Connections Newsletter
All the news you need to know to connect, grow, and serve.
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Social Justice Sunday, September 29, 2019 | 9:15 and 11:15 a.m.
What Love Looks Like in Public
Sermon by Walter Clark, Ministerial Assistant
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Cornell West famously said, "Justice is what Love looks like in public." Often when we talk about social justice work, we talk about what we do in very specific terms, believing the reasons why we do social justice work are obvious. Walter will examine the deeply personal reasons for doing social justice work and how love can sustain us through the process.
David McTaggart is our Worship Associate. Our Intergenerational Pop-Up Ensemble will for the first time perform under the direction
Jennifer S.E. Haywood, Ph.D. Polymnia Handbell Choir, under the direction of
Ken Bissell will play for the Offertory. Music also includes
Sophia Morreale on piano,
Rachel Warne
r on flute, and
Topher Dunne
on guitar.
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Upcoming Services
October 6. Days of Awe: Inscribed in the Book of Life.
Diane Ullius, Commissioned Lay Minister.
“May you have a sweet year, and may you be inscribed in the Book of Life” is a time-honored greeting among Jews during the High Holy Days, the period between Rosh Hashanah (the New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Here at the beginning of the year 5779--September 29 through October 9 in the 2019 calendar--what might this wish mean for us and our intentions?
October 13. Welcome the Rainbow: Serious Business.
Diane Ullius, Commissioned Lay Minister.
UUCA has been a Welcoming Congregation since 1992, one of a handful in the UUA going back that far. It’s time to reexamine the role of our community of faith in living that welcome. As the Supreme Court again addresses LGBTQ rights in the work world, and as we mark National Coming Out Day, we muster again our courage to live out our values, to go beyond rainbow stickers to authentic commitment.
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Condolences to
Fred Hufford
,
Ann Ulmschneider
, and
Ellen Hufford
on the death of Fred's mother, Carolyn, on September 24. Memorial service to be held at Rock Spring Congregational Church, 3:00 p.m. on October 2.
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Cottage Meetings Update
So far more than 100 congregants have discussed UUCA’s future in Cottage Meetings as the next step in our search for a new minister. Sessions have included seven open meetings and three focus groups with Young Adults, Goodwin House residents and the UUCA staff.
More Cottage Meetings are scheduled for you to be able to hear the results of the congregational survey and give your views as to its implications for UUCA’s future and also give you the opportunity to pose questions you would like to ask ministerial candidates.
New Focus Group: Persons of Color Cottage Meeting
- Sun., Oct. 6, 10:30 a.m. This special focus group Cottage Meeting is for members, friends, and newcomers at UUCA who identify as Persons of Color. It is a way for the Ministerial Search Committee to hear your unique perspective on the implications of the survey and questions to ask ministerial candidates. Please contact Bee Moradi, moradib1@gmail.com, to sign up. Registration appreciated but not required.
Open Meetings
- Sun., Sept. 29 (Social Justice Sunday) 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Activity Room. RE parents, congregants interested in social justice and Covenant Group participants are especially encouraged to attend. Childcare provided.
- Sun., Oct. 12:30 p.m. Activity Room. A wrap-up session that will include a summary of congregant views so far.
Please
sign up here
for these open meetings; registration appreciated but not required.
More Focus Groups
- Thur., Sept. 26, 6:30 p.m. Center. Music community (choir and bells)
- Sun., Oct. 6, 10:30 a.m. Room 16. Persons of Color
- Tue., Oct. 8, 7 p.m. Board Room. UUCA Board members
- Sun., Oct. 13, 11 a.m. Youth Group
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Board Update
Expectations for the Year Ahead
Fall Greetings!
The sharp cool air is a welcome shift away from the heat waves of this summer. It is a time to move into action on all fronts: work, school, home and of course church. The summer was not one of rest and relaxation for the Board! At our Board Retreat in August we reviewed our current Mission Statement and discussed how we might expand on these core ideas to create a Statement of Purpose. This would focus on WHY we are inspired to come together as a spiritual community. The Board has asked a small group to work on this over the next month.
The key outcome of the retreat was identifying our priorities for this church year. Using all the work done last year on a number of fronts, we concluded that the Board will focus on the following:
- Long Range Financial Planning - Studying, and if feasible, conducting a capital campaign; as well as studying how we use our space and properties - Led by Hieu Nguyen and Peter Vitaliano
- 8th Principle Implementation - Identifying and dismantling our white supremacy culture to become a truly welcoming community; proactively integrating recommendations to live the 8th Principle into our spirituality, culture and institutional systems - Led by Laurel Maclaren and Becky Ross and the 8th Principle Task Force
- Board Governance Committee - Starting to implement the highest priority recommendations of the Governance Task Force - Led by Linda Lutes-Corsoro
- Deepening our Covenantal Relationship - Redefining what we covenant with each other and putting that covenant into action - Led by the Transition Team
- Spiritual Development through new adult programming - Led by Lee Ann Williams
- Leadership Development - Identifying and encouraging a larger base of leaders to build their skills and willingness to take on leadership roles - Led by Josh Mohr and the Nominating Committee
- Social Justice - Building greater coherence in our social justice programs and priorities - Led by Walter Clark and the Social Justice Council
- Ministerial Search – Offering the Search Committee all the Board’s support and help in this important effort - Led by Kelly Kohl
All of this will be done in a manner that continues the commitment of the Board to open and honest communication.
