Connections Newsletter
All the news you need to know to connect, grow, and serve.
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday Service, August 5, 10:15 a.m.
"Our Paths Converge"
Sermon by The Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley
As I begin my ministry with you, I’d like to share a bit about who I am and where I’ve been, but more importantly, why I chose to be with you during this critical time. I don’t believe sermons should be about the minister entirely, but our ministry together will be helped along by mutual understanding. I am excited to begin!
Joining Rev. Cooley on the chancel will be Worship Associate
Robert Blinn. Guest musician
Eric Waters will perform classic Sting and Beatles on guitar with
Sophia Morreale accompanying on piano.
|
|
|
|
August 5 STP: Metro DC PFLAG
Sunday's STP offering will benefit
Metro DC PFLAG. Metro DC PFLAG strives to promote the equality and wellness of the LGBTQ community and their families and friends through community support, educational opportunities, and advocacy efforts.
Metro DC PFLAG sponsors 15 Community Groups across the DC area, including groups for adults, groups for youth, and groups with a transgender focus. Community Groups provide participants with the opportunity to share experiences in regard to sexual orientation and gender expression and how it affects their families.
The Arlington PFLAG Community Group, started by Equality UUCA in 2011, meets right here at UUCA on the second Tuesday of each month, except in August when we have a potluck picnic on the same night. Please ask us for details if you are interested in attending.
UUCA also helped start ALY: Arlington LGBTQ+Ally Youth, a PFLAG Group for teens ages 13-18, which currently meets at Central United Methodist Church on Fairfax Drive.
Like UUCA, Metro DC PFLAG envisions a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed inclusive of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
For resources and to learn more, visit
pflagdc.org or stop by the table in Fellowship Hall on Sunday.
Upcoming Share-the-Plates
August 12: UUs for Social Justice (UUSJ)
August 19: The Sanctuaries
August 26: Equality Virginia
|
|
|
|
Share-the-Plate Update
July totals for Share-the-Plate:
Total received on Sunday for the month of July: $6,791.
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Sunday Services
August 12, 10:15 a.m. “You Do You” – Sermon by Rev. Robert Blinn. Ask three UU’s a question, and you’ll get five opinions. When we laugh, especially at ourselves, our bodies and our minds are in a better place. Laughter promotes healing and wholeness. “You Do You” is a way of saying, “Embrace who you are.” In her book,
The Gifts of Imperfection, social researcher Brené Brown finds that laughter, along with authenticity, gratitude, and meaningful work, help us let go of “supposed to be” and just be ourselves. Come and enjoy the funnier sides of being human!
August 19, 10:15 a.m. "The Happiness App (or is it Trap?)” – Sermon by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley, Interim Senior Minister. Recently I saw an article about the proliferation of apps that are supposed to contribute to your spiritual and psychological well being. I’m all for that! And most of them are simply about mindfulness. All for that as well! But it got me thinking about how sad it is that we need an app for that. What does happiness mean in our culture today? Can happiness be reconciled with resistance? All food for thought to explore together. (And you don’t have to bring your smartphone with you — unless you want to…)
August 26, 10:15 a.m. “Love Lifts Us” - Sermon by guest minister Rev. Rebekah (Montgomery) Savage. The Sufi mystic Hafiz wrote, “I once asked a bird, how is it that you fly in this gravity of darkness? She responded, ‘love lifts me’.” When our strength fails us, where do we turn? How do we nourish ourselves and others to move towards spiritual centering?
September 2, 10:15 a.m. "What I Forgot to Say" - Sermon by Rev. Michael McGee, Minister Emeritus. Rev. Michael returns to our pulpit after his retirement in 2012 and brings back his Labor Day tradition--T-Shirt Sunday! You're invited to wear a t-shirt with a message that speaks a belief or statement you want to share.
September 9, 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. Ingathering and Water Communion Service. Led by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley. We begin our new church year with with a special ingathering where we celebrate with a blending of the waters ritual.
|
|
|
|
Water Communion & Ingathering - Sept 9
Wherever your summer may take you, please remember to collect a small sample of water to share at our Ingathering and Water Communion Service on September 9, when we return to two services at 9:15 and 11:15 a.m.
