Connections Newsletter
All the news you need to know to connect, grow, and serve.
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Sunday, April 15, 9:15 and 11:15 a.m.
The Faith to Emerge
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It’s not just baby chicks and tender greens that emerge. We can too, and faith is what allows us to do so. Perspectives from Buddhist teacher Sharon Salzberg, former President Jimmy Carter, author Dennis von Drehle, feminist Sharon Welch—oh, and a story about the wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara—all come together in this service as we explore faith and emergence in our own congregation in this very season.
Diane Ullius and
David McTaggart lead the way.
Maya Rogers,
Mimi Bornstein, and
Sophia Morreale keep a song in our hearts.
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Sunday, April 15, 2018: Service Never Sleeps
Starting this Sunday, April 15 through Saturday, April 21, midnight, all funds donated to Share the Plate will go to one of UUCA's social justice partners,
Service Never Sleeps.
As part of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington’s (UUCA) Live the Pledge commitment to work to end racism–UUCA is partnering with Service Never Sleeps. SNS is a nonprofit in Arlington dedicated to their signature workshop called “Allyship.”
Allyship is about moving people to a new paradigm of thinking about privilege and marginalized communities. Allyship promotes the idea that we can be bridge-builders who work together, and support each other toward the common purpose of ensuring equality, equity, and inclusion for everyone.
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Share the Plate Update
Last Sunday we specified that the next 11 Sunday plate offerings would go to our partner organizations. The first week was the
Dream Project and we were honored to have Emma and Lizette with us between services to talk about their programs. The total collected was $2,562 with 70 percent going to the organization and 30 percent supporting UUCA’s mission to connect, grow and serve. The goal communicated was $7,276, so we fell short of this goal. That puts us $4,714 short of where we would like to be in supporting this amazing organization. We have miracle Sunday on June 24 to make up the shortfall or you can still make a donation through Saturday of this week.
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Next Sunday, April 22, 2018
All Church Celebration: Earth Day and Flower Communion
Earth Day, begun 48 years ago, is now celebrated on April 22 in over 100 countries throughout the world. This year we will share stories, songs, and UUCA’s annual Flower Communion which we’re doing a little later this year in hopes that many of us will have blooms in our yards to bring. The Flower Communion Service, originated by the Rev. Norbert F. Capek in Czechoslovakia in 1923, is perhaps the most widely‑celebrated ritual in Unitarian Universalist congregations today. In the spring or early summer, most of our congregations devote a Sunday to this festive participatory service which celebrates both the earth's beauty and humanity's oneness. Its simplicity and universality make it meaningful for us all. Each person brings a flower to contribute at the beginning of the service and received another flower to take home at the end of the service. All except our youngest children will worship together in the Sanctuary this Sunday, so please bring a flower for each member of your family. Extra flowers will be on hand if you have no access or forget, so don’t let a lack of flowers keep you away. As we remind ourselves to care for the earth, let’s experience the beauty of her bounty together.
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Democracy at UUCA
On March 24, Board members met Rev. David Pyle, our Central East Region subject matter expert on large church governance. Rev. Pyle briefed the Board on his review of our Bylaws and Board Policies. The Board is committed to an open and honest review of UUCA’s governance and management structure including the role of a Senior Minister within our policy-based system. We will be reaching out to congregants all members as we move forward. For more information see our
Board Update (
here
), in the Sunday's Order of Service, or ask any Board member.
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Budget Meetings for FY2018-19
This Saturday
Tamara Srader, Acting Executive and Chief Administrative Officer, will hold the last of six open budget meetings for the fiscal year 2018-19. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. The topic: Draft Budget.
Date: Saturday April 14, 1-2:15 p.m.
Location: Fellowship Hall
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UUCA Moves to Adopt 8th Principle
Thank you to everyone who attended the 8th principle town hall meeting last Thursday. Last year at the UUA General Assembly,
a call was made to adopt an 8th Principle. The 8th Principle would focus on anti-racism work as part of journeying toward spiritual wholeness. To date, three UU churches in the United States have adopted the new principle, and UUCA is on a mission to do the same.
Last Thursday's town hall was a great start to the conversation. Many signed the petition supporting the 8th principle or signed up to be part of the 8th principle task force. The task force will work towards getting the principle adopted at UUCA and then hold us accountable.
