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Service Information
Sunday, July 12, 10:15am



The Power of Solidarity
Sermon by Rev Dr Linda Olson Peebles

Our faith lives in the world
when we meet others and share hopes,
dreams, pain, and journeys. 

This Sunday, Rev Linda returns from her sabbatical, joyful to reconnect.


solidarity image  
 
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Child Dedication Ceremony July 26
We will include a Ceremony of Dedication on our service on Sunday, July 26. If you would like to have your little one included, please contact [email protected] by Tuesday, July 21.
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Stay Connected This Summer
No matter where your summer travels may take you, please stay in touch while gone.
  • You can join us in community each Sunday at 10:15am for our worship service at www.uucava.org. Also, past services can be viewed 24/7 under the "Archives" tab. 
  • Not only can you access your weekly edition of Connections in your inbox, you can also access it on the home page at www.uucava.org. 
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The Latest in Heart Balm
Come Sunday morning, be sure to stop by the Welcome Desk to pick up the latest addition to UUCA's Heart Balm cards. Sharing them with others - especially those you don't even know - is a simple way to pay it forward - A simple way to share the love.  (And, yes - now in Spanish!)
el Amor

 
Rev. Linda Back from Sabbatical

RevLinda_photo Dear UUCAers,
Thank you for the gift of time this spring. Sabbatical is a long-standing tradition in ministry, offering the chance for study, reflection, renewal. My sabbatical time was shared between two areas of my passion - 1. service to my colleagues in the UU ministry, and 2. my family.
  1. I am entering my final year as President of the UU Ministers Association (we have close to 2,000 members around the globe), and I was grateful to have time to visit with and deepen relationships with hundreds of colleagues, listening to their hopes and dreams for our faith.
  2. And, I was able to be present to meaningful transitions in my family, pondering the impact of the passage of time and strengthening relationships among the generations, the extended and growing family networks, and significant life passages. 
Now I am back at UUCA, made wiser by my sabbatical learnings, and newly excited to rejoin your ministry in this wonderful community. As I begin my 15th year with UUCA, and mark 25 years in professional UU religious leadership, my summer weeks will be filled with reconnecting and helping support all the continuing and new adventures of the spirit that are present here!
Rev Linda signature
Minister of Faith in Action
Give-the-PlateGivePlate
The James Reeb Fund
This Sunday, our offering will go to support the James Reeb Fund. This GTP collection will go to provide urgently needed support for black congregations affected by the recent rash of hate crimes. The fund was established by the UUA during the days following the death of UU minister James Reeb, who was beaten by white racists during the protests for voting and civil rights in Selma, Alabama, fifty years ago. The Reeb Fund supports the work of racial justice in our congregations and our Association, and gives us the power to respond agilely to the needs of our time. With what we collect this month, we will be able to supply immediate material needs of congregations terrorized by arson and other acts of violence. Previous and ongoing donations to the fund also promote continual congregational and association work on racial justice, voting rights, ministries to UU religious professionals of color, and interfaith organizing, especially around #BlackLivesMatterThe UUA has indicated that much of the money donated to the Reeb Fund during the month of July will be directed to an on-the-ground partner effort, the Rebuild the Churches Fund
Iftar Gathering - A Breaking of the Fast of Ramadan at UUCA
blessed-ramadan-header.jpgOur new friends - the Moroccan American Community, a local Muslim faith community that has been meeting here at our church these past weeks, invites UUCA members and friends to join them for an interfaith Iftar Gathering - a breaking of the fast of Ramadan on Saturday, July 11, 8pm. (The sunset is 8:35pm) They will share their faith traditions and answer any question you may have about the Muslim faith. Please join Rev Aaron and Rev Linda for this special gathering where we come together in the spirit of friendship and understanding to learn about each other's faiths. Special update: This breaking of the fast is not a potluck as previously announced, though a complete meal will be provided. The Moroccan American Community will provide the food. If you'd like, you may bring a small sweet (and, no beer or wine, please). 
Religious EducationReligiousEd
It's summertime - Time for Summer RE!
RE kid photo This year we have already made candy, learned about Mayan agriculture and made Spirit Play baskets. We will have the second meeting of the writing club this weekend. Budding writers will get a chance to work together with each other and with an experienced writer and editor, Betsy Rosso

On July 26, Rev Linda will conduct a child dedication ceremony.  

