Connections Newsletter All the news you need to know to connect, grow, and serve.

Sunday, October 28, 2018 - 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. Adventures in Being an Ally What are some of the common mistakes we make in working for justice and how can we be better allies? Ministerial Assistant Walter Clark discusses the lessons he has learned working for social justice over the past few years and what it means to him to be an ally to those in the margins of society.

David McTaggart is our Worship Associate. Music Director Mimi Bornstein is on keyboard and vocals, Topher Dunn on bass, and our special guest musician is recording jazz/soul artist Dante' Pope. Pope is a multi-genre drummer and vocalist who has traveled the world performing with the likes of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and the Old Crow Medicine Show and has worked on collaborations with Johnny Cash and Eric Clapton. More on Donte' Pope here.  Next Sunday "Radical Hospitality" - Sermon by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley. Upcoming Services HERE . Livestream

Friday Morning Devotions We invite you to smooth the path into the weekend with a half-hour of meditation followed by shared reflections each Friday morning beginning at 7 a.m. Please contact in advance either David McTaggart ( dmctagg@gmail.com ) or Gregg Forte ( gforte@mac.com ). A ride is available afterward to Ballston Metro. Date: Each Friday, 7:00 a.m. Location: Room 20 (Youth Room)

MoonFire Child-Friendly Samhain Ritual Families and friends, are welcome to MoonFire for a child-centered Samhain Ritual. We will celebrate our ancestors by doing art projects that connect us with those who have gone before. There will be no separate childcare. A light meal will be provided; you are welcome to bring a side dish. For more information on MoonFire, click here or email moonfirecoords@gmail.com.   Date: Sunday, October 27, 5 p.m. Location: Fellowship Hall

Lifespan Religious Education

What's Up in RE This Sunday Preschool-1st Grade: Spirit Play Elementary Grades: UU Heroes 5th Grade: Bible Studies 6th Grade: MakerSpace 7th Grade: Classroom 8th Grade: No OWL on Sunday High School: Youth Group  Read More RE News HERE

Order Thanksgiving Pies Get your Thanksgiving pies from the UUCA Youth Group! Order now and pick up on November 18! Order on Sundays through November 11. Your donations support the upcoming youth service trips working work with Sumi Nungwa on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona and with the Appalachian South Folklife Center in West Virginia.  PIE OPTIONS: Combo Apple and Pumpkin pies, two for $30! Mix & match Individual Pecan ($25), Pumpkin ($18), Apple ($18) Vegan, gluten-free options, etc. available upon request for $20-25. Youth and members of the congregation will be making the pies from scratch. The pies will freeze well for serving on November 22. If you are interested in baking pies to support this fundraiser, contact Julia Peterson at jpeterson@uucava.org.

A Coming Together for Conflict Transformation Nearly 60 UUCAers gathered in beloved community last Saturday afternoon to work on learning the skills needed for dealing with conflict. Having an appreciation of what happens to our brains when confronted with conflict and how to build healthy communication skills were just a few of the insights. If you missed this Conflict Transformation workshop, which was led by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley , it will be offered again in the new year. A white paper of the presentation is here .

UUCA Fundraisers

BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! First UUCA Casino Night+ Bet on UUCA! Support our liberal religious community at our Casino night on November 3. Each ticket gets you $10,000 of funny money. You can win and purchase additional money throughout the night which you can apply to raffles and our mini silent and live auction of dinners and vacations. It's all about gambling for good! FREE CHILDCARE. Tickets are on sale in person in Fellowship Hall on Sundays and available online here. Sign up to volunteer here . Date: Saturday, November 3, 6:30-10 p.m. Location: Center Gallery & Fellowship Hall

UUCA Sanctuary Singers and Music Ministry Presents VACATION USA - A Cabaret Through music and song, come fly away to some of our nation's iconic vacation spots. This armchair musical trip will feature better-than-airline nosh and a cash bar. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online HERE or in Fellowship Hall on Sundays. Proceeds benefit the many UUCA church ministries. Dates: Friday, November 9, 7:30 p.m. OR Saturday, November 10, 7:30 p.m. Location: Center Gallery

