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Single Service 'Cember Starts this Sunday, December 1st! Join us at 10:15 am on Sunday mornings...
For the entire month of December, UUCA will host only ONE Worship Service on Sunday mornings, beginning at 10:15am. Let's be together in community this season!
This single service, at 10:15am, will be available both in person and on livestream.
Seem familiar? This is the same worship format as in the summer! RE classes will meet during the 10:15 am, single service as noted in the Religious Education section.
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The UUCA Office will be closed on November 28th and November 29th. For immediate care, please contact the Care Team hotline at 703-892-2565, extension 1210. | |
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UUCA ‘Buy Nothing’ Holidays: Gift & Decor Swap
Sun. Dec 1, 11:30 - 2:30 in the Activity Room [after single service]
Please bring items in new or ‘regifting’ condition that would make good gifts (for kids or adults); holiday decor; or holiday wrapping. Let’s fight over-consumption, waste, and consumer culture! RSVP & details at the Facebook event. This event is open to the public. We need volunteers to run the event: please contact valarietbryant@gmail.com
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New to UU Classes
Curious about the UUCA community or thinking about becoming a member? Join us for our classes this January! It’s a great way to learn more, connect with others, and discover what UUCA is all about. Click this link to sign up and get all the details – we’d love to have you!
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Giving Tuesday Supports RE Tech This Year
Guess what? Our annual Giving Tuesday Campaign kicks off on Dec. 1, 2024, and we’re thrilled! This year, we’re aiming to raise $3,000 to equip our classrooms with iPads. Why iPads? They’ll enhance OWL classes, support teen programming, and empower teachers with interactive tools to bring lessons to life. Let’s make this amazing upgrade happen together! If you're eager to get started with donating, feel free by clicking this link to support our classrooms! In the meantime, stay close to our Facebook Page and Connections to stay up to date about donating!
Giving Tuesday is on December 3, 2024. See our table in Fellowship Hall after the single service this Sunday to learn more, meet our volunteers, and chat with RE staff.
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Nancy Simpson, a Unitarian for the last sixty years of her eighty-year lifespan, completed her life at Goodwin House Bailey's Crossroads on November 19, 2024. Nancy was surrounded by her family, including her husband Bob and children and grandchildren. Nancy and Bob first joined UUCA in 1966, arriving from California with a little car, a big trailer, two children and $50. Nancy and Bob then spent many years in Maryland and attending other UU congregations. Happily returning to UUCA in 2019, Nancy loved the community here, the beautifully expanded structure, the music. A memorial service is planned for early in 2025, anticipating a place in the Memorial Garden.
Joe Blair, a longtime friend of UUCA and a regular Fall Retreat participant, died on November 21. We send care to his friend Celeste Kearney, UUCA member, and to all of his friends and family including those at the Greenspring community. Joe's funeral service will be on Tues, December 3rd at 2pm, at the United Church of Christ on Little River Turnpike, Annandale.
If you have personal news to share, such as births, graduations, special moments, or challenges, email careteam@uucava.org for support, or communications@uucava.org with announcements.
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Can WE Help YOU?
Care Team Hotline: 703-892-2565, extension 1210 | careteam@ucava.org
One of the questions you might ask is, “How do the people at UUCA look out for one another?” At UUCA we have created a network of caring connections that will provide a supportive, compassionate presence when you may be struggling, alone, or in pain.
Our Care Team responds to concerns through careful listening, checks on you if you are ill and need help, and is there to help you through life’s transitions. They can also provide food and other support services when you need an extra helping hand.
Our UUCA Ministers offer that unique spiritual guidance you might be looking for. Both are here with one-2-one support when you need it. You can reach them directly: Rev. Amanda (apoppei@uucava.org) or Rev. CTC (revctc@uucava.org) or by calling the church office at 703-892-2565
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More events listed below.
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Lifespan Faith Development | |
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Religious Education
This Week in Religious Education
All Religious Education classes will meet this coming Sunday.
8th Grade OWL and Teen Group all meet this coming Sunday as well.
Coming of Age will not meet- 9th graders are encouraged to join Teen Group this week.
Childcare is available for littles 2 years and younger in Room 3.
Here at UUCA we offer several ways kids can enjoy their time at UUCA:
- Spirit Space: For kids 4 years and younger at the front of the Sanctuary.
