Connections Newsletter All the news you need to know to connect, grow, and serve. NOTE: NO CONNECTIONS NEWS NOVEMBER 24

Sunday, November 4, 2018, 9:15 & 11:15 a.m. "Radical Hospitality" Sermon by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley. This is a large and thriving religious community with new people coming in each Sunday. While we have lots of processes in place to welcome visitors, I want to reflect upon what a deeper sense of hospitality might be. Growing a congregation is not just about growing in numbers. It’s about growing in spirit as well. Assisting with the service is Worship Associate D Ohlandt. Music is provided by UUCA's senior handbell choir, Polymnia, and joined by the Revolution Ringers from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fairfax (UUCF). The handbell choirs are led by Ken Bissell, UUCA Director of Handbells. Sophia Morreale is accompanist. REMINDER: Daylight savings time ends Saturday night. Turn your clocks back one hour Saturday night. Livestream

Next Sunday November 11: "Is True Forgiveness Possible?" - Sermon by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley. Upcoming Services here .

Stepping Outside the Holidays: Thanksgiving Many of us feel lost during the holiday season. While others are celebrating times with friends and family, some struggle with isolation and estrangement. If the holidays are leaving you disquieted, join us in a quiet meditative service to mark the season in a simpler way. Led by Walter Clark, Ministerial Assistant, and Mimi Bornstein, Director of Music Ministry. Date: Wednesday, November 14, 7:30 p.m. Location: Center Gallery

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)

Church Matters

Timeline Poster on UUCA Governance--November 4-17 From Policy Governance Task Force As many congregants are aware, UUCA has operated under a strict Policy Governance structure since 2004. While this approach was beneficial in allowing the Senior Minister autonomy in marshaling the staff and volunteer support to implement his vision of ministry and work toward achieving the Ends, and in ensuring the Board of Trustees was not responsible for day-to-day operational decisions, it has also had its disadvantages. As a result, the Board has established a Governance Task Force of both lay and Board members to review how we might modify our method of church leadership in order to improve how we function. One of the first steps will be examining how our church has managed itself in the past, and what worked well and didn't work well so that we can learn from those experiences. In order to get initial feedback from the congregation--both long-term and more recent members and friends--we will be creating an interactive Timeline Poster in the hallway outside the Volunteer Room and asking people to add post-it notes relating their experience interacting with church leadership over the years. The Governance Task Force members will be available to answer questions about these posters both before and after services on November 4 and 11. The posters will be displayed and available for further input during a two-week period from November 4 through November 17.  Read more.

Safety @UUCA By Tamara Srader, Chief Administrative Officer, tsrader@uucava.org I write this article with saddened awareness after two more senseless shootings in Pennsylvania and Kentucky. I specifically want to address concerns about building safety at UUCA and inform you about security plans, as we have had numerous questions in the past few days. Security has been an ongoing discussion with many parties involved.   Annie Parker, administrative event and facilities coordinator, and Paul Kearney, facilities manager, have been holding ongoing building safety training for volunteers. These training events address overall safety—location of fire extinguishers and defibrillators, use of extension cords and fire safety, etc. We will be asking all volunteer teams to attend one of these sessions. Now more than ever everyone needs a refresher. Recently we made the decision to keep the downstairs doors locked after the preschool has left for the day. Please know that this decision had everything to do with building safety. We have a large campus with many entry and exit points. We take safety seriously and thank everyone for their patience as we change the process for securing our building. In the near future we will have cameras mounted on all main entrances and exits. Read more.

Ministry Matters

In the Meantime With Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley, Interim Senior Minister Dear Ones,    How many times have we had to confront a horrific act of violence in recent years? Words often fail me after having to reflect over and over again on how to respond in the face of senseless violence. So I’d like to offer this prayer from my colleague, Rev. Larry Peers, who adapted it from the Reform Judaism Prayer Book.  “May the one who blessed the ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, bless and heal those who mourn and those who have been harmed and injured in body or spirit by the attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue. "May the Blessed Holy One be filled with compassion for their health to be restored and their strength to be revived. May God be with them in their deepest grief and send all a renewal of body and spirit. May all of us know and give more compassion as we hold the pain of these horrific acts of hate and violence in our hearts and dedicate ourselves to live the path of loving, healing and compassionate justice. Let us say, Amen.”   Rev. Terasa TCooley@uucava.org

