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

Sunday, November 17, 2019 | 9:15 & 11:15 a.m. Toxic Masculinity With Walter Clark, UUCA Ministerial Assistant and Charles Brown, Guest Speaker The #MeToo movement brought toxic behaviors of men into the spotlight. This has left many men wondering what it means to be male in this world. Walter Clark and Charles Brown explore ideas of masculinity and how it can be sacred instead of toxic. Amy Shields is the Worship Associate. Our friend Charles Brown is a guest speaker and guest Music Ministry Associate. The Charles Brown Men's Quartet will provide our music. Livestream

Upcoming Services Sunday, November 24, 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. “An Attitude of Gratitude” – with Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley, Interim Senior Minister, and Walter Clark, Ministerial Assistant. Sunday, December 1, 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. “In Fulfillment of Dreams” – Sermon by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley, Interim Senior Minister.

Wheel of Life A memorial service to celebrate the life of Arlene Wilson will be held Saturday, November 16, 1 p.m. in our Sanctuary, with a reception to follow.

Church Matters

Season's Greetings!  From Linda Battaglini, Chair, Board of Trustees As the cold weather descends on us our thoughts turn to the upcoming holidays and get-togethers with friends and family. The leaders of our UUCA family are actively working on a number of initiatives that will strengthen our bonds with each other, free us from the burden of our mortgage payment, organize our social justice efforts, help us be more effective in our anti-racism work, and prepare us for our next Senior Minister.     First, let us stop and recognize the impact that our work had on the election--the voting districts that VOICE volunteers targeted showed between 80% and 100% increase in voter turnout! Wow! This kind of impact only happens with concerted leadership, individual efforts and reliable funding. Congratulations to all who participated!   Next, the Capital Campaign Committee is holding "Imagine If..." sessions Sundays after services in November where you can ask questions and make suggestions about what will help to make us successful in paying off our mortgage and increasing annual giving. We'd like your ideas about what more this could allow us to do as a church.  UUCA is where we come for community, find inspiration and live with purpose. We fund work that creates meaningful connections among us and with our larger work for the world. This campaign is a chance for us all to transform the energy and resources that have come into our lives into spiritual practice through our capital and annual campaigns. Please make an effort to attend one of the sessions over the next three weeks, we need your direct input.    Finally, the Board in our November 19 meeting will consider a number of important issues. This will include reviewing a draft Sr. Minister's Contract to be included in the Congregational Record being assembled by the Ministerial Search Committee. We'll have an update on the Capital Campaign and a Congregational Meeting scheduled for December 8 to vote on a plan to proceed. We'll review a board policy on how expenses are reimbursed to ministers, staff and congregants. And discuss the latest draft of a new Statement of Purpose for the congregation. We'll discuss the Undoing White Supremacy session held last week and how more board members can have access to such a session and how it might influence the board's work. The meeting is open to congregants, you may request a copy of the agenda and materials by emailing me at  linda.battaglini@gmail.com  .    In faith and love, Linda

"IMAGINE IF" SESSIONS Sunday at 9:30 a.m. just added! We've had six great "Imagine If" sessions to date, and we want to hear from RE parents! In addition to the regular sessions for the next three weeks after Sunday services, we are holding a special session this Sunday at 9:30 for RE parents. After taking your child to RE classes, please join us in the Board Room to give us your input as we establish our goals for our upcoming Capital Campaign that addresses our mortgage debt. We will finish in time for you to pick up your child from RE classes by 10:30.  Additional "Imagine If" sessions are on Sundays, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in the Board Room: November 17 November 24 December 1 Refreshments are provided at all Sunday sessions. Pizza is available for the Sunday 12:30 p.m. sessions. Childcare is provided for the 12:30 p.m. sessions on November 17 and 24 and takes place in the nursery. Please make sure your child is fed before you drop them off.

Opportunities to Connect and Grow

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.

Praying in Color Tuesday, November 12, 10—11:30 a.m., Board Room Want to pray but words escape you? Sitting still and staying focused in prayer are a challenge? Your body wants to be part of your prayer. You want a visual, concrete way to pray? Try Praying in Color—a visual way to connect with the Divine. No artistic abilities needed. This workshop will introduce you to the basics of this practice. Supplies provided or bring your favorites art supplies. Led by LeeAnn Williams.

December Spiritual Book Group Tuesday, December 3, 7-9 p.m. 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.

