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

Sunday, September 1, 2019 | 10:15 a.m. "What's Love Got to Do With It?" What's love got to do with it? Well . . . Everything! Come and join Worship Associates David McTaggart and Irv Lachow as they lead our service in an exploration of love beyond belief! Special music is provided by Lisa Harper Chang and Jim Harper. Our story for all ages is told by Jean Aloe. Livestream

Upcoming Services Sunday, September 8, RETURN TO TWO SERVICES: 9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. “Weaving Community” with Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley and Walter Clark, Ministerial Assistant. Sunday, September 15, 9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. – “Leadership Matters” with Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley. September 22, 9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. “Past, Present and Future” with Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley.

In the Meantime By Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley, Interim Senior Minister As I have come back from my vacation in July and seen many of you in services and meetings this month, I have been reveling in the delight of knowing so many of you better and seeing so many familiar faces. Quite different than my leap into the deep end last summer! It’s been a pleasure to work along side you in this time, and I’m excited for the year to come.  The Board met in retreat last weekend and have set a very ambitious agenda for the year, and one that I think is doable. You can read about it elsewhere. I am so impressed with this new board and their willingness to step in and take leadership so quickly. Their commitment to open and honest relationships and communications, their forward looking viewpoint, their willingness to take risks, are all that we could ask for in effective leaders.  I’m also excited for the new plans for spiritual development that LeeAnn has taken the helm on. I think these practices and explorations will salve our spirits and deepen our bonds. Look for the Faith 360 program descriptions! The staff is excited to bring new folks on board and to deepen our collaborations amongst one another and with you all in the coming year.  See you in church! Rev. Terasa 

Connecting with the Search Committee What did you do on your summer vacation? By Frank Corsoro, Ministerial Search Committee Member Some of us visited exotic locales, some of us took road trips, some of us reconnected with family and friends, some of us stayed home and reflected and meditated. Quite a few of you spent some time at Chautauqua Institution in Western New York, a stone’s throw from my hometown of Dunkirk (I tell people I am from Buffalo, about 40 miles away). My wife and I had plans to spend a few days at Chautauqua ourselves, but life sometimes gets in the way. Most of my summer was spent recovering from surgery! Oh well, I hear you can live to a ripe old age minus a gall bladder--and I’ve also done quite nicely without my appendix for the past 50 years. My Unitarian Universalist faith has taught me to count my blessings, whether it be health or family or friends. Life is good. But I digress. What has your Ministerial Search Committee, which we affectionately refer to as “the MSC”, been up to this summer? That is what inquiring minds want to know. Well, let me tell you, a busy summer it has been! Read more >> 

Please join us for these opportunities to Connect and Grow 

UUCA Birthday Bash Sunday, September 22, 12:30 p.m. Mark your calendar for September 22! We are having a birthday party to commemorate the very beginnings of our beloved community when several UU families began meeting in late September of 1948. This party is for all ages! There will be events and activities for young and old and everyone in between. Music, games, a bake-off and, of course, there will be food! More info to follow.

Birthday Bash "Stepping Out Too" w/ CABOMA Sunday, September 22, 12:30 p.m. Adding to the fun and entertainment at UUCA's Birthday Bash celebration will be performances by the Capital Area Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association (CABOMA). Don't miss this chance to hear this group of experienced and novice musicians (all extremely talented) that meet here at UUCA twice a month for their music jams. The Bluegrass sound has its roots in Appalachia where immigrants drawing from their Scottish and Irish folk tunes and influenced by African American jazz and blues created their own sound that's uniquely Americana.

Introducing Faith 360 Beginning in September--Faith 360--UUCA's new adult faith development program. The online catalog and registration is now open. Some of the classes: 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 Neuro Bloom Series ONLINE CATALOG/REGISTRATION HERE. Check out the list of books for the Spirituality Book Group here.

Center Gallery Schedule This week we say good-bye to Sara Bardin's lovely flowers . Brain Blooms: Paintings by Leslie Holt - September 8 - Oct.19 Insight: Photographs by Jonathan Foust and Sculpture by Allye Farrah - Oct. 20 - Dec. 7 10 x 10: UUCA Artists Gallery Fundraiser - D ec. 14 - January 11 Center Gallery Show Nuero Blooms Mixed Media Art by Leslie Holt September 8 – October 19. Reception Sunday, Sept. 8, 12:30-2:00 p.m. Neuro Blooms is an extraordinary exhibit of mixed media work that exploits the aesthetic qualities of PET brain scans of people experiencing mental health conditions. The exhibit includes acrylic and embroidery pieces as well as large scale photography. Please plan on attending the opening reception next Sunday, September 8, 12:30-2 p.m. Also, see the Faith 360 catalog for information on the Neuro Blooms Series/Threadlines --a series of classes connecting creation with mental health. Contact: Carson Herrington , ecarsonh@gmail.com .

Bridge Group Let's Play Bridge Friday, September 6, 7 p.m. Fellowship Hall  The Round Robin Bridge Group meets on September 6 to kick off the 2019-20 season. Come with or without a partner. We will play 12 hands, update our roster, and match new players. Feel free to bring snacks or drinks. We play each month from October to April, alternating as hosts and guests. We welcome newcomers but participation does require knowledge of bridge fundamentals. Contact: billruu@yahoo.com. Men's Book Group Lucky Jim Sunday, September 8, 7:30 p.m. Youth Room The September book for discussion is Lucky Jim, by Kingsley Amis. It's regarded as one of the funniest comic novels of the 20th century. It won the 1955 Somerset Maugham Award for fiction. Newcomers are always welcome, even if you haven't read the book. You are welcome to bring any non-fiction and fiction titles you would like the group to read and discuss in future months. If there are any questions about the group and its meetings, please email Ken Marshall, kenmar42@gmail.com, or call him at 703-533-8004.