- Fellowship Hall: Play space for toddlers and kids of all ages. Puzzles and coloring sheets for anyone!
If you are new to our community, please register your children and teens here. This will add you to our mailing list.
Need volunteers for 7th Grade RE
We still need one volunteer in our 7th grade Crossing Paths class. Crossing Paths is a year-long exploration of other faith traditions. Participants visit area places of worship and reflect on the experience and learning. Commitment is 2 Sundays per month. Contact LeeAnn for more information.
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Seminary for a Day
Experience a day of inspiration, learning, and connection on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. Gather with UU faith leaders from across the country, including Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt, as they lead workshops, worship, and fellowship focused on issues that matter most to our faith today. Our diverse and powerful tradition will guide us as we explore how Unitarian Universalism can meet the challenges of our time. Join us!
Visit this form to receive updates and registration information.
Seminary for a Day, UUCA 2/1/2025:
Because Your GPS Can’t Navigate THIS Journey
Faith 360 Registration Open
Registration for Faith 360—UUCA's adult faith development program is now open. We have a great lineup of workshops in store.
Gaming Our Faith
Games are a way into the liminal, the in-between world that bridges our reality and another. If that is true, and it is, then why do we play so few games designed to expand our religious experiences? In this class we will explore how games can give us insight into others, into our faith, and into how we want to be in the world. Ed McGrady, a professional game designer, will run the class through one or two games designed to expand horizons, and also talk about how new movements in games and gaming are making games more serious, relevant, and engaging with matters of the spirit. Materials will be provided, the class will be able to take home a journaling game that they can continue to play on their own. Refreshments will be served.
Led By: Ed McGrady
Meets: Sunday, Dec. 8
Time: Noon to 3 PM.
In person
Creating New Holiday Traditions
Have you recently experienced a life transition and are wondering how to make the holidays joyful? Maybe you are a recent empty nester, moved away from family/friends, or have experienced loss. This workshop will explore establishing new holiday traditions in this new normal. We will talk about how to incorporate well-loved traditions in new ways and introduce new ideas and activities. By the end of the workshop participants will have created a new road map for a meaningful holiday season.
Led By: LeeAnn Williams
Meets: Sunday, Dec. 8
Time: Noon to 1:30
In person
Click here for more information, the list of classes and to register.
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Getting Involved in Your Community | |
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Calling for Coffee Volunteers
I’m asking folks to serve the Congregation by committing to host coffee service on a monthly reoccurring basis. “One service -once a month”, or if you can’t commit to a regular schedule, signup for our “on call” list.
The job is pretty straightforward. First service, the team comes at 8:45 to make coffee and setup the service and stays between services to make sure everything is resupplied. 2nd service, the team comes a little before the service to make sure all is in order and then stays after for cleanup. We have detailed instructions for both jobs (UUCA Coffee instructions). In any case, with two people serving coffee for every service every week, we can ensure that you can get plenty of on-the-job training and support as you start in this role.
Interested?
Here’s the monthly calendar and sign-up for re-occurring servers: Coffee Schedule.
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Wednesday Night Peace Circles continue through December.
Root. Connect. Share. Change
LFFP invites you to join our Wednesday Night Peace Circles on Zoom! Join us to experience, learn, and practice Peace! Every other Wednesday from 7:30-8:30 PM (EDT/EST). Click here to register.
Upcoming Dates and Topics:
December 4th - Living with Hope
December 18th - Listening for Opportunity
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8637175637?pwd=N3pvcmNuZmVxaW1DT0dHTHFqVDVFdz09
Meeting ID: 863 717 5637, Passcode: peace
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Volunteer Opportunities with Little Friends for Peace
LFFP, UUCA's co-sponsor of Peace Camp, offers volunteer opportunities for all ages. Help others experience, learn and practice peace. As a volunteer with LFFP, you will have the opportunity to be part of a large community that is rooted and grounded in Peace tools and practices. Direct service opportunities include in-school and after-school programming, Peace Camps, Peace Circles. Indirect service opportunities include newsletter and social media. And enrichment opportunities include retreats, Peace Circles, and others.
To volunteer, reach out to the LFFP team at volunteer@lffp.org
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Olive Oil Ministry: Order Now
Promoting justice and peace for Palestinians and Israelis… We refuse to be enemies.
