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Sunday, July 24, 10:15 a.m.
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"Filling in the Blanks"
Sermon by Rev. Dr. Linda Olson Peebles
Rev. Linda and many others love doing a word game called "Mad-Libs." It inspired some UUCA players to ask for a service that included the fun of discovering what happens when we allow ourselves to play with unexpected messages when we open ourselves, our stories, and our lives to new ideas, unplanned thoughts, and creative images. When we're feeling trapped by life, perhaps our souls need some spaces we leave open to something new.
Watch the service live or past recordings
HERE.
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Transmissions Service - July 26 & August 23
Join
Rev. Aaron with
Ashley and Jim Cash of Woven Green for a service of meditation for healing and spiritual deepening. Special soundscapes provided by Woven Green. You may bring a yoga mat, pillow or blanket, though chairs are provided. No registration or fee for UUCAers. Freewill donation suggested. UUCA's Transmissions service is held
most fourth Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Center.
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Give-the-Plate
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Give now |
This Sunday, July 24, our morning offering will go to support "The Center." The building we dedicated in 2012 -- beautiful space upstairs, and great meeting space downstairs (Activity Room) -- supports many community groups that do not have resources for their own space. The Center has hosted dozens of educational, fundraising, and advocacy events which promote the work for justice and caring for our neighbors. Also, The Center gives church groups space to rehearse/celebrate/perform, which frees up other smaller rooms in the building for scores of non-profit and partner planning sessions and community meetings in our smaller rooms. Your contributions to Sunday's "GTP for The Center" offers you the chance to support UUCA's "Church Without Walls" ministry to people and groups from the community and helps put our faith into action. Your generosity will make it possible for UUCA to keep our spaces open and free-of-charge to those who can benefit from a place to Connect, Grow, and Serve.
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July Meeting Report:
Warren Wright Elected Board Chair and Congregational President
The Board was pleased to welcome two new members this month, Al Himes and Warren Wright, as well as our new Secretary, Betsey Lyon, and we thank them for their willingness to serve. As this is the beginning of a new Board year, it was also our opportunity to discuss who we should nominate to replace Steve Brannon as our Chairperson. At the conclusion of the dialogue, the Board unanimously elected Warren Wright to be its Chair effective October 1, 2016.
The meeting started out with a generative conversation about Board leadership qualities in general and the best qualities of a new Chair specifically. Among the qualities that we want to cultivate in Board Members as a whole, everyone agreed that a non-anxious presence, follow through on commitments, and the ability to be a good listener were key. We also want Board members to be caring, engaged, non-judgmental, positive, and responsive. And it is very important to have a spiritual faithfulness and dedication to our church mission. READ MORE.
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Lifespan and Religious Education
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Fall OWL Registration for Members Now Open
 We are in the process of preparing for next year's OWL (Our Whole Lives lifespan sexuality education) Program. Registration for UUCA members for 5th and 8th grade OWL is now open.
Fall OWL registration HERE.
Mandatory OWL Parent Orientation Dates
In order for your child/youth to participate in the Our whole Lives sexuality program, parents must attend one of the orientation sessions. Orientation is required for both UUCA members and non-members.
5th Grade OWL
- Sunday, Sept. 11, 4-6 p.m.
- Wednesday, Sept. 14, 7-9 p.m.
8th Grade OWL
- Sunday, Sept. 11, 7-9 p.m.
- Thursday, Sept. 15, 7-9 p.m.
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RE Parent Orientation Sessions
This fall we will hold Parent Orientation Sessions for all our UUCA families. These orientation sessions are separate from the OWL sessions mentioned above. All our parents are asked to make a special effort to attend one of the two orientations meetings. Orientations will cover:
- Thematic focus for the upcoming year
- How to stay in the communication loop
- Important events and activities
- The new RE registration process
- How you can support the program
- Everything you need to know to make your time here at UUCA meaningful!
RE Parent Orientation Dates are:
- Wed. Sept. 14 for parents of preschool-8th graders, 7-8:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 18 for parents of preschool-8th graders, 12:30 to 2 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 18 for parents of youth, 9th-12th graders, 5-7 p.m.
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Seven Principle Banners this Fall
 Did you see the lovely UU Principles Banner hanging from the pulpit last Sunday? Our elementary kids will be making our own set of banners this fall. Ways you can support the banner project:
- Sewing the banners together -- this can be done on your own time at home
- Tie Dye Party -- assist the kids in Tie Dyeing fabric on a Sunday
- Pre-cutting Fabric -- this too can be done at home
- Hosting the Art Show -- that's right when the banners are complete we will celebrate with an art show!
- Classroom Assistant -- helping kids on Sunday with the various projects. This can be a onetime volunteer opportunity.
Materials and supplies provided. Find out more about assisting with the Banner Project or to sign up click here: Banner Project Sign Up
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Mark Your Calendars with These Important Dates
Sunday, Aug. 21 and 28
- Making cards for Buckingham Backpack Drive, After Service
Sunday, Sept. 11 - Ingathering and Gathering of the Waters Sunday
- Youth Pancake Breakfast (After Services)
- 5th Grade OWL Orientation-4-6 p.m.
- 8th Grade OWL Orientation-7-9 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 14
- UUCA Parent Orientation, Preschool -8th Grade, 7-8:30 p.m.
