Thursday, November 22, 2018
The Coming Week
Wednesday, November 28

Nourishing Souls Community Café. Love to try new foods and move to new rhythms and song? Ready to celebrate the unknown? Please join us for an evening of improvisation while cooking and musically! We begin in the kitchen with our version of "Chopped – Leftovers Night." Bring an ingredient or two and watch our Improv Chefs prepare a meal for the attendees out of it! After dinner, bring your instrument or voice to make music! Improv night at its best! All are welcome! Wed., Nov. 28, 6:00 pm, dining room.

Saturday, December 1

Restorative Justice Training. The practice of building the beloved community requires us all to learn new tools for communication and conflict resolution. Join the Committee on Right Relations’ next workshop about Nonviolent Communication & Restorative Justice, led by Tarek Farouk Maassarani and Eli MacCarthy of the DC Peace Team. All are welcome! RSVP to Kyla Dixon (401-527-1280; ascu.crr@gmail.com). 10:00 am – 3:00 pm.

Sunday, December 2

About All Souls . Introduction to the church and Unitarian Universalism. After first service only, Longfellow Room.

Mindful Souls provides an opportunity to meet in community regularly at the church for meditation, followed by discussion led by congregants or others from our broader DC community. We welcome all who wish to attend. Every Sunday, 11:00 am, Longfellow; 1:00 pm, classroom 2.

Congregational lunch. After second service, Pierce Hall.

Annual congregational meeting . Participate in the governing of your church. 1:15 pm (after lunch), sanctuary.

New Congress: New Opportunities for Social Justice — A Conversation with Representative Jamie Raskin (MD 8). Join us for a reception and fundraiser to support UUSJ’s Federal-level advocacy work. Rep. Raskin, an emerging national political figure with minority leadership positions on both the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees, will comment on opportunities for social justice advocacy in the new Congressional term. Open to all, not just UUs, so invite friends and family motivated by midterm elections, Supreme Court nominations, the Poor People’s Campaign, Families Belong Together, or climate justice. Light refreshments served. Tickets are $75 (includes one free drink). Purchase tickets here . Sun., Dec. 2, 4:30 - 6:30 pm, River Road UU Congregation (6301 River Road, Bethesda MD).
Rachmaninoff Vespers
The Holidays at All Souls
Join us this holiday season to deepen your spirit, find peace, and cultivate joy and generosity.
In addition to a three-sermon series by Rev. Hardies called Simple Gifts, this season features the Rachmaninoff Vespers, holiday caroling, the children’s pageant, Solstice, our Christmas Eve celebrations, and more. Please join us!

Graceful Fall. Rev. Parker. Sun., Nov. 25, services at 9:30 and 11:15 am . Mary Oliver writes, “Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?” The fleeting nature of life comes to us keenly in the fall. Does anything abide? How can we live meaningfully if everything passes away? And yet, we give thanks.

The Sound of Silence: Simple Gifts I . Rev. Hardies. Sun., Dec. 2, services at 9:30 and 11:15 am . The first in a three-sermon holiday series called Simple Gifts, focusing successively on the spiritual gifts of silence, breath, and darkness. The silence speaks to us. But we can’t receive its life-giving message until first we listen. Bring unwrapped gifts for La Clinica del Pueblo’s Christmas collection.

Rachmaninoff Vespers . Wed., Dec. 5, doors open at 6:30, vespers service begins at 7:30 pm . The All Souls Choir presents a unique vespers experience, featuring Sergei Rachmaninoff’s choral masterpiece, the All-Night Vigil. Vespers begins at 7:30 pm, and is preceded by open tea service, a labyrinth walk, and individual anointing/blessing with oils and herbs for those who wish to partake. All are invited to stay for yoga nidra (sleep yoga) immediately following the performance.

When I Breathe In: Simple Gifts II . Rev. Hardies. Sun., Dec. 9, services at 9:30 and 11:15 am . Our breath is the one spiritual teacher that accompanies us from birth to death. How do we harness the power of our own breath to calm us, center us, and call us back to the source of life? Bring unwrapped gifts for La Clinica del Pueblo’s Christmas collection.

December Vespers . Wed., Dec. 12, service at 7:30 pm . Take a break from the holiday frenzy and join us for our mid-week contemplative service of silence, prayer and chant.

The All Souls Christmas Pageant . Sun., Dec. 16, services at 9:30 and 11:15 am . On this Sunday, Rev. Hardies will be joined by the children of the church to tell a very special story set to some very special music. An All Souls tradition. Register your children here to be part of the pageant (bit.ly/2zjRqER). There is a mandatory rehearsal on Sat. Dec. 15 from 9:30 am to 12:00 noon. Bring unwrapped gifts for La Clinica del Pueblo’s Christmas collection.

Holiday Caroling in Columbia Heights . Mon., Dec. 17, meet in Pierce Hall at 6:00 pm . Spread some holiday cheer in our neighborhood! Join musicians from the choirs for caroling throughout Columbia Heights, then come back to Pierce Hall for hot chocolate. All ages are welcome.

Night Vision: Simple Gifts III . Rev. Hardies. Sun., Dec. 23, services at 9:30 and 11:15 am . The winter solstice marks the longest night of the year. The darkness has much to teach about hope and fear, but first we must learn to see in the dark.
Christmas Eve at All Souls . Mon., Dec. 24 .

Family Candlelight Service . 7:00 pm . Our early Christmas service is designed especially for families with young children—as well as the young at heart of all ages! This year features a dramatic reading of a classic Christmas story. The Jubilee Singers and Children’s Choir will sing. Don’t forget to bring a bell to ring every time we sing Alleluia.

Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols . 10:00 pm . Join Rev. Hardies and the All Souls Choir in welcoming Christmas into the world and into our hearts during this candlelit service of lessons and carols. Don’t forget to bring a bell to ring every time we sing Alleluia.

