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

Sunday, February 3, 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. "Peering into the Future" Sermon by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley, Interim Senior Minister It often feels to me these days that we are simply hunkering down and getting through our days, protecting ourselves from what new scary thing might come. Is it possible for us to create the kind of spacious imagination that we need to really envision a different future? Can we allow ourselves to dream about a new day?

Our Worship Associate is Betsy Rosenblatt Rosso. Our friends from Zion Church in Landover, Md., will take part in our music. Zion's choir vocal director, Charles Brown, will be leading us in music. Also joining Charles is Richard Cunningham on piano, Nicholas Cunningham on bass, and Roderic Rubin on drums. Parking: Just a reminder that we have parking at the Mason's lot and Arlington Hall Park (off of 4th Street S) each Sunday morning. If you are able-bodied, please park in these lots so we are more welcoming to visitors and those with mobility issues. A map is here. Livestream

Upcoming Services

February 10, 9:15 & 11:15 a.m. "Gratitude as Theology" - Sermon by Rev. Dr. Kate Walker. UUCA and Mt. Vernon UU ministers are doing a pulpit swap on February 10. Be sure to join us in welcoming Rev. Dr. Kate Walker. Rev. Kate is also a Unitarian Universalist Association Regional Transitions Coach; serving as UUCA's ministerial advisor to our Ministerial Search Committee. February 17, 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. “The Holiness of the Heart’s Affections” – Sermon by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley. February 24, 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. “Don’t Think of a Minister” – Sermon by Rev. Keith Kron, Unitarian Universalist Association Transitions Director. He will also facilitate the Beyond Categorical Thinking workshop on Saturday. See below. More details on upcoming services here.

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)

Church Matters

Will the new minister hear me? Will the minister understand my needs? Will I be able to relate to our new minister?   In answering these questions, a picture of the “ideal minister” (categorized by age, gender, gender identity, nationality, physical ability, race, and sexual orientation) may come to mind—and it can be easy to unintentionally exclude individuals who don’t match this picture. At times, as we get caught up in comparing candidates to our “picture,” we can even forget what it is we hoped for in a minister to begin with.   On February 23, UUCA will participate in the Beyond Categorical Thinking workshop facilitated by UUA Transitions Director Rev. Keith Kron, and focused on recognizing and removing unconscious bias, promoting inclusive thinking, and preventing unfair discrimination during our congregation’s search for a new minister. The workshop will be customized for our congregation and will also include discussions of case studies and situations that have occurred at other UU churches.    The Beyond Categorical Thinking workshop is an opportunity for everyone in our congregation to become part of the search for a new minister early on in the process and your participation will inform the Ministerial Search Committee's efforts going forward!   The Ministerial Search Committee will provide free lunch following the workshop. Childcare will be provided. Questions? Contact uuca2020search@gmail.com. RSVP here .   Date: Saturday, February 23, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Location: Sanctuary

Mid-Year Report Meeting Please join members of the Board, ministers, and committee and task force chairs for a Mid-Year Report meeting on Saturday, Feb. 16 from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. This will be the time to get updates on church programs (including the musical program and religious education), building safety, and social justice efforts (including the 8th Principle), along with an update from the Ministerial Search Committee and an introduction to the Appreciative Inquiry process we’ll be starting on March 10. Plus the Governance Task Force will discuss what they’ve been learning in their look at how our church is governed and want input from you. And there will be a chance for your questions. We know the holiday weekend can be tough for people so there will be a written summary coming out afterward but we hope those who are able attend. Date: Saturday, February 16, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Location: TBA

UUCA Nominating Committee Gearing up for 2019 Did you know that our church governance has a nominating committee charged with finding and creating a slate for congregation approval for certain church leaders? We're a five-member team that looks to not only identify leaders but also develop and provide leadership resources for our Beloved Community.   Stay tuned for information about nominating yourself for certain open positions this year and to serve as a delegate to the General Assembly in Spokane, Washington this June. In the meantime, please feel free to contact any of us with any questions.   In fellowship,   Elizabeth Fuchs (Chair), elizabethmetzfuchs@gmail.com Josh Mohr (Vice Chair), joshmohr@gmail.com Paula Bendl Smith, paulabendlsmith@yahoo.com Nancy Hyde, narmadillo01@gmail.com James Tsai, jttsai@gmail.com

Lifespan Religious Education

Parents of Infants and Preschoolers (PIP) Come connect with and find support among other families with young children through playdates and other fun activities! Our next events: Meet-and-greet between services Sunday, February 3, 10:30-11:15 - Room 7 Playdate Saturday, February 23, 3:30-5:30 (location TBA soon!)  Visit the PIP Facebook group or contact Vanessa Chang, vms5q@yahoo.com or Jennifer Bhartiya, jenniferbhartiya@gmail.com, to join the email list.