- 5th Grade OWL Parent Orientation, 7-9 p.m.
Thursday, Sept 15
- 8th Grade OWL Orientation, 7-9 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 18
- Religious Education Classes Begin
- UUCA Parent Orientation, Preschool -8th Grade, 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.
- Youth Parent Orientation, 9th-12th Grade, 5-7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 24
- CASE Kickoff Event, 5-7 p.m. (Community-Action-Service-Education for middle schoolers)
- Youth Group Overnight, starts at 5 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 30
- RE Family Potluck, 5-8 p.m.
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Adult Faith Development
- Qigong Practice Sessions. Each Thursday 10:30-Noon. Qigong is an ancient approach for achieving balance and vitality. The movements are gentle and can be done sitting, standing, or lying down. Qigong will meet in the Center from 10:30-Noon on Thursdays. Wear comfortable clothing. $10 suggested donation. Instructor: Carol Baker, Registered Nurse. No registration required, but appreciated. For more information, contact Carol at Bakerstrac@aol.com.
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FX Friday Night Service: How Do You Decide What to Believe?
Friday, July 22, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
You are welcome join Fellowship X for their Friday night service, when this week they explore: Does your religion/spirituality have rules? Do you follow them all? How do you decide which ones? Do you agree with all the positions of your employer? Political party? Scientific study? Law? We all have things we believe are right or wrong. This service will focus on how we go about deciding what those are. Fellowship X is a social and spiritual fellowship serving Generation X (those born in the '60s and '70s). For more information on the group, please visit their meetup site here.
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Next "Where I'm From" Workshop August 7
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Rev. Aaron introduces UUCA's
"Where I'm From" Poetry Project |
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The buzz about UUCA congregants writing and sharing our own "Where I'm From" poems has been spreading, and we recently held a workshop for 10 members of our community to write their own poems. If you would like to learn more about "Where I'm From" and experience the powerful process of writing and sharing (if you want) with a small group, our next opportunity will be Sunday, August 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Space is limited to 10 participants to create a safe and intimate atmosphere and have time for sharing (three spaces left at time of publication). We'll start by reading the original poem by George Ella Lyon, and then use a UUCA-created template to create our own. Those who wish may share these first drafts with the group, and all will receive information about potential next steps. If you'd like to participate, please email facilitator Betsy Rosenblatt Rosso at betsyrosso@gmail.com. If you can't make this date but would like to participate in the future, please let us know. Please check out the "Where I'm From" poems written by UUCAer's (including Rev. Aaron's) on our church website HERE. The page is a continuing work in progress -- poems are added regularly. Be inspired and enjoy!
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Faith in Action: Connecting - Growing - Serving
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Black Lives Matter -- What UU can do!
Three things right now!
6th UU Black Lives Matter Summit - July 24 at Paint Branch UU Church
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Online registration HERE
Humanists and Unitarian Universalists (clergy, staff, lay leaders, members, and friends) who feel called to live and work for the truth that Black Lives Matter are invited to gather for our 6th UU Black Lives Matter Summit "2016 General Assembly Debrief: Where Do We Go From Here?" at Paint Branch Unitarian Church in Prince George's County, Maryland (3215 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, Md.) on Sunday, July 24, 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
You might want to prepare for this summit by viewing these videos:
Fee: $30. Scholarships and fee reductions available - please contact
Paula Cole Jones
at
pcolejones@gmail.com
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Showing Up for Racial Justice - SURJ
Below are two links to the local chapters of
SURJ
(
Showing Up For Racial Justice
). SURJ) is a national network of over 150 groups organizing in white communities for racial justice. SURJ works to undermine support for racist policies, practices and culture in the white community as part of a multi-racial movement for liberation. Follow their pages to stay abreast on local racial justice efforts in the area.
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Join UUCA From Allies to Accomplices Response List
Join the UUCA Black Lives Matter/From Allies to Accomplices response list announced by
Rev. Aaron last Sunday. All you have to do is text on a smart phone: 444999, type in "redrain" and send. Or, you can email
LWilliams@uucava.org with "redrain" in the subject line.
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UUCA Hosted Immigration Roundtable with Senator Tim Kaine
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Senator Kaine with Lenka Medoza of Dreamers' Mothers and Monica Sarmiento of Va. Coalition for Immigrant Rights (center)
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Earlier this morning, UUCA hosted an immigration reform roundtable put on by Senator Tim Kaine's office. The roundtable discussion, which was closed to the public, included area immigrants and advocates. In the news conference held after the discussion, Senator Kaine stressed his support of immigration reform and touched on how his stance is a part of putting his faith into action. |
Wheel of Life
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Condolences to the family of Kathy Scheibelhoffer, who died July 18, at the age of 76. A memorial service will be conducted by Rev. Linda Olson Peebles at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 11, at Murphy's Funeral Home, 4510 Wilson Blvd., Arlington.
Our condolences to Lauren Courtney on the death of her mother, Karen Pindzola, who died after a battle with cancer. Lauren's parents were longtime UUs -- having membership at the York, Pa. UU church for the last 10 years and over 30 years at the Main Line Unitarian Church outside Philadelphia.
Congratulations to Chris and Mirentxu Meyer, and their son Cristian, on the birth of Carolina, born on March 21.
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Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington | 4444 Arlington Blvd, Arlington VA 22204 | 703-892-2565
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