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Sunday, July 31, 10:15 a.m.
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"What's Your Lifeline?"
In times of stress, anxiety, fear or sadness, what do you rely on to lift your spirits? Sunday's service will be led by Worship Associates Gay Gibson Cima, Frank Corsoro and Bill Fogarty. They'll be sharing stories and reflections on the theme What's Your Lifeline? |
Music includes: Two pieces by French composer
Gabriel Faure --
Berceuse and
Sicielienne - with
Barbara Schelstrate on piano and
Lisa Cridge on violin.
Ron Cima sings the jazz standard
Here's to Life - music composed by Artie Butler and co-written with Phyllis Molinary - and made popular by D.C.'s own Shirley Horn and Barbra Streisand. For an appreciation to the backstory of
Here's to Life,
click here.
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Not able to make Sunday's service?
You can catch the service live beginning at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday on our church website at
www.uucava.org. To watch recordings of past services 24/7, simply click on the "Archives" tab.
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Give-the-Plate
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Give now |
This Sunday, July 31, 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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Introducing UUCA's "Point Guard" Column
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Greetings from the desk of the Point Guard!
By Tamara Srader, Chief Executive Officer
 This is the first of what I hope to be a monthly column highlighting important events and accomplishments here at UUCA. Why point guard you ask? When I was introduced by Rev. Aaron he called me the "point guard". I played basketball most of my life and played the position of point guard. I also was presented a jersey on my first Sunday. I thought it would be an appropriate title for my blog.
This first blog post I want to celebrate the generosity of our congregation. . .
Read more.
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Lifespan and Religious Education
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Preschool RE is Busting Out - Literally!
 You might have noticed that our preschool class (ages 2-5) has been really popular this summer. We've had great attendance -- 20 plus kids most weeks -- with lots of little ones showing up for story time, ritual, and good fun. It has been wonderful seeing so many happy, engaged kids each week exploring their UU faith.
This growth has really challenged our ability to staff the class with so many in our RE community on vacation. And this past Sunday, one child escaped and ran upstairs looking for her parents. Luckily, she was safely delivered to her dad.
When we dedicate our kids here at UUCA, we all covenant to nurture these children. We understand that raising children can be tough work and our parents need our support. It's what we do as a community. We could hire some extra childcare providers to cover our classes, but as you know we are really in a tight budget year and the extra expense would be difficult; we would have to use funds that have been designated for other projects. So, first, I'm appealing to this generous and fabulous community to support our kids and families.
Could you possibly help out a Sunday or two in preschool RE in the next six weeks? I say six weeks because we start the new church year in six weeks. No prep required -- RE Coordinator Ashley Egon and I will handle all that.
Here's what you need to know:
- Class time for the summer is 10:15-11:15 a.m.
- All supplies and snack provided
- You will be paired with another volunteer (you won't be alone in this!)
- This summer we are doing "Spirit Play Light" -- a story along with play time
Summer Spirit Play Sign-up
Hope to see you soon -- whether in RE or not!
LeeAnn Williams
Director of Lifespan and Religious Education
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Fall OWL Registration
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.
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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Important Dates RE 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. $10 suggested donation. Instructor: Carol Baker, Registered Nurse. No registration required, but appreciated. For more information, contact Bakerstrac@aol.com.
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Annual UUCA Auction
The Annual UUCA Auction is looking for outstanding, amazing, one of a kind donations!
Do you have a vacation home, airline miles, an automobile/motorcycle, yacht, or other adventures you could donate? Please email
uuca.auction@gmail.com if you would like to donate a "big ticket" item for this fall's auction and help support the work of our church community.
Join the Team!
We are also looking for additional auction team members. We need anyone that has event planning and coordinating skills or would like to learn to how to plan a large fundraiser. If you are energetic, organized or passionate about supporting the work of UUCA, please consider joining us! Meetings are at 6:15 p.m. and are scheduled for Wed., August 3; Mon., August 15; Wed., August 24; and beginning in September meet weekly on Monday nights. Please email uuca.auction@gmail.com if interested in more information or show up at any of the planning meetings.
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Sunday Morning Volunteer Opportunities
Greeters, ushers, coffee servers and more! Whether you're outgoing or reserved, like to come early or like to stay late, a fan of regular schedules or ready to step in at the last minute, we have a role for you on Sunday mornings. Contact
Sarah.Masters@uucava.org.
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"Where I'm From" Workshop August 7
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| Today's featured poem is by Gay Gibson Cima here. |
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There's only one spot left in next week's "Where I'm From" poetry workshop - Sunday, August 7, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Contact BetsyRosso@gmail.com.
Not familiar with the project? It's a beautiful way to explore -- appreciate -- understand and cherish who we are. The workshop uses a simple writing template modeled after the original poem by George Ella Lyon. No poetry or writing experience needed. For more information on this very special project, visit http://www.uucava.org/page/where-i-m-from-poetry-project
More "Where I'm From" opportunities are in store for the new church year. Watch this space for details. |
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Fall Retreat -- There's still time to sign-up!
