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

Sunday, January 12, 2020 | 9:15 & 11:15 a.m. "The Courage to Be" Sermon by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley, Interim Senior Minister As we engage in the theme of integrity this month, it strikes me that the one key element of integrity is courage. Being brave enough to act on who we are, what we see, what we believe must change. It requires us to step out in the most fearful of ways. As we look back at exemplars from the last decade, we will look at how their acts of bravery changed the world. Gail Crawford is the Worship Associate and Linda Battaglini is the Board Representative. Zoe and Emily Lachow will sing, accompanied by Sophia Morreale on piano and Topher Dunne on bass. You'll have a chance to sing with the Intergenerational Pop-Up Ensemble at the 11:15 introit. Livestream

Upcoming Services Sunday, January 19, 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. "The Theology of Justice Work" - sermon by Walter Clark, Ministerial Assistant. Sunday, January 26, 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. "Building Blocks of Community" - sermon by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley.

Wheel of Life Our condolences to Eric and Ginger Ackerman on the death of Eric's mother, Helen Ackerman, on December 31. A memorial service will be held at Goodwin House-Alexandria, Sunday, January 12, 3:00 p.m.

Ministry Matters

Social Justice Soiree Saturday, January 25, 9 a.m. - Noon    The Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington does a lot when it comes to social justice. VOICE, Alianzas, Service Never Sleeps, Peace Camp, PFLAG, Equality Virginia, UUJME, UUSJ, and the bagged lunch program are just some of the groups that work tirelessly to make the world a better place.         It’s an awful lot to keep track of. On Saturday, January 25, the Social Justice Ministries Team will host a Social Justice Soiree . It is a gathering for social justice leaders within the congregation to get together and talk about the work of their organization. To discuss with each other what things have worked well for them, what they struggle with and how we can help each other out. Everyone who cares about social justice work is invited to attend to workshop ideas and find out about the great work that this congregation is engaged in. If you have any questions, please email me (or ask me on a Sunday) and I’ll be glad to talk to you about it.  -- Walter Clark WClark@uucava.org

Membership Signing this Sunday Be Eligible to Vote for New Minister This Sunday, January 12, is your last chance to sign on as a member of UUCA in time to vote for the new minister in the spring. If you are interested in signing on Sunday, please contact Sarah Masters , DirCL@uucava.org . Requirements for membership are that you are at least 14 years of age and have made a pledge for the current church year.

Opportunities to Connect and Grow

Death Cafe: Not At All Morbid Sunday, January 12, 2-3:30 p.m. Activity Room   Join us this Sunday to talk about death. Whatever you're thinking or feeling or wondering--it's all fair game for this informal and lightly facilitated conversation. The facilitator is UUCAer Colleen Duewel, who has been part of the international Death Cafe movement for years. And yes: It's a cafe, so we'll have cake and hot beverages. No need to register: Just show up.

Racial Justice Workshop Saturday, January 18, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. As part of our congregation's commitment to end racism, UUCA is hosting another racial justice Allyship Workshop, facilitated by Service Never Sleeps. Over 200 UUCAers have already taken this training, and found it truly transformative. Now it’s your turn! This workshop will help you reflect on the causes of racial injustice, how to be an effective ally for communities of color, and how to actively influence and educate others to combat white supremacy. Registration here.

Living the 8th Principle Our journey towards spiritual wholeness and a diverse, multicultural, beloved community Deepen your understanding of systemic oppression  Rooting Out Racism is an immersive training for people who work in social service, non-profit and advocacy organizations in the DC area. Mon./Tues. Jan. 13-14 at the Eaton Workshop on K Street. Sign up here. Before We Were White is an online course by White Awake, beginning January 26. Find out more and register here. Further the anti-racist transformation of Unitarian Universalism  UUCA Allyship Training. Service Never Sleeps will offer a transformative training for our congregation on Sat., Jan. 18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sign up here.   Show up, speak out and challenge oppression and racism in our community Join Black Lives Matter DC in the Martin Luther King Day parade in Anacostia, on Monday, Jan. 20.