Watchnight . Rev. Braxton. Sun., Dec. 30, one service only at 10:15 am . Looking back into historical time, African American communities approached the New Year with a sense of awe, reverence, and wonder, not knowing what the future would bring. Today our country is in a Watchnight moment, and we explore the sustaining spiritual and religious traditions of the past in our own faithful present.

Congregational Trustee and Officer Nominees
The Leadership Development and Nominating Committee (LDNC) is pleased to introduce the nominees for congregational trustee and officer positions for 2019:
  • Libbie Buchele, nominee for trustee
  • Tehani Collazo, nominee for trustee
  • Nadine Ramos, nominee for trustee
  • Mike Hill, nominee for co-moderator
  • Mark Regulinski, nominee for treasurer
  • Carrie Davidson, nominee for secretary
Visit www.all-souls.org/ldnc to read about the nominees and come by our table during coffee hour on November 11 and November 18 to meet them. And mark your calendar to attend the December 2 Congregational Annual Meeting, where we’ll vote to fill these positions.
Covenant Groups
NEW GROUP: The Rock Creek Covenant Group will be a welcoming space for all who want to take time to connect with others and explore spirituality and community. We will explore the monthly themes provided by the church to guide our discussions. This group will focus on how our spirituality can guide us through these challenging times and how we can build community to support each other in our development. We’ll meet twice a month on Tuesday evenings; first meeting on Nov. 27 at 7:00 in the organizer’s home near Rock Creek Park. Contact Kristina Solum ( kristinasolum@gmail.com ) for address or details.

NEW GROUP: Being the Change will focus on the rewards and frustrations of justice-seeking work for social change. Whether social change is part of your job, personal life, or future aspirations, and whether your focus is the international, national, local, or individual level, attention to social justice inevitably affects our outlook on the world. This group provides the opportunity to explore the themes in the church’s monthly discussion guides with other people sharing a commitment to making this world a better place through any number of different paths and areas of concern. The group will meet one Monday evening per month, initially at the organizer’s home near Union Station and then possibly rotating among the homes of members that would like to host. Contact David Super ( newfsman@outlook.com ) to connect with this group.

OPEN MEETING 1st Tuesday. TNG has had a hard time coming up with a name. Our common thread is that we don’t have a common thread. Some are in our 30s, some in our 60s, and others everything in-between; some identify as female and some as male; some work full-time office jobs, some work outside the box, and some are retired. We’re people of color, and we’re white. The list goes on. Actually, we do have a lot in common. We all value connection, fellowship, and friendship. We like learning new things, or even just seeing new sides of what we thought were old issues. We all strive to be good listeners, and at some point, we’ve all taken risks as we’ve opened up to the group about ourselves and our ups and downs. We are all committed to keeping a covenant with one another so that we can support, encourage, and love each other through the coming days, weeks, and months. Oh, and we get together every first and third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm in Adams Morgan. That’s something you can say about all of us, too. Contact Anne Hopewell ( annemrh@aol.com ).

OPEN MEETING always. At the Poetry and Journaling covenant group , we love words. We use a portion of our time together to share poems or journal entries that we have written on the month’s theme. If writing is part of your spiritual practice or you would like it to be, we would love to welcome you to our meetings. Open to all comers, any time! Saturday mornings, once a month, Columbia Heights. Contact Mary Beth Hatem ( nicamarybeth@yahoo.com ).
Opportunities
Support the UUSJ . UUs from across the country look to those of us in the national capital area to be an important presence on the ground, to stand for UU values at national rallies and in the halls of Congress. Help UUSJ meet that need, and ask your friends and family in government service, including retirees, to support CFC #17271. Deadline is January 11, 2019. 

Clinic Escort Training. Want to help promote peaceful and safe access to women’s health clinics in the DC Area? The Reproductive Justice Initiative is partnering with the Washington Area Clinic Defense Task Force to organize a clinic escort training for the All Souls Community sometime in early 2019. If you are interested in participating, please reach out to Danielle Garrett ( laurendgarrett@gmail.com ). All genders welcome!

The Refugee Support Initiative is gearing up for a very active 2019. Please stop by our table in Pierce Hall to learn more about our upcoming activities and volunteer. If you’d like to assist with ongoing projects, here are some of RSI’s current needs:
  • One of our partner organizations, the Refugee Action Network (RAN), is looking for advice related to its organizational structure, fundraising activities, recruitment, and substantive projects. If you have experience in assisting nonprofit organizations with these types of issues, RAN could use your help. Contact Beni Luzau (luzbas@gmail.com).
  • As you know, All Souls has been assisting Ronnie Huete Salgado, a human rights journalist from Honduras who recently was granted asylum in the U.S. Ronnie recently received his work authorization along with his status as an asylee. He is also receiving limited public benefits and is looking for a job. Ronnie is also enrolled in an intensive English program where he is taking classes five hours per day, Monday through Friday. If you are aware of any job openings (for a journalist or any type of work) for a person who is available in the afternoon and evening and speaks mostly Spanish, please let us know. If you can contribute funds to help cover Ronnie’s monthly tuition in his English program your help would be greatly appreciated.
Please contact Laurie Ensworth ( lensworth@verizon.net ) with any assistance.

Right Relations. The practice of building the beloved community requires us all to learn new tools for communication and conflict resolution. Join the Committee on Right Relations’ next workshop about Nonviolent Communication & Restorative Justice, led by Tarek Farouk Maassarani and Eli MacCarthy of the DC Peace Team. All are welcome! RSVP to Kyla Dixon (401-527-1280; ascu.crr@gmail.com ). Sat., Dec. 1, 11 am – 3 pm, Eaton Room. 

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