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Service Information

Water Communion and Ingathering
Water communion photo When UUCA returns to two services on September 13, part of the Ingathering ceremony will be a Water Communion. It will be a worship celebration in which you can choose to participate actively. 

On your travels, please consider collecting a few ounces of water, which can be co-mingled with water brought by others as a symbol of our connections in community. If you prefer, you may bring water from your own faucet or your neighborhood pool, or you may just receive the blessing of water brought by others. 

Watch for details later in the summer. 

Give-the-PlateGivePlate

NAACP - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

NAACP logo Founded in 1909, the NAACP has created a legacy of fighting legal battles to win social justice for African-Americans and indeed, for all Americans. For 106 years, NAACP leaders have challenged Jim Crow laws in states and in the nation. The most famous NAACP victory was when in 1954, Thurgood Marshall and a team of NAACP attorneys won Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. The Brown decision inspired the marches and demonstrations of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and '60s. These wide-spread protests ultimately led to the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting rights Act of 1965 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968.         

 

Today, NAACP attorneys are still challenging racial discrimination wherever it appears, in many guises. Unitarian Universalists have recently been very involved with the North Carolina NAACP to challenge voting suppression laws there. But North Carolina is not the only focus of activity. From August 1 to September 16, America's Journey for Justice - an historic 860-mile march from Selma, Alabama, to Washington, DC - will mobilize activists and advance a focused national advocacy agenda that protects the right of every American to a fair criminal justice system, uncorrupted and unfettered access to the ballot box, sustainable jobs with a living wage, and equitable public education. 

 

Sunday's offering will help support the vital work being done by the NAACP to protect the most vulnerable among us.

New Way to Give
offering envelope photo
When you attend worship services in the Sanctuary, you'll notice something new in the pew racks: Gift envelopes. People told the Stewardship Team that they wanted more ways to give to UUCA, and these envelopes are for cash contributions to the church's day-to-day mission. Please bear in mind that the church will continue to rely on yearly pledges, not on the amounts collected in the plate on Sundays. You will also find orange "DreamForge" pledge cards in the pew racks, so if you haven't yet made your pledge as a way of predicting your intentions for the coming year, you can fill out a pledge card and put it into the plate on any Sunday. As always, every gift -- large or small, planned or spontaneous -- is gratefully received.

Everything else about the Sunday offering remains the same. That is, we will continue to give 100 percent of all loose cash to the partner organization designated for that week's Give-the-Plate. We will continue to accept checks, of course, and record their amounts according to the giver's wishes.

Volunteers are tracking the results as we experiment with this new way to give. We'll report on the experiment at the end of the trial period, and we'll continue to explore new avenues for supporting UUCA's mission.
Save the Date - Oct 11 - Rev Aaron's installation

Sanctuary Update and Changes

Chancel upgrade image
 (Top) Proposed Chancel improvements
as of 7/20/15.
Wall panels (wood and fabric) and small tables only. Chairs and pulpit to be determined.
(Bottom) Current view of chancel.

Rev Aaron is keen on improving the image we present to the world outside our walls via our live stream. Over the coming weeks, you will see some cosmetic changes inside the Sanctuary. The biggest change will be the relocation of the candelabra to allow for the installation of wood and fabric panels (as depicted), which will break up the monochromatic brick walls and improve the background of the chancel for our on-line presence. The candelabra will be relocated to the east wall where the candle tables are currently set up. We will also be testing out temporary options for turning that corner into a more intimate space for personal reflection and memory. Finally, when funds permit, we will replace the pulpit and candle tables. 

 

All of the proposed changes are being done with a mid-century modern aesthetic in keeping with the Goodman designs. The committee that has been working on this project since last winter includes Rev Aaron, the facilities manager, our former admin chief, various members of the congregation, and an outside consultant. The funding for this project is from money set aside by the architectural planning committee, which was to be used for new chancel furnishings; at that time, the committee decided to wait for input from our new minister.

 

How you can help: 

  • Email comments to Wendy Jessup at [email protected]
  • Written comments can be placed in a comment box during fellowship hour starting Sunday, August 9.
A Heart Balm Story

My father has dementia and physical problems, so he lives in a nursing home in Louisville, Kentucky. Because I cannot visit him, I send him letters frequently. I added two Heart Balm ones in my most recent missive. I suggested that he set them on his windowsill, to add some beauty to his room. Most importantly, I hope that he repeatedly reads the reminder, "You are loved." He will eventually deteriorate enough to no longer recognize his family. But he will realize, deep inside, that he is loved.
-- Beverly Spitzer

You are loved - card

Tell us how you have shared your 
Heart Balm cards with others.

