In the Meantime

By Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley, Interim Senior Minister

Last March this congregation made an impressive expression of intention to try to live into the 8th Principle: a commitment to trying to undo white supremacy in our practices and behaviors and institutions. There are many opportunities this month to learn about how we can grow in this practice. I would ask everyone who voted for this principle to make a commitment to attend at least one of these conversations if possible. We will certainly have more opportunities in the future, but I hope we can really make our commitment tangible and concrete. We will not do this perfectly, but engaging in a spiritual discipline of staying in the conversations and continual learning is something we can all do. 

I look forward to our learning together!

Leading Toward Transformation: Undoing White Supremacy Workshop

Saturday, November 2, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

As part of our commitment to live into the 8th Principle which we endorsed last spring, we have asked Whitney Parnell, the leader of the allyship workshops many have attended, to take us deeper into the exploration of what is required of leaders, both in this congregation and in other parts of our lives, to dismantle white supremacy and help transform our organizations. Whether you’re a leader in the church, or simply wanting to grow your own organizational skills and depth of understanding, you are welcome to join us. 

This training outlines white supremacy as an institution, its persistence in present day, and its common forms in the workspace. The interactive session will guide participants to understand white supremacy as a construct of dominance and culture, and will also facilitate active unpacking and identifying of white supremacy culture in participants’ own lives and work. Additionally, this training will guide participants to understand racism as a structural upholding of white supremacy through systemic means. Tools will also be provided to actively identify and unlearn white supremacy moving forward.

More opportunities to deepen your understanding of systemic oppression & white privilege 

UUCA Anti-Racism workshop series will start next week, each held from 7-9 p.m. Registration helpful, but not required. Contact Ann Ulmschneider, aulmsch@msn.com.

Further the anti-racist transformation of Unitarian Universalism & UUA 

Show up, speak out and challenge oppression and racism in our community 

The 8th Principle Task Force will meet on Monday, November 11, 7 p.m. using Zoom (no special software needed!).  

"Imagine If" - Tells us your dreams for UUCA

Sunday, November 3, after both services - Board Room

Our church leadership is looking for your input as we establish our goals for our upcoming Capital Campaign that addresses our mortgage debt. You are cordially invited to meet with us to “Imagine If!”: Come imagine with us what we could do as a community if we are free of this debt. This is an excellent time for everyone to provide the Capital Campaign Team, the Board of Trustees, and staff with your thoughts concerning our needs and your dreams. 

"Imagine If" sessions on Sundays, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in the Board Room:

Refreshments are provided at all Sunday sessions.

Check out the Faith 360 classes and workshops/registration here . Registration can also be done on Sunday at the Faith 360 table. Questions? Contact LeeAnn Williams , LWilliams@uucava.org , 703-892-2565, ext. 1203. 

Spiritual Book Group:

Sabbath by Wayne Muller

Tuesday, November 5, 7-9 p.m.

What does "rest" mean to you, besides sleep? How do we find joy and renewal in our lives? Please join us for a reflective discussion of Wayne Muller's book Sabbath, Tuesday, November 5, 7-9 p.m. We'll read one short chapter together in the group, and those who wish may comment on other parts. (Please note: There are two editions of this book, but you may read/bring either one. The older edition has the subtitle "Restoring the Sacred Rhythm of Rest"; the newer, "Finding Rest, Delight, and Renewal in Our Busy Lives.") Facilitated by Diane Ullius.

Looking Ahead

Next month’s Spiritual Book Group will meet on Tuesday, December 3, 7-9 p.m., to discuss Holy Envy by Barbara Brown Taylor. In Holy Envy, Barbara Brown Taylor contemplates the myriad ways other people and traditions encounter the Transcendent, both by digging deeper into those traditions herself and by seeing them through her students' eyes as she sets off with them on field trips to monasteries, temples, and mosques.

Intergenerational Pop-Up Ensemble

Sunday, November 3

EVERYONE OF EVERY AGE and experience is invited to join in the next Intergenerational Pop-Up Ensemble THIS Sunday November 3, 10:30-11:00 a.m., in the Sanctuary and then share for the Introit at the start of the 11:15 service. Please note all Chalice Musicians, Troubadours, and high school musicians are always included in the Intergenerational Ensembles. We are sharing a brief and beautiful Incan/Quechua chant with bells, chimes, rain sticks, and more as well as a Pete Seeger favorite. There is something for everyone and for every age and no previous musical experience necessary. Bring your little ones, bring your friends, bring your teachers, bring everyone! And share in service and celebration together! Questions? Contact Children and Youth Music Leader and Intergenerational Pop-Up Ensemble conductor Jennifer, jhaywood@uucava.org.