If you weren’t able to attend the town hall but are interested in signing the petition or being part of the 8th principle task force, please
sign up here. For questions, please contact
Becky Ross,
beckyross222@gmail.com.
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How Can I Keep from Singing?
By Mimi Bornstein, Director of Music Ministry
My life flows on in endless song
above earth’s lamentation.
I hear a real though far of hymn
that hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing.
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?
This is one of my favorite hymns. Besides having a beautiful melody, the lyrics use singing and music as analogies for finding the divine loving energy that is always available to us. These words remind us that there is always loving energy urging us to keep on keepin’ on even in the midst of our pain, struggle and confusion.
My life flows on in endless song above earth’s lamentation…. Even when we may get tripped up in the day-to-day tasks, there is still a flow and an order that we may not see but can trust is there.
Read more >
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Lifespan Religious Education
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Get excited for UUCA Maker Night!
Children (K-6th) accompanied by a parent or guardian are invited to explore hands-on maker activities that bring together the arts and crafts, technology, electronics, and multimedia! Pizza will be served, too. Check out the
Maker Night flyer here
.
Date: Saturday, April 14, 5-8 p.m.
Location: RE Class Rooms
PIP Playdate
The Parents of Infants and Preschoolers (PIP) are hosting a playdate on April 21 at
Lubber Run Park playground in Arlington (a few blocks north of the church), from 3 to 5 p.m. For more information, please contact
Claire Propsting,
claire.propsting@gmail.com.
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Wellspring Wednesday Classes Begin April 18
Come join your UUCA family and friends for fun and informative evenings that fosters lifelong learning and spiritual growth in beloved community. Childcare provided with RSVP. Dates are April 18-May 23.
A few of the classes to be offered:
- UU Music Workshop w/ Mimi Bornstein and Christin Green
- Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age / A Film Screening
- Prayerful Doodling and Art
- The U in UUism
Complete Wellspring class list with descriptions
here.
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Earth Day “Write Here! Write Now!” — Tell U.S. Senators to help coalfield states
As part of UU Climate Justice Month, on Earth Day (April 22), UUCA will join the nationwide
UU’s for Social Justice’s Write Here! Write Now! letter-writing campaign. UUs across the country will write our U.S. Senators urging them to support the
Reclaim Act release $1 billion in funds to help coalfield communities transition to a sustainable economy and reclaim land and clean up water resources.
UUSJ's Capitol Hill Advocacy Corps will hand-deliver letters on May 8.
Sunday's Write Here, Write Now! this is an opportunity to teach children about where our energy comes from. Tables will be set up for families to write letters together and children can draw pictures on their message.
We need volunteers to help organize this first-time family-friendly event. Contact
Lavona Grow,
advocacy@uusj.org or call 703-524-4860.
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UUSJ Webinars Cover Economic Justice and Healthcare
- Sunday, April 15, 7:00 p.m. ET "Reward Work, Not Wealth" an online discussion with Robert Silverman from Oxfam about global inequality. Oxfam’s recent report “Reward Work, Not Wealth" concluded: “Last year saw the biggest increase in billionaires in history, one more every two days. This huge increase could have ended global extreme poverty seven times over.” We will discuss what has gone wrong and ways to help overcome this growing challenge. For the ZOOM link and additional information, click here.
- Thursday, April 19, 8:00 p.m. ET "What is Health Justice and Inequality?" a webinar with Margaret Flowers, co-founder of PopularResistance.org. The thought of health justice in conjunction with inequality can bring to mind a myriad of issues, from costs of care to access limitations and opportunities. Did the Affordable Care Act “Obamacare” help? Should we protect what we have, or work to improve it? If single-payer is the answer, how do we get it? For the ZOOM link and additional information, click here.
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Earth Month with DIG
Visit the DIG (Do It Green) tables in Fellowship Hall each Sunday this month and join our celebration of Earth Month. We’ll focus on planting natives in your personal space and invasive plant education at the tables. However, we encourage everyone to go for a walk or hike in a park, preserve or forest nearby. In many places, you can see Virginia Bluebells, Mertensia virginiana; Spring beauty, Claytonia virginica; and Spiderwort, Tradescantia virginiana (pictured).
Correction from last week: The small phlox growing near the Peace Poll is Moss Phlox, Phlox subulata.
