespan Religious Education
|
|
|
|
|
Be the Change Thank You!
Our Religious Education students participated in the UUCA Annual Giving Campaign again this year by collecting your change to
Be the Change. They collected $1185 through last Sunday but, not unlike the pledge campaign, some folks come on board late. This Sunday we collected an additional $37 to come to $1222. To give context to this effort, the amount collected by the kids exceeds the mean average adult UUCA pledge. Our kids are truly part of the team. Thank you to all who participated as change donors and as change collectors working together to
Be the Change.
|
|
|
|
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.
West Virginia Youth Group Service Trip Reminder
All Participants and Parent/Guardian Meeting THIS Sunday, March 4, 12:30-1:30 p.m., in the Youth Room.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PICK UP Choir
UUCA's Pick Up Choir sings the second Sunday of each month, so mark your calendar for March 11 and plan on joining in. No advance rehearsals, no long-term commitments, no musical experience required. Just the desire to come together and make a joyful noise in community. Gather in the Sanctuary at 10:15 a.m. to learn a simple piece of music, then sing in the second service. It's easy; it's fun! Questions? Contact
Mimi Bornstein,
mimib@uucva.org.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wow! A great opening weekend for Chalice theater's Peter and the Starcatcher!
The reviews are in
" A Smash!!" (Bill M)
"Laughed a lot!" (Mary J.)
"Very clever and creative!" (Susan T.)
"So that's how Hook became Hook!"
(Jim B, age 9)
Don't take a chance on missing this production of how the Peter Pan characters became real. From a book by humorist Dave Barry, this play won 8 Tony Awards on Broadway. Last two weekends.
Tickets are available here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
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).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Understanding Inequality Book Group
The “Understanding Inequality” book group will meet Monday, March 5, to discuss
Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi. We will discuss the last two parts of “The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America,” which focus on W.E.B. DuBois and Angela Davis. The award winning book chronicles “how anti-black thinking has entrenched itself in the fabric of American society not solely through ignorance, but through a rationalization of inequity in institutional practices” (Atlantic).
Date: Monday, March 5, 7:00 p.m.
Location: Room 14
|
|
|
|
Peace Camp Golf Fundraiser
UUCA's Peace Ministry Team invites you to a Golf Charity Fundraiser sponsored by our Peace Camp partner, Little Friends for Peace, on Monday, April 30 at Kenwood Golf and Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, from noon until completion. Proceeds benefit scholarship campers of community partners, including the two weeks of Peace Camp at UUCA in late June and early July. Registration information is available at
http://www.lffp.org/charity-golf-classic.html
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOVA-UUJME Plans for April Film Series
The next NOVA—UUJME chapter (UUs for Justice in the Middle East) meeting, on March 7, is open to all and will include laying plans for the Voices from the Holy Land film series in April. This year’s feature films are:
- April 8 – “Disturbing the Peace
- April 15 – “Thank Good It’s Friday”
- April 22 – “The Field”
Date: Wednesday, March 7, 7:30 p.m.
Location: Volunteer Room
|
|
|
|
African American Book Sharing Circle
Sing, Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward is the current selection. This is a story of family, hope, and struggle through the past and the present in rural 21st century Mississippi. Reviewers reference Ward’s expertise in her writing: the lyrical prose, the use of a road novel format, and inclusion of spirits and ghosts. The “Chicago Tribune” say this about Sing, Unburied, Sing: “Gorgeous….Always clear-eyed, Ward knows history is a nightmare. But she insists all the same that we might yet awaken and sing.” Ms. Ward is a fellow of the MacArthur Foundation, and she won the National Book Award in 2017 for this novel. Questions? Contact Linda Lutes Cosoro,
lindahlutes@gmail.com.
Date: Friday, March 16, 7:30 p.m.
Location: Welcome Room
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
National Social Justice Conferences to Consider
|
|
|
|
1st Annual UUCA Social Justice With Our Soles Fair
Date and Time: Sunday March 18, 2018 after both services
Location: Fellowship Hall & The Center
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
Date: Saturday, March 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Fellowship Hall
|
|
|
|
First Sunday Humanist Hour
The First Sunday Humanist Hour will take place this Sunday and will explore the theme of tribalism, which is reflected in so many aspects of our lives. The specific topic/question is "Sports and Sororities: Constructive connections, or destructive tribalism?" Current events, including the Olympics, the #ShutUpAndDribble controversy with Lebron James, and the GW sorority incident will be discussed. Question? Contact Bill Fogarty,
wafogarty@aol.com.
Read more.
Date: Sunday, March 4, 9:15 a.m.
Location: Chapel
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day Alliance
The Chase: Stormy Weather and Tornadoes
Attention weather buffs, March looks a little stormy for Day Alliance, so you don't want to miss their next meeting. David Hoadley, veteran storm chaser, will be the guest speaker and will show some of his amazing tornado photography and talk about how he began this hobby more than 60 years ago in Bismarck, North Dakota. David is recognized by other veterans as the “dean” of storm chasing. He began in 1956 when neither hobbyist nor scientific researchers had yet begun to predict and follow tornadoes in real-time as they develop. His weather photographs have appeared on US postal stamps and in publications around the world, including
Time-Life,
National Geographic,
Scientific American, the
Chicago Tribune, and
USA Today. On television, he has appeared on
National Geographic Explorer, ABC's
Day One, and
The History Channel. Day Alliance begins with coffie and conversation at 10:30 a.m.; speaker at 11 a.m.; catered
Date: Tuesday, March 13, 10:30 a.m. Coffee & Fellowship; 11 a.m. Speaker; 12 p.m. Catered Luncheon
Location: Fellowship Hall
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Young Adult Podcast
Join the Young Adult Group for the Podcast Chat discussion group! We meet twice a month on Saturdays in the chapel downstairs. We provide the name of a specific podcast episode and everyone listens to the episode on their own during the week. Then we get together and discuss. This week's discussion (postponed from two weeks ago because of the snow) is from Radiolab and covers the law, morality and ethics. Listen to the podcast here:
http://www.radiolab.org/story/radiolab-presents-more-perfect-american-pendulum-i/. Questions? Contact
Elisabeth Geschiere,
egeschiere@uucava.org.
Date: Saturday, March 3, 7:30-9:00 p.m.
Location: Chapel
|
|
|
|
First Sunday Humanist Hour
The First Sunday Humanist Hour will take place this Sunday and will explore the theme of tribalism, which is reflected in so many aspects of our lives. The specific topic/question is "Sports and Sororities: Constructive connections, or destructive tribalism?" Current events, including the Olympics, the #ShutUpAndDribble controversy with Lebron James, and the GW sorority incident will be discussed. Question? Contact Bill Fogarty,
wafogarty@aol.com.
Read more.
Date: Sunday, March 4, 9:15 a.m.
Location: Chapel
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Congratulations to
Stephanie Thomas
and
Art Stevens
who were married on February 24 at their home.
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEW newsletter deadline:
Connections deadline for submissions is EACH Monday at noon with publication on Wednesday.
See below on how to submit an announcement.
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thank you for using
this link when shopping Amazon.
UUCA benefits each time you shop.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, VA
4444 Arlington Blvd
Arlington, Virginia
Call: (703) 892-2565
|
|
|
|
|
|