Registration Open for Faith 360 Faith 360 is the Adult Faith Development program we offer here at UUCA. The Unitarian Universalist faith assumes that we are always learning and growing. Personal insight, disciplined reflection, group faith exploration—all are pieces of how we support one another in bringing more depth and value to our lives. Through classes, workshops and practice groups we can help support those who are new to Unitarian Universalism while also providing seasoned UUs opportunities for spiritual growth—truly there is something for everyone.  New classes and workshops: Articulating Your UU Faith (online session available) Coming of Age for Adults Neighboring Faiths Healing Chant Spiritual Practice group Lenten Book Study series **JUST ADDED** Tea and Crafts. Join Linda Lutes and friends for this a time of fellowship and fun. Bring your current project for an afternoon of creativity and conversation. All crafts and projects welcome—knitting, crochet, sewing, beading. Don’t craft? Come anyway—you can pour the tea! Meets 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month from 1-3 in Room 13/15. Begins February 4. Cooking Together. Rev. Terasa is inviting anyone to join her for a night of cooking and eating together. Cooking can seem like a lot of pressure sometimes and so Rev. Terasa is hoping to take some of the pressure off (literally!) by offering a demo of how to use your Instant Pot! So many people have talked about getting one for Christmas and then not knowing how to use it. We will cook chili in advance of the chili cook off that Sunday. All are welcome but you must sign up in advance so we know how many to expect. There is a $10 offering requested to pay for food supplies. Friday, January 31, 6 - 8 p.m. Register at the Faith 360 table in Fellowship Hall on Sundays or online at the Faith 360 registration link .

Intergenerational Pop-Up Music Ensemble this Sunday Sunday, January 12, 10:30 a.m. This Sunday we will meet on the Sanctuary steps at 10:30 a.m. for our next Intergenerational Pop-Up Music Ensemble! All are welcome to join this “one time only" intergenerational pop-up music ensemble--no previous experience necessary :-)! For those new to our Pop-Up Music Ensemble, we meet on the stairs of the Sanctuary at 10:30 a.m. and have a 35-minute class. We welcome special guests of all ages. The Ensemble offers the music for the Introit at the start of the second service (right at 11:15 a.m.). For further information, please contact Children, Youth, and Intergenerational Music Leader Jennifer S.E. Haywood, Ph.D.,  jhaywood@uucava.org.

Ready to mobilize for 'UU the Vote' in 2020? Join Launch Event Sunday, January 12, 3:30 p.m. UUs across the country will gather as a virtual community on January 12 for the official launch of the "UU the Vote" campaign. UU's for Social Justice ( UUSJ ) members at UUCA will host a watch party from 3:30 - 6 p.m. in the Board Room for all interested in getting involved in the 2020 elections. We will form a UUCA team to organize our efforts for 'UU the Vote." The UUA is launching "UU the Vote" to support congregations and UU organizations in activating thousands of UUs to mobilize voters, counter voter suppression, and to engage in spiritually grounded, values-based issue conversations with voters in their communities. Snacks will be available. See details of the national launch at www.uua.org/justice/vote2020 . Questions? Contact David Shilton , Dshilton@aol.com .

Men's Book Group Sunday, January 12, 7:30 p.m. Chapel The fiction selection for the January 12 meeting is The Troubled Man, by Henning Mankell, the final novel in the Wallander mystery series. The group meets the second Sunday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Chapel. Newcomers are always welcome. Questions? Contact Ken Marshall, kenmar42@gmail.com. Upcoming Feb. 9 - The Rise, by Sarah Lewis. Non-fiction. Come and suggest a favorite for March! Mar. 9 - A fiction title TBA. April 12, The Killers of the Flower Moon, by David Grann. Non-fiction.