Mark your calendars:
- DIG planning meeting, Wednesday, April 18, 3 p.m. Volunteer Room.
- All-Church Workday, Saturday, April 21, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Help plant flowers and shrubs, pick up trash, or spread mulch.
- Audubon at Home Speaker, Wednesday, May 9, 7 p.m. Explore ways to make your home and neighborhood more bird-friendly. Part of the Wellspring Wednesday program.
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The Interdependent Web in UUCA's Backyard
The ground around our faith community building was, of course, here long before we were. Its harmony and balance displayed the interdependent web of all existence. It was home to ancestors of the birds, squirrels and deer we still see. First Families harvested its “free groceries” in every season, nuts, berries, bark and roots. Even after European farms and roads pushed them out, the flora and fauna remained on what would become our corner. An un-civil war took down every tree. Reconstruction was slow but steady. Arlington began being an actual place. More people joined the deer and squirrels and the returning forest. During the Second World War, gasoline rationing led to the beginning of UUCA. Its growth brought us to our present physical footprint. What remains of the outside web is highly prized. A team of volunteers joins with the forces of Nature every second Thursday and fourth Saturday. We “Do It Green,” calling ourselves DIG for short. More volunteers are needed.
A special church-wide work day has been called for Saturday, April 21. Come honor Mother Earth by walking among the trees and flowers. Come help plant new flowers and shrubs, pick up trash, or spread mulch.
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VOICE Supports Affordable Housing @ Arlington Budget Hearing
Arlington is proud of its inclusiveness, but too many of our hardworking teachers, healthcare workers, childcare providers, and service personnel can no longer afford to live here. So when Saif Rahman, Iliana Burgos, Daniela Londono, and Regina Richards spoke at the Arlington County Budget Committee’s public hearing on April 3, at least ten
VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement) members literally stood behind them.
Rahman of the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center spoke eloquently on behalf of the Muslim families he serves. The women shared their struggles to continue serving the city they love amid rising housing costs, and beseeched the committee to increase funding for affordable housing.
Londono, who works with the Northern Virginia Latino Civil Rights Organization, and Burgos, a student nurse at Virginia Hospital Center, commute hundreds of miles a week to work in Arlington. Richards, an assistant teacher with Arlington Public Schools, pays over 60% of her salary on rent. Richards has lived in the once-segregated Hall’s Hill neighborhood her entire life. Now she is afraid she will be forced to move.
“Isn’t it ironic,” Richards asked the committee, “that as black people we were squeezed into Hall’s Hill, where now million dollar homes are going up, and we are being squeezed out?”
VOICE will continue its advocacy for these residents until the final decision is made April 20. To get involved or for more information on VOICE, contact Sarah Tascone,
sarahtascone@gmail.com.
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MoonFire Celtic Beltane Ritual
Please join MoonFire this Sunday, April 15 at 1:30 p.m., for an ancient Celtic-inspired ritual celebrating Beltane, a time to honor the re-emergence of life after the seeming barrenness of winter. We will hear the wedding story of the Flower Maiden and the Young Summer Lord during a guided meditation, and banish the last remnants of winter's infertile land. Come be purified by the fires of Beltane! For further information on MoonFire, please visit
www.moonfireuuca.org, or contact us at
moonfirecoords@gmail.com.
Date: Sunday, April 15, 1:30 p.m.
Location: Chapel
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Kids Yoga with the Holistic Moms
The Arlington/Alexandria chapter of the Holistic Moms Network meets on the third Thursday of each month at UUCA. Bring your children and join us on Thursday, April 19 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. to learn about and practice Kids Yoga. Yes, it’s possible to connect with your own mind and body and enjoy yoga with your kids at the same time! We’ll be led by children and family yoga teachers Sylvia Cacciato and
Dana Cook (also a UUCA member) for a fun practice and some guidance on how to incorporate yoga into daily life. For more information,
click here.
Date: Thursday, April 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: Activity Room
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Tanner & Teens @UUNO
UUCA member
Marietta Jones Tanner (adult, center) recently attended the Unitarian Universalists United Nations conference in Manhattan. This meeting, held yearly, is a place where teens from UU congregations all over the U.S. and Canada gather to talk about an issue before the world body. The purpose is to have young people lead, hear learned speakers, deliberate and express their conclusions about the issue with UU Principles guiding their decisions.
