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Sunday Worship
February 19, 9:15 and 11:15 a.m.

"Being Politically Correct" 
Sermon by Rev. Graylan Hagler

As part of UUCA's honoring "Black History is Living History" this month, we welcome to our pulpit, The Rev. Graylan Hagler. Rev. Hagler is a nationally recognized leader and advocate of social justice issues and is an in-demand speaker. You don't want to miss his powerful and timely message.

And, we are pleased to have UUCA's Artist in Residence, Maya Rogers, lead us in our music. If you're not familiar with Maya's beautiful sound, you can check out her music here.  

Livestreaming of the service here. 

Welcome Rev. Graylan Hagler - February 19
Rev. Graylan Hagler photo We are honored to have Rev. Graylan Hagler in our pulpit this Sunday. Rev. Hagler is a nationally-known social justice advocate and the long-time Senior Minister of the historic Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in the District. Born and raised in Baltimore, Rev. Hagler received a Bachelor's Degree in Religion from Oberlin College in 1976. A life-long veteran of social justice movements in the U.S. and abroad, he is now a key leader in the Repairers of the Breach ( Moral Mondays) movement organized by Rev. William Barber.  He is also active in the Palestine solidarity movement. Rev. Hagler recently visited the West Bank as part of an all-Black delegation that included a labor movement activist, a Black Liberation academic, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, and hip hop and spoken word artists.  He is the former president of the United Church of Christ Ministers for Racial, Social and Economic Justice.
Welcome Charles C. Brown - February 25 
Charles Brown photo We are excited to have Charles C. Brown join us in our Sunday services next Sunday, February 25. Charles is an actor, singer/songwriter, and vocal coach, with Broadway theatre credits that include Rent (Tom Collins), The Lion King (Mufasa), Miss Saigon (John), Dreamgirls (Jimmy Early), Hair (Hud), Joseph & the Amazing Tech Dreamcoat (Narrator) and others. He has been working in various churches developing spiritual vocalists since 1985. He is currently the vocal director at Zion Church in Landover, Md., where he leads worship, teaches, produces, and arranges vocals for over 150 singers across three campuses. Charles will not only sing for us but will also conduct Clerestory Choir and lead the congregation in singing. "I consider myself a minister to the needs and dreams of all vocalists! That's my calling."
Keeping The Light  - Annual Giving 2017-18
Have you made your pledge yet? 
What is holding you back from living your values? 
Chris Lives His Values 
Chris Lives His Values

Click on the lantern below to visit our webpage. There you may:
  • Get information and guidance on determining a pledge amount that is right for you. (Giving Q&As)
  • View inspiring talks and testimonials ("Why We Give Videos") like Chris Sedor's testimonial above from last Sunday
  • Register a pledge at "Make Pledge Here" instead of filling out a card
  • Questions? pledge@uucava.org

Keeping the Light logo In Fellowship Hall on Sunday we will have a table where you may:

  • Ask Questions
  • Leave a completed pledge card
  • Find out the progress of Keeping the Light
This Week's Highlights
MoonFire Brigit Ritual
Sun., Feb. 19, 2017
Please join MoonFire for a magical ritual celebrating Brigit, the Celtic Irish Goddess of fire, poetry, healing, and childbirth. As always, a potluck and time for fellowship will follow the ritual, so bring a dish or drink to share, along with your own plates/utensils, if possible.  For details on the Brigid ritual, click here. For further information on MoonFire, please visit www.moonfireuuca.org, or contact moonfirecoords@gmail.com.
Hearts Full of Fun: UUCA Happy Hour Feb. 22
3-Hearts Celebrate February, including American Heart month and Valentines Day, with a heart-healthy happy hour light supper on Wednesday, February 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.  Please bring your own beverages and valentines, if you'd like. We will also have a special guest in honor of Black History month:  Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.  Don't know who she is?  Come and find out. 
UUSJ's New Advocacy Corps Visits Capitol Hill
Lynn Riggs and Bob Denniston
Lavona Grow (right) w/ members UUSJ Advocacy Corps
UUSJ's Advocacy Corps made its inaugural visit to Capitol Hill on Valentines Day, involving four members from UUCA who hand-delivered 159 letters written by UUCA members to Virginia Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner. UUCA members making visits were Lynn Riggs, Robin Knoblach, Lavona Grow and Bob Denniston. The Advocacy Corps members included 19 members from seven area congregations and visited senators's offices from both Maryland and Virginia. UUSJ's Advocacy Corps plans regular monthly visits to Capitol Hill on the second Tuesday of the month.  For further information, contact Lavona Grow, Lavonagrow@mac.com.
Faith in Action
Third Annual Israel/Palestine Film Series Begins February 19
Two Blue Lines movie logo UUCA's Committee for Peace and Justice in Israel/Palestine (CPJIP) invites you to join them in attending the first viewing in the third annual Israel/Palestine Film Series on Sunday, February 19, at the Washington National Cathedral's Perry Auditorium. The first film is Two Blue Lines, a documentary examining the human and political situation of the people of the land of Palestine from the years prior to the creation of the Israeli state to the present.  The film will be followed by an audience discussion moderated by Professor Barbara Wien of American University's School of International Service. For more information on the series and to carpool to the Cathedral, click here.  
Live the Pledge Reflection Sessions
Thur., Feb 23, 2 p.m.
LTP  logo UUCA's commitment to end racism continues through Live The Pledge covenant-style reflection sessions where we reflect upon issues of race, justice and white privilege. Commit to beginning or advancing your journey toward increased intercultural competence by participating in one of our upcoming sessions. Sign up here.
ATTENTION VOICE Supporters
Training Workshop: Thur., Feb. 23, 7 to 9 p.m.
Location: Muslim American Society, Alexandria
A local VOICE training workshop is coming up that we encourage all to attend.  If you have not yet attended a training in one-on-one relational meetings, now is the time to do it. This workshop is a chance to see how it's done, as well as learn about the larger relationship-building strategies that we are all working to strengthen. Read more. Contacts are David McTaggart, 703-835-6944, or Pat Findikoglu, patfindikoglu@gmail.com.  
Living the Pledge:  Sharing through Books Begins February 24 with Baldwin's The Fire Next Time
On the fourth Friday of each month the Live the Pledge initiative will sponsor a discussion and sharing of books written by African-American authors. The first discussion on Friday, February 24, at 7:30 p.m., will be on James Baldwin's The Fire Next Time. In March, the book for discussion is The Fire This Time, a collection of essays and poems compiled by Jesmyn Ward. Registration is not required.  If you have questions or suggestions, please contact Pat Findikoglu, patfindikoglu@gmail.com or Linda Lutes Corsoro, lindahlutes@gmail.comMore information here.  
Interfaith Harmony Online Workshop on Interfaith Dialogue and Peace-Building
Rogers _ Peebles plus others
Rev. Linda (2nd right) and Tracey Rogers (3rd right) with workshop panelists/facilators
On Wednesday, February 8, Rev. Linda joined a panel discussion on interfaith dialogue and peace-building, which was held online and streamed live to over 30 viewers from 20 different countries! The panel was a part of an online workshop designed in conjunction with the U.N. recognized World Interfaith Harmony Week, which UUCA member Tracey L. Rogers helped to coordinate. Click here for more details.  
PAG: Ten Years to Celebrate
Guatemalan students PAG (Partners for Arlington and Guatemala) is part of UUCA's Faith in Action ministry and is now in its 10th year.  UUCA/PAG partners with existing community organizations locally and in Guatemala to 1) sponsor human rights accompaniers in Guatemala; 2) provide scholarships to Mayan middle and high school students; and 3) promote mutually beneficial partnerships with local immigrants in Arlington. Read about some of the exciting news on all three fronts here.  
Wheel of Life
Congratulations to Gay and Ron Cima on the birth of their first grandchild,  Adeline Rose Kurtz, on Valentines Day, February 14.  The happy parents are Anna and Dave Kurtz, who were married at UUCA August 10, 2013.
Religious & Lifespan Education
CLICK BUTTON BELOW TO READ
Thank You for Being the Change!  


UUCA's RE kids were all smiles last Sunday thanks to everyone's generosity in giving to the "Be the Change" fundraiser. Come to the service on Sunday when the total collected will be announced. Missed giving your change last week? The collection tank will be out on more time this Sunday to collect the last of the "loose" change.
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
UUCA Peace Camp 2017: June 26 - July 7
Two one week sessions: June 26-30 and July 3-7. This year's theme: Peace in Oneself, Peace in the World. Registration at www.lffp.org. 
A Taste of Peace Camp at UUCA
Sun. Mar.  5, 12:30-2:30 p.m. 
Are you wondering what Peace Camp is all about?  Bring your children and come experience a bit of what this amazing camp has to offer!  The Director of Little Friends for Peace, MJ Park, will facilitate activities and an adult discussion of the value of peace education in your life and your family's life.  Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to Hank Dahlstrom, hmdahlstrom@gmail.com by March 3.

