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

Sunday, March 31, 2019 | 9:15 & 11:15 a.m. Where Harmony Lives Inspired by the promise of beloved community, Walter Clark and members of Sanctuaries leads us on a journey to “Where Harmony Lives.” Join us as we envision the beloved community we all long to see made a reality. Irv Lachow is our Worship Associate. Music is by Maya Rogers , UUCA Artist in Residence, and members of Sanctuaries. Livestream

Upcoming Services "Self-Care Sunday" - April 7, 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. "In Sickness and in Health" - Sermon by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley. There is a continuum between health and illness. We are never completely healthy, and even in the greatest distress, our bodies strive for health. They don’t always succeed and we may succumb, but otherwise, we all live somewhere on that continuum. Rather than thinking about them as separate and polar states, how can health sustain us in our illness and illness illuminate our health? Palm Sunday, April 14, 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. Service led by Rev. Robert Blinn. Easter Sunday, April 21, 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. "The Promise of the Empty Tomb" - Sermon by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley.

Self-Care Sunday: How to keep your cup full In conjunction with Rev. Terasa's sermon on April 7, In Sickness and in Health , please join us for Self-Care Sunday. Many of the RE classes will have special self-care focused programming and all are invited to attend a Self-Care Fair during the coffee hours where there will be information tables, screenings, and class offerings for all ages.  Self-care encompasses caring for our physical, emotional, and spiritual selves. To support our congregants in their self-care practices, UUCA is offering an opportunity to learn more about various self-care opportunities. As we anticipate attendees to linger longer than usual for coffee hour, we encourage those who are willing and able to park in the Mason’s lot.  Religious Education Learners will have the opportunity to experience Tae Kwon Do with Panthera Martial Arts, meditation with Insight Meditation Community of Washington, nature bathing, and yoga during the service. Then, everyone is invited to join us for coffee hour in the Center Gallery and Fellowship Hall for blood pressure screenings with community healthcare workers and first-responders, parent resources from the Arlington Public School’s Parent Resource Center, and more. Or venture downstairs to check out an interactive training, Talk Saves Lives, with Janice Stallard with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), martial arts, meditation, yoga, and a boot camp trial. Come dressed in comfortable clothing that will enable you to experience all that Self-Care Sunday has to offer. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Join us on April 7 to learn how to take care of yourself and keep your cup full, so we can continue to build our beloved community in healthy, sustainable ways. Stay tuned for more information in next week’s Connections.

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)

Church Matters

Special Congregational Meeting Sunday, March 31, 2019 – 12:30 p.m. UUCA Sanctuary A special congregational meeting will be held to vote on the adoption of the 8th Principle. *Absentee voting is also available. Members of 90 days or longer are eligible to vote. Childcare provided. Meeting Agenda 8th Principle Resolution Absentee Ballot Instructions Absentee Ballot * Absentee voters do not count toward a quorum (60 eligible voters needed). Deadline for absentee ballots is March 31, 12:15 p.m. Proxy voting not permitted. Sandwich Lunch Don't vote on an empty stomach! The Youth Group will be serving a sandwich lunch immediately following the second service. All donations will benefit their upcoming spring break service trips.

Reflections from the Board: Journey  By Andrea Ryon, Vice-Chair, Board of Trustees “All journeys have a secret destination of which the traveler is unaware”. – Martin Buber  As I reflect on this month’s Soul Matters topic, “Journey” and on my journey that has brought me to this moment in time, I consider what in my life I couldn’t have predicted years ago.  I grew up without any religious community, and certainly never would have expected that I would now be in my 21st year as a member of UUCA (or any church). Over the years, I have built many relationships here, both meeting my husband Scott and developing deep friendships. I have felt “called to action” to engage in social justice causes, to teach RE and to serve on the Board, I have experienced reflection and spiritual deepening through participation in Covenant Groups, creative arts, and the Circle of Trust retreats.   As a civil engineer, my work has been creating water and transportation infrastructure to support people’s lives and to make our communities better. I consider myself lucky that my work and my church community align in striving to make the world a better place, albeit by different approaches.   It was wonderful to see so many people at the Spring Fling on Sunday as the pledge campaign wrapped up. I’m thrilled that once again, the congregation has stepped up and pledged our financial support for the 2019-2020 church year. Thank you. This Sunday, we will consider the 8th principle together in a congregational meeting. I hope to see you there. We don’t yet know exactly where or how deeply this journey will take us, but I look forward to taking the journey together with all of you. -- a_ryon@hotmail.com