Email your story to [email protected].
 
Religious EducationReligiousEd
Sunday in Children's RE
Do you remember before the internet? Do you remember leaded gas? Do you remember when they built the Woodrow Wilson Bridge? This Sunday, RE children, family and friends will walk over to Culpepper Gardens to play Remember When Bingo.... 

How do you play Remember When Bingo? Instead of calling numbers and letters, we will be calling life-changing inventions of the past 70 years....

Parents, please arrive at the church at 10am if you and your child want to participate; we will walk to Culpepper Gardens at 10:15.

To whet your appetite, check out Buzzfeed's wrap up of inventions from the past 20 years!

If you choose not to participate in our Intergenerational Bingo Game, we still have plenty of activities for your child to choose from:
  • Stig Regli will lead a meditation
  • Maddie Ashton will lead a Songwriting Workshop
  • The nursery will be open for children under 5.
Next weekend, we will be joined by the fine folks from Azure B, LLC! Come learn about chemical free beekeeping from the folks who know best! Heidi and Stefano Brigulglio have over 1 billion bees who live in their 18 hives in Marbury, Md.

OWL - Our Whole Lives Sexuality Program
OWL logo This fall we are offering 8th and 5th Grade OWL. Did you know it takes approximately two months for an OWL teacher to be screened and trained to teach? We need to know how many kids plan to attend so that we can ensure we have enough teachers. If you plan for your child to attend OWL in the fall, please contact Ashley Egan. Registration is on a first come, first served basis and our 9:15 8th Grade OWL class is already at capacity. 

What is your vision for the future of Religious Education at UUCA? 

Which professional qualities are most important for its leadership? Your thoughts on these and other questions will help to guide and inform our search for a new Director of Lifespan Religious Education (DLRE).

 

The DLRE search team (Julia Zhu Meade, Burke Kappler, and Kathleen Fugle) has received many applications for the position, and has begun the process of reviewing and screening applicants in anticipation of interviewing. Your input will play a vital role in defining the needs of our congregation, and in determining how these needs can be best met for the continued success of our RE program.

adult lecture photo
How can you share your thoughts with the search team? One way is to complete a congregational survey, available here. It is short and can be completed in a matter of minutes. The deadline for submitting the survey is Sunday, August 9. Another way to provide input is to attend an informal discussion with the search team. These sessions will be held directly after the service this coming Sunday, August 2 and the following Sunday, August 9 in the Board Room. 

 

Your participation is important to the success of this search.  The DLRE search team looks forward to hearing from you!

Holistic Moms Meet August 20
The Arlington/Alexandria chapter of the Holistic Moms Network meets on the third Thursday of each month at UUCA from 7-9pm. On August 20, join us for a member-led discussion about the power of positive thinking. We will use Louise Hay's Power Thought Cards as a jumping off point to explore how our thinking shapes our reality and how we can approach life with joy and optimism even in the face of challenges. Meetings are free and open to the public and children are welcome. Come check us out! Visit our chapter blog for more information at http://holisticmomsarlalex.blogspot.com/
JAMBOREE photo

RE learners were jammin' last Sunday thanks to D Ohlandt hosting our first JAMboree. It was a great hands-on demonstration of our green promise -- harvesting and celebrating the fruits of the earth.



Congregational Life

Covenant Groups - Beginning Again Soon!

SmallGroup_image UUCA's strong commitment to small group ministry has enriched the lives of hundreds of participants in our Covenant Groups.  These groups of 8 to 12 people, meeting regularly throughout the church year, are led by trained facilitators and offer the chance for people to connect, grow deeper, and offer back to the community.

 

Last year, many of our groups followed a series called "Soul Matters". Rev Aaron's sermons followed the themes, while the readings, resources, and spiritual exercises were made available to UUCA's Soul Matters Covenant Groups. Other Covenant Groups followed their own readings or themes.

 

Covenant groups offer the opportunity for new inquiring friends or members of UUCA to form meaningful connections with others, and long-time members enjoy Covenant Groups as a way to explore new learnings and caring relationships.

 

Keep your eyes open for the chance to register to be a participant in one of the groups. On-line registration will begin September 1, and an in-person registration table will be church on September 13 and September 20. 

 

Covenant Group Facilitators Needed       

We are also accepting applications from people who would like to be trained by the ministers to facilitate a Covenant Group this church year.  If you are interested in being a facilitator, contact [email protected].

Make "Leading From Within" workshops part of your spiritual journey
Julia Meade and Cecilia Javier photo w/ statement

Don't let the summer slip by without registering for UUCA's exciting new leadership development retreat program --  Leading From Within.  

