CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER

Join us for worship this Sunday January 7, 9:15 & 11:15 a.m. "Singing for Our Lives" With a belief system that the voice is the sound of the soul and that every voice deserves to be heard, this musically interactive worship service explores the significant individual and collective transformational moments that occur when we come together and create a powerful singing community. No matter your experience or level of confidence, your voice brings an important and beautiful thread to the sound tapestry we will weave in worship this Sunday as we find and give voice to ourselves and our sacred community. Come join UUCA's Director or Music Ministries Mimi Bornstein for this soulful, musical journey where everyone’s voice matters. Livestream

Church Matters

What's in store for UUCA in 2018? All are welcome to join Rev. Aaron, the Board of Trustees and other church leaders to hear about the exciting things in store for UUCA in 2018.   DATE: Saturday, January 27, 2018 TIME: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. LOCATION: Activity Room   Childcare will be provided. Please email Emily Goodin with questions: emgoodin@gmail.com

Pledge Intentions During our January reflections on Intention, the annual giving team asks each congregant to consider their financial pledge to UUCA for next fiscal year. February is our congregation’s traditional time to ask each of you to formalize a pledge commitment for the 2018-19 fiscal year, which will begin on July 1, 2018. Later this month pledge cards will be mailed out. Is this your year to significantly increase your pledge commitment, as nearly 200 of you did last year? Is this your year to perhaps double your pledge, as more than 55 of you did last year? Is this your year to make a pledge commitment for the first time, as nearly 100 of you have done this past year? More information will become available over the coming weeks about the annual pledge campaign, but for now, please take some time in the next couple of weeks to search your intentions. UUCA depends on you.

SAVE THE DATE: FEBRUARY 4, 2018 Planning is underway for Celebration Sunday to mark the 70th anniversary of UUCA in Arlington with a menu of events to choose from throughout the day and evening to enjoy with your church family. It promises to be a day of music, food (lunch and supper), games, door prizes, maybe some dancing, but definitely fellowship. Some of you may recognize this as the Sunday when a big football game happens. We plan a viewing party for those interested as well as a simultaneous fun event for those not so inclined. Child care will be available. Come to one event or come to them all! We hope to make this celebration truly reflective of the diversity of our congregation. We are approaching many groups within the church to work on specific aspects of the day and we hope you will say “yes” if asked to volunteer for a couple of hours sometime during the day. You may also contact Bruce Rieder, brieder@comcast.net, if you would like to volunteer. We’ll certainly find something for you to do!

Lifespan Religious Education

Welcome Back to RE! This week we resume regularly scheduled RE classes here at UUCA. Here's what's going on-- Preschool-1st Grade--Spirit Play Elementary--a sample of Spirit Camp (see right) 5th Grade--Prayer and Meditation 6th Grade--Maker Space 7th Grade--Field Trip to Catholic Church 8th Grade--Our Whole Lives Youth Group--Releasing Ceremony (looking toward a new year) Taste of Spirit Camp for 2nd-4th Graders Eva Goulette will offer a special Spirit Camp preview on January 7 for 2nd -4th graders during regular RE time. The topic will help kids develop breathing techniques they can utilize when they are dealing with challenging situations. Click on RE Connect for more information. RE Connect News HERE

Preschool Open House Arlington Unitarian Cooperative Preschool ( AUCP) will hold its annual open house on Saturday, January 20 from 10 a.m. to Noon. Founded by UUCA members in 1969, the preschool has educated young children for over 45 years. The curriculum is child-centered, focusing on the process (exploration, experimentation, problem -solving) over the final product. As a true cooperative, parents work along with the teacher in their own child's classroom on a rotating basis, and participate in many of the administrative and maintenance functions of the school.  UUCA members receive priority in the application process if they apply by Friday, February 2. For more information, visit the school’s website at www.aucpva.org, email membership@aucpva.org, or call 703-892-3878. Youth Ministry Training UUCA is hosting a one-day Fundamentals of Healthy Youth Ministry Training in January. This is a shortened workshop of the week-long Fundamentals Training. It will cover the basics of safety and the web of youth ministry and address specific questions and challenges from the attending congregations. This training is for youth AND youth advisers. For more information and to register, click here. Date: Saturday, January 20, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Location: Activity Room