 Thinking of signing up for the fall retreat but afraid it is too late? Good news! It's not too late. On August 7 and 14, members of this year's Fall Retreat team will be in Fellowship Hall after the service to take registrations and answer any questions you may have.
If you are already signed up, you will soon get a letter telling where to mail your payment. If you are interested in registering and not unable to make it to church in August, you can contact Sandy Finley at finleyknits@gmail.com or 703-350-3848.
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Checking In with Fellowship X - Friday, July 29, 7:30 p.m.
 Fellowship X meets each Friday night in the Chapel beginning at 7:30 p.m. On months with five Fridays, the fifth Friday is a check-in service. Join us to check-in and share recent joys and sorrows.
Fellowship X is a social and spiritual fellowship open to all who wish to attend. Most members are UU's in the Generation X age range (born in the 1960's and 1970's), and many are former members of the Young Adult Group. For more information on FX and the events below, visit their meet-up page here.
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Faith in Action: Connecting - Growing - Serving
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Get On The Bus - Take Action for Freedom on October 16!
There is something in the very nature of my freedom that inclines me to love, to do good, to dedicate myself to others. I have an instinct that tells me that I am less free when I am living for myself alone. The reason for this is that I cannot be completely independent. Since I am not self-sufficient, I depend on someone else for my fulfillment. My freedom is not fully free when left to itself. It becomes so when it is brought into the right relation with freedom of another.
-- Thomas Merton
 Plan now to take action for the freedom of others -- on Schools, Housing, Gun Violence, Immigration Reform. Plan to board buses together with 300 of our friends from UUCA and outside partner organizations -- our Church Without Walls -- to assemble 2000-strong before state and local elected officials. Be there to challenge them to work with VOICE on its bold freedom agenda.
Mark your calendars now for Sunday, October 16, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Buses leave UUCA at 3 p.m. and return by 6:30 p.m. Stay tuned for details.
VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement) is a non-partisan coalition of almost 50 faith communities and civic organizations in Northern Virginia working together to build civic power in middle and low-income communities.
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A-SPAN Bagged Meal Program Takes No Vacation
A-SPAN (Ending Homelessness in Arlington) takes no vacation from the summer heat. Since the beginning of this current heatwave, A-SPAN has added 43 bed nights and has had a 65% increase in meals served. UUCA is committed to prepare bagged meals on the the last Sunday of each month. So,
volunteers are especially needed this Sunday, July 31, to help prepare bagged meals in the church kitchen. This is a great family or group volunteer activity. For exact time and details, contact
Ken.Perkins-Gough@comcast.net or phone 703-798-0909.
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A Moral Revival is Coming to D.C. August 28
The Rev. Dr. William Barber, North Carolina NAACP President, and partners (Sister Simone Campbell of Nuns on the Bus fame, and Rev. Dr. James Forbes) have been on a tour this summer, bringing the message of Moral Revival to leaders in the U.S. Go to
http://www.moralrevival.org/ to read about their message directed to political leaders at the recent Republican and Democratic conventions.
The Moral Revival movement is coming to D.C. on Sunday, August 28. The event will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at a location to be announced. Rev. Linda is definitely going, and encourages everyone to join her for an experience not to be missed.
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UUCA Immigration Work Acknowledged by Sen. Kaine
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| Rev. Linda extends welcoming hand in Associated Press photo |
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Last week, many UUCAers who were paying attention when watching local and national news outlets may have noticed flashes of familiar scenes during the coverage of Senator Tim Kaine -- at the time the presumptive VP pick. Senator Kaine, a longtime advocate of immigration reform, had a private immigration roundtable in UUCA's Board Room on Thursday, the eve of the announcement of his selection as the VP nominee. In his opening remarks at the press conference held after the roundtable, Senator Kaine acknowledged and thanked UUCA for the immigration advocacy work done by our community.
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Wheel of Life
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Congratulations to UUCA member Ann Pauley on her marriage to her partner of 35 years, Ann Wroth. The ceremony was conducted July 23 by Rev. Linda in the UUCA sanctuary.
Nora Grace Nielsen, born July 12, attended her first worship service at UUCA on July 24. Congratulations to Tara and Keith Nielsen and big sister Caroline!
Our condolences to Beverly Spitzer on the death of her father, Larry Spitzer, 81, died on July 22, after a battle with dementia. He was a photojournalist for the Louisville, Kentucky Courier-Journal newspaper. He is survived by three children and a grandchild.
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Need to submit an announcement for Connections?
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- Please put "Connections" 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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IMPORTANT LINKS
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Connections is produced weekly and normally emailed on Thursday. Deadline is Wednesday at NOON each week.
ADD "CONNECTIONS" TO SUBJECT BOX. Email announcements to
pubasst@uucava.org
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To receive Connections in your email inbox each week, please click here.
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Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington | 4444 Arlington Blvd, Arlington VA 22204 | 703-892-2565
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