On August 9, we have Bee Guru's Heidi and Stefano Briguglio from Azure B, LLC, bringing their brand of chemical-free beekeeping to our church. Dana Cook will be reprising her Yoga classes for kids and Stig Regli will be doing meditation, as well. 

The entire summer is mapped in this Sign-Up Genius, so if you are interested in helping out or if your child wants to light the chalice, please sign up here. 
Writing Club Meets this Sunday during RE
Do you like writing stories? Poetry? Fables? Essays? Articles? Do you like writing but get stuck or need more encouragement? The UUCA Writing Club is for you. We are a small group of kids and adults that enjoy writing and want to share our love for it with others. No experience necessary! All are welcome! We plan to begin with three sessions this summer during RE/Church services. We hope to then continue into the fall at a different time. Interested? For more information, contact Teaghan Dunbar, Kyle Dunbar, Betsy Rosso or Ashley Egan
2015 Intergenerational JAM-BOREE
Jam-boree image This year's Jam-boree will involve **blackberries, blueberries, and peaches (if available).**
ALL AGES WELCOME, but children under 12 must be signed up with an adult. 

There are multiple opportunities (and dates) to participate and volunteer. SIGN UP HERE! Please sign up each adult and youth individually, so we can get an accurate count. Children under 12 can be included with an adult sign up.
Sign up TODAY to help in one of our many RE fall programs 
Spirit Play image


Pre-school: Letting our spirits play; story- based program.







K-3rd grade: Children learn the foundational elements of our UU theology. Read more.
Bible Studies image
4th - 5th grade: Children explore the Judeo -Christian roots.
 
 
 

6th-8th grade: Explores world religions and cultivates interfaith relationships.
Coming of Age image
 
Coming of Age: Middle schoolers explore and articulate their values and beliefs.
Our Whole Lives image
Our Whole Lives: Comprehensive age-appropriate sexuality education (K-12).
Youth Group image
Youth Group:  High school youth program growing the next generation of leaders.
RE logo

Click here to volunteer. For more information on RE, contact Ashley.
Congregational Life

New UU Class - Wed, July 15, 5:30-9pm 

UU Chalice logo Unitarian Universalism is a way of thinking and being in the world. It is a faith discipline, enriched by faith traditions, that forms the foundation for a way to live this life. It matters how we conduct our lives and work to make the world a better place. Here at UUCA we challenged to deepen our own faith principles and practices in response to our own experience and, whenever possible, to stand on the side of love. Find out more about Unitarian Universalism, and about UUCA, at our next New UU class.  The class is free, but registration is required, click hereFree childcare is available on request. Contact Sarah Masters, [email protected].  

Summer Reading for Fall Retreat
book_graphic Once again we will have two book discussions at UUCA's Fall Retreat. The books are:  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon and No God but God: The Origins, Evolution, & Future of Islam" by Reza Aslan (Random House edition updated 2011). The Retreat is at Capon Springs, WV, Sept 25-27. A few rooms are still available. If you are interested in getting more information, contact Beth Rager, 703-527-2949, or [email protected].
"Leading From Within" Introductory Retreat Registration
Leading from Within flyer Don't let the summer slip by before registering for UUCA's exciting new leadership development retreat program --   This program is an initiative supported by UUCA Endowment funds, and will be facilitated by Nancy Edmundson and Caryl Casbon, both Courage and Renewal facilitators. Based on the pioneering work of Parker J. Palmer, UUCA will offer Leading From Within to a rich diversity of leaders in our congregation. Designed to build leadership capacity that matures both the individuals and the culture they work in, we are inviting members from all of UUCA program and ministry areas to consider participating in our fall Introductory Retreat. Whether you are an established or emerging volunteer leader in any of area of UUCA's ministries, we hope you will consider this program. 

