Ushers: Mary Ferrand, Don Hammond, Barbara Hatheway, Andy Leighton, Bob Patrician, Christina Pheley, Bill Turner (9:15). Richard Barton, Bob Love, Eric Meaders, Jonathan Peck, Marcia Trick, Erica Wood (11:15). Book Stall: Betsy Bailey (9:15). Susan Young (11:15). Hospitality: Ann Marie Hay, Mark Smith (9:15). Charlyn Buss, Janine Finnell, Ron Teeter (11:15).  Welcome Desk: Charlyn Buss, Janine Finnell, Ron Teeter (9:15). Roberto Garcia-Saltos, Cyanne Hansen, Gretchen Menn (11:15). Greeters Upstairs: Frank Corsoro (9:15) Rosemarie Wilcox, Adelaide Eldridge, Julie Carr (11:15). Greeters Downstairs: Shay Meaders, Julie Naff (11:15). Cup Washers: Denice McCullough (9:15). Christine Hauser (11:15). Decorations: Linda Lutes Corsoro. Worship Coordinator: Jim Watson. Outside Greeters: Pat Williamson and Ken Edwards, Susan Sharpe (9:15). Andrea Ryon, Jere Cummins, Beverly Hissrich, Anne Blacksten, Susan Sharpe (11:15). Audio Tech: Jim Terpstra (9:15 & 11:15). Video Tech: John Bern (9:15).

On Sundays, if you are one that arrives late or have little ones in tow or like to keep that morning cup of joe with you, please check out the expanded seating in the Center during both of the services. You won't miss a thing - the service is live-streamed into the Center.

About Live-Streaming
Last week's live-streaming over the internet got off to a rocky start. We've been working on smoothing out the bumps and will try again this Sunday. The live-stream will be available at www.uucava.org beginning at 9:15am and 11:15am EASTERN DAYLIGHT SAVING time this Sunday, Sept 14.

Book of Life	Covenant Groups	hUUmanists	Women's Discovery
Give-the-Plate	UUCA Auction	UUCA Choirs	Chalice Theatre Season
Religious Education	Faith in Action	Decoration Team	Dig It Green
Intro to Our Faith	Men's Book Group	MoonFire Ritual	Wheel of Life

A new part of our weekly worship service is UUCA's "Book of Life."  Each week, as we say the names in our hearts, and light the candles representing our deepest hurts and joy of the soul, we will also write into the Book of Life - names, events, phrases of poems or prayers which are in our hearts - anything that feels sacred to your life.

This month, the Northern Virginia interfaith community is joining in a regional focus on the challenges of hunger and adequate housing for thousands of children, women, and men in our community. UUCA joins in this emphasis by donating the entirety of our September Sunday morning offerings to three regional agencies with whom we have longtime partnerships:  AFAC, ASPAN, and ALIVE!  These organizations help our congregation put its faith into action by providing food, housing, emergency relief, and outreach to families with children.  Needs for these kinds of  services have been increasing steadily in recent years.  This year new support is needed for families with few resources who have taken into their households hundreds of the unaccompanied minors who have traveled from Central America. Thank you for your generosity.

Children's RE (Starting this Sunday, 9/14, @ 9:15 & 11:15)

High School Youth Group (Starting this Sunday, 9/14 @ 11:15 only)

Rev. Aaron urges everyone at UUCA to join him and others in a small group which meet monthly or bi-monthly to go deeper, exploring the themes he is preaching on each week.  The themes will touch on the question "What Does It Mean to Be a People of..." with each month offering a different quality.  In September, we consider "What does it mean to be a people of promise?"  In October, we'll think about being a people of renewal, in November, grace, in December, wonder. Sign up online HERE or visit the table in Fellowship Hall on Sunday.

UUCA's yearly auction is just around the corner! Most UUCAers know the drill - we need donations and volunteers!  We are considering having a catered supper before the event, followed by the opportunity to bid on great services and stuff while supporting the Church and having fun! What could be better?  If you can help organize parts of the evening, please contact Sarah Masters or Tom O'Reilly, or sign up on Sunday at the Auction table.   For donations, (be creative!) you can sign up at the table on Sunday, email Sarah, or sign up online click here.

Unfortunately, many households in this very expensive-to-live-in area are not able to eat healthy foods due to low incomes, disabilities, complex work and family schedules, lack of transportation, special dietary needs, or other obstacles. Three organizations in the area that work to fight hunger and food insecurity are AFAC, ALIVE! and A-SPAN.  During the month of September, UUCA's Give-the-Plate will benefit these three organizations. Besides monetary support through GTP, UUCA will collect food and shelter items for each organization. Donations needed:

• FOOD. Low-sugar cereals, peanut butter, cooking oil in plastic bottles, small bags of flour, canned tuna, canned meats, low-sodium soups, pasta, etc.
• NECESSARIES. Deodorant, soap, shampoo & conditioner, disposable razors, shaving cream, combs & brushes, mouth wash, toothbrushes, toothpaste. Small sizes only.

More extensive donation lists and information are available in Fellowship Hall on Sundays during September.  Or, for A-SPAN, contact Bonnie O'Day, ; for ALIVE!, contact Ann Marie Hay; and for AFAC, contact Denise Kappler.

Arlington County has planned numerous event opportunities throughout the month for citizen education and advocacy on this critical justice issue. VOICE supports the County's focus and encourages our participation.