Olive Oil from Palestine has arrived in time for your holiday tables. The Ministry is a partnership between 25 congregations, including UUCA. Last year’s sales generated over $25,000 in donations for medical relief in Gaza. To learn more, click here. Place orders now for delivery before the December holidays (order form here). Contact Melissa, mnuwaysir@gmail.com or (703) 309-6300 with questions.
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Join UUCA volunteers at Arlington Food Assistance Center-- New Opportunities!
Did you know that UUCA has a long connection to the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC)? We have provided bimonthly volunteers for distribution for more than 20 years, made walls of cereal boxes, and even bagged fruit in fellowship hall. Our volunteer program has evolved as AFAC’s needs have evolved. Many years ago we regularly bagged groceries on Friday nights at the food bank – and that is coming back. Beginning in November, UUCA will again provide a group of 10-20 volunteers for about an hour to help prepare food for distribution to AFAC clients, on site at the main AFAC facility in Shirlington.
The need has never been greater – AFAC is now providing supplemental groceries to (on average) 3,464 families per week.
We are looking for new volunteers to join us for Friday evening food bagging or Saturday morning distribution. More information and the ability to signup is at this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B45ABAF2EA75-52027325-uuca
If you would like more information about how UUCA supports AFAC, please contact Denise or Burke Kappler (denise_kappler@yahoo.com, burke.kappler@gmail.com).
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Help Those Experiencing Homelessness -- New Opportunities!
In response to an outpouring of volunteer interest in the Bagged Meals program, UUCA is opening up two new opportunities for congregants of all ages to help people experiencing homelessness in our community:
1) Starting October, 4 volunteer slots will be available on the second Sunday of each month to serve hot meals to clients at the PathForward Homeless Services Center. You can sign up via the same SignUpGenius page as the Bagged Meals program (linked below).
2) In January, PathForward is once again opening their doors to UUCA volunteers of all ages to assemble bagged meals on site and tour the Homeless Services Center. Those of us who participated last year had a wonderful experience; if you haven't yet had a chance to visit PathForward and get to know their programs, please consider signing up!
You can sign up for these and other opportunities here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094BA8AA22A1F4CF8-uuca
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Polymnia Handbell Choir - Ringers Needed
The Polymnia Handbell choir is in need of substitute ringers to step-in for occasional performances during services on December 8th and continuing on a monthly basis through June. Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30pm in the Activity Room. If you might be interested in learning more about this opportunity please reach out to David Mann, Director of Music (dmann@uucava.org).
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Security System Update
As many of you already know we are in the process of replacing the existing security system. This includes a new door entry system. For those people who currently enter the church after hours using their phone, access card, or fob they will no longer work. To continue to access the church after hours please contact the facilities manager, Matt Connors, and he will re-establish your credentials. Matt’s email is mconnors@uucava.org.
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Communications Manager, Katie, Moving On
Katie Ackerman, your UUCA Communications Manager, is resigning her position. We are so grateful for her work and dedication at UUCA! As some of you know, Katie moved to Portland, OR in June and has been working remotely, so we can't gather in person to celebrate her. But please send cards and notes to the office so that we can send Katie a package of UUCA care and appreciation!
Katie writes: "Thank you so much for all the opportunities in work and relationship that you at UUCA have given me. My time here was incredibly meaningful, and I will miss supporting the good work the UUCA community does. The time has come for me to dedicate myself more fully to my personal growth and to supporting my family's needs, and to do that I need to say 'goodbye, for now' to my work here. Again, thank you for allowing me to be a part of the community."
UUCA is currently working on a transition plan and we appreciate your grace and understanding as we navigate this change. Requests for support with communications can be sent to communications@uucava.org.
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Need Help Accessing the Membership Directory?
If you're a member trying to access the directory, it's easy! Just click the Shelby link and enter your email address and password.
Forgot your password? No worries! Simply click "Forgot Password," and you'll receive a prompt to reset it.
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Hey! Are You Part of the Facebook Group?
You might have already joined UUCA's Facebook page, but did you know there is a GROUP, just for UUCA members and friends? Check it out HERE.
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BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) Affinity Group
Are you interested in being part of the UUCA BIPOC Affinity Group? This group is for our BIPOC members and friends. It is a BIPOC Sacred Space – created by and for BIPOC people.