8th Principle--Is it necessary? By Walter Clark, Ministerial Assistant We the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying towards spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural beloved community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions. The UUA has been encouraged to adopt an 8th principle. It is a principle that deals with the issues of diversity (or lack thereof) in our member congregations. It calls congregations to “dismantle racism” within our institutions, which is no easy task. In the past six years we have witnessed just how deep the institutions of racism are in the United States. It is a problem that keeps black and brown people from living with the dignity and respect that every person deserves. It keeps our schools segregated, denies people fair wages and can cost people their lives. But is an addition to the Seven Principles necessary? Read more. - WClark@uucava.org

UUCA Fundraisers

LAST CHANCE TO BUY ONLINE TICKETS! First UUCA Casino Night+ Only two more days until we can spin and win for UUCA! Here's the deal . . . Each ticket gets you $10,000 of funny money. You can win and purchase additional money throughout the night which you can apply to raffles and our mini silent and live auction of dinners and vacations. It's all about gambling for good! So bring your poker face, and the kiddos, too--There's FREE CHILDCARE. Online ticket ends Friday, November 2, at midnight. For more information and to buy your tickets, click here. Catalog available at Charityauction.bid/UUCACasino Sign up to volunteer here . Date: Saturday, November 3, 6:30-10 p.m. Location: Center Gallery & Fellowship Hall

Lifespan Religious Education

What's Up in RE This Week Preschool-1st Grade: Spirit Play Elementary Grades: UU Heroes 5th Grade: Bible Studies 6th Grade: MakerSpace 7th Grade: Classroom 8th Grade: OWL High School: Youth Group      More RE News HERE Religious Education Class Times Please note that on Sunday mornings parents and kids start worship together in our Sanctuary at 9:15/11:15. After the Time for All Ages, kids join their RE classes downstairs. Worship ends at 10:15/12:15. However, RE classes end at 10:30/12:30--in order to give our parents a few minutes of social time before picking kids up from class. We ask that parents of kids 4th grade and younger pick up kids from their RE classes. Kids 5th grade and older will be dismissed from class and are instructed to find their parents.

Order Thanksgiving Pies Get your Thanksgiving pies from the UUCA Youth Group! Order now and pick up on November 18. Order on Sundays through November 11. Your donations support the upcoming youth service trips working work with Sumi Nungwa on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona and with the Appalachian South Folklife Center in West Virginia.  PIE OPTIONS: Combo Apple and Pumpkin pies, two for $30! Mix & match Individual Pecan ($25), Pumpkin ($18), Apple ($18) Vegan, gluten-free options, etc. available upon request for $20-25. Online ordering here. Youth and members of the congregation will be making the pies from scratch. The pies will freeze well for serving on November 22. If you are interested in baking pies to support this fundraiser, contact Julia Peterson at jpeterson@uucava.org.

Faith in Action

Share-the-Plate: The Sanctuaries DC Sunday's STP offerings will go to The Sanctuaries DC, an artist cooperative in the District. The Sanctuaries just turned 5 years old and in that time it has recruited, trained, and supported hundreds of artists of intentionally different racial and spiritual backgrounds who use their artistic skills to advance social change. Founded and now co-directed by UU minister Rev. Erik W. Martinez Resly, The Sanctuaries has used art to amplify the impact of the Poor People's Campaign, Youth Climate March, March for our Lives--and has showcased historically marginalized (spiritual!) voices at the Smithsonian, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Kennedy Center, and much more. Your generous donations help them make a new home in Ft. Totten after being displaced from their studio in Ivy City due to gentrification. Donations are accepted for each week's STP recipient through the following Saturday at midnight.  Make online donations here.

Get Out the Vote Efforts

UUs GOTV In search of ways UUs can help energize voters and work for electoral justice or a guide on engaging candidates? See this list of opportunities to canvass, phone bank, and provide rides to the polls. Let UUs for Social Justice (UUSJ) know if you can provide rides at gotv@uusj.org. Check out the UUSJ Guide to Questions for Candidate 2018. The Guide includes more than 20 UU value-based questions to choose from to ask candidates for US House and Senate. It can be used by individuals, or congregations that want to gather to reflect on which issues are of most concern to them and the community and adapt or write their own questions. Questions? Contact the UUSJ GOTV team at gotv@uusj.org. VOICE GOTV Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement will launch Get Out the Vote efforts this Saturday and we still need enthusiastic volunteers. This is a great time to encourage under-served communities to get their share from our leaders.  Don’t miss the chance to make democracy work, meet new people, and share the hope that comes from joining forces to achieve a common goal. VOICE will focus on two precincts that have had low voter turnout. The teams will meet at the following locations on November 3, 4, 5 & 6:  Fairfax/Loudoun Headquarters Location: ADAMS Center, 46903 Sugarland Rd, Sterling, Va Prince William/Manassas Headquarters: First Baptist Church of Manassas 9258 Center St, Manassas, Va. Sign up: www.voice-iaf.org. Questions: jacominaderegt@gmail.com.

