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

Sunday, April 14, 2019 | 9:15 & 11:15 a.m. Our Place in the Web Sermon by Rev. Robert Blinn Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. The services feature a special guest, “Mother Earth”! We will use the UU 7th Principle to form a positive path forward in life in partnership with Her! Amy Shields is our Worship Associate. Our music will be special and bittersweet. It's the last Sunday Mimi Bornstein , our beloved Music Director, will be with us. She will leave us with some of her favorite songs to remember her by. Please come to bid her farewell. **Parking on April 14** The Mason's lot will be closed on Sunday, April 14. Please use the lot at Arlington Hall Park or along the street on George Mason Drive. See map here. Livestream

Upcoming Services Easter Sunday, April 21, 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. "The Promise of the Empty Tomb" - Intergenerational service led by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley and Walter Clark, Ministerial Assistant. Children and youth will remain in the Sanctuary for the entire service with their families. An Easter Egg Hunt follows both services. April 28, 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. “Setting the Table” - Sermon by Walter Clark, Ministerial Assistant.

Sunday Parking When parking on Sundays, we ask that you please leave our main lot for visitors and those with mobility issues. On Sunday mornings the Masons lot across the street on George Mason and the Arlington Hall Park lot are available for parking. Street parking is also available along George Mason Drive and in the neighborhood behind the church. See map here.

UUCA is LIVE on Facebook Not able to be with us in person on Sunday morning? It's now going to be easier than ever to join us online. Besides joining in via www.uucava.org/livestream , you can now experience each Sunday morning via Facebook LIVE .

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)

Passover Community Seder Hosted by Kol Ami Kol Ami (the Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Jewish Community) invites UUCAers to their inclusive Passover Seder that will be held in UUCA's Fellowship Hall. A mostly potluck meal will follow the ceremony. The cost is $20 per adult, $5 per child, plus a potluck dish. Those who are physically able are also asked to help with set-up or clean-up. Reservations can be made here. For more info, please visit KolAmiVirginia.org or email admin@KolAmiVirginia.org. Date: Saturday, April 20, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Location: Fellowship Hall

MoonFire April Showers Ritual – April 21 Please join MoonFire on Sunday, April 21, for a ritual celebrating April showers! People say Love makes the world go round, but really it’s RAIN that does it. Come celebrate rain, and be prepared to teach a short version of your favorite rain song, and to sing and dance outside and get wet (and maybe muddy!). Bring a towel, and a change of clothes and shoes. As always, potluck will follow the ritual. Further information at www.moonfireuuca.org or email moonfirecoords@gmail.com .   Date: Sunday, April 21, 1:30 p.m. Location: Chapel

Church Matters

UUCA Board of Trustees Meeting  Tuesday, April 16, 2019 7:00 p.m. – Open Comment Period 7:30 p.m. – Board Meeting At 7:00 p.m. Board Members are available to listen to comments from the congregation in the Welcome Room. At 7:30 p.m. the regular Board Meeting begins. Congregants are welcome to observe regular Board meetings.   At the April meeting the Board will discuss incorporating the 8th Principle in to Board Policies; proposed policies for Executive expenses; and training for new Board members. Additionally, the Board will elect a new Board Chair for the 2019-20 church year. The consent agenda will also include approval of a contract extension for the Interim Senior Minister as well as an adjustment for the Financial Audit Cycle. Additional items may also be added as needed.

Reflections from the Board: Wholeness By Warren Wright, Board of Trustees “To be courageous, it is not necessarily to go anywhere or do anything except to make conscious those things we already feel deeply and then to live through the unending vulnerabilities of those consequences.”  -- David Whyte This month’s Soul Matters theme is “Wholeness”. My go-to person on this topic is Parker Palmer. His book A Hidden Wholeness: A Journey Toward an Undivided Life brings forth the notion that every person has two selves.  The first is the inner self which is the true you. This is where you have both shadow and light, where life’s best-laid plans are dashed by the unexpected. This is your actual life. The stories you tell about your inner self are the ones you want the people you love most to know—the joy, but also the pain and vulnerability. The stories are told in music, poetry, art, or in just being present with a tree upon first bud in the spring.  Read more >>