New UU Series

Sunday, November 3, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Welcome Room

 

The New UU series is for everyone who wants to learn more about Unitarian Universalism and UUCA. Classes are on the first and third Sundays of each month (except Dec. 1). The next topic is UU History & Theology with Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley. No registration is needed, but contact sarah.masters@uucava.org to reserve free childcare. Remaining sessions in 2019:  

Delegation Reports on Trip to Israel/Palestine

Sunday, November 3, after 2nd Service - Fellowship Hall

A delegation of 23 UUCA members headed by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley and Ministerial Assistant Walter Clark recently returned from a tour of Israel and Palestine. On Sunday, November 3, come hear a first-hand account of what they saw and heard.

The trip was organized by MEJDI Tours, which offers an intercultural “Dual Narrative” approach in which one Israeli and one Palestinian guide offer differing perspectives on the land, its culture and its people. The group spent 10 days in-country. After visiting ancient holy sites in Jerusalem, delegation members traveled to Bethlehem, Hebron, Nazareth, and the Dead Sea. They completed their trip by staying in an intentional, cooperative community (“Oasis of Peace”) with an equal number of Jewish and Arab citizens. They met both Israelis and Palestinians actively working for peaceful and equitable solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The meeting on November 3 will be held after second service (about 1:00 p.m.) in Fellowship Hall. A light lunch will be served. 

UUCA’s AFAC CEREAL KILLERS STRIKE AGAIN--Please bring cereal this Sunday! 

November 3-17

The Freshman Youth Group (Y9) is collecting cereal in Fellowship Hall for the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) beginning this Sunday. After both services on November 17, Y9 will build a cereal wall against food insecurity in Fellowship Hall to promote the work of AFAC and raise awareness about food insecurity in Arlington. Y9 has a goal of collecting 700 boxes--enough for one AFAC distribution. Your donated boxes of cereal will serve as the bricks in the wall against hunger! 

Buckingham Coat Drive

Sunday, November 3

The cool autumn temperatures are finally here and that means it must be time for our annual coat drive to benefit our immigrant friends in the Buckingham neighborhood. Please bring your clean, gently-used men, women, and children’s coats and jackets to church on Sunday, November 3.  Bins will be available in the church lobby. Since this is a one-time event, we can accept coats only until 12:30 p.m. Many of our Buckingham neighbors are unprepared for an Arlington winter and very much appreciate your donations.  

Get Out the Vote This Weekend! 

Next week's elections might not seem like a big deal to many of us. Here in the most affluent corner of Virginia, lots of candidates are running unopposed or look like shoo-ins. But that's not the case in nearby jurisdictions. The turnout next week will have a big impact on what happens at the state level in so many areas . . . gun control, criminal justice reform, school funding, affordable housing loans, and environmental issues, to name a few. 

That's why VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement) is all-in to up the turnout. We need your help to knock on enough doors to make a difference. Please join us, along with our Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and other UU leaders from across the region, as VOICE embarks on its nonpartisan Get-Out-the-Vote (GOTV) door-knocking. Our UUCA members have joined this GOTV work three times before, and each time it has measurably raised the turnout. We'll work in Prince William County where the issues of school funding and criminal justice reform are especially high-profile. These are the dates:

Sat., Nov. 2: Morning & afternoon shifts.  

Sun., Nov. 3: Afternoon shifts.

Mon., Nov. 4: Evening only.

Tue., Nov. 5: (election day): Shifts all day. 

Please pick a day and sign up at the VOICE table in Fellowship Hall (exact meeting times forthcoming). You may also sign up online here.

Carpools leave the UUCA parking lot for Woodbridge at 9:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. (Monday and Tuesday carpools TBD) 

For more information or to sign up, in addition to Fellowship Hall you can contact Jacomina deRegt, jacominaderegt@gmail.com, 703-868-7358 or Pat Findikoglu, PatFindikoglu@gmail.com. 