Pick Up Your UNICEF Boxes on Sunday Thank you to everyone who picked up their UNICEF boxes last Sunday. Boxes are still available this Sunday and they all need to be returned to the church on Sunday, November 4 or 11. UNICEF works in 190 countries and reaches millions of children with immunizations, education, health care, nutrition, safe water and sanitation, emergency relief, and more. This work is made possible by your support. Our church has made record donations of $1200;  we hope we can do as well this year. Please return all boxes to the UU-United Nations Office table in Fellowship Hall on Nov. 4 or 11. If  you have any questions or concerns, please refer them to Marietta Tanner, Envoy at Mariettan@aol.com. Register for Nov. 17 Allyship Workshop As part of our congregation's Live the Pledge campaign to end racism, UUCA is hosting another racial justice Allyship Workshop, facilitated by the local nonprofit, Service Never Sleeps. Over 200 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. More information and sign up here. UUCA contact Alex Ziehm, Alexandraziehm92@gmail.com. Date: Saturday, November 17, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Location: Activity Room

Buckingham Coat Drive It’s time to clean out our closets for our annual Buckingham coat  drive! Please bring your clean, gently-used men, women, and children’s coats and jackets to church on November 4.  Boxes will be available in the church lobbies. Many of our Buckingham neighbors are unprepared for Arlington winters and very much appreciate your donations.   Date: Sunday, November 4 Location: Upper & Lower lobbies Attn: 12x12 Artists Please bring your artwork(s) to the Board Room on Sunday, November 18, between 9-11 a.m. All artworks should be READY TO HANG with a secure hanging mechanism placed near the top of the back of each work. Also, please bring an index card with the TITLE, ARTIST, media/material, and price ($100 or less) for each work submitted. Questions? Contact Carson Herrington, ecarsonh@gmail.com. Date: Sunday, November 18, 9-11 a.m. Location: Board Room

Volunteers Needed Interfaith Thanksgiving Day Dinner  For the past several years UUCA has hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for the Buckingham community with food provided by the Knights of Columbus. UUCA volunteers are needed to help with overseeing this year's dinner (note: no cooking required!). On Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 22), the free boxed dinners are delivered to UUCA by the Knights of Columbus between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Then everyone enjoys a communal dinner together with a talent show put on by the Buckingham community. The event ends around 4 p.m. Volunteers are needed to: Be point person for opening and closing UUCA. We are asking for someone who has attended the facility safety training. Distribute the boxed dinners. Assist with the Buckingham talent show. Set-up, break-down of tables, along with clean-up in Fellowship Hall and kitchen. This sharing of our Thanksgiving tradition is a first for many of our Buckingham neighbors. And, for the veteran attendees, it's a holiday celebration they look forward to each year. For this beloved holiday tradition to continue we need 10+ volunteers. Volunteering is a wonderful way for families or groups to celebrate the true spirit of the holiday. Sign up here.

Music Ministry

UUCA Sanctuary Singers and Music Ministry Presents VACATION USA - A Cabaret Through music and song, come fly away to some of our nation's iconic vacation spots. This armchair musical trip will feature better-than-airline nosh and a cash bar. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online HERE or in Fellowship Hall on Sundays. Proceeds benefit the many UUCA church ministries. Dates: Friday, November 9, 7:30 p.m. OR Saturday, November 10, 7:30 p.m. Location: Center Gallery