And, when you're not able to join us in-person on Sunday morning, please be sure to join us for the streaming of the service at
www.uucava.org. Recordings of the service are also available to watch 24/7 under the "Archive" tab at
www.uucava.org/livestream.
|
|
|
|
Insight Meditation Community of Washington Day-long Retreat with Jonathan Foust @ UUCA - Saturday, August 11
No “I and Mine": An Experiential Inquiry into the Teachings of No Self
The Buddha said,
“Nothing whatsoever is be clung to as 'I or Mine'."
In this retreat you’ll explore the teachings of "anatta" not just through the classic teachings, but through practices and inquiries that can help you experience what it means to move beyond the mind and into presence. The practices will include both times of silence and contemplation as well as times of structured inquiry and sharing. No prior experience required, but do come with an open mind and heart.
More information and registration here >
|
|
|
|
Board of Trustees Update
The Board of Trustees welcomes the
Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley as UUCA’s interim senior minister starting August 1. She has hit the ground running, even joining several functions ahead of her start date. Her first UUCA sermon will be this Sunday. Let’s extend a warm UUCA welcome to her.
Rev. Terasa brings decades of experience as minister and interim minister at churches throughout the U.S. and working at the Unitarian Universalist Association (
UUA) as district executive, director of congregational life, and vice president of program and strategy.
She brings experience and skills to both support the continued healing from the upheaval of our ministerial team over the last year, and to engage with the vast variety of activities our church members carry out in support of our “Connect, Grow, Serve” mission. We look forward to partnering with her as we examine our governance structure, address the need to strengthen stewardship, and continue to address social justice issues such as anti-racism and anti-oppression.
Our thanks again to
Rev. Beth Miller for bringing her compassionate healing energy and enthusiasm for our blessed community to UUCA, and to all of UUCA’s wonderful, dedicated staff who jumped in wherever needed and supported each other and all of us during these past months.
|
|
|
|
Toileting the Greening Project
From Tamara Srader, Acting Executive Director
Happy summer everyone! I wanted to give a quick update on the greening project that started with last November’s Annual Auction.
Facilities manager
Paul Kearney spent time researching electronic ignition stoves/ovens and found they are just not made for commercial kitchens. The next item on the list of wishes to help reduce our environmental footprint was low flush-per-gallon toilets. We had two bids for this specific project.
We also asked for the overall cost of switching out our total building to LED light-bulbs. The switch to LED is just too expensive to complete at this time. We have over 1,000 fixtures and bulbs that would need to be replaced.
The project we can afford to implement is changing out all of the toilets to low-flush ones. I know this is not a glamorous project, however, it is a much needed improvement to the facility.
Some data that you might be interested in:
- We use around 800 gallons of water per day.
- At an annual baseline cost of $4,521.80 per year in water billing, we aim to reduce cost of water by $1,080.00 per year.
- We will be converting all toilets to 1.28 gallons per flush from 3.5 gallons per flush.
- Estimated reduction in consumption is based on 40% reduction of 60% water consumption as used on average by bathrooms in commercial facilities.
- Eleven toilets will be replaced downstairs and ten upstairs.
This work is scheduled to be completed by the first of September. Thanks to all of you who helped put this project in place through your generous donations.
|
|
|
|
August 5: Town Hall Meeting – Senior Minister Search Process
Please join the Board of Trustees and the Senior Minister Search Committee to discuss the pros and cons of a one-year versus a two-year search process for our next called Senior Minister. The Search Committee has had a few meetings and discussions with UUA representatives to learn more about the search process for our next called Senior Minister. Come hear what was learned and offer your thoughts. The Board of Trustees will make a final decision on the search timeline at their August 21 meeting in order to allow the Search Committee the time needed to prepare their process accordingly.
Dates: Sunday, August 5, 11:30 a.m.
Location: Center Gallery
|
|
|
|
|
UUCA Auction in 2018??
It's time to get started on the 2018 Fall Auction (If we are going to have one!!!). Our church auction is the largest fundraising event and also one of the most fun! In order to make this happen, we need to start soon with a core team of five or more folks. The auction requires folks to help organize, solicit offerings, design the evening, and then run the show! If you are interested in helping (or in running the whole show!) please send an email to
uuca.auction@gmail.com.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
With Gratitude and Affection
From The Rev. Beth Miller
I’m back in Northampton, Mass., and re-settling into my home. Eight hours in the car on Monday gave me plenty of time to bask in the glow of your warm send-off on Sunday and to reflect on our six months together. This morning I read all of your cards and notes. I placed the engraved paperweight on my desk where I will see it often. My heart is full!