Early American to 21st Century Black Women Writers Group Wednesday, January 15, 7-9 p.m. Welcome Room Please join us to read poems by contemporary children’s author Eloise Greenfield. Greenfield has written 45 books for children, covering a wide range of subjects. We will begin with her latest book, written in verse. The Women Who Caught the Babies: A Story of African American Midwives. Through historical information, poems, illustrations, and photographs, the author shows the ways in which African American midwives have helped families over the course of hundreds of years. We will also explore other works by Greenfield, including The Great Migration, Brothers and Sisters: Family Poems, and Nathaniel Talking (raps and rhymes in a young boy’s voice). We are a casual, welcoming group and we hope you will join us. Books will be provided during the meeting. Contact Ann Ulmschneider, aulmsch@msn.com.

New UU Series Sunday, January 19, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. The New UU Series is our introductory orientation to UUCA. Offered in six stand-alone sessions, it's held on the first and third Sunday each month. Next Sunday, the topic is Social Justice with Walter Clark. No registration is needed unless you need childcare. Contact Sarah.Masters@uucava.org. Upcoming Jan. 19 - Social Justice with Walter Clark Feb. 2 - Membership, Stewardship and Belonging with Sarah Masters Feb. 16 - UU History & Theology with Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley Mar. 1 - Campus Tour & Partners with Paul Kearney Mar. 15 - Faith Development, Covenant Groups & Pastoral Care with LeeAnn Williams

MoonFire Household Protection Ritual Sunday January 19, 1:30 p.m. Thanks to everyone who came out last month for the R.E. Ministry’s and MoonFire’s Winter Solstice celebration around the fire pit, and helping us welcome back the Sun! For this month, please join us for a Household Protection ritual, where we call on Hestia, the goddess of hearth, home, and family. In ancient Greece, each city had a public hearth sacred to her, where the fire was never allowed to go out. Also known as Vesta to the Romans, Hestia ("the heart") was the first goddess invoked at festivals, and she was offered blessings at the beginning of each meal. Through guided meditation, we will connect with the concept of home and what it means to you. Afterwards, offerings and blessings will be done in honor of our homes; please bring an item that symbolizes "home" for you. As always, a potluck and time for fellowship will follow the ritual, so 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.

Craft Night Benefits Australian Animal Rescue Wednesday, January 22, 6-9 p.m. Fellowship Hall We have all seen the tragic images of the devastating fires in Australia. Looking for a way to help? Crafters of the congregation unite! We are hosting a craft night to produce pouches for displaced wallabies, kangaroos, birds, and more, as well as other requested items (as specified by the Animal Rescue Craft Guild) to help our neighbors in the Southern hemisphere. If you want to help craft or help support this work, please join us on Wednesday, January 22nd from 6-9 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. We are also looking for anyone who might be traveling to Australia to help us transport finished items directly. If you know of anyone who might be able to help with delivery, please connect them with Lisa at lchang@uucava.org.

Annual Chili Cook-Off Sunday, January 26 Brush off those chili recipes and start perfecting! The Annual Chili Cook-Off is right around the corner. Please join us as competitors, judges, volunteers, or simply chili-eaters! We need both competitors and volunteers. Please sign-up below. Proceeds benefit UUCA's Youth Group program. Enter chili competition here. Support or volunteer here.

Join the Carbon Footprint Challenge! Did you know 40% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions come from five basic household activities we do every day--electricity use, home heating, transportation, food choices, and waste (according to the 2017 EPA emissions inventory). There are affordable and accessible alternatives to all of these activities that can help stop global warming and save money. People are stepping up and setting bold goals on climate solutions. Help make UUCA a leader in these global efforts. Stop by the Climate Crisis Action Coalition table in Fellowship Hall on Sunday to learn how to calculate your carbon footprint and take action to reduce it. Look out for information about the first "Carbon Footprint Challenge" Workshop on January 24. Learn more on the CCAC’s website.