Conflict Transformation With Rev. Terasa - Saturday, November 16, 9 a.m.-Noon, Fellowship Hall While conflict can be scary and divisive, it is also possible for conflict, when approached in a healthy manner, to be an opportunity for growth and learning. Rev. Terasa is trained in the approach of “Conflict Transformation” that assumes that conflict is not something that can be “managed” so much as processed in a way that can be transformative. This method has been used in contexts such as the South Africa Truth and Reconciliation process, and in peace negotiations in Ireland. We will explore our own personal responses to conflict, look at what brain science has to teach us, examine system theories, and practice ways in which groups can create opportunities for healthy conversations. Nov. 16, 9 --noon. Register here.

VOICE Housing Call to Action Saturday, November 16, 8:30-9:30 a.m., County Board Meeting Room, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Ste. 300 HOUSING ACTION: Please join us this Saturday morning as local renters and VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement) clergy ask the Arlington County Board to allocate a portion of the county's $23.2 million end-of-year budget carry-over funds for new affordable housing initiatives. The Arlington County Board is listening—in fact, just last week two board members attended a VOICE listening session at which 30 Arlington residents shared stories of being squeezed out of the county by rising rents. Before the board can act on this serious request they need to see, and show the public, that there is broad support for it. Please donate an hour of your time to help us all do that. A carpool leaves from UUCA at 8 a.m. RSVP to to David McTaggart, 703-835-6944.  Kudos to Election Volunteers   Congratulations and a hearty "Thank You" to the 33 UUCA leaders who knocked on doors and made phone calls in last week’s VOICE Get-Out-the-Vote. After examining the voter turnout numbers and comparing them with the last major off-year election (2015), we’ve found that VOICE’s work effectively doubled the increase in voter participation in the two Woodbridge precincts where we worked. In the 51st district as a whole, 49% more people voted this year than did so in 2015. In the two precincts where VOICE door-knocked and called (Old Bridge and Springwoods), 91% more people voted compared with 2015. In other words, turnout increased almost twice as much in the places where VOICE was active. Kudos to all!

Origami FOLD-A-RAMA This Sunday Sunday, November 17, after each service In December, the holiday theme of "Peace" will be in the air with colorful origami doves and other birds--And it's easy for you and your family to take part in the decorating. This Sunday, join the Sacred Arts/Flower Ministry when they demonstrate how to fold doves and other paper birds. 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. Questions? Contact Linda Lutes Corsoro, lindahlutes@gmail.com.

Y9 Building a Wall Against Hunger Sunday, November 17 After both services on Sunday, our Y9 youth is building a cereal wall against food insecurity in Fellowship Hall. We need your help in collecting our goal of 700 boxes--enough for one Arlington Food Assistance Center distribution. Sunday is the last day of the drive. Thank you for bringing in as many boxes as you can! Each box will serve as the bricks in the wall against hunger!

New UU Series First & Third Sundays - Nov. 17 The New UU series is for anyone 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 Campus Tour & Partners with Facilities Manager Paul Kearney, this Sunday, November 17. No registration is needed, but contact sarah.masters@uucava.org to reserve free childcare. Upcoming Sessions: Dec. 15 Faith Development, Covenant Groups & Pastoral Care with LeeAnn Williams Jan. 5 Worship & UUCA with Rev. Terasa Jan. 19 Social Justice with Walter Clark Chalice Theatre Auditions This Weekend! November 17 & 18 Auditions for the winter production of Alix in Wonderland, a Gender Journey Down the Rabbit Hole, are THIS WEEKEND!  Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m., and Monday 6 to 9 p.m. Callbacks are Wednesday evening. Come prepared to sing a bit, move some, and perhaps do some readings from the script. More information is here.

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). 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. 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 To celebrate 50 years of growth and success of Culpepper Garden, the first-in-the-nation affordable living community for low-income seniors founded by UUCA in 1969, UUCA is hosting a very groovy ’60s’s Dance Party benefit. Music! Dancing! Silent auction! Drinks & snacks! Prizes! DJ & other performers! ’60’s garb encouraged! Tickets: $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. Buy tickets here or after services on Sunday. Questions? Contact Gregg Forte, gforte@mac.com.

MoonFire Thanksgiving Ritual Sunday, November 17, 1:30 p.m. You are welcome to join MoonFire for a Thanksgiving ritual when we reflect upon our many blessings. So many times, when we say “Thank you,” we may not really think about what we’re truly saying. This ritual will help us think about what we are thankful for, even our simplest blessings. Also, as a way of expressing thanks for our blessings, monetary donations will be accepted for children and families on a Native American reservation. A potluck and time for fellowship will follow the ritual. Please bring a dish or drink to share, along with your own plates/utensils, if possible. For further information on MoonFire, please visit www.moonfireuuca.org, or contact moonfirecoords@gmail.com.