Family Mindfulness Classes

Sunday, November 3, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Chapel

Parents and grandparents with children in grades K-5 are invited to attend the Family Mindfulness classes held the first Sunday of each month. Learn practices for cultivating

greater connection, presence, and compassion in family life in the spirit of play and curiosity. We bring the mindfulness toolkit alive in engaging and practical ways. Classes are drop-in and donation-based. No registration is required. Beginning and experienced mindfulness practitioners are welcome. Classes are led by Fred Persi and Erin Hurley of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington. 2019-20 dates are: Nov. 3, Dec. 1, Jan. 5, Feb. 2, March 8, April 5, May 3, June 7. Questions? Contact Fred, fpersi@att.net. 

Chalice Theatre Audition Info Session

Sunday, November 3, 3 p.m.

CHALICE THEATRE will hold an Audition Session on Sunday, November 3, 3 p.m. Come and learn about this winter's show, Alix in Wonderland - A Gender Journey Down the Rabbit Hole. We'll talk about the show, the characters, and the audition process. If you are new to theater, or haven't done any since high school, come and see what this is about. Auditions will be held November 17 and 18.  More information here and at the Chalice Theatre table after services.

Climate Justice and a More Energy Efficient Future

Sunday, November 10, 12:30 p.m. Center Gallery

The CLIMATE CRISES ACTION COALITION will sponsor a presentation on Climate Justice by the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions after second service on Sunday, November 10. Those at the lower end of the economic scale will be most affected by climate change. Come see how we can help create a more energy efficient future for all.  We'll also have a short presentation on the Arlington Solar Coop. Learn the benefits of going solar and how to save on solar costs by joining with neighbors to buy in the co-op model. There will also be a short review of how UUCA is practicing the Seventh Principle.

FOLD-A-RAMA: Origami for the Holidays

We are filling our sacred spaces with Peace, Hope, and Joy for the December holidays! After services on November 10 and 17, volunteers from the UUCA Sacred Arts/Flower Ministry will demonstrate and help congregants fold origami doves and other birds that will be used to decorate our Sanctuary for the holidays. Throughout the world, birds are regarded as spirit animals symbolizing thought, imagination, simplicity, creativity, freedom from materialism, and a wealth of other values; values in line with our UU Principles. Let’s use our origami birds to remind us of our higher selves.  

Supplies, simple instructions, links to YouTube videos, and enthusiasm will abound. Families, singles, and groups are encouraged to take this project home and come back with flocks of imagination and color.

We look forward to creating together on November 10 and 17.  Questions? Contact Linda Lutes Corsoro, lindahlutes@gmail.com.

Day Alliance

Moving from Gerrymandering to non-Partisan Redistricting

By Richard “Rip” Sullivan

Tuesday, November 12

Democratic Delegate of the 48th district Rip Sullivan will discuss the issue of gerrymandering in the State of Virginia. Each year that he has been a delegate, he has introduced legislation to remove partisanship from the process of redistricting. And, so far, the legislation has not been adopted. However, the political climate in Richmond is changing and the chances of implementing his ideas of more fairly and impartially drawing district lines have increased. Rip will explain his anti-gerrymandering approach and will discuss and answer questions about other issues that will likely be decided in the upcoming legislative session. Coffee social begins at 10:30 a.m. and the presentation begins at 11 a.m. Catered luncheon begins at noon. No reservation for the talk but is required for the lunch. To reserve for lunch, contact Gail Perfetti, gailperfetti@gmail.com. 

Looking for a Covenant Group?

 

Good news! If you missed the registration window for Covenant Groups, we have a couple of groups with openings. Two Groups that meet on first Tuesdays welcome additional members: ‘Soul Matters Single and Whole’ and ‘Soul Matters Using Circle of Trust Practices’. Both meet next week on November 5, 7 p.m. at UUCA. Covenant Groups allow us to explore our spirituality, build relationships, and provide service to UUCA and the wider community. For more information and to register, click here. Questions? Contact

uucacovgroups@gmail.com.

African American Writers' Book Sharing Circle

Friday, November 15, 7:30 p.m.

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi explores How To Be An Antiracist in his newest book, and the UUCA African American Writers’ Book Sharing Circle will share our reactions to Kendi’s ideas at our book sharing circle on November 15, in the UUCA Parlor (Room 13/15).