Lifespan Religious Education

Easter Egg Hunt Things will be hopping on Easter morning, April 21! We'll have real bunnies adding to our fun and festive Easter Egg hunt for grade schoolers and younger. Remember to bring your basket--extras will be available. Teens are welcome to help with the "set-up"--Teen volunteers please gather in the lower level lobby during each service. Child Dedication New to UUCA or have a new member in your family? We are hosting a baby/new child dedication in the services on Mother’s Day, May 12. If you’d like to be included, please contact LeeAnn Williams, Director of Lifespan Religious Education, lwilliams@uucava.org. More RE News

There's still time to join the 45th Annual UUCA Shenandoah Retreat! This June will be UUCA's 45th year retreating to Big Meadows campground at Shenandoah National Park. There's still time to join us! This year's retreat will take place June 21 - 23. Join friends from UUCA--new and returning friends of all ages are encouraged to join other UUCAers for this family-friendly, multigenerational, fun-filled weekend. Visit our Shenandoah Retreat website here. There are four steps to take: Book a campsite (as of this morning there were 31 reservable sites left) at www.recreation.gov or lodge www.goshenandoah.com/Big-Meadows-Lodge Then please register with us so we know who to expect, when to expect you and where you'll be staying. Register with us here.  Then please pay the $10 registration fee for adults and teenagers (kids are free). The money covers supplies the community uses for the weekend. Paypal here. Finally, please sign up to help out if you can. We are all volunteers and hope everyone can pitch in to make this retreat a success. Volunteer sign-up here. Questions? Contact D Ohlandt, profohlandt@gmail.com or Jacqueline Lotts, jlotts@gmail.com.

Adult Education Below is a list of our upcoming Adult Education classes. Click here for more information and registration. Building Your Own Theology, six sessions begin March 27, 7-8:30 p.m. Finding Your Path, May 4, 9-Noon Adaptive Leadership Workshop, May 5, 2-5 p.m. Enneagram Workshop, May 8, 15, 7-9 p.m.

Adaptive Leadership Workshop With Rev. Terasa. Adaptive Leadership is a method of understanding leadership developed by Ron Heifetz and colleagues of his at the Harvard Kennedy School. It posits that leadership is not a noun, as in ‘this person is always the leader’, but that leadership is a verb, it is what we exercise together. In this understanding, anyone can be a leader. Register here. Date: May 5, 2-5 p.m. Location: Activity Room

Finding Your Path How well does UUCA help you “Grow in Spirit?” What kind of spiritual help or guidance would you like to have? What does one mean by "spiritual growth"? Come to this spiritual ingathering event on May 4 to share information, practice and program ideas that could help you find your spiritual path at UUCA. Refreshments provided. Contact David McTaggart for more information at dmctagg@gmail.com or 703-835-6944. Register here. Date: Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m.-Noon Location: Activity Room

Enneagram Workshop Back by popular demand! Join Rev. Terasa for a two-part series exploring the Enneagram. Have you ever asked yourself the quintessential human question of identity, “Who am I?” Most of us spend a lifetime trying to figure out who we are and how we relate to others. The Enneagram offers a bright path to cutting through the internal clutter and finding our way back to who we are created to be. Based on the nine classic archetypes of human character structure, the Enneagram exposes the nine ways we lie to ourselves about who we think we are, illustrates the nine ways we get lost, and reveals nine ways we find our way home to our True Self. Recommended texts for the class are (choose one) The Wisdom of the Enneagram by Richard Riso or The Road Back to You by Ian Cron. Register here. Dates: Two sessions, May 8 and May 15, 7-9 p.m.  Location: Activity Room

Music Metamorphosis Come join this original class with music written and led by Sophia Morreale , UUCA Music Ministry Associate. Through music, meditation and the art form of the mandala, we will explore the stages of change: Surrender, Mystery, Abyss, Hope, Discovery, Renewal, Manifestation. Come experience how life changes can be made with creativity in this inner exploration! Register here. Date: 3 Wednesdays, May 8, 15, 22, 7:30-9:00 p.m. Location: TBA

Wheel of Life

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Parker Bracken will be held Saturday, May 4, 11:30 a.m., at Goodwin House-Bailey's, 3440 S. Jefferson St., Falls Church .