Early American to 21st Century Black Women Writers Group Wednesday, November 20, 7-9 p.m. Welcome Room Please join us to read from a fascinating text by a remarkable woman. We'll read from the first known novel written by a black woman, The Bondswoman's Narrative . It's an unpublished 1857 text, written by a woman named Hannah Bond Vincent (1830s-?), who fled slavery in Virginia, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia, to settle in upstate New York and New Jersey. Bondswoman's Narrative is the only known unfiltered account written by a fugitive slave in this country--no white editor interfered with this text. We're a casual, welcoming group and we hope you'll join us! Contact: Gay Gibson Cima , cimag@georgetown.edu Our Stories, Our Lives November 19, 10:30 a.m. - Noon, Board Room Come to share your feelings and thoughts at "Our Stories, Our Lives," an informal group for conversation and story-telling. It meets again with a new question for reflection: "What makes something 'art'? What do you personally get--or expect--out of a piece that you consider to be art?" Feel free to plan/write a response or to speak extemporaneously; the point is just to enjoy time together.  Each participant will have 5-7 minutes. Coffee and tea will be available, and at the end of the session we'll draw next month's question out of our jar. Please join us, and invite a friend. Facilitated by Jacomina de Regt and/or Diane Ullius.

Y9/Youth Group Holiday Dessert Sale Sunday, November 24 Come hungry and ready to buy whole and sliced desserts to support the Youth Group and Y9 service trips in the spring. If you’re feeling extra generous, please consider donating a whole dessert of your own to the sale and let us know what you plan on donating. Sign up here .

Living the 8th Principle Our journey towards spiritual wholeness and a diverse, multicultural, beloved community Deepen your understanding of systemic oppression  11th Annual Northern Virginia Interfaith Transgender Day of Remembrance. Wed., Nov 20, 7 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Fairfax. A Racial Justice Guide to Thanksgiving for Educators and Families. Access great resources for the holiday here.   Further the anti-racist transformation of Unitarian Universalism  Join the final session in our fall series of anti-racism workshops, Microaggressions (led by Ann Ulmschneider) on Tues., Nov. 19, 7-9 p.m. at UUCA. Registration appreciated but not required, contact Ann Ulmschneider, aulmsch@msn.com. The Well: A Family-Friendly Retreat Tending the Wounds of Racism. Plan ahead for this UUA Summer 2020 retreat--a multi-generational gathering to facilitate spiritual healing from racism. July 24-27, 2020 at the Ferry Beach Retreat Center in the coastal town of Saco, Maine. Contact multicultural@uua.org for more information.   Show up, speak out and challenge oppression and racism in our community Speak out on affordable housing! VOICE leader Rev. Ashley will testify at the Arlington County Board meeting, asking that carry-over budget be used to address the country’s housing crisis, impacting mostly people of color. Join her to show our support! Sat., Nov. 16, 8:30-9:30 a.m., 2100 Clarendon Blvd. 3rd Floor.  Justice for Bijan. Join a vigil and call for accountability for the US Park Police killing of Bijan Ghaisar in Fairfax--on the second anniversary of his shooting. Fri., Nov. 17, 3 p.m. at the Lincoln Memorial, details here. Attend the Alexandria, Arlington, and Falls Church community meetings about the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center on November 14, 20 or 21.

Opportunities to Serve

Buckingham Cooks Sunday, November 17 Cooks from the Buckingham community will sell savory Latino fare after services on Sunday. No time to eat? They’ll provide carry out. Income from sales goes to a charity which benefits immigrants. Turkeys Needed Arlington Housing Corp. is holding a Thanksgiving dinner for the 400-member Buckingham community on Friday, November 22, but they need turkeys. Uncooked turkeys should be delivered to Gates of Ballston by November 15. Cooked turkeys may be donated on November 22. Gates is located at 4108 N. 4th St., a few blocks from the church. For more information, contact Nancy Hall, nancyrhall@hotmail.com.