Chili Cook-Off THANK YOU! Thank you so much to everyone who made chili for last Sunday's Chili Cook-Off and to everyone who ate chili and donated in support of our Youth service trips! We raised over $1,400! Your support provides two scholarships for youth to work in partnership with the Appalachian South Folklife Center in West Virginia or one scholarship for youth to work aiding Hopi elders in Northern Arizona via Sumi Nungwa. These service trips give youth a chance to live out our UU values, build community with local people in these areas, and develop leadership skills. Our beloved community makes this happen. Thank you! We look forward to next year’s Chili Cook-Off and more multigenerational community events to come in 2019! -- Julia Peterson, Youth Coordinator This year's winners: Best Name: Not Haggis (#12) - Will Parker-Simkin People’s Choice, Vegetarian: Mama’s Freestyle 24-Karat Magic Chili (#1) - Laurel MacLaren People’s Choice, Meat: Cinnamon Chili (#21)- Lisa Peterson Youth Judges’ Choice, Meat: 1st Place: Chili Chili Bang Bang (#25)- Rony Mohram 2nd Place: White Bean Chicken Chili (#28)- Phillip Johnson 3rd Place: Chili and Grits (#24)- Bob Blinn Youth Judges’ Choice, Vegetarian: 1st Place: Mama’s Freestyle 24-Karat Magic Chili (#1)- Laurel MacLaren 2nd Place: Can to Pan Deerless Beerless Peerless Chili (#8)- Annie Parker 3rd Place: Stir It Up Sweet Potato Run Coconut Chili (#4)- Shari Lewis Runner-Ups for Best Name included Antofagasta, Chili and Food for the Seoul (Korean-inspired Chili).

Adult Ed Workshop Conflict Transformation While conflict can be scary and divisive, it is also possible for conflict, when approached in a healthy manner, to be an opportunity for growth and learning. Rev. Terasa is trained in the approach of “Conflict Transformation” that assumes that conflict is not something that can be “managed” so much as processed in a way that can be transformative. This method has been used in contexts such as the South Africa Truth and Reconciliation process, and in peace negotiations in Ireland. We will explore our own personal responses to conflict, look at what brain science has to teach us, examine system theories, and practice ways in which groups can create opportunities for healthy conversations. Check here for registration.  Date: Saturday, February 9, 1 to 4 p.m. Location: Activity Room

More RE NEWS

Wheel of Life

Our condolences to Roberta and Mike Fox on the death of Roberta’s brother, John Cooper. Our condolences to Gail and Eric Siddle on the death of Gail’s sister, Nan Mitchell.

Congratulations to Kelly Perry and Matt Hyland and big brother Max on the birth of Jackson on Friday.

Music Ministry

Children Choirs Rehearse this Sunday Chalice Choir (K-4th grade) will have rehearsals this Sunday, February 3, 10:30-11:05 a.m. and the TrUUbadours (5-6th grade) will rehearse at 12:30-1 p.m. All children are welcome to join in. Questions? Contact Dana Cook, danadcook@gmail.com.

Chalice Theatre is presenting The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family--a man her parents have never met. And if that wasn't upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he's never done before--keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday's boyfriend and his parents.   Performances: Fridays: Feb. 22, March 1, March 8 @ 7:30 p.m. Saturdays: Feb. 23, March 2, March 9 @ 7:30 p.m. Matinees: Sunday, Feb. 24, March 3 & Saturday, March 9 @ 3:00 p.m.   Tickets on sale in Fellowship Hall this Sunday and online here.

UUCA Handbells Perform For Area Audiences UUCA’s handbell choirs had a busy December holiday season! Polymnia performed for Sunday services on December 9 at Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church (AUUC), in Burke, Virginia. Joining Polymnia were Bob Kline and Elaine Mills, who accompanied the choir on several musical pieces. Polymnia also led the “For All Ages” portion of the service, introducing the children in the AUUC congregation to handbells and handchimes. Rev. Linda Olson Peebles, minister emeritus of UUCA is currently serving as interim minister at AUUC.

Polymnia, along with UUCA’s intermediate handbell choir, Crescendo, then performed for residents of Culpepper Garden on Tuesday, December 18. It has become a UUCA handbell choir tradition to visit Culpepper Garden during the holiday season. Residents look forward to the intimate concert and visiting with choir members. The evening was capped off with a “ring and sing along,” where residents ring a handbell or handchime and sing holiday carols. Culpepper Gardens is a retirement community started as a partnership between UUCA, volunteers, community leaders, and others, that provides high-quality, affordable housing, services, and programs for lower-income seniors. At its final handbell performance of the year, UUCA’s handbells rang during the afternoon Christmas Eve service before taking a much deserved break. Polymnia is next scheduled to ring at UUCA Sunday services on February 10. If your interested in any of our bell choirs or have questions, please contact Ken Bissell, ken.bissell@uucava.org.