NEW Inter-Generational Choir Sings Our new inter-generational choir will sing on Sunday, November 11. This choir is open to all ages and abilities and offers fun community-building opportunities without the commitment to attend regular rehearsals. Join us for same-day rehearsal (of a easy-to-learn piece) on Sunday, November 11, at 10:30 a.m. And, then we sing at the 11 a.m. service. Questions? Contact Mimi Bornstein, MimiB@uucava.org. Date: Sunday, November 11, 10:30 a.m. Location: Sanctuary UUCF Revolution Ringers Join UUCA’s Polymnia for Sunday Services The Revolution Ringers from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fairfax (UUCF) will join UUCA’s Polymnia handbell choir on Sunday, November 4, for both services. The Revolution Ringers is the handbell choir at UUCF, directed by Laura Weiss. Polymnia is the advanced handbell choir at UUCA, directed by Ken Bissell. Polymnia will also visit UUCF to join the Revolution Ringers at UUCF’s service on November 18.  UUCA’s handbell program is still accepting interested participants for all three of its handbell choirs. If you’re interested in becoming part of this musical family, contact Ken Bissell, Director of Handbells, 703-622-2849, or kenbhandbells@aol.com.

Congregational Life

Young Adult Sunday Brunch Come join other young adults (18-40) for food and conversation after second service downstairs in the Youth Room. For newcomers, it is a great opportunity to learn about what the Young Adult program has to offer! Contact Julia Peterson, jpeterson@uucava.org for more info. Date: Sunday, November 4, 12:45- 3 p.m. Location: Youth Room First Sunday Humanist Hour The First Sunday Humanist Hour is set for Sunday, November 4, 9:15 a.m., in the Chapel. We will explore two themes, starting with "The Plight of the Humanists: Godless Citizens in a Godly Republic." How do humanists live in the world as a minority non-religion? For that matter, how do UU's live in the world as a minority religion? Also, Bill Fogarty will reveal the mystery of the Five Missing Words From The UU Principles. What happened to them? Do they belong back in the Principles? Questions? Contact Bill Fogarty, wafogarty@aol.com.   Date: Sunday, November 4, 9:15 a.m. Location: Chapel

African American Book Sharing Circle This month we explore contemporary issues facing America and African Americans through a young adult debut novel-- The Hate U Give--by Angie Thomas that has received numerous acclaim: William C. Morris Award Winner, National Book Award, Longlist Printz Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Honor Book and #1 New York Times Bestseller! Starr Carter is 16 and lives in two worlds: the poor neighborhood that is her home and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. She faces a dilemma when she is becomes a witness to a fatal shooting of her childhood best friend. All are welcome. It would be great to hear from a variety of ages and viewpoints about the many issues explored in this novel. We hope to see you. Contacts: Pat Findikoglu, pfindikoglu@gmail.com or Linda Lutes Corsoro, lindahlutes@gmail.com.  Date: Friday, November 16, 7:30 p.m. Location: Welcome Room Mindfulness Silent Retreat Anna Johns, a mentor at Insight Meditation Community of Washington, will lead a daylong silent meditation retreat designed to strengthen your meditation practice. Silence helps keep our focus on cultivating mindfulness and concentration. Continuity of mindfulness is much easier when we don’t talk. The format will also include short dharma talks or instruction, mindful movement, mindful eating, journaling, Q&A and sharing. Sign up here or anna@asaya.org Date: Saturday, November 24, 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Location: Center Gallery

Day Alliance Guest Speaker A Preview of the 2019 Virginia Legislative Agenda - w/ Delegate Alfonso Lopez Everyone is welcome to attend the next Day Alliance speaker/luncheon on November 13 when State Delegate Alfonso Lopez gives a preview of the 2019 legislative agenda. Lopez represents Arlington and Fairfax residents of the 49th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. He is a lifelong Democrat and activist with over 25 years of Federal and Virginia legislative experience on issues critical to his constituents. He has served as an Obama Administration political appointee and was an Administration cabinet-level appointee during Tim Kaine’s tenure as Governor. Delegate Lopez is now in his third term in the Virginia House of Delegates and serves as the Whip of the Virginia House Democratic Caucus. Delegate Lopez is well positioned to inform us of the likely grist in the legislative mill as Virginia’s lawmakers prepare for their new session in January. Lunch is optional, though requires RSVP: h.kellum@verizon.net. Date: Tuesday, November 13, 10:30 a.m. Coffee; 11 a.m. Speaker; 12 p.m. Luncheon Location: Center Gallery