Bagged-Meals for A-SPAN Sunday, November 24 (last Sunday each month) November and December are a traditional time to pause and give thanks for food, family, and abundance. But the change of seasons brings new hardships for many of our Arlington neighbors, especially those who are struggling to find a secure roof over their heads and enough food to sustain their families. On the last Sunday of every month, in partnership with A-SPAN (Arlington Street People's Assistance Network), UUCAers of all ages gather to prepare and deliver bagged meals and hot soup to homeless individuals in our community. We need your help! Please consider signing up to volunteer, either as an individual or as a family group (kids elementary age and up are welcome). The time commitment is approximately 1-2 hours, and you can sign up for as many or as few volunteer slots as you like.  Sign-ups here. Questions? Please reach out to Sarah Yue, alanandsarah@gmail.com

December Holidays

UUCA Holiday Craft Fair December 7-8 The UUCA Holiday Craft Fair, formerly Mistletoe Mall, is back at UUCA on December 7-8. Please plan to do your holiday shopping at the Fair. We’ll have jewelry, stained-glass, cards, pottery, bags, international gift items, books, wreaths, soap and candles, and much more. Artists pay to have space as well as pay a percentage of sales to UUCA, so when you shop at the Fair, you support UUCA.  We need assistance in putting up signs for the show, starting the Sunday after Thanksgiving as well as assistance in setting up the show on Friday afternoon, November 30. If you are available, please contact Mary Pike , marylpva@gmail.com to help make this UUCA fundraiser a success. Holiday Craft Party for Kids Saturday, December 7, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. This family-friendly party welcomes UUCA members, friends, and community partners for a morning of holiday crafting and visits with Santa! The kids are treated to a pizza lunch and pictures with Santa. Suggested donation: $5 per child/$10 per family. And, Santa needs help to put on the party! To volunteer, or for more information, contact Mollie Jewell, MollieJewell2@gmail.com or 703-941-5643.

Be a Secret Santa Each year, UUCA members and friends provide gifts to more than 120 needy children and adults from the Buckingham neighborhood, Beacon House and UUCA, through our Secret Santa program.  Many Helper Elves are needed to staff the Secret Santa trees--before and after Sunday services (and Monday Meditation) November 24 to December 9. Please sign up to be an elf here, and/or stop by the tree to choose a tag and buy a gift that will make someone’s holiday brighter. If you have any questions, feel free to ask the elves staffing the trees or contact the Head Elf, AKA Little Jimmy Terpstra at 703-908-9231 or  terpstrajames2@gmail.com. Children & Youth Music Ministry Holiday Pageant Pop-Up and Christmas Eve All Welcome A Special Pageant and Christmas Eve All Welcome Invitation All are welcome to the Intergenerational Pop-Up Ensemble on December 22 at 10:45 a.m. in between the pageants for sharing at the start of the second service. Also, everyone is welcome to join in music at either of the Family Christmas Eve Services--simply arrive just prior to either service and meet Jennifer on the chancel in the Sanctuary (2:50 p.m. & 4:50 p.m.). For further information, contact Jennifer S.E. Haywood, Ph.D., Children and Youth Music and Intergenerational Pop-Up Ensembles Conductor, jhaywood@gmail.com.   As always, we continue to welcome all in Chalice Musicians and Troubadours music each Sunday. Please note ages are flexible and all families are welcome to participate in either of the music classes: Sundays 10:30-11 a.m. and/or 12:30-1 p.m., in the Chapel. Please note; however, all are welcome to join in on December 22 and/or December 24 even if not currently participating in music classes.

Be a part of this year's Holiday Pageant Sunday, December 22, 9:15 & 11:15 a.m. This year's Holiday Pageant incorporates Chanukah, Kwanzaa, as well as the Nativity stories. There are a wide variety of roles available--speaking and non-speaking, dancing and non-dancing, and roles appropriate for younger children and older youth. And, adult volunteers are needed for production assistance. Rehearsals take place the morning of Saturday, December 21. Sign up here. Questions? Contact LeeAnn Williams, lwilliams@uucava.org, or Lisa Harper Chang, lchang@uucava.org.  New Years Eve Sound Blessing Ceremony & Labyrinth Walk Tuesday, December 31 Commence and consecrate the turning of the New Year in sacred space, reflection, and activation for 2020 vision! This soulful New Year’s Eve Sound Blessing Ceremony features an extended sound bath experience led by award-winning artists, Woven Green, and includes an indoor labyrinth walk and a water ceremony for centering, cleansing and renewal. Participants are invited to journey within the unified source of pure heart consciousness to initiate our collective and personal intentions for the highest good of our planet. Flyer here.

Attention Amazon shoppers . . . Just a friendly reminder that when doing your holiday shopping, please use UUCA's AmazonSmile link. For each eligible purchase, Amazon gives a donation to UUCA. UUCA's Amazon link: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/54-0519587.

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 ‌ ‌