Day Alliance Second-Wave Millennials: Tapping the Potential of America's Youth Tuesday, September 10, 10:30 a.m. Center Gallery UUCA member and former Board chair Warren Wright will discuss the findings of his book entitled:  Second-Wave Millennials: Tapping the Potential of America’s Youth. Coffee social begins at 10:30 a.m. and the speaker is at 11 a.m.  Read more here.  Day Alliance Final DA Gifting Tuesday, September 10, 10:45 a.m. Center Gallery  Before the September Day Alliance guest speaker, there will be a brief business meeting at 10:45 for a vote on the proposed final gifting of Day Alliance funds. Contact: h.kellum@verizon.net.

Friday Morning Devotions Each Friday, 7 a.m. Volunteer Room  We gather for a half-hour of meditation followed by time for brief reflections. More info: dmctagg@gmail.com or gforte@mac.com.  Building Safety and Host Training Sunday, September 15, 12:15 p.m. Board Room All are welcome to this special training for building safety and event hosting. All are welcome and those in leadership roles are especially urged to attend. Please RSVP to AParker@uucava.org.

UUSJ Environmental Conference Advancing Economic & Climate Justice as a Moral Issue Sunday, September 15, 11:15 a.m. and Tuesday, September 17, 5 p.m. Washington DC Learn how individually and collectively we can help to build a movement for a New Green Deal at this advocacy and action conference on environmental justice, class and race. Attend one or both days. Scholarships available. Informational flyer here. Purchase tickets here. Calling All Handbell Ringers Whether you have been playing handbells your entire life, or have never read a note of music, there is a place for you in our handbell program! We are looking for ringers of all ages. If you are new to our congregation this is a great way to get involved with a small ensemble and create new relationships. If you have had previous ringing experience, we do have a few openings in our more advanced ensemble. For more information, please contact Ken Bissell, Director of Handbells , kenbhandbells@aol.com, or call 703-622-2849.

Children's Music and Pop-Up Ensemble Sunday, September 29 Music lovers--young and old--mark your calendar for September 29 for the beginning of our ensemble rehearsals with our new Children and Youth Music Leader and Intergenerational Pop-Up Ensemble, Jennifer Haywood . Chalice Musicians (K-4th grade) has rehearsal at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary with the Intergenerational Pop-Up Ensemble. Then October 6, regular rehearsal in the Chapel. Troubadours (5th-8th grade) begins rehearsal at 12:30 p.m. in the Chapel. Intergenerational Pop-Up Ensemble has a rehearsal beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary; then sings during the second service. Contact: Jennifer Haywood, jhaywood@uucava.org. Circle Dinners UUCA's Circle Dinners program is a delicious way to build community by sharing meals together. Participants are placed in groups of six to eight adults who arrange to meet and share a meal three to four times between November and May. Through these meals, we get to know other UUCA members and friends as well as to meet and welcome new members. There are two types of dinners to choose from: Potluck or Restaurant. Potluck group participants bring a dish to contribute to a meal in a private home. Members of the circle take turns hosting. Restaurant group participants take turns organizing the outing and selecting a restaurant for all to enjoy. If you are unable to commit to a minimum of three dinners, you can request to be placed on our substitute list. Online sign-ups begin next week. Circle Dinners is for adults only. Watch for potluck dinner opportunities offered through Religious Education for families. Contact: Jennifer Frum , frumjb@gmail.com.

Please join us for these opportunities to Serve

Join our teaching team! We still need several more volunteer teachers in order to be fully staffed for the upcoming church year. We may have to combine classes if we don't have enough teachers. The teaching commitment does not require you to teach every week--It's lead one Sunday and assist one Sunday per month. A full teaching team means a lighter lift for all members of the team. Sign up below. Here are the basics: You will be part of a team—you will not be alone! Teach just one Sunday a month and assist one other Sunday a month.  We provide you a full curriculum. Materials and supplies provided—no last-minute trips to Michael’s. Training provided—Saturday, September, 14, 9-2 p.m. Sign up today! For 9:15 service, click here. For 11:15 service, click here. Questions? See LeeAnn Williams on Sunday or contact her at LWilliams@uucava.org.

Volunteers Needed to Serve Coffee   UUCA loves coffee! Each Sunday coffee is the beverage of choice for most and we need volunteers to help with our coffee service. Help is needed with coffee prep that includes brewing the coffee, setup of the coffee station and cleanup. Volunteers serve on a team and commitment is 1 1/2 hours once a month. Our biggest need is for early birds to help with the initial setup for the first service. To volunteer, stop by the coffee station on Sunday or contact Mollie Jewell , gjewell@cox.net , 703-941-5643. Or signup online under the tab for Coffee Servers here . ESOL Teachers Needed UUCA's ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program needs volunteers to join their team. Knowing a foreign language is not required. Volunteers teach and converse with students who already speak English. Classes are held Tu-Th 7:30-9:00 p.m. and Saturday mornings 10:30-Noon. Typical class sizes are 2-6 students. For more information, contact Ric Blacksten, hricblacksten@gmail.com or 703-980-5899 (leave voice message or text).

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 ‌ ‌