Chili Winners
Congrats to the winners of this year's Chili CUUk-Off sponsored by the Youth Group on January 29.
  • People's Choice: Diane St. Germain (Brown Sugar Chili)
  • Veggie: Cullen Ruff (Black Bean Magic)
  • Meat: Carol Cadby (Rogue Spice)
Church Governance
A Big Thank You SMILE
AmazonSmile logo Thanks to everyone who participates in the AmazonSmile program when shopping online and chooses UUCA as the non-profit to receive a donation from the AmazonSmile Foundation. It's an easy and painless way to do good while shopping. As you can see below, our numbers have been increasing--Thank you!
  • Feb. 2017, $125.91
  • Nov. 2016, $99.33
  • Aug. 2016, $54.53
NonCom Seeks Nominees
The UUCA Nominating Committee is looking for members to serve on the Board of Trustees and also on the Nominating Committee effective July 1, 2017 for a two-year term. Detailed descriptions are here. You can also contact Nominating Committee co-chairs Gerda Keiswetter, gkeiswetter@aol.com or Bill Turner, dc_billturner@yahoo.com.
Arts Ministry
A Weekend in Duloc
Shrek's birthday cake
Castle move-in day
Shrek the Musical, opens on March 3, so this past weekend found cast members building props, learning dance routines, and--of course--moving a castle. The cast gathered Saturday morning to create "s'nothers," (Shrek's version of s'mores), pitchforks, 36 storybook covers, and Shrek's birthday cake.  They then joined other fairy tale creatures to put the finishing touches on "Freak Flag."  More photos and the rest of the story here
Shrek ticket button  
Sing For Love Update from Maya
Dear UUCA Family,
Maya photo_Hawaii I would like to say a huge thank you for your support, especially those who were able to make it to my Sing For Love Concert in early January. Together we raised $1,660, what a huge help! As some of you may know, I made a pledge that for every $500 we raised I will gift a workshop or performance to an organization or community in need of a little musical uplift. 
Congregational Life
New UU Class
Wed., March 1, 6 to 9 p.m.
UUCA logo Unitarian Universalism is a way of thinking and being in the world. It is a faith discipline, enriched by faith traditions, that forms the foundation for a way to live this life. It matters how we conduct our lives and work to make the world a better place. Unitarian Universalism wants each of us to know why. It challenges us to deepen our own faith principles and practices in response to our own experience and, whenever possible, to stand on the side of love. There will be plenty of chances to ask questions and to get to know others. This class is also part of the path to membership at UUCA. For more information and registration contact Sarah.Masters@uucava.org.
Do It Green Workdays and Meeting
Grounds-keeping slows a bit during the winter but there are still winter chores around our campus that need tending. The DIG team always welcomes more hands at their workdays and monthly meeting. Contact Jennifer Frum, frumjb@gmail.com, for more information.
  • DIG workdays: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Sat. Feb. 25, Thur., Mar. 9, Sat. Mar. 25
  • DIG meeting: Wed. Mar. 15, 3 to 4:30 p.m.
UUCAers Move Tons of Food
AFAC food bagging 2017





Last Saturday, it was all-hands (and all-ages) on deck to bag more than two tons of food for AFAC (Arlington Food Assistance Center). Kudos to Denise Kappler (top left photo in center) and her intrepid team of volunteers who bagged 2,500 pounds of rice and 1,500 pounds of oranges and finished in record time--fewer than two hours!

AFAC Food Needs Continue
If you missed out in helping in last Saturday's food bagging, you can still help AFAC by donating to the "heart healthy" food drive that AUCP (Arlington Unitarian Cooperative Preschool) is conducting through the end of February.  Most needed items are low in sodium and high in fiber, especially: canned soups, tuna, beans, tomatoes, peanut butter, and high-fiber cereals. Please, no glass items. A collection box is located in the lower level lobby. For more information, contact Michelle Rief, michrief@gmail.com.  
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