For the 8th principle, apathy is worse than a “No” vote! By Chad Ohlandt, Trustee of the Board As I hope you know by now, this Sunday after second service, we will vote on adopting the 8th Principle for our congregation and I believe you should vote “Yes.” Most of us are familiar with the argument that while “all lives matter” includes black lives, it's necessary to state that “Black Lives Matter” because of evidence that the system is not race blind. While, UUs have Seven Principles that value diversity (the first three recognize the dignity of every person, justice in human relations, and acceptance of one another) both our denomination and our church have failed and continue to fail to fully welcome diverse people in our community. The 8th Principle commits us to “journeying toward 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.” If it passes by a comfortable margin, but only 150 members vote, that suggests that over 500 of our members don’t care enough about the 8th Principle to bother. Short of explicit racism, apathy is the greatest threat to our common journey towards beloved community. Please be there or vote absentee ; the ballot just needs to get to Sarah Masters before the vote on Sunday, March 31. Perhaps you agree with the sentiment but think there is a better avenue. Maybe a UUA Statement of Witness or a General Assembly (GA) Action of Immediate Witness seems more appropriate. If you don’t know what those are, ask a former GA delegate. Racism and oppression will always be with us; they are unfortunate outcomes of human nature not balanced by love and reason. We need a principle equal to the challenge. Sincerely, Chad Ohlandt, chadohlandt@yahoo.com

Spring Fling!

Bake-Off Results Thank you to UUCA celerity judges Shaun Ryan with People’s Republic of Sweets and Katie Musser of Green Sage Catering for judging the nearly 50 entries in our first annual (?) Great UUCA Bake-Off! Thank you to all the bakers who submitted entries to make for a stiff competition and a sweet end to the Spring Fling! Congratulations to the winners!  Best Confection - Mollie Jewell Best Cake or Cupcake - Susan Young Best Pie or Pastry - Mary Ann Bolton Best Cookie or Bar - Andrea Ryon Best Kid Entry - Callen Ohlandt Most Creative - Andrea Cass and Zoe Rosso Best in Show - Finlay Kerr Best Presentation - Rev. Terasa A Sweet Success This year's Spring Fling was such a sweet success thanks to the leadership of Bruce Rieder and his many, many volunteers. Thank you! Thank you! It was a fun and fabulous evening of building beloved community. Our bodies and souls were nurtured by the delicious meal we shared together. Our spirits were lifted by the fun-filled inter-generational fellowship we had through music and dance and, yes, even a little gaming! See Sunday's lobby video for more photos and video.

2019-20 Budget Info Session A budget information session is scheduled for those interested in learning more about how the budget process comes together at UUCA and what our priorities would and could be. Date: Sunday, April 7, 1:30-3 p.m. Location: Chapel

UUCA Needs You! The UUCA Nominating Committee is in search of members to serve on the Board of Trustees as well as the Nominating Committee itself, all for two-year terms, starting in July 2019. If you are interested in learning more, nominating yourself or someone else, please stop by the Nominating Committee table after services on Sundays in March or contact the committee: UUCANomCom@gmail.com.  Serving on the Board is a meaningful way to invest in something important, make an important contribution to the Congregation, and put your ideals into practice building our Beloved Community. You can find a UUCA Board Member Position Description here.  The charge of the Nominating Committee is to nominate church members to serve in elected positions on the Board of Trustees, in other officer positions, and on special committees for presentation to the Congregation for election at the Annual Meeting in June. The Committee also works with the Board and the ministerial leadership to consider leadership development strategies for UUCA. Serving on the Committee is another meaningful way to serve, connect, and grow with UUCA, invest in our future, and help to build our community. For 2019 - 2021 terms we have four Board positions and two Nominating Committee positions to fill. We invite you to nominate yourself or someone else for the Board or Nominating Committee. The 2018-2019 members of the Nominating Committee are: Liz Fuchs (chair), Paula Bendl Smith, Nancy Hyde, Josh Mohr, James Tsai.

