Connections
                    Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington

CONNECT - GROW - SERVE |  www.uucava.org
November 27, 2013
Family Guide to UUCA's
Winter Holidays
From Erica Shadowsong, Director of Religious Education

As you know, this time of year is usually packed with seasonal activities.  Many of our winter traditions will be familiar with some of you, but new to others.  We don't want any of you to miss out on these wonderful opportunities to participate in celebrations, pageants and social justice.  So, here for your convenience, is our Family Guide to Winter Holidays @ UUCA - click here.
This Sunday's Service
December 1, 9:15 & 11:15 a.m.
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"When Service Is Joy:
A New Advent"
 
with Rev. Dr. Linda Olson Peebles. In honor of Hanukkah, the congregation sings Light One Candle, an anthem of the Israeli peace movement.
Next Sunday's Service

December 8, 9:15 & 11:15 a.m.

Featured Guest Speaker:
Bill Schulz, President, UU Service Committee
"In Defense of Barbarians" - Bill Schulz will take up the cause of barbarianism and explain how you, too, may fall into that favored category or at least be allied with it. UUCA's Chamber Choir sings a Spanish song Cantar una Cancion Alegre! (Sing a Lively Song!) by Jay Althouse.
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Your Generosity

Last Sunday's special Give-the-Plate collection went to the UU Service Committee's Philippines Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund. The total collected was $6,912. UUSC and the UU Association have close ties to the Philippines and have activated emergency response efforts thanks to your generous support.
December Covenant Groups Reading - On Service

During the month of December, the theme we will be reflecting on in worship and Covenant Groups is the third part of our church vision - "Service."  The reading for reflection (click here for reading and questions) is from Bill Schulz's book In Our Own Best Interest.  How does service fit into your busy lives and your spiritual growth so that you can put your faith in to action?
December Give-the-Plates
In connection with our December theme of service, UUCA will donate the Give-the-Plate offerings to the work of VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement) and the UU Service Committee.

VOICE_LOGO VOICE educates people to find their voice -- people who have felt on the margins and powerless, and organizes them to become powerful enough to make real differences in their communities.  Since its founding in 2008, VOICE has achieved funding for dental care for poor people in Arlington and Fairfax; won a bus line to connect low-income neighborhoods with county health and human services offices; empowered communities in southern Fairfax County to build recreation facilities for children and youth; won commitments from banks to repair the damage they caused to thousands of people due to the foreclosure crisis in Prince William County.   Money raised will help VOICE fund staff for immigrant communities and pay for training for more of our low-income partners.

The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee promotes human rights and social justice in the United States and around the world. Through a combination of advocacy, education, and partnerships with grassroots organizations, UUSC promotes economic rights, advances environmental justice, defends civil liberties, and preserves the rights of people in times of humanitarian crisis.  UUSC also engages local communities through a service-learning program, JustWorks, which introduces participants to the work of our domestic and overseas partners - who are often on the front lines of addressing social-justice issues.

Ministerial Search Committee Announces Results

What is the profile for our next senior minister? Please attend one of the presentations scheduled by the Ministerial Search Committee (MSC) to find out.  The entertaining and educational report will be followed by a Question & Answer session.  Your continued participation is vital to the success of the MSC.
  • Wednesday, December 4, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. (cookies only)
  • Sunday, December 8, 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. (pizza and cookies)
  • RSVP's requested but not required - click here.   
Childcare is available, so please let us know today. To request childcare, email [email protected] (Please note that this email is ONLY for childcare requests, not for RSVP's)
More on Policy Based Governance at UUCA
From John Bohman, Chair, Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees has always functioned as the Church's governing body. We are currently using a policy-based governance model. It is an approach the Board has worked with for many years. In this transition period, the Board has focused on its renewal.

Traditionally, the Board carried out its governance responsibility by managing the Church directly. As the Church grew larger, this "hands on" approach became increasingly impractical, so the management function was separated from the Board. The governance function, however, has remained with the Board.

About ten years ago, the Board formally delegated the management function to the staff. Since then, the Board has worked to focus on setting policy, and it has tried to let staff run day-to-day operations.

The temptation for the Board has been to focus on oversight of specific staff actions, and not on policy. For example, individual staff members were required to report to the Board, in part to make sure that they were doing their jobs appropriately. Under this approach, when there was concern about the way staff was managing, the Board instructed staff members about how to do their work. This brought the Board right back into managing operations, and it made the Board more like just another reactive stakeholder, and less like a governing body.