In particular, VOICE invites us to attend the following events:

• Friday, September 12. VOICE Salsa Dance Party fundraiser. Cafe Sazon, 4704 Columbia Pike.  7pm social, 8pm lesson, 9pm dance.
• Saturday, September 13. Bus tour of current affordable housing developments. Bus leaves Courthouse Plaza at 10am and returns by 12pm.
• Monday, September 22, 6:30-9pm. Housing Study Forum at Washington Lee High School.
• Thursday, September 30, 7-9pm. VOICE and the Arlington Interfaith Council co-host a Safety Net Forum on current demands for food assistance, healthcare and housing at UUCA.

Visit housing.arlingtonva.us or email Melissa Cohen for more information on County events. Contact our Pat Findikoglu or call 703-975-8292 with any questions regarding VOICE and its ongoing affordable housing campaign.

On  September 23, world leaders are going to New York City for a summit called by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to get governments to support an ambitious global agreement to dramatically reduce global warming pollution. On September 20 and 21 Unitarian Universalists, and people of other faiths, are meeting to make the depth of our concern clear to our world leaders. There will be a variety of activities including an interfaith service with UU Association president, Rev Peter Morales. The activities planned will culminate with a march on September 21. UUs for Social Justice is partnering with Interfaith Power and Light to provide  buses which will leave September 19 and 20. Sign up here. For information on UUCA's group that will attend, contact Lavona Grow .

Come to a Home Energy Workshop presented by Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment and Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light,  sponsored by UUCA's Green Action. The potluck is from 6 to 7pm.  Please come to both or just come for the workshop, which will cover the importance of energy efficiency and tips for saving energy in the home. Participants will learn how to evaluate different segments of the home and are encouraged to complete the Energy Start Yardstick tool to assess their home's energy efficiency and see how it compares to others.  Bring the results with you to the event for feedback and suggestions on what to do with the information.  Learn more about the Yardstick and complete yours online here.  For more information, email MJ Schmelzer or 703-524-7621.

The HUUmanist will meet on Monday night to explore one of the big questions in life: Why is there something instead of nothing? In other words: Why does the universe exist (and why are we in it)? The greatest thinkers have obsessed over the question of existence, from Buddha to Leibniz to Stephen Hawking. Come to watch a recent TED lecture by philosopher and writer Jim Holt who follows this question toward three possible answers. Or four. Or none.  Holt's lecture is not a summary of  but an expansion on his highly-acclaimed book Why Does the World Exist?  An Existential Detective Story, which the Men's Book Group is also discussing this month. So if you have read the book, there's even more to learn from this lecture.  All are welcome.  For more information, contact Jere Cummins. 

Would you like to commemorate a birth, anniversary, marriage or other event with flowers or decorations for our Sanctuary during Sunday Services?  If so, please contact Decorations Team Coordinator Linda Lutes Corsoro (or 703-919-8968) for details about how to remember or celebrate a loved one or special event.

Please join MoonFire on Sunday, September 21 at 1:30pm, to celebrate Mabon (MAY-bon), which marks the middle of the three Pagan harvest festivals.  It is a time to pause between the end of Summer and our entry into the veil that is Winter; a time to take assessment of who we are, what we have done, and what we will do.  Since our fruits are not from the ground, rather from our lives and intentions, we will engage in a working where we focus on what we have created so far in our lives, what we give and have been given, and connect our past to what we will do in the future.  The equinox is the perfect time for this work, a balance in time between the high and the low, between past and present, and between who we are and what we will become.  We will work on finding that balance, and understanding how we will ride it into the future.  (Note:  this ritual will involve sewing:  if anyone has thimbles, they would be useful to bring.)

As always, a potluck and time for fellowship will follow the ritual. Bring a dish or drink to share, along with your own plates/utensils.  For further information on MoonFire, please visit www.moonfireuuca.org or moonfirecoords@gmail.com.

All women are welcome to the Women's Discovery Group - a group for women who wish to discover new things about themselves or share past joys and sorrows.  The group will be encouraging or supporting of any individual's challenge or concern for the evening. Specific details such as dates and time will be decided at the first meeting. The date of the first meeting is to be determined. Watch this space for more information.

Chalice Theatre is expanding its footprint to better serve UUCA's mission of "Connect, Grow and Serve" by enhancing their program to include a broad variety of shows with great social and personal import.

This fall, Chalice Theatre alumna Samantha Sheahan will direct My Name is Rachel Corrie the story of how a 23-year-old activist grew in her passion for justice and died protesting the treatment of Palestinians in Gaza.  She will direct youth and young adults to tell the story. Auditions will be Sunday, September 28 with performances November 14, 15, and 16.

The winter multigenerational musical will be Children of Eden by Stephen Schwartz, and directed by Cynthia Young. Themes of family and parenting, creation and creativity, freewill and choice, and the bonds of community as reflected in the biblical stories of The Garden of Eden and Noah are carried by an absolutely beautiful musical score.  Auditions will be Sunday, November 16 and 17, and performances begin February 27.

In the spring UUCA's David Rampy will direct a staged reading of Wit, the Pulitzer Prize winning play about a woman's transformative experiences at the end of life. Auditions will be the week of March 15, and performances April 17 and 18.
    
Chalice Theatre is an inclusive multi-generational theatre program. Anyone 9 and older is invited to participate in a variety of creative ways, including as actors, singers, visual artists, and administrators. Look for upcoming information in future Connections articles. For more information, please contact Tom O'Reilly or Crystal Black.

What are those little orange or green flags, red markers, or high stakes with labels on the UUCA grounds?  Is something going on?  

Yes:  The Do It Green Grounds group are identifying native plants that live on our grounds so that we can be sure to nurture the plants and the benefits that they provide to birds, the climate, and us. The project will continue through September.  If you'd like to participate or learn more, please email Linda Lutes Corsoro or call 703-919-8968.