Sign up for April 6 AI Session

The above graphic depicts our Appreciative Inquiry session on March 24. A graphic recording will also be made at our April 6 session. When and Where Saturday, April 6, 9:30-Noon. Activity Room Topics “How do we want to be in relationship with each other and grow as a spiritual community?” and “How we want to interact with and serve the larger community?” The ideas that we raise will help shape our transition to a new Senior Minister. This is a chance to further explore what you are thinking, in structured reflection and in conversation with others.  Sign up here or at the Ministerial Search Committee table after services March 31 or by contacting Allen Keiswetter , keiswetter@aol.com .

Lifespan Religious Education

What's Up in RE This Sunday Spirit Play--Stories of Our Faith 2nd-4th--UU Superheroes 5th--Bible Studies 6th--MakerSpace 7th---Buddhism 8th--OWL 9th-12th--Youth Group 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, April 12. If you’d like to be included, please contact LeeAnn Williams, Director of Lifespan Religious Education, lwilliams@uucava.org. More RE News

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.

Building Your Own Theology This workshop is designed to provide those new to UU the opportunity to reflect on their religious history. The series addresses these issues through a combination of dialog, and writing. The culmination of this course is the development of a personal credo statement. With LeeAnn Williams and David McTaggart. Register here. Dates: Six sessions March 27, April 3, 10, 17, 24, May 1, 7-8:30 p.m. Location: Room 9

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 four-part series exploring the Enneagram. The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine Personality Types by Don Richard Riso recommended but not required. Register here. Dates: Two sessions, May 8 and May 15, 7-9 p.m.

Wheel of Life

Our condolences to the family and friends of Marjorie Singleton who died March 17. A memorial service in celebration of Marjorie will be held Saturday, April 20, 11 a.m. in the Chapel at Vinson Hall, 6251 Old Dominion Blvd., McLean, Virginia . Washington Post obituary here .

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

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

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 , Kristen Patterson, kristenpatterson@gmail.com , or Jacqueline Lotts, jlotts@gmail.com .

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

Happy Hour - April 17 Come enjoy refreshments and drinks at our April Happy Hour hosted by Alianzas. A presentation by members of the delegation that traveled to Guatemala in February (Check out their travel blog here). You'll hear about the fantastic work through a 10-year allyship between UUCA and a community organization in Guatemala, NISGUA. Through this partnership, UUCA supports human rights accompaniers and provides scholarships for Guatemalan students. Questions? Please text Kate at 734-272-3727. Date: Wednesday, April 17, 6-7:30 p.m. Location: Fellowship Hall

Bringing Out the Better Angels This past Saturday's Red/Blue workshop was an intense and wonderful time of deep listening and bridge-building among people with different political beliefs. If you missed this workshop, don't worry: there is another one coming up in just a few weeks! On May 19, UUCA will host a Better Angels workshop titled "Beyond Polarization: How Liberals Can Communicate Better With Conservatives." If you have struggled to find common ground with conservative-leaning/Republican family members, co-workers, or friends, this workshop will help you move beyond the usual arguments and develop genuine mutual understanding. To sign up, contact Sarah Yue, alanandsarah@gmail.com, or visit the registration page here .