Winter Recital & Birthday Celebration The musically gifted and talented Mulligan family is celebrating Dorothy at 94 years young with a music recital! Three generations will perform. Everyone is welcome to come enjoy and celebrate! (Dorthy's BD is Feb. 14!) Date: Saturday, February 9, 5 p.m. Location: Center Gallery

Capital Area Bluegrass and Old-time Music Association Jam Comes to UUCA The new year brings "new" old-time music to UUCA! CABOMA jams are now being held here at UUCA on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, from 2:00-6:00 p.m. Anyone interested in CABOMA is welcome to come and visit and/or participate in a jam. At most jams, you will find a wide range of music skill levels, from beginners to professional musicians. We encourage participants to bring and play traditional, acoustic bluegrass and old-time music instruments. For more information on CABOMA, visit www.caboma.org. Date: Sundays, February 10 & 24, 2-6 p.m. Location: Parlor and Rooms 14, 16 

Congregational Life

February Day Alliance Meeting Legacy Fund Discussion followed by Talk on the Latest Treatments for Psychiatric Conditions With Fuad Issa, M.D. The February 12 Day Alliance meeting begins early at 10:30 a.m. when the UUCA Legacy Committee discusses the church legacy fund and answers any questions you might have. Our guest speaker, Fuad Issa, M.D., will begin his talk at 11:00 a.m. Dr. Issa is a psychiatrist and clinical professional at George Washington University Hospital. His talk covers a successful treatment for some resistant psychiatric conditions. Dr. Issa is currently involved in research involving Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)--a technique where high-frequency electrical impulses are applied to a specific brain region. He will explain the procedure and share remarkable patient successes. Please plan on staying after the talk for fellowship and a catered lunch. Watch for lunch sign-ups in next week's newsletter. Date: Tuesday, February 12, 10:30 a.m.; Legacy Talk. 11 a.m.; Guest Speaker; 12 p.m. Catered Lunch. Location: Center Gallery

First Sunday Humanist Hour Honors Black History Month We will honor Black History Month with several readings of the works of noted black authors, artists and activists. We will also discuss the issues of reparations raised by Michael Eric Dyson in his book Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America. Dyson provides a list of practical suggestions for reparations. The question posed to all who attend will be: What can we do? Please join in the discussion! Next month the discussion centers on Women's History Month. Date: Sunday, February 3, 9:15 a.m. Location: Chapel Safety in Houses of Worship Special Training Arlington County Police Corporal Elizabeth Lennon and her team will present Safety in Houses of Worship at UUCA Sunday, February 17. All are invited to attend. Those who serve in leadership and/or volunteer roles at UUCA on Sunday mornings are especially encouraged to participate. Questions can be directed to Annie@uucava.org. Dates: Sunday, February 17, 12:30–2:00 p.m. Location: Sanctuary

Faith in Action

Share-the-Plate February 3: EcoAction Arlington This week's STP offerings will be shared with EcoAction Arlington (formerly Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment). EcoAction Arlington promotes stewardship of our natural resources and practical solutions to sustainable lifestyles in order to protect water, air, and open spaces in Arlington. They provide environmental education to Arlington’s students and community and engages volunteers in protecting Arlington’s natural resources. Their work is local, community-based and makes a difference by empowering individuals with resources, training, and opportunities to collaborate leading to more sustainable lifestyle choices. EcoAction Arlington directly improves our air quality, mitigates the carbon footprint of Arlington families, reduces pollution into the Chesapeake Bay, improves wildlife habitat, beautifies Arlington’s parks, and grows our environmental stewards of tomorrow. Donations are accepted for each week's STP recipient through the following Saturday at midnight. Make  online donations here .

Electric Guitar in Hiding? The school that UUCA supports in Guatemala expressed interest in obtaining a used electric guitar and amplifier for its nascent music program. Do you have an electric guitar hiding in your attic, basement, or garage in working order that you would be interested in donating? Our delegation will be traveling to Guatemala in February to visit the school, we can assess at that time if their interest continues and make the offer of the instrument if we know we have one available. If your young Buddy (or Betty) Holly ended up being a Mark Zuckerberg or Cheryl Sandberg instead, maybe you have this instrument hanging around. Let Bruce Rieder know at brieder@comcast.net.