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Families Building Peace
Children of all ages are welcome to attend the Families Building Peace Together workshop at UUCA on Wednesday evening, April 18, 7-8:15 p.m. For more information on this donation-based workshop for parents and children, contact
MJ Park
at 240-838-4549,
mjpeace@gmail.com
.
Date: Wednesday, April 18, 7-8:15 p.m.
Location: TBA
Peace Camp Golf Fundraiser
UUCA's Peace Ministry Team is happy to announce a Golf Charity Fundraiser for our Peace Camp partner,
Little Friends for Peace. Proceeds will benefit scholarship campers of community partners, including the two weeks of Peace Camp at UUCA.
Golf registration here.
Date: Monday, April 30, Noon
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Voices From The Holy Land Film Series
The annual Voices from the Holy Land film series features the latest documentaries about the Israel-Palestine conflict. UUCA will be one of five venues throughout the DMV to host the series. The next two films featured this
Sunday, April 15, at 2:30 p.m.
are
Thank God It's Friday, a documentary about daily life in the Palestinian village of Nabi Saleh,
and
The Danger of Neutrality,
a talk by Anna Baltzer that discusses why taking a side, not impartiality, is what really helps to resolve conflicts.
Each film will be followed by a moderated discussion with the audience. Additional details on the film series can be found below. Please email
Tracey L. Rogers
,
tracey.lynnelle@gmail.com
, for questions or inquiries.
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Spring Allyship Workshop Registration Open
As part of our congregation's Live the Pledge campaign to end racism, UUCA has partnered with
Service Never Sleeps
to offer a racial justice Allyship training. Over 100 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. This is a natural follow-up to the two-day Live the Pledge to End Racism workshop but is also appropriate for first-timers. More information and
sign up here
.
UUCA contact
Alex Ziehm
,
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African American Book Sharing Circle
Ida: A Sword Among Lions
Ida B. Wells crusaded against lynching in the 1890s while she also was a journalist, newspaper editor, suffragist, teacher, sociologist, feminist, and one of the founders of the NAACP in the early 20th century. Have you ever heard of her? Probably not, so our Sharing Circle is exploring Ida Wells' contributions and life during Reconstruction and Jim Crow America. Paula Giddings' biography
Ida: A Sword Among Lions chronicles Ida B. Wells’ life as well as the culture and history of the times she lived.
Read more >
Date: Friday, April 20, 7:30 p.m.
Location: Welcome Room
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Asylum Seeker's Dinner
The Asylum Seeker's Dinner is being hosted by UUCA on April 21 (sponsored by
Center Global of The DC Center
). This is an annual event that UUCA has hosted to provide a nice dinner to LGBT asylum seekers who have left their home country and seeking refuge in the U.S. If you would like to contribute a dinner item, dessert or drinks please drop your food off at UUCA on
April 21 by 3:00 p.m.
and the hosting team will get it to the venue.
Note: this event is not at UUCA.
Please email
Rhonda Buckner,
rhondab331@gmail.com, to let us know what you will contribute to the potluck. Questions? Contact
Janice Stallard,
stallard@banyanglobal.com.
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There's still time to sign up! Don't miss this amazing opportunity!
Voices United Community Chorus Rehearsals
In an attempt to be more inclusive of all faiths, we want to inform you that we have changed the time of the Voices United Community Chorus rehearsals to Saturdays from 3 to 5 p.m. Due to unavoidable scheduling conflicts, the first three
Saturday rehearsals (April 7 & 14 & 21) will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., but all others will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. All rehearsals will be at UUCA. Registration will remain open through April 21. We hope you will be able to join us! Please
signup using this form.
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Exciting New Exhibition Opening in Center Gallery
Baked Clay/Endless Sky: Celebrating 5 years of Studio Pause
. Artists and writers from Arlington’s Studio Pause use their craft to express the power of PAUSING to share stories and how this practice can ground and expand their lives and communities.
RECEPTION DATE: Please join the artists from Studio Pause on
Sunday, April 15, 4 to 6 p.m., for a reception and reading.
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Mark your calendar: April 29
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Young Adult Divine Reading Group
The Divine Reading Group is a Young Adults Group which 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. It is a place where deep and meaningful introspection occurs, friendships are made, and the very nature of religion is explored. The reading is chapters 3-4 of
A Wrinkle in Time. Questions? Contact
Elisabeth Geschiere,
egeschiere@uucava.org
Date: Thursday, April 12, 7-9 p.m. (Resumes typical schedule on April 19)
Location: Youth Room
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Save Your Books!