Music Ministry

Music Ministries Discovery Session As we begin our search for a new Director of Music Ministries, we are reaching out to UUCA members and friends for input. How can the music ministry contribute to UUCA's mission? What question would you ask a candidate for the Director of Music Ministries? Your feedback on these and other questions will help guide the Music Ministries Search Group in their search. Questions? Contact Warren Wright, fwarrenwright@gmail.com. Date: Sunday, April 14, 12:30 p.m. Location: Volunteer Room 

Music Metamorphosis Come join this original class with music written and led by Sophia Morreale, UUCA Music Ministry Associate. Through music, meditation and the art form of the mandala, we will explore the stages of change: Surrender, Mystery, Abyss, Hope, Discovery, Renewal, Manifestation. Come experience how life changes can be made with creativity in this inner exploration! Register here. Date: 3 Wednesdays, May 8, 15, 22, 7:30-9:00 p.m. Location: TBA

Handbell Festival Members of UUCA’s Polymnia handbell choir traveled to Chesapeake, Virginia on Friday, March 29, to participate in the Handbell Musicians of America Area III Virginia Handbell Festival. UUCA's advanced handbell choir, Polymnia joined a dozen other handbell choirs from the Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C. area for two days of rehearsals, workshops, and fellowship. Each choir was responsible for learning four pre-selected pieces of music before arriving at festival, where they worked with guest conductor, Brian Childers, to polish their performance before giving a massed concert late Saturday afternoon, March 30, at the Chesapeake Convention Center. Childers is a composer, conductor, and clinician, and currently serves as the Minister of Music at Roswell First Baptist Church in Roswell, Georgia. UUCA is an active member in the Handbell Musicians of American organization, and its handbell choirs have participated in Area III festivals for well over a decade.

New Ringers Welcome! Have you seen the handbells ring on a Sunday morning? Ever wondered what it would be like to give it a try? Now is your chance to find out! UUCA's beginning handbell choir, Bellissimo, is seeking new participants of all ages (grade 3 - adult). Come as you are: no prior musical experience is necessary. The group meets every Sunday between services (10:30-11:05 a.m.) in the Music Room, which is at the end of the downstairs hall across from the Youth Room. This is a great opportunity for a fun, multi-generational activity that also happens to create beautiful music. We hope to see you there! Questions or need more information? Contact Ken Bissell, kenbhandbells@aol.com, or Sarah Yue, alanandsarah@gmail.com.

Congregational Life

Finding Your Path at UUCA By David McTaggart During worship on Sunday, February 17, I shared with you my master life story. I told you of my emotional hurts in childhood, outward success in young adulthood, crisis in midlife, and inward growth in later years. Looking back, I have come to understand that my life trajectory has not been unique, but rather has mirrored the ageless archetypal pattern of loss and renewal, birth suffering and rebirth, of having to go down before coming up.  Inward growth, or spiritual transformation, doesn’t just happen with age; indeed it can happen at any age. Transformation begins with a growing unease or suffering with life, a sense that there’s got to be a better way. From there, it helps to be among people who hold us in love and have us understand we are not alone in this struggle. It takes teaching in the many spiritual growth paths available to us. And, on our part, transformation requires spiritual stillness, reflection, practice, courage and faith—faith that life is essentially good and that we will emerge as the whole and loving persons we were born to be. Read more >>

New UU Class Unitarian Universalism is a way of thinking and being in the world. It is a faith discipline, enriched by faith traditions, that forms the foundation for a way to live this life. It matters how we conduct our lives and work to make the world a better place. Unitarian Universalism wants each of us to know why. It challenges us to deepen our own faith principles and practices in response to our own experience and, whenever possible, to stand on the side of love. There will be plenty of chances to ask questions and to get to know others in the class. It's also part of the path to membership at UUCA.  Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley and Sarah Masters will be leading the class. The class is free and includes a light breakfast. Free childcare is available upon request. Registration is required - HERE. Date: Saturday, May 11, 9:30 a.m.-Noon Location: Activity Room