Calling all Wonks! After casting your ballots on Tuesday, November 6, join fellow UUCAers for an election returns watch party! Beginning at 7:30, we will be in the Activity Room, streaming various networks and monitoring FiveThirtyEight and Twitter for results and analysis. We expect to stay until 11 p.m., possibly longer if things get interesting! Children are welcome to come in tow and there will be table-top activities and trains for play. BYOB; snacks provided. Comfy camp chairs, kid sleeping bags, and additional eats are also welcome. If it gets late and we are ravenous, we may chip in on a pizza order. Email Annie Parker at aparker@uucava.org for more information.  Date: Tuesday, November 6, 7:30 p.m. Location: Activity Room Men's Book Group The Men's Book Group will meet on Sunday, November 11, 7:30 p.m. to discuss Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee. It was a National Book Award finalist in 2017. Copies are available in local libraries, but the waiting list is long. If there are any questions about the group and its meetings, please email Ken Marshall, kenmar42@gmail.com.  Date: Sunday, November 11, 7:30 p.m. Location: Chapel

It’s short story season in the Young Adult Divine Reading Group! In this group, we treat secular texts as sacred, trusting that by delving into the text, we will find wisdom and truth. Gather with other young adults, read the short story, then engage with the text through time-honored spiritual practices and discussion. This is a great time to try it out before we choose our next novel! Dates: Every other Thursday, 7-9 p.m. November dates: 11/1, 11/15, 11/29 Location: Youth Room November Beer, Pizza, and Questions About the Universe (BPQ) At Beer, Pizza, and Questions About the Universe (aka BPQ) young adults gather to discuss a topic engaging our morals, ethics, and intellect. Past topics have included criminal justice, productivity, and freewill. Pizza provided. Bring your own beer. (No pressure to imbibe.) Third Tuesday of each month, 7- 9 p.m. For location, check signpost near the desk by the central stairs. Date: Tuesday, November 13, 7-9 p.m.

Young Adult Service at Arlington Food Assistance Center UUCA's Young Adult group meets monthly for a service project at the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), a donation based warehouse of food that serves 2200+ families every week. All Young Adults are welcome to join in on bagging produce and food stuffs on Saturday, November 3 at AFAC.   Date: Saturday, November 3, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Location: AFAC, 2708 S. Nelson Street, Arlington Bread Baking for Thanksgiving - All Ages Welcome People of all ages and baking skills are invited to join in baking bread on Saturday, November 17, 9 a.m. 1 p.m., in the UUCA kitchen. We'll make loaves of bread which will be a part of the celebration during the service on Thanksgiving Sunday (Nov 18). We'll provide lunch, all the supplies, and the 'how to'! Join in (it's flexible - come for all or part of the time!) for this fun tradition and enjoy the mixing, kneading, loaf-shaping, and good-smelling experience with friends. Questions or RSVP to Denise Kappler, denise_kappler@yahoo.com.  Date: Saturday, November 17, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Date: UUCA Kitchen

Conflict Transformation in Action Last Saturday's Red-Blue workshop at UUCA, sponsored by Better Angels, was an extraordinary example of conflict transformation in action. Seven conservative-leaning participants and seven liberal-leaning participants, along with more than a dozen observers, joined forces for an intense day of conversations, questions, and searches for common ground. While the event received national and international media attention (including reporters and film crews from France, the Netherlands, and Facebook), the heart of the workshop was the impact it had on the participants: men and women from across the political spectrum who affirmed their common humanity and commitment to focus on what unites us all rather than what divides us. The workshop was a beautiful example of our UU Principles in action: acceptance of one another and a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. If you missed Saturday's Red-Blue workshop or its sister Skills workshop at UUCA earlier this fall, we are working on organizing another set of workshops after the New Year. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to Sarah Yue, alanandsarah@gmail.com) if you have questions or would like to learn more about the work that Better Angels is doing to bridge the political divide.

Wheel of Life

Condolences to Victor Gaberman and his sister Claudia Razzook, whose mother, Inge Gaberman, died October 15. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Inge will be on Saturday, November 10, 10 a.m., in our Sanctuary. Condolences to Libby Siegmund on the death of her brother Jim Leonard who died September 22. His memorial service was held at UUCA October 28. Condolences to Adrienne Wyker on the death of her husband, Jamie Alexander Boring.

Belated birthday wishes to UUCA's centenarians Virginia Karl and Rene Gholz on celebrating 102 years!

Congratulations to Ashley Greve and Mike Zhebrak on their wedding on October 27 in Lexington, Va.

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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.

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.

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