If you’re starting to spring clean by cleaning out your bookshelves, please save your unwanted tomes for UUCA’s upcoming book sale. We won’t be collecting books until May (watch Connections for more details as that time approaches) but we wanted you to keep UUCA in mind. Please email
Emily Goodin,
emgoodin@gmail.com with any questions and/or offers to lend a hand with the sale.
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Event Host and Building Safety Training
Those who lead groups at UUCA, who plan and/or host meetings or events, or who are interested in volunteering to do so, are invited to join Facility Manager, Paul Kearney, and Administrative and Events Coordinator, Annie Parker for a special training Sunday, May 6, after second service. Interested parties can grab a cup of coffee and convene in the Boardroom by 12:30. The session will last for approximately an hour and a half and will touch on health, safety, security, and emergency policies and procedures. The session will also include an orientation to building features and an overview of expectations and responsibilities of coordinators or hosts.
Date: Sunday, May 6, 12:30 p.m.
Location: Board Room
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Young Adult Podcast Chat
Join the Young Adult Group for the 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. Join our Facebook group (or e-mail me) to find out what this week’s podcast will be! Contact
Elisabeth Geschiere,
egeschiere@uucava.org.
Date: Saturday, April 14, 7:30-9:00 p.m.
Location: Chapel
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Thank You Reception
Please join the congregation after both services on April 15 for a
“Thank You” reception for all Sunday Morning Ambassador volunteers. It takes nearly 200 people to volunteer as Greeters (upstairs, downstairs, and outside), Ushers, Welcome Desk volunteers, Coffee Servers, Cup Washers, Audio and Video Technicians, and Welcome Room volunteers. We appreciate all that you do, so we’d like to show our appreciation with cake and coffee in Fellowship Hall. The Third Sunday Covenant Group co-led by Pat Bodnar and Topher Dunne will be serving. Everyone is welcome!
Date: Sunday, April 15, after each service
Location: Fellowship Hall
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A Classic Mystery: Farewell My Lovely
The
Men's Book Group will meet in the Chapel at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 13, to discuss their fiction selection,
Farewell, My Lovely, a 1940 mystery by Raymond Chandler, the second novel to feature detective Philip Marlowe. If there are any questions about the group and its meetings, please email
Ken Marshall,
kenmar42@gmail.com or call him at 703-533-8004.
Date: Sunday, May 13, 7:30 p.m.
Location: Chapel
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Cup Washers Needed
If we don't get more cup washers, we will not be able to serve coffee or will have to use wasteful paper cups. We need cup washers once a month (less in summer.) The commitment takes about 30 minutes after the service to collect the used cups, load them into the dishwasher and place them back in the closet. Instructions on using the dishwasher will be provided. This is an integral part of after-service fellowship, so please help us keep it going! One volunteer is needed monthly at the following times:
- 3rd Sunday after 11:15 service
- 4th Sunday after 9:15 service
- 5th Sunday after both services
For more information or to sign up, contact
Joan Porte,
Joan@joanporte.com or sign at the coffee table on Sunday.
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Who Does Those Flowers?
UUCA's flowers, displays, candle tables . . No, not a professional decorator. Yes, it's UUCA members and friends who make up the Flower Ministry Team. We’d love to have new team members, and no experience is needed. Time commitment is minimal, and creativity is encouraged. Or, maybe you’d like to help with projects like the upcoming Flower Communion. The goals are fun and beauty. For more information, contact
Linda Lutes Corsoro,
Lindahlutes@gmail.com.
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Please hold
Skyler Bessire and his family in your hearts as he recovers from a serious automobile accident.
Our condolences to
Pat Findikoglu on the death of her mother.
Congratulations to
Carolyn & Zack Haas on the birth of their daughter
Reverie Elizabeth on March 18.
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NEW newsletter deadline:
Connections deadline for submissions is EACH Monday at noon with publication on Wednesday.
See below on how to submit an announcement.
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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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Thank you for using
this link
when shopping Amazon.
UUCA benefits each time you shop.
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Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, VA
4444 Arlington Blvd
Arlington, Virginia
Call: (703) 892-2565
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