Stop by the retreat table on Sunday to learn more and take care registration (You can also register here now)

Introductory Retreat: Oct 30 - Nov 1, 2015. "Living the Questions in Congregational Leadership" will be held at Bon Secours Retreat Center in Marriottsville, Maryland. Cost of $325 covers food and lodging. Deadline for registration is September 15, 2015 and we encourage your early registration! Visit http://www.uucava.org/page/circles-of-trust for more information and online registration.

Feel free to contact Nancy at [email protected] with your questions or to express your interest in the leadership program.

You can also contact members of the Leading From Within retreat team: Cecelia Javier, Julia Meade, or Robert Buckman
Faith in Action: Connecting - Growing - ServingFaith
Climate Justice and the Environment
Sat, July 11, 9am to 1pm - All Souls Unitarian - DC
UUSJ's Green Leaders for Climate Justice and the Environment will meet at All Souls Unitarian this Saturday to put together an exciting strategy to amplify our UU commitment to Climate Justice. The Action of Immediate Witness (AIW)
 Act for a Livable Planet brought forward and promoted by area UU activists was one the the three AIWs passed by the General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association in June. At this meeting we will discuss regional implementation of the AIW. For further information, contact Bob Denniston ([email protected]; 703-524-4860).
Moral Monday Action - July 13 - All Invited
Moral Monday rally photo Rev Linda will travel to North Carolina July 12-13 to join in solidarity with the Moral Mondays justice witness. She would love to be accompanied by other UUs from UUCA and the DC region. Moral Mondays organizer Rev William Barber (NC State NAACP President) has invited UUs to travel to Winston-Salem, to be a part of a historic march on the first day of a trial, in which the NAACP is suing the state for voter suppression tactics. These tactics are race-based, have a disparate impact on voters of color, and were intentionally passed by Gov Pat McCrory, then-Speaker Thom Tillis, and Senate leader Phil Berger to suppress the votes of Black, Latino, and poor voters. This is the most important lawsuit against voter disenfranchisement in the nation. Slate, The Nation, Think Progress, and Mother Jones called North Carolina's law the "worst in the country." Because it has a wide-reaching impact not only across North Carolina but across the nation, our friends in that state tell us that North Carolina is this generation's Selma.

UUA President Rev Peter Morales will be one of the leaders at the march and speaking with us at the rally. Unitarian Universalist clergy from North Carolina have issued a call for other UUs to join them, at an interfaith service, a teach-in, and the main action. If you are interested in learning more, click here.  And let [email protected] know if you will be there!
Environmental Conversation and a Movie
Sunday, July 19, 6pm
UUCA's Green Action Team invites you to join them in watching the first episode of the acclaimed Showtime series Years of Living Dangerously -- a series on global warming that features firsthand accounts from people who have been affected by climate change, with a team of correspondents from the entertainment and news industries traveling around the world to report on effects of global warming and what people are doing to find solutions for it. The evening also includes discussions on:
  • The Climate Action for 2015 General Assembly
  • Action plans to support the Sept 20 Climate March on Washington
Welcome Martha - PAG Accompanier
PAG accompanier Welcome to Martha Schmitz, who began as the PAG (Partners for Arlington and Guatemala) Accompanier July 7. She has been in Guatemala since November studying Spanish. Martha has a BA in history and political science from University of Maryland and an MA from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in International Relations and Economics. UUCA is proud to be her sponsoring community. 

The Power of "Our" Stories
Chuck Maclane, as part of UUCA's efforts to build a more diverse congregation, is interested in fighting labels.

Chuck shared the story of his son, who was diagnosed early in life with ADD-hyperactivity and then, in college, with a bipolar disorder. He says his son's story is a story "about labels and our difficulties in seeing beyond them. It's also about understanding the person behind the labels if one is willing to look carefully and long."

The Maclanes fought against stereotypes their son might be subjected to and, through skepticism and persistence, found joy in their relationship with him.