Congregational Life

Podcast Chat This Saturday Join Young Adults (18-40) as we discuss our podcast of the week! We use podcasts as a jumping off point to discuss issues of the day, as well as questions of science, morality, and spirituality. Past discussions have included evolution, masculinity, and how to engage with people with whom we disagree. Check the UUCA Young Adult Facebook group for the chosen podcast of the week.  Date: October 27, 7:30- 9 p.m. Location: Chapel It’s short story season in the Young Adult Divine Reading Group! In this group, we treat secular texts as sacred, trusting that by delving into the text, we will find wisdom and truth. Gather with other young adults, read the short story, then engage with the text through time-honored spiritual practices and discussion. This is a great time to try it out before we choose our next novel! Dates: Every other Thursday, 7-9 p.m. November dates: 11/1, 11/15, 11/29 Location: TBA

November Beer, Pizza, and Questions About the Universe (BPQ) At Beer, Pizza, and Questions About the Universe (aka BPQ) young adults gather to discuss a topic engaging our morals, ethics, and intellect. Past topics have included criminal justice, productivity, and freewill. Pizza provided. Bring your own beer. (No pressure to imbibe.) Third Tuesday of each month, 7- 9 p.m. For location, check signpost near the desk by the central stairs. Upcoming date: Tuesday, November 13, 7-9 p.m. Young Adult Sunday Brunch Come join other young adults (18-40) for food and conversation after second service downstairs in the Youth Room. For newcomers, it is a great opportunity to learn about what the Young Adult program has to offer! Contact Julia Peterson, jpeterson@uucava.org for more info. Date: Sunday, November 4, 12:45- 3 p.m. Location: Youth Room

Young Adult Service at Arlington Food Assistance Center UUCA's Young Adult group meets monthly for a service project at the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), a donation based warehouse of food that serves 2200+ families every week. All Young Adults are welcome to join in on bagging produce and food stuffs on Saturday, November 3 at AFAC.   Date: Saturday, November 3, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Location: AFAC, 2708 S. Nelson Street, Arlington November Day Alliance A Preview of the 2019 Virginia Legislative Agenda w/ Delegate Patrick Hope  Patrick Hope represents Arlington residents of the 47th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. He was re-elected for his fourth term in 2015 and serves on the House Health, Welfare, and Institutions Committee, Courts of Justice, and Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee.    Delegate Hope is well positioned to inform us of the likely grist in the legislative mill as  Virginia’s lawmakers prepare for their new session in January. Date: Tuesday, November 13, 10:30 a.m. Coffee/Fellowship; 11 a.m. Speaker; 12 p.m. Luncheon Location: Center Gallery

Bread Baking for Thanksgiving - All Ages Welcome! People of all ages and baking skills are invited to join in baking bread on Saturday, November 17th, 9am-1pm, in the UUCA kitchen. We'll make loaves of bread which will be a part of the celebration during the service on Thanksgiving Sunday (Nov 18). We'll provide lunch, all the supplies, and the 'how to'! Join in (it's flexible - come for all or part of the time!) for this fun tradition and enjoy the mixing, kneading, loaf-shaping, and good-smelling experience with friends. Questions or RSVP to Denise Kappler, denise_kappler@yahoo.com.  Date: Saturday, November 17, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Date: UUCA Kitchen Let's Put Conflict Transformation Into Action!   Better Angels Red/Blue Workshop "What if, instead of being protective or defensive, we asked the person that we're disagreeing with, 'What made you come to that conclusion?' What if we started questioning our own conclusions and positions? What if we came into a disagreement with the belief that disagreements exist because we have something to learn?" - Rev. Terasa, Oct. 14 UUCA will host an intensive daylong Red/Blue Workshop designed to build relationships and seek common ground among people with different political beliefs. In the spirit of conflict transformation, the workshop will help attendees bridge the political divide by listening to and learning from each other. Limited spaces are still available for both participants and observers in the workshop. For more information or to sign up, please visit here.  Questions? Contact Sarah Yue, alanandsarah@gmail.com Date: Saturday, October 27, 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Location: Activity Room