In his earlier book Stamped from the Beginning, Kendi introduced the terms racist, assimilationist, and antiracist. In How to Be an Antiracist, Kendi goes the next step and describes his own awakening to antiracism and how we each can learn the basics and begin to practice being antiracist in ourselves and the institutional systems around us. Perhaps you read a recent Washington Post Magazine article about Dr. Kendi and his works. Join the circle on November 15, to explore more about this Dr. Kendi and his ideas. Questions or suggestions, contact Linda Lutes, lindahlutes@gmail.com or Pat Findikoglu, patfindikoglu@gmail.com.

Happy Hour

Tuesday, November 12, 6-7:30 p.m. Fellowship Hall

Make your plans to come for the next UU Happy Hour from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12, sponsored by CHALICE THEATRE. Come and socialize a bit, have something to eat, and learn about Chalice Theatre. Learn about past productions and its bold choice for this year’s production, Alix in Wonderland, a Gender Journey Down the Rabbit Hole!  And, note auditions are Sunday and Monday, November 17 and 18!

Rock around the Block! 

A ’60’s Dance Party to Benefit Culpepper Garden

Saturday, November 16, 7–10 p.m.

Free childcare & crafts for kids

In 1969, UUCA founded the first-in-the-nation affordable living community for low-income seniors, Culpepper Garden, using five beautiful acres located just blocks from the church that were originally owned by church member and botanist Charles Culpepper. 

Today, Culpepper Garden provides award-winning housing and services to more than 350 low-income seniors. It also raises money to further subsidize the lowest-income residents of its assisted-living wing, which opened in 2000. 

To celebrate these 50 years of growth and success, UUCA is hosting a very groovy ’60s’s Dance Party to benefit Culpepper Garden. 

Music! Dancing! Silent auction! Drinks & snacks! Prizes! DJ & other performers! ’60’s garb encouraged!

Mellow ticket prices: $10 Teen; $20 Adult; $45 Adult Plus = 2 drink coupons and Culpepper Garden photo book; $100 Adult Superstar = 4 drink coupons, photo book, a photo of you, and a Superstar button! Children 12 and under free.

Meet Alianzas’ New Accompanier

and Racial Justice Champion, Christina Reyes

Christina Reyes (they/them) comes to their work as an accompanier from their activist work in the United States and Spain. Christina has helped to advance community empowerment and the understanding of LGBTQ issues. They is an advocate for immigrants and has worked with asylum seekers in California. Christina is a graduate in Political Science and Gender & Women Studies from University of California Berkeley and holds many academic awards.

Christina recently launched a scholarship fund committed to increasing the participation of people of color and low-income people of our partners in accompaniment training, Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala ( NISGUA). NISGUA is intensifying its efforts to align their network with racial justice efforts globally.

UUCA is a sponsoring community for the Accompaniers who work with front-line communities that are under various threats in Guatemala. These front-line indigenous and campesino communities are threatened with environmental devastation, criminalization of their leaders and communities, confiscation of the land as well as economic exclusion. The people our accompaniers work with fight issues of racism, economic exclusion, environmental devastation, criminalization of leaders and militarization of their communities.  

ESOL Teachers Needed

 

UUCA's ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program needs teacher/conversationalists to join their team. Knowing a foreign language is not required since our adult students already speak fair English. Our students come from Central and South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, East Asia, Central Asia, etc. They range from diplomatic staff to students to au pairs. Volunteers help students improve their English and knowledge of the USA. Classes are held Tue., Wed., Thur. 7:30-9:00 p.m. and Sat. 10:30-Noon. Volunteers teach every week, every other week or are available as substitutes. Typical class sizeis 2-6 students. For more information, contact Ric Blacksten, hricblacksten@gmail.com or 703-980-5899 (M/Text). We find ESOL volunteering rewarding, fun, and educational. Come join us!

Holiday Pageant Opportunities!

There are many ways to be involved in UUCA’s annual RE holiday pageant, which will happen during the services on December 22. We are looking for those who like to work with kids or costumes, to write scripts, or to put on a show! Maybe you've always wanted to direct? We would love to have you involved a little or a lot, particularly if you have a faith background of celebrating Hanukkah, since this year Hanukkah will begin on the day of our pageant. If interested, please contact Lisa Harper Chang, LChang@uucava.org or Amy Shepherd, AmyKateShep22@gmail.com.

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