HUUmanist Meeting iNaturalist to speak on “City Nature Challenge 2019—Exploring our Natural World in the Spring”    Dr. Margaret Fisher will talk about “iNaturalist” and its “City Nature Challenge 2019” involving local wildlife surveys, invasive and native plants, stream monitoring, and gardening for nature. Dr. Fisher is a retired physician who is one of the organizers of the Plant NOVA Natives campaign, a volunteer in the Audubon-at-Home program, the Fairfax County Invasive Management Area program, and the Fairfax Master Naturalists. All are welcome. For more info, contact Jere Cummins , jeroldcummins@gmail.com  or Kit Britton , kitbritton@gmail.com .   Date: Tuesday, April 9, 7:30 p.m. Location: Board Room

Faith in Action

Share-the-Plate March 31: Sanctuaries The Sanctuaries is a valued partner of UUCA, activating local artists of different racial and religious backgrounds to transform social division and system oppression through the arts. After being displaced from their studio due to gentrification, The Sanctuaries is currently rebuilding its Hub to provide accessible artmaking space, as well as workshops and retreats, to area youth, adults, and elders. Your financial support is greatly appreciated at this critical time. You may make donations to Sunday's STP recipient online through midnight the following Saturday. Donate here.

Gerrymandering Rally @ SCOTUS On Tuesday, March 26, Walter Clark, Nancy Brown, and Bob Denniston from UUCA, with other UUs from Fairfax, Accotink, Paint Branch, Cedar Lane and UUSJ joined demonstrators asking the the Supreme Court to rule for an end to gerrymandering.

Tell your U.S. Representative to take action on “Dream and Promise Act”    The new Congress has opportunities to act on immigration reform, especially with the introduction of HR 6, "Dream and Promise Act," which would allow DREAMers and immigrants who have been protected due to war or natural disaster in their home countries (TPS) to apply for permanent legal status. Come to our UUs for Social Jusitice ( UUSJ ) Write Here! Write Now! table this Sunday, March 31, to write a letter to your Representative urging action to help these immigrants obtain legal status and put them on a path that could ultimately lead to US citizenship. Fact sheets and supplies will be available. Or write your letter in advance and drop it off. UUs for Social Justice’s Capitol Hill Advocacy Corps will hand-deliver letters to Congress on April 9. Contact Lavona Grow, advocacy@uusj.org . Date: Sunday, March 31, after each service Location: Fellowship Hall

Robert Buckman Honored VOICE, Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement , honored UUCA member Robert Buckman by awarding him the Rev. Dr. Linda Olson Peebles "People's Award" for distinguished service to the the organization. Throughout his 15 years of leadership, Robert contributed greatly to VOICE's growth and power, thereby affecting thousands of people's lives. Robert dedicated his time to having more than 500 individual relational conversations (the radical tool of organizing), hundreds of meetings with corporate and elected officials, and to the organizing of many large public actions enabling people to assert their power for needed change. VOICE is a broad-based multi-racial, multi-faith, multi-issue, strictly non-partisan citizens' organization dedicated to making change on community issues (such as affordable housing, healthcare, immigration, criminal justice, and schools) affecting the lives of low-income, working class residents throughout Northern Virginia. UUCA is a leading member among VOICE's 50-member faith congregations. Hold this date! On Sunday afternoon, June 2, UUCA will assemble with other VOICE congregations in a 700-person action before the Arlington County board chair and the Alexandria mayor. This action will give voice to the demands of low-income marginalized people who stand to be brushed aside by the Amazon on-slot. Details to follow.

VOICE: Dismantling Racism VOICE 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.  Questions? Contact Pat Findikoglu , patfindikoglu@gmail.com ; or Jacomina de Regt , jacominaderegt@gmail.com ; or McGennis Williams , mcgennis@mcgenniswilliams.com. Date: Sunday, April 28, 1:30-3:15 p.m. Location: Center Gallery

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 . Kol Ami is a growing and caring group of Jews who believe in the continuity of Jewish spirituality in an egalitarian and interactive atmosphere that respects both the traditional and the modern. The congregation is an affiliate of the Jewish Reconstructionist movement, the fourth branch of Judaism. Kol Ami holds most events at UUCA. 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

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

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 ‌ ‌