Faith in Action

Share-the-Plate October 28 STP: UUs for Social Justice Have you seen the faces of the Central American families and other refugees on TV fleeing their homeland? Contrary to what some people say, it is the rule of law in our country that attracts them—freedom from fear—as well as opportunity for a better future for their families. This week’s Share-the-Plate recipient is UUs for Social Justice, a community of UUs that works to amplify UU voices through advocacy on social justice issues--issues such as the need for comprehensive immigration reform as reflected in our current daily news. Climate change is creating extreme weather conditions and sea level rise around the world, so environmental justice is another UUSJ top priority, along with protecting the social safety net--food stamps, Medicaid, and health care. UUSJ's Capitol Hill Advocacy Corps--with seven UUCA members--takes our liberal religious values and voices to our federal policy-makers each month and hand-delivers our “Write Here! Write Now!” letters. UUSJ also helps organize UU letter-writing campaigns in other states. UUCA is a founding member of UUSJ, and our members have served in UUSJ leadership since its inception in 2000.  Please support UUSJ to keep the momentum going! Write a letter on the first or second Sunday of every month in Fellowship Hall. Sign up to join the Advocacy Corps. Become a UUSJ member with your donation this Sunday of $40 or more. If you contribute through Sunday’s offering, or on the church’s website, please visit the UUSJ table in the Fellowship Hall so we can thank you and sign you up as a member. For more information on UUSJ, please go to http://uusj.net/wp1/membership.  Donations are accepted for each week's STP recipient through the following Saturday at midnight.  Make online donations here.

Meet UUCA's Accompaniers--THIS SUNDAY UUCA’s most recent Accompaniers in Guatemala--CLARA LINCOLN and CHRIS SHORNE --will be at church to meet everyone and share reflections of their experiences as Accompaniers. At a luncheon in the Center after second service, they will be joined by BRIDGET BREHEN, Director of our Human Rights partner NISGUA, and AMANDA KISTLER, NISGUA Board Chair, both of whom are former Accompaniers themselves. Don’t miss this important celebration of this vibrant UUCA human rights partnership. Date: Sunday, October 28, 12:30 p.m. Location: Center Gallery

VOICE Assembly a Success Thanks to Your Support! At last Sunday's VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement) action, Virginia Governor Northam confirmed his commitment to the VOICE agenda on keeping immigrant families together, ensuring schools across the Commonwealth have nursing and mental health staff, and reforming our criminal justice practices. And, Attorney General Herring made a first-time announcement of his commitment to end the cash-bail pretrial detention practices that punish the poor for being poor. The governor also gave explicit credit to VOICE---and that means you!---for the achievement of dedicated Metro funding and for getting the felony theft threshold level raised to a less punitive level. So, a very big thank you to the 146 UUCAers who made it out to Fairfax High School last Sunday and added to the power of the 1,400-strong VOICE assembly. And, a big thank you to all the others who were with us in spirit! The action has received major media coverage around the state. Here is a write-up from WTOP.

Volunteers Needed for Interfaith Thanksgiving Day Dinner  For the past several years UUCA has hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for the Buckingham community with food provided by the Knights of Columbus. UUCA volunteers are needed to help with overseeing this year's dinner (note: no cooking required!). On Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 22), the free boxed dinners are delivered to UUCA by the Knights of Columbus between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Then everyone enjoys a communal dinner together with a talent show put on by the Buckingham community. The event ends around 4 p.m. Volunteers are needed to: Be point person for opening and closing UUCA. We are asking for someone who has attended the facility safety training. Distribute the boxed dinners. Assist with the Buckingham talent show. Set-up, break-down of tables, along with clean-up in Fellowship Hall and kitchen. This sharing of our Thanksgiving tradition is a first for many of our Buckingham neighbors. And, for the veteran attendees, it's a holiday celebration they look forward to each year. For this beloved holiday tradition to continue we need 10+ volunteers. Volunteering is a wonderful way for families or groups to celebrate the true spirit of the holiday. Sign up here.