Please complete this 1-minute survey to respond or reach out to Nicole Haley at nhaley@uucava.org.
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Send in Photos from Your Group Gatherings
Do you meet for a Book Club, Covenant Group, Adult RE, or Committee Meeting? Please, send us a photo or two! Katie would LOVE to have some photos from your groups -- both posed and informal. Just use your cell phone camera -- they are so good now -- and email them in. Please ask permission prior to taking the photos and let people know they will be used for UUCA newsletters (and possibly on the website!) If possible, include the names of those photographed. Submit photos to nhaley@uucava.org and communications@uucava.org.
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African American Book Sharing Circle
Friday, December 20, 7:00 p.m., Zoom
We will discuss The Man in My Basement by acclaimed mystery writer Walter Mosley. To save the home that has belonged to his family for generations, Charles Blakey, a young black man whose life is slowly crumbling around him, agrees to rent out his basement for the summer to a mysterious stranger.
Zoom Link
For additional information, contact Pat Findikoglu (pfindikoglu@gmail. com) or Ann Ulmschneider (aulmsch@msn.com.)
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Early American to 21st Century Black Women Writers Group
Wednesday, November 20, 7:00 p.m. Zoom Link
How have black women writers fought racism and re-imagined the world through their songs, poems, speeches, stories, and essays, from the 1740s to today? Ann Ulmschneider will introduce Dorothy Pitman Hughes (1938-2022), a pioneering Black feminist, child welfare advocate and lifelong community activist who toured the country speaking with Gloria Steinem in the 1970s.
For more information, contact Gay Gibson Cima, cimag@georgetown.edu.
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Hopepunk Book Club
Next Meeting: Thursday December 5, Boardroom
UUCA's Hopepunk Book Club reads speculative fiction that imagines positive futures and inspires hope in humanity's ability to solve our climate and justice problems.
In December we'll discuss the short story A Worm to the Wise by Marissa Lingen, which tackles soil restoration, cynicism, and land ownership. Contact valarietbryant@gmail.com for more information
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Peace in Pieces Book Club
Little Friends for Peace invites you to a new program -the Peace in Pieces Book Club, a safe and intergenerational space for middle schoolers and up.
This is not an ordinary book club. Members will come to the session prepared to share an excerpt from a novel, poem, article, or any reading relevant to that week's theme. Each piece shared will be kept in a master document! To express interest, click here and you will receive a link.
November 12th - Resources in Community
November 19th - Resisting Inequities
December 3rd - Healthy Conflict
December 10th - (LAST SESSION BEFORE WINTER BREAK) - Visions for Peace
Contact Mykala Bledsoe at mykalacree23@gwu.edu with any questions.
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Monday: Meditation and Dharma Talk
7:30 pm-8:45 pm, UUCA Activity Room and simultaneously on Zoom
A meditation and dharma talk with an opportunity for sharing afterward is offered in partnership with the Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW). Held in the Activity Room on the lower level and simultaneously on Zoom. Subscribe to the email list on the IMCW page for the event to receive the Zoom link, topics, class cancellation alerts, and private access to the recorded talks.
Contact: Stig Regli.
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Wednesday: Hour of Silence
7:30 pm-8:45 pm, UUCA Room 20 (Youth Room)
Join us in Room 20 on Wednesday evenings for an hour of in-person silent sitting and/or walking meditation or contemplation, followed by mindful discussion. We enjoy this opportunity to ground ourselves in the middle of our busy week. Please arrive a few minutes early so we can begin at 7:30, and bring what you need to be comfortable.
Contact: Suzan Chastain.
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Friday: First Light Meditation
7:00 am-7:45 am, on Zoom LINK HERE
A half-hour silent meditation with an opportunity for sharing afterward, on Zoom. Contact: David McTaggart at dmctagg@gmail.com or Gregg Forte at gforte@mac.com.
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Newsletter deadline: Connections deadline for submissions is EACH Tuesday at 10 a.m. with publication on Thursday. See below on how to submit an announcement.
How to submit an announcement to UUCA's Connections newsletter:
- Deadline is 10 a.m. each Tuesday.
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Submit article requests to communications@uucava.org, subject line: Connections
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Questions about Connections? Contact communications@uucava.org.
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