The Board is planning regular open discussion sessions, the first of which will be held between services on October 6. Please bring your questions or topics you'd like to know more about.
The Board has begun tackling these priorities with energy and enthusiasm. This will be a year of investing in the spiritual, covenantal, financial and programmatic strength of our community. We will refocus on our purpose and strengthen our foundation. We look forward to your participation in these efforts.
On a personal note, we learned this month that
Bruce Rieder
is resigning from the Board as of October 1. As you may have heard, he is facing a challenging cancer treatment process and will need to pull back from his church responsibilities. We offer Bruce and Pete the deep well of support and love of the community they have given so much to over many years. It is in times like this that we are reminded of how precious our connections are with each other.
In faith,
Linda
Linda Battaglini, Board Chair
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Please join us for these opportunities to Connect and Grow
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Sing! Play! Move! Joy!
Intergenerational Pop-Up Ensemble
Sunday, September 29, 10:30 a.m.
EVERYONE OF EVERY AGE and experience is invited to join in the first Intergenerational Pop-Up Ensemble THIS Sunday! Beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary, we'll learn an easy-to-learn South African welcome song and then sing it as the Introit for the second service at 11:15 a.m. Please note all Chalice Musicians, Troubadours, and High School musicians are always included in the Intergenerational Ensembles. This is a chance to have fun making music without a long-term commitment to a choir. Anyone can sing this Sunday. There's 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, we will use many of our newly donated instruments from the AmazonSmile wishlist. Let's make joyful music together! Questions? Contact
Jennifer S.E. Haywood, Ph.D., Children and Youth Music Leader and Intergenerational Pop-Up Leader Ensemble Conductor,
jhaywood@uucava.org
.
Please see
Jennifer’s welcome article here
, in case you missed it back in August, detailing many of the open-to-all musical possibilities she is facilitating this year.
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Play! Move! Joy!
We are so grateful for all the instrument donations to our children's music program! We will use many of the instruments on Sunday when the Intergenerational Pop-Up Ensemble takes part in the service. Come and enjoy the music making!
The link to our
AmazonSmile wishlist is still active
. The wishlist consists of all kinds of items needed by the church--office and maintenance supplies, electronics, furniture, etc. Thank you for your gifts great and small.
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What's up in Religious Education?
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Faith 360 - UUCA's New Adult Faith Development Program
The online catalog and registration is now open. Follow the link for a complete class list and descriptions. Some of the offerings:
- What Moves Us: UU Theology
- Neighboring Faiths for Teens and Adults
- Adaptive Leadership
- Where I'm From - Poetry Workshop
- Hidden Wholeness Book Discussion
- Conflict Transformation
- The Haunting of Hill House Discussion
- Spirituality Book Group - UPDATED Book list 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.
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Faith 360
Spirituality Book Group: How to be Spiritual Without Being Religious
Tuesday, October 1, 7 p.m.
Our Spirituality Book Group meets for the first time on October 1 for a conversation on the book
How to Be Spiritual Without Being Religious by D. Patrick Miller. It's a book for folks who seek a rich and authentic interior life but find formal religious affiliation unappealing. It's a short book and a great season opener. Find it online or at your favorite bookstore. No need to register. Just drop-in. Questions? Contact David McTaggart,
dmctagg@gmail.com. Next month's book:
Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller. Discussion led by Diane Ullius. Will meet on Nov. 5, 7-9 p.m. More info about the October 1 book launch
here.
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Friday Morning Devotions
Each Friday, 7-8 a.m.
Please join fellow UUCA members and friends for a half hour of silent prayer or meditation. Then, if you have time, stay for a brief sharing of whatever may be rising in your heart. Led by David McTaggart and Gregg Forte. Friday mornings from 7-8 a.m. in Room 20.
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People with Disabilities Group
Sunday, September 29, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Board Room
This informal discussion group is for for people with any kind of disability. We especially invite parents of children with disabilities to attend. Questions? Contact:
Sarah.Masters@uucava.org
.
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Shrink & Drink Happy Hour
Tuesday, October 1, 6-7:30 p.m. Center
In conjunction with Leslie Holt’s Neuroblooms exhibition, we are hosting the monthly church Happy Hour. Unlock your inner child and create a shrinky dink of your very own to take home. Please bring food or non-alcoholic drinks to share.
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Social Justice Awards Gala
Sunday, October 6, 4:00 p.m. Center Gallery
This year, UUSJ is jazzed to recognize individuals and groups who have done significant work advancing UU values through their social justice work. Please plan on attending this year's gala when UUCA members
Stephanie Thomas, Becky Ross and Paul Blackburn
are awarded the Racial Justice and Beloved Community Award for their work in UUCA's adoption of the 8th Principle. The evening includes hors d'oeuvres, a brief awards presentation and music by the jazz ensemble
Free Spirits
.