DIG Workdays The Do It Green Team welcomes your help with fall plantings and general grounds maintenance on Saturday, October 27, 10 a.m. to noon. Everyone is welcome--youngsters, elders, singles, couples and especially groups! Bring gardening tools if you have them. Extras will be available. No experience needed, just a desire to tend and care for Mother Earth. Date: October 27, 10 a.m. - noon Location: UUCA grounds Pick Up Your UNICEF Boxes on Sunday Thank you to everyone who picked up their UNICEF boxes last Sunday. Boxes are still available this Sunday and they all need to be returned to the church on Sunday, November 4 or 11. UNICEF works in 190 countries and reaches millions of children with immunizations, education, health care, nutrition, safe water and sanitation, emergency relief, and more. This work is made possible by your support. Our church has made record donations of $1200;  we hope we can do as well this year. Please return all boxes to the UU-United Nations Office table in Fellowship Hall on Nov. 4 or 11. If  you have any questions or concerns, please refer them to Marietta Tanner, Envoy at Mariettan@aol.com.

Register for Nov. 17 Allyship Workshop As part of our congregation's Live the Pledge campaign to end racism, UUCA is hosting another racial justice Allyship Workshop, facilitated by the local nonprofit, Service Never Sleeps. Over 200 UUCAers have already taken this training. Now it’s your turn. This workshop will teach you about the causes of racial injustice, how to be an effective ally for marginalized communities of color, and how to actively influence and educate others. More information and sign up here. UUCA contact Alex Ziehm, Alexandraziehm92@gmail.com. Date: Saturday, November 17, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Location: Activity Room Buckingham Helpers Need help with yard work or house cleaning?  Buckingham workers offer many services, such as mulching, moving furniture, and raking leaves.  A Buckingham cook  can lend a hand at your next open house or dinner party. To fill out a request form, visit the Buckingham Outreach table in Fellowship Hall after Sunday services.  For more  information contact Nancy Hall, nancyrhall@hotmail.com.

Joint Kol Ami and UUCA Book Study Group Congregants from UUCA and Kol Ami are meeting regularly on the last Sunday of each month at 7 p.m. in the UUCA Chapel to study and discuss books related to Israel and Palestine. On Sunday, October 28, the discussion will be stories five through eight from Kingdom of Olives and Ash: Writers Confront the Occupation. The book is edited by Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman and contains a collection of true stories by them and 24 other international writers.  Herb Levy of Kol Ami and Allan Kellum of UUCA’s UUJME Chapter are convening the study group. This book study group is open to all from UUCA and Kol Ami who are interested. Questions?Contacts Herb (703-380-3151) or Allan (703-599-2560). Date: Sunday, October 28, 7 p.m. Location: Chapel Buckingham Coat Drive It’s time to clean out our closets for our annual Buckingham coat  drive! Please bring your clean, gently-used men, women, and children’s coats and jackets to church on November 4.  Boxes will be available in the church lobbies. Many of our Buckingham neighbors are unprepared for Arlington winters and very much appreciate your donations.   Date: Sunday, November 4 Location: Upper & Lower lobbies

Music Ministry

NEW Inter-Generational Choir Sings Our new inter-generational choir will sing on Sunday, November 11. This choir is open to all ages and abilities and offers fun community-building opportunities without the commitment to attend regular rehearsals. Join us for same-day rehearsal (of a easy-to-learn piece) on Sunday, November 11, at 10:30 a.m. And, then we sing at the 11 a.m. service. Questions? Contact Mimi Bornstein, MimiB@uucava.org. Date: Sunday, November 11, 10:30 a.m. Location: Sanctuary

Wheel of Life

Condolences to Rosemarie and Ernie Wilcox on the death of Rosemarie's brother, Vincent Antonacchio, on October 17.  Our condolences to Stan Degler and family on the death of his granddaughter, Lily Regina Durgin.

NEW newsletter deadline: Connections deadline for submissions is EACH Monday at noon with publication on Wednesday. See below on how to submit an announcement.

How to submit an announcement to UUCA's Connections newsletter:   Deadline is noon each Monday. 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 ‌ ‌