"For 15 years, we've listened to him, learned with, and from, him, and come to understand how different those folks are who have been labeled, as necessary as that may be for a number of important reasons. We realize that they and others who know them should see their labels as a small piece of information that doesn't define how they will behave or how their lives will go."

Chuck is part of UUCA's Inter-cultural Competency Leaders, a group dedicated to building a more diverse UUCA that focuses not just on race and sexual orientation but also on the invisible differences.

Ron Cima, another member of that team who has extensive experience in Asia, particularly Vietnam, notes a similar experience.

"As a professional and as a traveler, I have always been open to cultural differences and eager to understand and assimilate, but after numerous trips I have also become increasingly aware that it may be more about the journey," he says. "There will always be more to understand and levels I may simply never reach."

The Inter-cultural Competency Leaders is meeting at UUCA on July 21 at 6pm for a potluck and discussion on multi-culturism. The summer homework is to read the book by Jacqui Lewis, The Power of Stories. The gathering is open to all. 

The Inter-cultural Competency Leader team is one of four teams formed to extend the fellowship of UUCA. The other three are:
  • The Connectors: Extend the welcoming spirit of the congregation.
  • The Communicators: Develop content and a deeper way of communication in addition to telling the stories of our people.
  • The Producers: Develop an online ministry that will take what's inside the walls of UUCA to the outside world.
The Connectors are meeting at UUCA on July 22 at 7:30pm. The Communicators are meeting on August 3 at 6:30pm. Everyone is welcome to join! 

Email Jacomina de Regt at [email protected] for the Inter-cultural Competency Leaders and The Producers; Bill Fogarty at [email protected] for The Connectors; and Mary Ann Bolton at [email protected] for The Communicators.
Buckingham Helpers
Need help with yard work or house cleaning? Buckingham workers offer many services, such as mulching, moving furniture, and catering. A Buckingham photographer can provide a visual record of your birthday or retirement party. To fill out a request form, visit the Buckingham Outreach table in Fellowship Hall after the service on Sunday. For more information, contact Nancy Hall at [email protected].
MoonFire Lammas Ritual
Sun, July 19, 1:30pm
Please join MoonFire on July 19 for a celebration of Lammas, or Lughnasad, which is a cross-quarter day in the Wheel of the Year, and celebrates the first harvests in the northern hemisphere. We will celebrate the first harvests in both our own gardens, and our lives. If you have a garden, please bring something to share (one, please, not a case of zucchini ... ); if you don't have a garden, bring something else to share that represents a first harvest in your life. As always, a potluck and time for fellowship will follow the ritual, so please bring a dish or drink to share, along with your own plates/utensils, if possible, to minimize waste. For further information, on MoonFire, please visit www.moonfireuuca.org, or contact [email protected].

Men's Summer Reads

Book_reading_photo The Men's Book Group will meet in the chapel at 7:30pm on Sunday, July 12, to discuss 1984, by George Orwell. The book selected for the August 9 meeting is The Last Templar, a novel by Raymond Khoury. If there are any questions about the group and its meetings, please email Ken Marshall or call him at 703-533-8004.

Wheel of LifeWheel
Condolences to Bill Arvidson on the death of his sister Nancy Ruth Coinman on July 6, at her home in Mimbres, in southwest New Mexico.

Condolences to Betts Abel on the death of her mother, Ruth, in Canton, Ohio, on June 30 (after celebrating her 96th birthday May 31).

Loving thoughts to Patricia Straus, under hospice care at home following hospitalization.

Our sympathy to the young adult and community of UUCA and northern Virginia UUs, to the members of Bull Run UU Church in Manassas, and to the family on the loss of UU young adult leader Sarah Wright. She was a delegate to this year's General Assembly in Portland, Oregon, and was killed in a car crash on her way home on Sunday, June 28. A family service will be held in New Jersey this weekend, and a memorial service for her large circle of Virginia friends and family will be held at the Bull Run church on Sunday, August 9, at 2pm.
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Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington   |   4444 Arlington Blvd, Arlington VA 22204   |   703-892-2565