Thank you so much for welcoming me into your community and choosing to trust me to be the minister you needed at such a vulnerable time. My nearly thirty years in ministry have been successful and satisfying, both in the congregations I’ve served and at the UUA. UUCA has been a new experience for me and a deeply rewarding bonus in this late stage of my career. Though I’ve studied both large church dynamics and what it means to follow a tumultuous ministerial departure, I have never served as the senior minister in either situation. I’ve followed ministers who left happily in mid-size and smaller congregations. By your acceptance and response, and by your many expressions of appreciation, UUCA affirmed my competence to tackle a new and challenging ministry at this late stage of my career. What a gift! Thank you so much.
I will always think of UUCA with respect, gratitude and genuine affection. And remember: you are the church and you’ve got this!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Introducing:
In the Meantime
Two days after the 2016 Presidential election, I found myself in DC on a work trip. I wandered the mall feeling absolutely desolate. I looked at the glorious monuments to our country’s aspirations and it felt as though their pristine whiteness was about to be smeared with corruption. Finally, I stood before the inscription of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and took heart. “We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people and by the people shall not perish from the earth.” A call to duty indeed.
I felt similarly this 4th of July. I couldn’t bring myself to engage in a celebration of the pretension that we are a free and just nation. What I could celebrate were the multiple evidences of the best ideals of our country: the demonstrations and actions across the country in solidarity with immigrants and their families.
We will never be an ideal state. Personally, organizationally, politically--perfection is impossible to achieve. But intention matters. Our ideals matter.
A part of what we will do together as a congregation is to delve deeply into your aspirations: what are you trying to embody as a religious community? What are the best expressions of your ideals? Where have things fallen short and how can we put them on a better path?
Even before I’ve officially begun my work with you I can already tell that you have great and important intentions and that you succeed in so many ways—providing community, comfort and inspiration in a place that desperately needs those virtues right now. I look forward to our journey together.
My office hours will normally run Tuesday through Thursday and Friday will be my sermon preparation day from home. I can be reached by email at
tcooley@uucava.org and the church office phone at 703-892-2565.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lifespan Religious Education
|
|
|
|
Say it isn't so!
It's time to bid Elisabeth good-bye!
Please plan on staying after the service on August 12 for an ice cream social in appreciation of
Elisabeth Geschiere (Ice cream is Elisabeth's favorite and the 12th is her last day with us!). It will be a chance to bid a fond farewell to our Youth Group & Young Adult Coordinator (AND Social Justice Coordinator EXTRAORDINAIRE), as she begins a new faith journey as a seminarian at Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville.
Date: Sunday, August 12, 11:30 a.m.
Location: Fellowship Hall
|
|
|
|
|
CenterStage Live! kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 18, when we welcome the nine member traditional and contemporary folk group
Shenandoah Run. Tickets are $25 and are available
here online and at the door.
Date: Saturday, August 18, 7:30 p.m.
Location: Center Gallery
Stay tuned to Connections and
UUCA’s Facebook and
Twitter pages for more information and please come join us in the coming church year as we celebrate the talents of our congregation and the larger community while building our faith through music and dance!
|
|
|
|
|
|
From: Elisabeth Geschiere, UUCA Social Justice Coordinator
Social Justice Potluck Dinner + Planning for FY2019
Includes Experiential Facilitator Training
You might recall or have attended the SJ Potluck Breakfast in March. Before my last day on August 12, I am again gathering folks who are involved in and/or want to get involved in social justice to break bread together, to set goals for FY19, and to start thinking collectively about how to achieve those goals. In addition, I am partnering with
Kristine Wood, a congregant and professional facilitator, in order to make this event an experiential facilitator training. Please register so we know how many people to expect by
filling out this google form! Hope to see you on August 8!
Date: Wednesday, August 8, 6 to 9 p.m.
