Thursday, September 13, 2018
The Coming Week
Wednesday, September 12

Young Souls Happy Hours are excellent events for newcomers to meet other Young Souls. Local 16 donates 10% of our bill back to All Souls. RSVP on Facebook here . For those interested, we’ll walk over to Vespers after the happy hour. Questions? Contact Cora (coraghenry@gmail.com). 5:30 pm, Local 16 (1602 U St. NW).

Vespers is modeled after the traditional Taizé worship service which uses silence, scripture, prayer, and repetitive singing of short chants and rounds to quiet the mind and promote deep meditation. The Taizé Community promotes peace and justice through prayer and meditation. Vespers service mirrors Taizé-style attention to silence, holy words, prayer, and singing, but has also evolved to include other meditative traditions such as yogic singing and Buddhist chanting.

Friday, September 14

Homecoming Terrace Concert. POSTPONED TO NEXT FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 .

Saturday, September 15

Crab Fest. Come feast with your fellow All Souls. If you are new to us, we welcome you to a friendly, laid back environment to get to know us. And if you’ve been around for a while, come to deepen connections with your community. All you can eat, featuring crabs, fish, hot dogs, tomatoes, beans, corn, slaw, hush puppies, beer, and soft drinks. Music by our own CrabFest DJ, Mikel! Join the fun, rain or shine! Tickets ($35/adult, $15/child) on sale at the Silver Souls table or online at www.all-souls.org. Sponsored by the Silver Souls. All proceeds benefit the church. Sat., Sep. 15, 1-4 pm, Pierce Hall. (If church is closed by Florence, the Crab Fest will take place on Sun., Sep. 16, 2:30-5:30 pm.)
Sunday, September 16

America, The Dream. Rev. Hardies. It was the Unitarian preacher Theodore Parker who first defined democracy as government “of all the people, by all the people, and for all the people.” Yet today our democracy faces assaults on many fronts, not least the conspiracy to suppress the vote of people at the margins. This fall’s mid-term elections are a critical test for our democracy. This Sunday we continue the struggle for which our former minister James Reeb gave his life at Selma and launch our Reeb Voting Rights Project’s 2018 “Democracy Challenge.” 9:30 and 11:15 am.

All Souls ESL will start classes again on September 23. If you are interested in volunteering with the program, please come to this mandatory volunteer training. Fall classes will meet Sundays, 1:00-2:45 pm at the church through December 16. Interested adult students can register in person at All Souls any Sunday during class. Please email all.souls.esl.dc@gmail.com with questions. 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, dining room.
 
Young Souls September Brunch . Location TBD. RSVP on Facebook here . Questions? Contact Cora (coraghenry@gmail.com). 1:00 pm, meet in Pierce Hall after service.

Mapping Segregation in Washington DC . Please join the All Souls Housing Corp for a conversation on the history of segregation in DC’s housing market. We will hear from Mara Cherkasky, historian, researcher, and co-founder of Prologue DC (prologuedc.com) along with a local housing advocate who will put Mara’s work in today’s context. The conversation will address how racially restrictive policies have shaped our city’s development and still impact activism and advocacy work today. For more information on the Housing Corp’s activities, contact Andre Taybron (andre@broneist.com) or visit the Facebook page . 1:00 pm, Eaton Room.

Reeb Project for Voting Rights Kickoff. This fall’s midterm elections will critically impact many important progressive issues. In the face of implicit and explicit voter suppression campaigns aimed at people of color, youth, and naturalized citizens, the Reeb Project for Voting Rights is gathering a massive campaign of love in action to get out the vote. Come and learn about our Action Pledge and all the opportunities to get involved this fall locally and beyond. 1:00-2:30 pm.
 
New members with kids , come to the south lawn to hang with your Membership Secretary Jen Bruneau, who’ll bring baked goods. Between services.