Faith in Action

Living the Pledge to End Racism Workshop NOTE: You still have time to sign up! Deadline has been changed to January 11. When our church signed the Pledge to End Racism in October 2016, we knew this would be a very long journey. We set out in November 2016, launching our efforts with a Living the Pledge (LTP) Workshop. During 2017 our journey continued, with another LTP Workshop, reflection sessions, reading groups, films, a tour of some of racism’s local roots, discussions, and action-oriented Allyship Training offered by our partner organization Service Never Sleeps. As 2018 begins, UUCA will offer once again the core training that launched our efforts to end racism in Northern Virginia. Read more and registration here. Dates: Saturdays, Jan. 13 and 20, from 9 AM to 3 PM (a two-day commitment) Location: Center

Allyship in Action Covenant Group Signup Have you taken the Allyship Workshop already but now you’re trying to figure out how you can continue to grow in your Allyship journey and drive effective action towards anti-racism? We are excited to be opening up registration for our three Allyship in Action (AIA) Covenant Groups which starts at the end of January (meeting on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Thursdays from 7-9 p.m.). Service Never Sleeps (SNS) developed this AIA group model to facilitate a broader and deeper dive into Allyship. Joining an AIA group will provide you with the opportunity to proactively exercise Allyship in a structured group setting of accountability and support. Please register by January 7 using this form. If you have any questions, please email Alex Ziehm, alexandraziehm92@gmail.com.  Write a message to your US representative to help protect the most vulnerable Budgets for many health care programs are at risk of being slashed by Congress in the weeks ahead, including children's healthcare and Medicaid. This Sunday, January 7, come by Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice's (UUSJ) "Write Here! Write Now!" table in Fellowship Hall to write a personal letter to your Member of Congress. Fact sheets and supplies will be available. Or write your letter in advance and drop it off. UUSJ's Capitol Hill Advocacy Corps will be hand-delivering letters on January 9. Contact Lavona Grow at advocacy@uusj.org; to learn more about the Advocacy Corps check UUSJ's advocacy page .

African American Book Sharing Group We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates is our focus for the January African American Book Sharing Circle on Friday, January 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the Welcome Room. This collection of essays previously published in The Atlantic is organized chronologically during the span of Barack Obama’s term as President of the United States. We have the advantage of reading these essays in the context of time and change: Coates writes these essays in the immediate present; what do we think of them in the context of what has happened since? If you have questions or need more information, please contact Pat Findikoglu, patfindikoglu@gmail.com or Linda Lutes-Corsoro, lindahlutes@gmail.com. Date: Friday, January 19, 7:30 p.m. Location: Welcome Room

Music Ministry

Lend your voice to justice You don't want to miss being part of January's POP-UP Choir. The Choir sings on January 14 (MLK Sunday). The special music will have a civil rights and social justice theme. Come and lend your voice to justice! Anyone can sing in UUCA's POP-UP Choir. No auditions, no music experience needed, no long-term commitments. Just drop in on the second Sunday of the month. We gather early (8:00 a.m.) to learn one or two easy-to-learn songs and then perform them that same morning in the services. Questions? Contact Mimi Bornstein , MimiB@uucava.org . Date: Sunday, January 14, 8 a.m. Location: Sanctuary UUCA Host to Opera NOVA Concert “Celebrating African American Opera Singers Past and Present” UUCA is thrilled to be hosting this concert that honors Martin Luther King Jr. and shines light on the African American Opera World--past and present. The concert includes a recollection of the musical career of Coretta Scott King, soprano. The highlight will be performances by today’s rising and accomplished African American vocalists: Joyce Lundy, Elise Jenkins, Jackson Caesar, Dei Nikoi, and Marcel Sawyer. Tickets $10. Email mcdm1@verizon.net. Informational flyer here. Date: Sunday, January 21, 3 p.m. Location: Sanctuary