Happy Hour - April 17 Come enjoy refreshments and drinks at our April Happy Hour hosted by Alianzas. Come as you are. No meeting, no agenda or requests, just come for warm fellowship and community building. Bringing a favorite drink or snack to share is optional. Date: Wednesday, April 17, 6-7:30 p.m Location: Fellowship Hall Guatemala Delegation Shares Experiences On April 17 after the Happy Hour, the Alianzas folks will share stories of their incredible experiences from their February trip to Guatemala. Check out their travel blog here. UUCA has 10+ years of allyship work in Guatemala. Through our partnership with ADIVIMA, UUCA provides scholarships for Guatemalan students. Questions? Please text Kate at 734-272-3727. Date: Wednesday, April 17, 7:30-8:30 p.m Location: Volunteer Room

Men's Book Group T he Men's Book Group will meet on April 14 to discuss the non-fiction selection Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City , by Matthew Desmond. The book tells the wrenching story of eight families in Milwaukee struggling to keep a roof over their heads . It's available at local libraries and is in paperback. If there are any questions about the group and its meetings, please email Ken Marshall, kenmar42@gmail.com or call 703-533-8004.  Date: Sunday, April 14, 7:30 p.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, April 28. 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, April 28, 12:30–2:00 p.m. Location: Activity Room

Better Angels Workshop Beyond Polarization: How Liberals Can Communicate Better With Conservatives Do you have a difficult time connecting with family members and friends who are political conservatives and/or supporters of President Trump? Ever wished you had a better grasp of what motivates them?   On Sunday, May 19 from 2-5:30pm, UUCA will host a Better Angels workshop titled "Beyond Polarization: How Liberals Can Communicate Better With Conservatives." If you are a political liberal/progressive/Democrat who has struggled to find common ground with the conservatives/Republicans in your life, this workshop will help you move beyond the usual partisan arguments and develop genuine mutual understanding. To sign up, contact Sarah Yue at  alanandsarah@gmail.com or visit the registration page here. Date: Sunday, May 19, 2-5:30 p.m. Location: Activity Room

Faith in Action

Share the Plate: April 14 Supports LFFP/UUCA Peace Camp Scholarships   In partnership with Little Friends for Peace ( LFFP ), UUCA has sponsored Peace Camp for more than 20 years. Serving youth from UUCA and community partners, Peace Camp provides children (ages 4-14) with the opportunity to explore cooperation and conflict resolution in safe and supportive environments. Peace camp has always been about creating inclusive environments where campers, counselors and staff can experience, learn, and practice peace in ways our culture may not facilitate. During last Sunday’s service, LFFP shared some of the peace tools taught in Peace Camp with the congregation during the “For all ages.”  This year, our target is to provide 60 one-week scholarships spread across the two weeks of camp. The STP offering goes directly to cover scholarships for children from Buckingham, Barrett and Drew schools, and others.  LFFP’s vision is the Beloved Community--a world where relationships are based on respect and acceptance, conflicts end in reconciliation, and everyone is safe, cared for, and able to realize their unique potential. In addition to Peace Camp, LFFP runs peace-building programs across the metro area. You may donate online here through Saturday, April 20 or give on Sunday, April 14. Stop by the LFFP table after each service on Sunday to learn more about LFFP and Peace Camp and the LFFP programs.

Peace Camp 2019: June 24-July 5 Register your camper for Peace Camp NOW! Act now and register your child for this year's Peace Camp! Registrations are filling up fast. Campers can attend one or two weeks: Mon., June 24 - Fri., June 28 Mon. , July 1 - Fri., July 5, except July 4 This year's theme-- Circle Up to Find Peace -emphasizes the need for including others in our own personal journeys of peace. Camp activities include art, cooperative games, special guests, peace pledge, learning about peace-makers, and so much more. Peace Camp offers programs for ages 5-14. Children begin as campers at ages 5-9 and progress through to until ages 15-18 as Jr. Counselors. After that, ages 18+ can be counselors or volunteer as staff or kitchen helpers. See flyer on youth opportunities here . Look for the LFFP/Peace Camp table in Fellowship Hall this Sunday. Peace Camp is a partnership between UUCA Peace Ministry and Little Friends for Peace.