Location: Fellowship Hall
|
|
|
|
Call for Volunteers
Culpepper Garden has an immediate need for assistance with meal service during the hours of 3 to 7 p.m. daily. The Dining Hall is open seven days a week and one can volunteer one day or more days during the week. Culpepper Garden is a retirement community that UUCA helped to establish in the 1970s and is located only a few blocks from the church. It was the first retirement community in Arlington to provide housing for low-income seniors. To volunteer, please contact
Deborah Madden,
dmadden@culpeppergarden.org or call 571-970-1212.
|
|
|
|
DIG Days (“Doing It Green”)
UUCA's DIG Team holds church grounds work days on second Thursdays and fourth Saturdays from 9-11 a.m. Everyone is welcome! Bring work gloves and a willing spirit. Trash pick-up, invasive pulling, mulch spreading, native planting--There's something for all skill levels.
Next Dates: Aug. 9 and 25, Sept. 13 and 22
|
|
|
|
VOICE Gearing Up for Major Actions this Fall
Last Sunday night, VOICE member organizations agreed on concrete, winnable plans of action to advocate at our fall action. On October 21, 3:30 p.m., at Fairfax High School, UUCA is hoping to add 140 people to VOICE’s 1,000-plus action group. We will show our local and state candidates that we mean business when we say we want to keep immigrant families together, preserve affordable housing, end racial and income discrimination in the criminal justice system, protect our students, and fund public transportation fully. We are also gearing up to knock on doors and make calls for our Get Out the Vote campaign this November.
|
|
|
|
|
Save the Dates:
Sept. 15 & 18 and Oct. 12-14
SWEAT Coming to UUCA
UUs for Social Justice (
UUSJ) and UUCA/Chalice Theatre will be producing a staged reading this fall of Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize winning play
SWEAT. Performances will be October 12,13,14, plus up to eight more in other UU churches in the area.
Auditions will be Saturday, September 15 and Tuesday, September 18; there will be three rehearsals per week for three weeks. The characters for the show are Evan, African-American M, forties; Jason, white M, twenties; Chris, African-American M, twenties; Stan, white M, fifties; Oscar, Colombian-American M, twenty/thirty; Tracey, white F, late 40's; Cynthia, African American F, late 40's; Jessie, Italian-American F, forties; and Brucie, African-American M, 40's; plus a narrator with a clear speaking voice.
If you or someone you know wishes to audition, we will have a signup for times and will publish that in early September.
More details are here.
|
|
|
|
Paintings by Morgan Norwood on display in Center Gallery
Take time this summer to take in the ethereal images of Arlington artist Morgan Norwood. Her background in science influences her visual appreciation of the relationships between the natural world and human physiology.
Mark your calendar for September 8, for a reception with the artist.
Artist statement here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2019 Chalice Theatre
The Addams Family
Chalice Theatre has chosen our 2019 production! We'll be bringing Lurch, Gomez, Wednesday, Morticia and their many oddball ancestors to the stage in The Addams Family Musical. It's a story of accepting--even celebrating--our families and communities, no matter what. Look for more information about auditions in October or November, and get ready to bring-on your best weird! Chalice Theatre welcomes any and all church members and friends who want to join in creating this production: folks with stage management, lighting, design, tech, box office and any other theatre experience--as well as anyone who may be new to theatre, but want to volunteer just for the fun of it. For more information on how you can become involved, contact the Addams Family Musical producer,
Tom O'Reilly
, at
toreiljr@gmail.com
.
Not familiar with how the Addams Family Musical? Take a look at the trailer from the
Broadway show here
.
|
|
|
|
Backpack Drive for Buckingham
Back-to-school is almost here which means it's time for our backpack drive for our community partners in the Buckingham neighborhood. Please help send the Buckingham children back to school with a smile
and a backpack. Donation bins will be in the upper and lower lobbies on August 19 and 26. We are also collecting miscellaneous school supplies.
Dates: August 19 and 26
Donation drop-off: UUCA upper & lower lobbies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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. This group is ideal for those who love reading and discussion. It is also a place where deep and meaningful introspection occurs, friendships are made, and the very nature of religion is explored. We will be reading chapter 3 “The Fall” of the novel
Kindred by Octavia Butler so it is not too late to jump in with us for this new book. Questions? Contact
Elisabeth Geschiere,
egeschiere@uucava.org.
Next Dates: Thursday, August 9, 7-9 p.m.