Tickets and more information here.
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Living the 8th Principle
Wednesday, October 2, 7-8:30 p.m.
Now that UUCA overwhelmingly voted to adopt the 8th Principle last March, what’s next? In May, 20+ congregants met to generate ideas--big and small--for how we can continue on our journey towards spiritual wholeness, by building a diverse, multicultural Beloved Community. Now, we are forming task teams and would like for EVERYONE to be involved! Join us on
Wednesday, October 2 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm
(room TBD). Expect an action-oriented meeting where we agree on priorities for what can be achieved this church year!
Also, keep an eye out for our table at the Social Justice Fair this Sunday, to get an idea of what we’re planning. If you want to know more about the 8
th Principle at UUCA? Facebook users will find lots of information on our
Facebook page - please follow us!
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Go small.
Grow big.
Join a Covenant Group TODAY!
Time is running short on registering for a Covenant Group, UUCA's small group ministry. Each group of 8 to 12 meet monthly at church or in homes to explore our spirituality and build relationships. Most groups meet from October to June, and participants are strongly encouraged to attend each month. A trained facilitator leads each group using videos, readings, poems, music, and other resources to enhance communication.
Most groups focus on the Soul Matters program, a curriculum developed by UU’s, that focuses on one theme a month. Other groups consider a variety of topics of interest to spiritual seekers.
Below is a list with openings and a few recently added groups:
- Single and Whole is for people interested in exploring what wholeness and spiritual growth mean outside of romantic partnerships. This is not a dating group, but an opportunity to shape and discuss our experience of living a single life, not waiting in limbo for another person to appear to make us whole, but an opportunity to ‘be with’ god/spirit/higher power/nature and community as whole and complete individuals. Meets the first Tuesdays.
- Bhagavad Gita as a guide to living. Meets Sunday afternoons.
- Circle of Trust Practices will also meet on first Tuesdays.
- Parents of Young(ish) Children group will consider Soul Matter materials as they take a break from their hectic schedules.
- Regular Soul Matters group. Meets second Tuesdays.
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Day Alliance
Watergate in Retrospect and Its Relevance in the Trump Era
Tuesday, October 8, 10:30 a.m. Coffee; 11 a.m. Presentation; 12 p.m. Luncheon
Max Holland, author of
Leak: Why Mark Felt Became Deep Throat
, will talk about Watergate and its significance and relevance in this time of the presidency of Donald J. Trump. Max has spent his journalistic career separating truth from fiction, in books such as: “The Kennedy Assassination Tapes”. Max was the lead consultant for a National Geographic Television documentary about the Kennedy assassination entitled: “JFK: The LoPerst Bullet”.
There will be a book signing. No reservation needed for the talk though reservations are needed for the luncheon. To reserve, contact Gail Perfetti,
gailperfetti@gmail.com.
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Faith 360
Music and Mandalas
2nd Wednesdays, Begins October 9, 7-8:30 p.m.
Self-drawn mandalas are a way to individually and communally express what depicts conscious and sub-conscious thoughts and ideas that can illuminate our minds, bringing healing to body and soul! We will use music therapeutically and spiritually to explore your questions/intentions and have an opportunity to draw your own mandala followed by optional sharing. Supplies provided. Led by
Sophia Morreale, Interim Music Director.
Register here.
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Climate Strike
UUCAers (included many youth) took part in last Friday's Climate Strike in Washington DC.
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Please join us in these opportunities to Serve
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Young Adult AFAC Bagging
Saturday, September 28, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Location:
AFAC, 2708 S. Nelson St., Arlington
Young Adults will volunteer at Arlington Food Assistant Center (AFAC) on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 12:30 to 2:30. Please meet at AFAC. Also, wear closed toed shoes and bring a head covering (hat or scarf and avoid wearing health depte.
Young Adults volunteer the 4th Saturday of the month at AFAC. So, if you are unable to join us this month, we would love to see you in October.
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English Teachers Needed
We need volunteers for our ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program especially on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings (and not necessarily every week.) Students already speak English. Volunteers help students improve English grammar, pronunciation, and knowledge of us Americans and the USA. Many of our students currently come from Central America, but we have students from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, South Korea, Taiwan, Russia, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Morroco, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Sudan, Mali, China, Mexico, etc. There is no textbook, no homework, and students can just drop in when they wish. You'll learn a lot from the students, who range from au pairs to embassy staff to physicians to visiting scholars! ESOL classes are held Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 7:30-9:00 p.m. and Saturday mornings 10:30-Noon. For more information contact
Ric Blacksten
,
hricblacksten@gmail.com
or 703-980-5899 (M/Text).
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UUCA's Birthday Bash was a blast!
What a joyful celebration we had last Sunday celebrating 71 years of our beloved community! Below is a short video that gives a small glimpse of the wonderful time had by all. Enjoy!
A
HUGE THANK YOU goes to
Barbara Buzzell and her team of volunteers for bringing it all together and making it happen!
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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.
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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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Thank you for using
this link
when shopping Amazon.
UUCA benefits each time you shop.
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Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, VA
4444 Arlington Blvd
Arlington, Virginia
Call: (703) 892-2565
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