Tell Your US Senators to Take Urgent Action to Address the Climate Crisis Averting the climate crisis is critical to the vision and lived expression of Unitarian Universalism. From April 7-May 5, UUs across the country are writing letters to their senators to urge action to address the climate crisis. This Sunday, April 14, come by UUs for Social Justice's "Write Here! Write Now!" table to urge your senators to pass legislation that will transform our economy to reduce carbon omissions, build sustainable infrastructure, and create green new jobs. Please join in to make sure UUCA voices are heard! Fact sheets and supplies will be available. Or write your letter in advance and drop it off. UUSJ's Capitol Hill Advocacy Corps will hand-deliver letters to Congress on May 14. Questions? Contact Lavona Grow, advocacy@uusj.org.

People with Disabilities Group Forming Join others with visible and invisible disabilities to connect, network and consider what the group would like to do. Contact Sarah Masters at sarah@uucava.org. VOICE Actions to Dismantle Racism and Other Oppressions VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement) is offering you the opportunity to dismantle racism and other oppressions in Northern Virginia and beyond. Please attend our next VOICE gathering where we will fill you in on upcoming VOICE actions to dismantle racism and other oppressions and where we will welcome your ideas, suggestions, and involvement.  Date: Sunday, April 28 1:30-3:30. p.m. Location: Center Gallery

A BOOK FOR ADULTS AND YOUTH Brown Girl Dreaming African American Author Book Sharing Circle April 19 What an interesting book! Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson, is the story of the author’s childhood written in free verse that tells a complete story from beginning to end. Goodreads tells us that Ms. Woodson “shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child’s soul as she searches for her place in the world.” The African American Author Book Sharing Circle will share experiences in reading Brown Girl Dreaming on April 19. The book is relevant and appropriate for ages 10 through adult, so we hope parents will read this with their families and come together to the sharing circle. We hope to see you then. For more info, please contact Pat Findikoglu, pfindikoglu@gmail.com, or Linda Lutes Corsoro, lindahlutes@gmail.com. Date: Friday, April 19, 7:30 p.m. Location: Welcome Room .

Voices of Solidarity Concert - April 26 In light of the ongoing need for all communities to be in solidarity, the theme of the Annual Dream Project Concert will forever be “Voices for Solidarity.”   While Dream Project students face unique challenges in these difficult times, other members of our society also are struggling for their rights and their dignity. We know that only through solidarity will we be successful in igniting long-lasting change. We must all continue to strive for a more diverse, tolerant and compassionate nation.   The Voices for Solidarity concert will be a celebration of solidarity by diverse communities and cultures who share a common vision. Performances will feature local musical and theatrical groups, as well as the stories of some of the Dream Project Dreamers, reflecting the diverse community of which we are lucky to be a part of. Artist lineup include: Gen OUT Chorus; Cheick Hamala Diabate; Marcelo & His Charango. Purchase tickets here.   Date: Friday, April 26, 6 p.m. Reception; 7 p.m. Concert Location: Center Gallery

Register Today Allyship Workshop May 7 & 14 Service Never Sleeps (SNS), a local non-profit that empowers communities through service and allyship, is offering their Allyship training for UUCA and the greater community. This workshop teaches you about the causes of racial injustice, how to be an effective ally for marginalized communities, and how to actively influence and educate others. This is not just “another racial justice workshop.” Most people walk out of this workshop saying it was the most impactful racial justice workshop they’ve ever taken in terms of how it helps them reflect on their own implicit bias while also providing actionable steps for how to act with friends, family, or strangers when they witness racism. This 6-hour workshop is split between two nights. Participants are required to attend both nights. Sign up here. Questions? Contact Alex Ziehm, Alexandraziehm92@gmail.com.    Date: Tuesday, May 7 & 14, 7-10 p.m. Location: Room 13/15 on 5/7, Youth Room on 5/14

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.

Thank you for using this link when shopping Amazon. UUCA benefits each time you shop.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, VA 4444 Arlington Blvd Arlington, Virginia Call: (703) 892-2565 Email: uuca@uucava.org ‌ ‌