Energizing Social Justice at UUCA 2nd Annual Social Justice Breakfast What’s happening at UUCA with social justice? What do we need to be doing? How can we energize ourselves and our dedication to social justice here and throughout the world?   Breakfast at UUCA on Saturday, February 9 is a good way to tackle these questions and jump-start our individual and collective efforts.  Walter Clark, Ministerial Assistant, will facilitate; attendees will share our ideas about visions and actionable missions; together we will build plans for concrete actions to empower UUCA’s commitment and explore how we can partner to strengthen our UUCA social justice efforts. So, bring yourself, a friend, and a dish to share on Saturday, February 9, 9 a.m. to noon, UUCA’s Center. For more information contact Walter Clark, WClark@uucava.org. Date: Saturday, February 9, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Location: Center Gallery

8th Principle – Endorsement by Black Lives of UU As part of moving Unitarian Universalism towards a vision of a multi-racial Beloved Community, this week our Task Force highlights the April 2017 “Black Lives of UU Organizing Collective Urges Adoption of 8th Principle in Unitarian Universalism” which reads, in part: “As Black Unitarian Universalists, we acknowledge that while some see our faith as a ‘big tent’ where everyone is welcome, UUs cannot uphold precepts or practices that undermine the worth and dignity of people of color at our common altars…. The maintenance of white supremacy and anti-blackness in particular, whether in the practices of the Association or in the hearts of parishioners, has no place within our faith and must be unequivocally rooted out of our culture…. We wonder why the dismantling of white supremacy, as implicated in the 8th principle, has not been formally included in our covenant as Unitarian Universalists.” Members of UUCA will have the opportunity to vote on whether our church will adopt the 8th Principle on March 31. The next informational meeting is scheduled for Sunday, February 3 after both services in the Board Room. Facebook users will find lots of information on our Facebook page. Please follow us! Date: Sunday, February 3, after both services Location: Board Room

Living the Pledge to End Racism Workshop Whether you have had previous anti-racism training, or have never taken a workshop about racism, this workshop will challenge you to deepen your commitment to work toward dismantling white supremacy. Participants explore the history of racism, the concept of implicit bias, the effects of micro-aggressions, the results of structural and institutional racism, and the contemporary Movement for Black Lives. Methods include readings, personal reflection, small group discussion, role plays, and videos. Facilitated by Jessi Huffman and Ann Ulmschneider. Questions? Contact Ann Ulmschneider, aulmsch@msn.com. Register here. Dates: Six Wednesdays, March 6, 13, 20, 27 & April 4, 10, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Location: TBA

Bridging the Political Divide: Better Angels Red/Blue Workshop “The mark of wisdom is to be able to hold two opposite ideas in your mind at the same time and know them both to be true.” - from Rev. Teresa’s Jan 27 sermon Is it possible to disagree passionately with someone but still accept their beliefs as valid? Can people on opposite sides of the painful issues of our day find shared values beneath all the discord? Come and find out! On March 23, UUCA is hosting a Better Angels workshop that will bring together “Red” (conservative) and “Blue” (progressive) community members for an intense day of facilitated conversations, questions, and mutual exploration. Limited space is still available for participants and observers. To register, click here . If you have questions or would like more information, contact Sarah Yue at alanandsarah@gmail.com . Date: Saturday, March 23, 9:30 a.m. -5 p.m. Location: Activity Room

Register Today! Peace Camp 2019: June 24-July 5

Help your child explore a path to peace in a unique and enriching summer camp program--Peace Camp. Campers (ages 5-14) explore cooperation and conflict resolution in a safe and supportive environment. At Peace Camp, campers discover that peace begins with them.  Campers can attend both weeks or just one. Registration is now open here.   Week 1: Mon 6/24 to Fri. 6/28 Week 2: Mon. 7/1 to Fri. 7/5, except Thurs. 7/4 Peace Camp is a partnership between UUCA Peace Ministry and Little Friends for Peace.

VOICE in Richmond: Progress So Far Important lawmaking is underway in our state legislature right now, and we, as nonpartisan leaders in VOICE (Virig, are influencing it. Two weeks ago a dozen VOICE leaders from UUCA spent a day with delegates and senators from our region, reminding them of VOICE's energetic (180,000-families strong) support for pending bills to end the criminalization of poverty through driver's license revocation for failure to pay court fines, to expand students' access to mental health and counseling in schools, and to greatly enlarge the state's affordable housing trust fund. Most of our own region's lawmakers are on board with these reforms, some are leading them, and all of them filled us in on strategies and prospects.   For now, we are happy to report that the driver's license bill has just passed in the senate, something many believe could not have happened in recent years. Senator Ebbin is pushing for innovative ways to fund school counselor expansion, and Delegate Lopez is aiming for $60 million for the housing fund with the expectation that it will end up with at least $30 million. The governor and attorney general are fully supportive.  There is much still to learn, and many lawmakers told us they expect truly deep reforms to be passed after the next election and are now working to build a consensus for it.   Our next VOICE Richmond trip will be on February 8 . To learn more, or find a way to pitch in, stop by the VOICE table after services or contact Pat Findikoglu, patfindikoglu@gmail.com , or David McTaggart, dmctagg@gmail.com .

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 ‌ ‌