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!

Stop by the table in Fellowship Hall on Sunday and
Visit http://www.uucava.org/page/circles-of-trust for more information and online registration.

Feel free to contact facilitator Nancy Edmundson 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
Last Chance to Sign Up for Fall Retreat
ground of Capon Springs  photo There are still a few double rooms available for the UUCA Fall Retreat at Capon Springs, Sept. 25-27. Stop by our table in Fellowship Hall after services during the first couple weeks of August to sign up or get more information. Rooms not filled by August 16 must be relinquished. For those who have already registered for the retreat, the final invoices are in the mail. You may mail in your balance due or drop it off at the Fall Retreat Table on Sunday. For more information, contact [email protected] or 703-527-2949.
Lost and Found
Things are piling up in our lost and found located in the corner of the upper level coat closet. Please check to see if any of the items belong to your family. After August 16, all left items will be donated to charity. 
Faith in Action: Connecting - Growing - ServingFaith
Help the Earth
Update Your Lobby Skills - Participate in Grandparents Climate Action Day
Wed, Sept 9 and Thur, Sept 10
Elders Climate Action Advocate for our environment! Whether you have never visited a legislator's office or you are an old hand at it, the Grandparents Climate Action Day program offers you the opportunity to learn and update your lobbying skills. On Wednesday, not only will you be inspired by the keynote addresses by James Hansen, of Columbia University's Earth Institute, and Lynne Twist, author of The Soul of Money, you will also receive lobbying training from the Citizens Climate Lobby. On Thursday (Lobby Day), advocate for new energy policies that address climate change and that would provide economic benefit to our country. If you want to be a lobby group leader, register by August 5 and participate in a special webinar training in August. UUSJ hopes that those who recieve this training will continue to lead advocacy groups to the Hill as part of future UUSJ advocacy activities.  Registration here. Deadline is August 15. Lobby group leaders deadline is August 5. There is no onsite registration. Fee:$79, $35 with a scholarship. Co-sponsored by the UUs for Social Justice in the National Capital Region (UUSJ).  For more information, contact Mary Pike
Looking Cool for School
schoolbus-line.jpg If you missed the Look Cool for School table in Fellowship Hall last Sunday, you can still participate in this opportunity to provide a new back-to-school outfit and backpack for a child at Sullivan House (aka, Bridges to Independence), the family transitional shelter in Arlington. Contact [email protected] to be matched with a child; deliver your backpack to Alex Roth (703-470-9429) at church on August 23 or take it directly to Sullivan House. 
Live at the Center!

 

Fri, July 31, 7pm - Stowe and Good Concert
Brought to UUCA by Focus Music and Kol Ami


Karen Taylor-Good and Stowe Dailey are professional speakers and award-winning singer/songwriters who inspire, motivate and lift their audiences. Together, as StoweGood, they create a unique blend of powerful, life-affirming music and messages that mix heart, humor and hutzpah!

Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Advance tickets here. 




Gina Chavez brought some Southwest heat to the Center
Gina Chavez concert photo

I figured this concert was going to be special, but I had no idea! It was absolutely amazing!! I'm so glad we have the facility to support independent artists and energetic UUCA members to make it happen, so we get to enjoy world-class music at a reasonable price!
-- Kate Beysselance
In last Sunday's Live at the Center! concert, Gina Chavez added some southwest heat to the weather appropriate "Summertime" - pleasantly surprising and captivating the packed audience with the classic Gershwin operatic lullaby. Sometimes accompanied by two to four musicians, Gina demonstrated a wide range of musical talent. Music ranged from bluesy and folk to Latin and a little country. "The Sweet Sound of Your Name" - a beautiful love ballad she wrote to her lesbian partner -- was sung alternating flawlessly from English to Spanish. She took up the ukulele for a folk tune about immigration. Maiz had lyrics that included a common Mexican (and thought provoking) saying, "We didn't cross the border, the border crossed us." Chavez announced she and her band were just chosen by the US State Department as one of ten music groups to tour the world as American Music Ambassordors. If last night's performance is any indication of how they will do as ambassadors, she and her band will do our country proud.
Website makeover image
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Wheel of LifeWheel

Best wishes to:

  • Libby Wiebel, recovering from surgery.
  • Mary Lathram, recovering at home from her recent hospitalization.
  • John Gunning, recovering from a bicycle accident.

Condolences to:

  • Becca Lovelace and Pat Joyner on the death this week of Becca's step-mother, Anna Lovelace.

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Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington   |   4444 Arlington Blvd, Arlington VA 22204   |   703-892-2565