Tuesday, September 18

Young Souls Taco Tuesday. We’re trying out a new monthly event: Taco Tuesday! Bandit Taco recently opened around the corner from our regular happy hour spot, so we thought this a great opportunity to try their $2 Tuesday tacos! Come talk to some YS board members, hang out, and eat. RSVP on Facebook here . Questions? Contact Cora (coraghenry@gmail.com). 6:00 pm, Bandit Taco (1946 New Hampshire Ave NW).

The Kindred Spirits Men’s Group invites interested men to join us at any time. The tone is of an open salon, letting the dialogue flow and allowing our connections as All Souls Unitarian men to deepen. Questions and RSVP to Philip Smith (philips442@gmail.com). 7:15 pm, contact Philip for location.

Wednesday, September 19

Souls in the Center have a Happy Hour. Let’s celebrate Wednesdays with a beer, cocktail, or wings fried in waffle batter. A good time to meet folks in a smaller group setting. 7:00-9:00 pm, Grady’s (2210 14th St NW).

Friday, September 21

Homecoming Terrace Concert , featuring Gordon Kent. With special recognition of the 2018 Beckner Advancement Fund grantees. Free and open to the public. 5:30-7:30 pm, terrace.

Saturday, September 22

Social Justice Ministry Kickoff. Come for some shared learning, strategizing, energizing, and relationship-building to start the year!

Souls in the Center have a Game Day Again! RSVP on our Facebook page here for the address. 2:00-5:00ish pm, Elyte’s house near church.

Sunday, September 23

New Young Souls Get-Together. Still feel new to Young Souls and want more connection? Attending Young Souls events for a while, but want more inclusion? This gathering is for you. We’ll decide as a group what to do: get treats from Sticky Fingers, walk around the neighborhood, cozy up at a coffee place, or enjoy the sunshine (hopefully!) in Meridian Hill Park. Abby Jones will post up by the Welcome Table in Pierce Hall starting at about 12:45 pm, so look for her nametag to find the group. Questions? Contact Abby (abigail.jones313@gmail.com). RSVP on Facebook here . 1:00 pm, gather after second service in Pierce Hall.
Adult Spiritual Development
Hello from the All Souls Adult Spiritual Development Committee,
 
We want you to know about some of the exciting offerings coming this fall.
 
The UU4CORE series will be held again September 25-October 30: Unitarian Universalist History and Theology will be led by Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker and Kevin McCulloch.
 
The Roots and Wings fall session is October 9 - November 13. This is open to all, not just new members!
 
ADORE and the 8th Principle . ADORE will continue to hold monthly topical sessions (usually on the third Tuesday of each month); JUBILEE training will be held October 5-7. Of special interest in this election time will be "A White Historian Looks at Black Voting Rights" a talk with slides by Dr. Susan Strasser, October 17.
 
New Spiritual Practice offerings this fall include " Spiritual Life Writing " -a three session course (Oct 25, Nov. 8, & Nov. 29) and a half-day Contemplative Practice Retreat on Diwali , Nov. 10, led by Rev. Dr. Abhi Janamanchi and Rev. Dr. Joanne Braxton.  
 
The new "All Souls Reads" series will provide multiple opportunities for us to read together, including:
  • Book Discussions on Justice on Earth, with chapters by 2 All Souls members, September 23; and Fascism: A Warning, by Madeline Albright, October 14.
  • The "Classic Readings" Series focuses on contemporary and historic theological writers.
  • "Reading in Good Company" sessions with the Silver Souls 5th Sunday Reading Club and the Young Souls Reading Group.

To register for classes, go to www.allsouls.org/ASD and click on the course title and the "register" link. Fees can be paid online (usually for classes with multiple sessions). Fee waivers are always possible.
 
We hope to have you with us at some of our fall sessions! Contact us with your questions. And thanks to all of you for spreading the word!
 
Blessings,
Rev. Rebecca Parker ( rparker@allsouls.ws ) and the ASD Committee: Erika Landberg, Judy Fisher, Jose Luis Sanchez, Tricia Peavler, Kirk Freeman, Josephine Nieves, Sandra Duval, Maureen Nelson, Kevin McCulloch, and Gary Penn
Reeb Voting Rights Project
Make Mid-Terms Matter Trip to North Carolina

Democracy is not a spectator sport and North Carolina is ground zero for voter suppression in the US. This will not stop us: Reeb Voting Rights Project is joining with You Can Vote and Democracy NC to ensure that marginalized communities in the Raleigh area participate in early voting. Experts believe that, if traditionally locked out communities voted more, politicians might address critical issues such as immigration, gun control, racial justice, the environment, and more.