The counter weight has been policy-based governance. Under this model, the Board articulates the results of the organization, and it holds staff accountable by monitoring whether those results are being achieved. It does not issue edicts telling staff how to achieve the results, but it does tell staff the means that cannot be used to achieve the organization's ends.

The current Board is committed to policy-based governance at UUCA. Over the past fourteen months, it has developed a completely restated set of policies. You can review these by going to the link here. There, you will find the new policy manual, which has all of the details of the current policy-based governance process. 
Did we do justice?

The final class in Rev. Keyes' history series will meet at 7 p.m. December 5 in the Board Room. Attendance at previous classes is not required. Come hear and examine stories of how our ancestors in faith led the struggles for the abolition of slavery, women's rights, civil rights, gay rights -- and how they did not! A good grounding for consideration of how this can be a multi-ethnic, pluralistic congregation. 
Lending a Helping Hand
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Helping Hands is our network of people who are willing to bring meals, offer rides, and provide other assistance in times of crisis.  If you need a hand, contact Sarah Masters or 703-892-2565, x-242.  If you'd like to offer help, fill out this form.
Fellowship X Friday Night Services
Fellowship X- social and spiritual group within serving UUs born in the '60s and '70s
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Friday, December 6, 8:00 p.m.
"An Introduction to Ethical Culture" with guest speaker Hugh Taft Morales, the leader of the Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia and the Baltimore Ethical Society, will discuss "An Introduction to Ethical Culture.'' He will tell us about the Ethical Humanist Society and also discuss how it is similar to and different from Unitarian Universalism. 

Friday, December 13, 8:00 p.m.
"Income and Social Inequality in America and Around the World"

Friday, December 20, 2013
"Our Aging Parents" - We all face the mortality of our parents, and we are at an age where many of us are dealing with this now. In this service, we will discuss how this difficult issue shapes our lives, how we deal with it, and what we can learn from it.

Friday, December 27, 2013
"Looking toward a New Year" - In this service, we will reflect on what we would like our next year to be like. What are your goals? What are your hopes and dreams? What do you want to do? Do you want something new in your life? Do you want to leave anything behind? We will consider these questions and much more.
 
For more information, contact Melissa Rea.
 hUUmanists -"Making the Manifesto: The Birth of Religious Humanism"
Monday, December 2, 7:30 p.m. - Board Room

Did you know that the American humanist movement in this country was started by Unitarian ministers in the early 1900's that culminated in the historic Humanist Manifesto of 1933 ? All this is related in the book Making the Manifesto: The Birth of Religious Humanism (2002), which will be reviewed by Jere Cummins at Monday's meeting. The book was authored by none other than William Schultz who will be the guest preacher at our Church on December 8. Mr. Shultz is past President of the UUA, and of Amnesty International, and is now president of the UU Service Committee. He was given the Humanist of the Year Award in 2000 by the American Humanist Association. For further information contact Jere Cummins.  

Holiday Events Begin with Mistletoe Mall Next Weekend

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UUCA's Annual Holiday Bazaar featuring
Area Artists & International Crafts

December 7 & 8
Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kid-friendly Activities on Saturday - 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
 
Day Alliance Holiday Program
Tuesday, December 10

Day Alliance's program in December will feature Bob Griffith, UUCA's Director of Music, and some of his merry music makers. All are welcome to join in this annual gathering of music especially performed for Day Alliance.

You are also welcome to join Day Alliance for their brief business meeting at 10:30 a.m., and the music program at 11 a.m., followed by a luncheon at noon. RSVP for lunch to Phyllis Lehner at 703-578-7688 or email Lois Czapiewski
UUCA Winter Solstice Celebration is Kid-Friendly
Saturday, December 14, 6:30-9:00 pm.