Discipline Series: It’s All Good...Until It’s Not Four Thursdays, Jan. 30 - Feb. 20, 7-8:30 p.m. Join UUCA and AUCP (Arlington Unitarian Preschool Cooperative) parents to learn new techniques for managing children's behavior so it's easier on you, and they learn independence and responsibility. This series, sponsored by AUCP, is presented by Michael Swisher, a parent educator with the Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families at the Arlington Department of Human Services. He brings 15+ years of experience training parents on managing behaviors. Join us for all four sessions or pick and choose. Each session includes discussion, reflection, and creating take-home tools and materials. These events are aimed at parents of preschool and early elementary-aged children, but are open to all. January 30: Attitudes and Aspirations - How we were raised impacts how we raise our children. We'll explore our own history, what we want for our children, and foundations of discipline. February 6: Structure and Routine - Structure is critically important for small children! The more organized we are with time, things/spaces, and expectations, the more our children will learn autonomy and responsibility. February 13: Incentives - Incentive systems can help us encourage children to do what they don’t necessarily want to do (or stop doing something we don’t want them to do). February 20: The Right Response and Consequences - How do we respond ‘in the moment’? Take home strategies and techniques; along with guidelines for appropriate consequences – all with a goal of helping children to learn, and maintaining a positive relationship between them.

More Better Angels to Come in 2020 Close to 50 UUCA congregants and community members came together on Saturday, January 4 for a Depolarizing Within workshop led by Better Angels , a nonprofit organization focused on political bridge-building. It was an engaging, thought-provoking session in which participants reflected on the current environment of distrust/ridicule/contempt between Americans with different political beliefs, and discussed how each of us can contribute, individually and collectively, to increasing mutual understanding and respect between "blue" (progressive-leaning) and "red" (conservative-leaning) members of our community. If you missed Saturday's workshop, please keep an eye out for future political depolarization workshops: UUCA's next Better Angels workshop is tentatively planned for May of this year, and the church will also host a Faith 360 course this winter called Righteous Minds: Understanding Other Political Tribes. More information and registration links coming soon! Feel free to contact Sarah Yue, alanandsarah@gmail.com for more information.

Join UUCA members and friends for a trip to Guatemala February 15-24 Meet our partners, activists, scholarship students and learn about the work of UUCA and other UU congregations in Guatemala during a once-in-a-lifetime trip of learning and inspiration. Costs of housing, transportation, and guides $800 and flights $500-600. Fluent Spanish not required. For more information, please email Kate, gallupk@gmail.com with Guatemala Trip in the subject line.

Online Registration Open - REGISTER TODAY! UUCA Peace Camp June 22-July 2

Registration is open for this summer’s UUCA Peace Camp “My Two Hands Hold the Earth, Practicing care for ourselves, each other, and our earth.” Peace Camp offers campers the opportunity to explore cooperation and conflict resolution in a safe and supportive environment. At Peace Camp, campers discover that peace begins with them. Campers (ages 5-14) can attend both weeks or just one. Online registration here.     Week 1: Mon 6/22 to Fri. 6/26 -  $325 Week 2: Mon. 6/29 to Thurs. 7/2, $275 Scholarships are available. Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with before and after-care available at additional cost. Peace Camp is a partnership between UUCA Peace Ministry and Little Friends for Peace.

Opportunities to Serve

Bagged-Meals for A-SPAN Last Sunday of each month - January 26 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 Join UUCA members and friends for a trip to Guatemala February 15-24 Meet our partners, activists, scholarship students and learn about the work of UUCA and other UU congregations in Guatemala during a once-in-a-lifetime trip of learning and inspiration. Costs of housing, transportation, and guides $800 and flights $500-600. Fluent Spanish not required. For more information, please email Kate, gallupk@gmail.com with Guatemala Trip in the subject line.

UUCA Handbell Choirs Performs Christmas Concert at Culpepper Garden

Two of UUCA’s handbell choirs – Polymnia and Crescendo – led by Ken Bissell , Director of Handbells - entertained an enthusiastic group of Culpepper Garden residents at a Christmas concert there on December 17. An annual tradition for the UUCA handbell program, the concert featured a variety of traditional holiday tunes and concluded with its popular ring-and-sing along, where handbell ringers worked one-on-one with residents to help them ring and sing several holiday classics. UUCA’s children’s music director, Jennifer S.E. Haywood, Ph.D. , also accompanied Polymnia on flute.

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 ‌ ‌