Welcome UUA President This Sunday

UUCA is honored to have the Unitarian Universalist Association president deliver our sermon this Sunday. The Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray has had a last-minute opening in her schedule and has agreed to be in our pulpit for both services. Please join Rev. Aaron in welcoming her to our beloved community. And, plan on coming early and/or staying late for the Q&A that will be held between services.

David McTaggart is our Worship Associate. Polymnia Handbells will perform under the direction of Ken Bissell . The Pop-Up Choir will sing under the direction of Mimi Bornstein. And, special music guest is Leo Sushansky , violinist and Artistic Director of the National Chamber Ensemble, who will perform Ave Maria .

Sunday Worship, December 10

9:15 and 11:15 a.m.

Meet Rev. Frederick-Gray

Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray is the ninth president, and the first woman president, of the Unitarian Universalist Association. She is a courageous advocate for human rights and has been on the forefront in the fight for immigrant justice. She has come on board as president and steadied the helm during a tenuous time for our Association. This past spring, then President Peter Morales resigned, followed by other top leaders' resignations, following allegations of white supremacy in UUA hiring practices. Just this week, she joined Rev. William J. Barber and other religious leaders in Washington to launch a new Poor People's Campaign, originally launched by Martin Luther King, Jr., shortly before his death in 1968. (Visit our Facebook page for a video on her DC visit.) In 2010, Susan was arrested for protesting Arizona’s SB 1070 immigration law. And, in 2014, she was among 31 other UUs arrested, including our own Rev. Linda Olson Peeples, in front of the White House while demonstrating against mass deportations. As a UU minister in Phoenix and head of the Arizona Immigration Ministry, she helped organize the UUA’s 2012 Justice General Assembly in Phoenix. She played a critical role in the long-term campaign to end the constitutional violations of then Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Susan has served as lead minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix since 2008. She previously served as minister of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown, Ohio, where she was a leader in congregation-based community organizing efforts, and served as intern at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville, Tennessee. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Harvard Divinity School. She lives with her husband, The Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray, and their son, Henry.

Where Sermons Come From

One of the questions I am most frequently asked is about where my sermons come from. So this week I will try to answer!

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Annual Family Camp-out

Save the date-- June 22-24, 2018. Note this is NOT Father's Day weekend. 

 

Plan to join UUCA members, friends, and acquaintances in Shenandoah National Park next June for our annual retreat! Most campers stay in Big Meadows Campground and many people who don't want to camp stay in Big Meadows lodge.

The weekend is open to all and family-friendly.  Reservations for campsites open on December 22, 2017, and they fill up fast, so set a reminder for 12/22 and reserve your camping space here.

Secret Santa 2017

This year we have the opportunity to practice generosity by participating in the UUCA Secret Santa. It is a long-running and popular program where the UUCA community gives gifts to needy families in this area. This year’s gifts go to families from Buckingham, kids from Beacon House, and some members of our own UUCA community. We plan to give presents to about 200 people. Additional gift cards are also welcome and can be used to meet additional needs in these communities. Information on how to give will be at the Christmas trees upstairs and down on Sunday. Presents are due by December 17. Lots of giving is needed and appreciated. Please ask the attending elves any questions.

Donate Food for AFAC this Sunday

Arlington Unitarian Cooperative Preschool (AUCP) is holding a food drive to benefit the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), which provides groceries to nearly 2,200 local families every week. 35% of the people served by AFAC are children. There will be a collection box in the downstairs lobby through Friday, December 8. The items AFAC needs most are: canned tomato (diced, tomato, and sauce), canned soups, canned fruits, peanut butter (in plastic jars), cooking oil (in plastic jars), and low sugar cereal. Please no glass! For more information, contact AUCP Outreach chair Michelle Rief at michrief@gmail.com. Thanks for your support!

Singing Circle with Maya

Our voices hold the innate power to heal and this is magnified when we sing with others. Join Maya Rogers , UUCA's Artist in Residence, as she shares the joy of this phenomenon through guided circle singing, vocal improvisation games, and musical meditations. As a community, experience singing as a spiritual practice and touch on themes of self-expression, the spirit of play, acceptance, oneness, and living as our most authentic selves. Singing Circle is a safe place to do our internal work through creative expression with others. Open to singers of all levels of experience, and no prior musical training is required. Suggested donation of $20 .

Date: Tuesday, December 12, 7:30 p.m.

Location: Chapel

GIVING TUUESDAY Thank You Celebration

Thank you to everyone who generously donated on #givingtuesday--raising over $25,000! We are so grateful for the generosity in this congregation, as well as among friends such as Kol Ami members and the Insight Meditation Community of Washington. As a special thank you, we are hosting a THANK YOU CELEBRATION Tuesday, December 12, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Food and drink will be provided. Come out for this very special happy hour. Your inspiring generosity and rapid response are wonderful signs of your faith and of your commitment to our community.

ALL ARE WELCOME! This event is for everyone, whether or not you were a #givingtuesday donor.

Date: Tuesday, December 12, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Location: Fellowship Hall

Taking Appointments for New Photo Directory

With all our new members and friends, it's time for a new pictorial directory!   Photo dates are Jan 3-6 and 9-13. Please make an appointment right away so you get the time that works best for you and your family. Please sign up online here, or on Sunday mornings in Fellowship Hall. Each participating family will receive a free copy of the directory and an 8x10 family portrait. There is no obligation to purchase additional portraits; however, those who wish to do so may purchase additional photos. All portraits taken before January 15 will be 20% below regular prices. Our directory won’t be complete without you. Sign up today and start practicing your smile!!

Day Alliance Holiday Music Event

Everyone is welcome to join Day Alliance when Ron Cima and Sophia Morreale perform traditional holiday music and participatory singing of familiar carols. Coffee and conversation begin at 10:30 a.m. The music begins at 11 a.m. Everyone is welcome for the musical program, though reservations for the luncheon have closed.

Date: Tuesday, December 12, 10:30 a.m.

Location: Center

Thank You Amazon Shoppers!

UUCA recently received a check for $76.64 from the AmazonSmile Foundation as a result of shoppers using our AmazonSmile link. Thank you! We have a goal to surpass a $100 donation next time. This holiday shopping season, please remember to use this link whenever shopping on Amazon: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/54-0519587 (bookmark it for your convenience).

How to submit an announcement to UUCA's Connections newsletter:  

Thank you for using this link when shopping Amazon.

UUCA benefits each time you shop.