Location: Youth Room
|
|
|
|
Young Adult Podcast Chat
Join the Young Adult Group for the Podcast Chat discussion group! We meet every other Saturday 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. This Saturday, August 4, we'll discuss Episode 1 of "Conversations With People Who Hate Me." You can find the
podcast here. Please check the
YA Facebook Group for the podcast we'll be listening to on August 18.
Next Dates: Saturday, August 4 & 18, 7:30-9:00 p.m.
Location: Chapel
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Young Adult Sunday Brunch
The Young Adults meet for brunch every other Sunday after the second service! Ages 18-35 and their families are welcome to come get to know other young adults over a good meal.
Date: Sunday, August 12, 11:45 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Youth Room
|
|
|
|
Beer, Pizza, and Questions About the Universe
Folks between the ages of 21 and 35 are welcome to join the Young Adults for beer, pizza, and questions about the universe. NOTE SCHEDULE CHANGE: We are moving to monthly BPQs on the third Tuesday of every month. The event is BYOB--bring your own beer, but the pizza will be provided. We discuss topics ranging from politics, to science, to philosophy. Every time the topic is different but the discussion is always interesting.
Date: Tuesday, August 21, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Fellowship Hall
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark your calendar: September 11
Day Alliance Opens Speaker Series with Miko Peled
Mark your calendar now for September 11 when Day Alliance welcomes writer and human rights activist
Miko Peled. He is considered by many to be one of the clearest voices calling for justice in Palestine. The morning begins with coffee at 10:30 a.m.; speaker begins at 11 a.m.; and a catered luncheon at noon. Watch for details in late August.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Men's Book Group
Date: Sunday, August 12, 7:30 p.m.
Location: Chapel
|
|
|
|
2018 Young Adult Camping Trip
Join UUCA and other area Young Adults for the Annual YA Camping Trip on August 17-19! This year we're headed to Westmoreland State Park which is located about two hours south of Arlington and is situated on the beautiful Potomac River's Northern Neck with access to an Olympic-sized pool, six miles of hiking trails, boat rentals, and more. Please note: The spots in cabin beds are now FULL. There are still spots open for tent campers and/or anyone's who's willing to bring their own bedding to sleep on a cabin floor.
Click here for more information and to register (DEADLINE EXTENDED TO SUNDAY, AUGUST 5)!
Dates: August 17-19
Location: Westmoreland State Park
|
|
|
|
|
|
Building Host and Safety Trainings
This fall, UUCA will begin asking all groups that meet in any of the large spaces at UUCA (the Activity Room, Fellowship Hall, Center Gallery, or Sanctuary) to have someone that has been trained to serve in the role of event host/coordinator on-site during the entire event. Additionally, all outside groups that meet here are asked to have someone who has been trained on-site whenever they use ANY space in the building.
Our goal is to have as many people as possible in the building who know what to do if there is an emergency—to ensure the health and safety of those who walk through our doors. We also need help in ensuring that we comply with the law and that we properly care for the facility and minimize damage. Toward that end, we are asking groups to try to have as many of their members attend one of these trainings as they possibly can. (You’ll get a nifty sticker!)
Three Building Host and Safety Training sessions are scheduled:
- August 26, 11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. in the Center Gallery
- September 30, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. in the Center Gallery
Facilitated by
Paul Kearney, UUCA’s Facility Manager, and
Annie Parker, Administrative & Event Coordinator, each session will cover safety and security protocols, emergency procedures in the case of evacuation, medical emergency, power outage, or inclement weather. Attendees will also have the opportunity to walk through the building for an orientation to fire suppressions systems, defibrillators, environmental controls, and other building features, and to talk about the expectations and responsibilities associated with hosting meetings and coordinating events.
“I’m in, take me to the SignUpGenius,”
you say?
Click here.
|
|
|
|
Back-to-School Shoppers
(And Shoppers in General)
When doing your back-to-school shopping or any shopping in general--If you use Amazon, please be sure to use the
AmazonSmile link. Whenever you use
this link, the AmazonSmile Foundation donates .5% to UUCA on all eligible purchases.
|
|
|
|
This newsletter is on vacation for two weeks. The next deadline for submissions is Monday, August 20, at noon. Look for our next edition in your inbox on August 23.
|
|
|
|
|
See below on how to submit an announcement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
How to submit an announcement to UUCA's Connections newsletter:
- Deadline is noon each Monday. (next deadline August 20)
- 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
|
|
|
|
|
|