Congregational Life

Day Alliance A Brief History of Arlington Karl VanNewkirk will share interesting facts about the history of Arlington County from John Smith to the present. Karl has served several terms as president of the Arlington Historical Society, is a former member of the board of directors of the Arlington Black Heritage Museum. He currently volunteers for the archaeology department at Gunston Hall and teaches a class in Arlington history for the Arlington Learning in Retirement Institute. Coffee and conversation begin at 10:30 a.m., the talk begins at 11 a.m. Everyone is welcome for the program, without reservations. The reserved seating, catered lunch is open to those who reserve by January 4. No reservations will be accepted after that date. A "yes" response indicates the intention to stay for the lunch. Cost of the lunch is $15, payable at the door. RSVP for lunch to Mary Lynn Ernstthall, mlernstthal@comcast.net. Date: Tuesday, January 9, 10:30 a.m. Location: Center  New UU Class This class is a great opportunity to learn the history and theology of Unitarian Universalism. UUism 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. This class is also part of the path to membership at UUCA. Childcare is available. Class is free and includes breakfast. Questions? Contact Sarah.Masters@uucava.org . Date: Saturday, January 20, 9 a.m. to noon Location: Chapel New UU Registration

Photo Directory Photography appointments are still available for next week and we’ve added Feb 1-3. You can sign up here or at the table in Fellowship Hall on Sundays. Questions? Contact Sarah.Masters@uucava.org. The UUCA Nominating Committee will host our January Happy Hour. All are welcome. You’ll have a chance to learn about General Assembly (GA), the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association. Come and chat with former delegates about the ins and outs, the joys and rewards of attending GA—in person or as an offsite/online delegate—and learn more. Some food and drink will be provided for the reception. Please bring more (beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks). Mark your calendars and join us!  Date: Wednesday, January 17, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Location: Fellowship Hall

HUMANIST HOUR Your Thoughts on "Thoughts & Prayers" In addition to readings with a humanist twist, a little music, and the communal sharing of joys and sorrows (and responses to interesting questions), we will explore this issue: “Thoughts and Prayers: Is there a proper public response to tragedy?” In the wake of tragedy, we are accustomed to hearing calls for “thoughts and prayers.” We have heard this phrase from prominent political figures, both Democrats and Republicans. But more recently, such calls have drawn some criticism. What do you think? Come share your thoughts! Our monthly Humanist Hour meets on the first Sunday of the month at 9:15 a.m. Date: Sunday, January 7, 9:15 a.m. Location: Chapel Men's Book Group The Men's Book Group will meet in January to discuss The Sellout, a novel by Paul Beatty that won the 2016 Man Booker Prize for fiction. The author, a 54-year-old New York resident, born in Los Angeles, is the first American to win the prize in its 48-year history. For more information about the group, please contact Ken Marshall, kenmar42@gmail.com. Date: Sunday, January 14, 7:30 p.m. Location: Chapel

Join the Young Adult group for the new 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 is from Radiolab and covers the law, morality and ethics. More information on the podcast is here. Date: Saturday, January 6, 7:30 p.m. Location: Chapel You are welcome to join the Divine Reading Group when they discuss The Sellout by Paul Beatty on January 11. The Divine Reading Group treats secular short stories as though they were sacred texts. The belief behind the strategies is that personal truth and meaning can come from a wide variety of sources. This group is ideal for those who love reading and discussion. It is also a place where deep and meaningful introspection occurs, friendships are made, and the very nature of religion is explored. Questions? Contact Julian Adams, JulianA@uucava.org. Date: Thursday, January 11, 7 p.m. Location: Youth Room

Center Gallery

Christmas Eve Photo Album

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Wheel of Life

Congratulations to Ashley Bond and Erik Rapprich and big brother Liam on the birth of James Thomas on November 20. Condolences to Ken Perkins-Gough and family on the death of his father, Captain Paul Perkins, who died December 26. Condolences to Barbara Buzzell and Jane Schwartz on the death of Barbara’s mother and Jane’s grandmother.

Job Posting UUCA is currently seeking a Social Justice Coordinator. This is a part-time contract position. The Social Justice Coordinator works closely with Minister(s), staff, and social justice teams to manage, develop and support our Community Partnerships, as well as the incubation of new initiatives, teams and partnerships, and to coordinate congregational mobilization as history and opportunity dictate. Job Description & Application

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.

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Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, VA 4444 Arlington Blvd Arlington, Virginia Call: (703) 892-2565 Email: uuca@uucava.org