Join a 30+ year UUCA tradition by celebrating the winter holidays with your family and church friends in UU-fashion.  This kid-friendly, intergenerational program draws upon a range of traditions to celebrate the changing of the seasons and the community that sustains us through the long winter.  The evening includes festive nosh such as a Wassail bowl, cheese and crackers; plus a shared potluck dessert buffet. The program includes reading, singing, and dancing elements that engage all ages. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children payable at the door.  To sign up or for more information, send an email to [email protected].  Further information is posted on https://sites.google.com/site/uucasolstice/.
UUCA Recital Series

UUCA Holiday Events-at-a-Glance


Making your plans for the holidays? We've put together a convenient list of UUCA holiday happenings to help you plan your calendar. Click here to view or print the full-size flyer.
A Call for Action - An Invitation to Hope
Wednesday, December 11, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Equality UUCA invites you to join with other LGBT advocates and allies as we hear from  People of Faith for Equality in Virginia President Rev. Robin Gorsline and Kirsten Bokenkamp of Equality Virginia. How does the recent election impact the lives and hopes of LGBT Virginians? Learn more about Equality Virginia's legislative priorities and how you can support and participate in Equality Virginia's Day of Action and the Valentine's Day Witness for Love being organized by People of Faith.  Get informed, get involved, so Virginia can get moving toward equality for all. For more information, contact Elizabeth Fogarty.
UUCA Buddhist Fellowship
Meditation class each Monday, 7:30 p.m. - UUCA Sanctuary

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington (UUCA) has a Buddhist Fellowship that supports UU members and friends in their study and practice of Buddhism. Come on Monday nights at 7:30 p.m. to hear Jonathan Foust a well-known teacher from the Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW). Classes generally include a guided meditation, a dharma talk and/or experiential exercise. While the classes complement one another, they are also structured as independent from each other - i.e., whatever class you are able to attend should be informative and useful in and of itself. Click here for more information on UUCA's  Buddhist Fellowship.
Follow the UUCA Guatemala "Trippers"

Rev. Linda is joining a 14-member UUCA delegation to Guatemala on December 6. They will spend a week visiting the UUCA-sponsored human rights "Accompaniers" who live in towns and cities in Guatemala. Accompaniers work with victims of recent human rights violations and help them organize to secure a safe future in their country. The delegation looks forward to learning more, giving encouragement, and most of all bearing witness. If you would like to "follow" Rev. Linda in Guatemala (December 7-15), please contact her at [email protected] to receive real-time messages and photos.

Wheel of Life
Our condolences to:
  • Betts Abel on the recent death of her brother Ted Abel.
  • Ron Cherry on the death of his father.
  • Jim Terpstra on the death of his father. 

Connect, Grow, Serve with Community Partners
A-SPAN Contributions
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It's not too late to donate winter clothing or any garments in good condition to the Arlington Street People's Assistance Network. Toiletries, especially hotel give-aways, are also welcome.  Please leave items in the A-SPAN box in the upper level coatroom. Contact: Alan Krause.



Feeding Our Neighbors
soup_kitchen_volunteer_hdr.jpg UUCA  received this message from a UUCA volunteer for ASPAN (Arlington Street Peoples Assistance Network) delivering the meals prepared by UUCA families for 70 folks on a recent Sunday afternoon:

"It was bitter cold out there, but I can tell you they all appreciated it tremendously. The hot soup was especially a huge hit.

"Just so you all can appreciate what you do -- We pulled up to Rosslyn about five minutes later than usual because we gave a woman a ride from Oakland Park to Washington & Lee High School so she could take a shower with some pass issued by the county. When we got there, the line of people actually started cheering with one gentleman I've gotten to know over the years putting his arms in the air (sort of like Rocky). What you do really makes a difference."
           
If you would like to help in the UUCA commitment to help feed those served by ASPAN, please contact Bonnie O'Day.


VOICE Call to Action for Affordable Housing in Arlington
VOICE will present 10,000 signatures to members of the Arlington County Board on Thursday, December 12. Please be there to demonstrate that this issue is important to you. We will assemble on the plaza in front of the Arlington County Government building, 2100 Clarendon Blvd. between 5:45 and 6:45 p.m. A carpool will leave the UUCA parking lot at 5:15 p.m.
Register at the VOICE table in Fellowship Hall on Sunday or email Jacomina de Regt or 703- 868-7358.


'COMPANIERS, CALENDARS AND COFFEE

Visit the PAG (Partners for Arlington and Guatemala) table between the services on Sunday to learn more about UUCA's support of human rights accompaniment, purchase the 2014 NISGUA calendar (for just $15) and pick up a bag of delicious whole bean, organic, Fair Trade Guatemalan coffee ($12). All proceeds of sales benefit human rights in Guatemala.  Contact: Chris Sutton. 
Thanksgiving Blessings
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May you and yours have a blessed holiday.

Note: The church offices will be closed Friday, November 29. 

Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington
4444 Arlington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22204
703-892-2565 | This e-newsletter is published each week on Thursday. Submit announcements to [email protected] by noon on Wednesday.


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