Reeb trips are remembered for the homestays, and this trip won’t disappoint. In a mid-term match up, Community UU Church in Chapel Hill is opening up congregants’ homes for us to set up basecamp. We’ll depart on Friday at 3:00 pm; canvass and socialize with Chapel Hill UUs on Saturday; and worship on Sunday morning before heading home. If leaving after work on Friday and coming back Saturday night works better for you, we can coordinate car pools and hotels. Deadline to sign up: October 1. Questions and RSVPs to ascvotingrights@gmail.com . Thanks for making mid-terms matter!
Opportunities
The ASC Haiti committee is looking for two ASC members with skills in affordable housing and in agriculture to help support the CENHaiti program. True to its mission to “Connect people who want to develop Haiti together,” CEN-Haiti has been securing very generous donations for local organizations. We are now seeking two or more volunteer leaders who possess the technical skills required to help improve the performance of these local organizations, so they can attract future funding locally or internationally. If you are interested, please send an email to board.cenhaiti@gmail.com . Visit CENHaiti.org for more info about the program.

Last chance to register! Travel to the border with All Souls. This November 13-18, All Souls congregants and ministers will make our first congregational BorderLinks trip to the Arizona-Sonora region . The UU College of Social Justice’s “Sanctuary and Solidarity” journey is a chance to deepen your capacity to practice effective solidarity. Through dynamic educational experiences, BorderLinks connects divided communities, raises awareness about the impact of the border and immigration policies, and inspires action for social transformation. Extended application deadline: September 10. To register, visit all-souls.org/sanctuary, or contact Denise Woods (woodsassoc@gmail.com) and Maya Hermann (hermann.maya@icloud.com) with any questions .

The Leadership Development and Nominating Committee is recruiting nominees to fill three seats on the Board of Trustees as well as officer positions for 2019. Interviews will be conducted starting in early September and a slate of candidates will be announced before the annual Congregational Meeting in December, where new trustees and officers will be elected. If you’re interested in serving, please go to www.all-souls.org/ldnc for more information and to fill out an online application. Questions? Contact co-chairs Maya Hermann (hermann.maya@icloud.com) or Chuck Wooldridge ( cwooldridge108@comcast.net ).
 
Believe in radical hospitality? Act on those beliefs! Worship services can be magical, but they don’t happen magically. In addition to the ministers and staff, we depend on the time, effort, and good will of volunteer congregants. Interested in helping? You have a choice of roles to play, and each is important.
  • Worship Associates speak from the pulpit five or six times a year to welcome the congregation and introduce the offering collection. Worship Buddies help setup before services. Training occurs once or twice a year. Contact Jana Owens (jana_owens@hotmail.com).
  • Ushers welcome congregants and visitors, hand out the orders of service, and help everything run smoothly and safely. The commitment is only one service each month, so it’s a great way to get involved. Contact Mark Matthews (markhowardmatthews@gmail.com).
  • Greeters welcome visitors and answer their questions, both before and after services. Really important, but easy—once a month commitment and no meetings! Great way to meet people, and you’re already qualified! Contact Gary Penn (gpenn@allsouls.ws).
  • Counters receive the offering plates, tally the numbers, and lock everything away in the safe. You’ll serve once a month after the second service and meet a nice group of folks. Contact John Crowe (babaloo913@gmail.com).
  • The Lunch Ministry nourishes the congregation with a homemade, healthy meal about once a month. Stretch your culinary skills! Visit all-souls.org/lunch or contact Jerri Husch (ascu.lunch@ gmail.com).
All Souls Church Unitarian | 1500 Harvard St NW, Washington DC 20009
202.332.5266| www.all-souls.org