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Service Information
Sunday, July 3, 10:15 a.m.
Transformation_ A Church Without Walls
"TRANSFORMATION: A Church Without Walls" - A service led by UUCA's Worship Associates. Music includes the past and present participants of the Unitarian Universalist Children's Choir singing Roots and Wings by Sherri Porterfield.

On the road this 4th of July weekend?
church without walls cartoon
If you're on the road this holiday weekend, you don't have to miss out on the Sunday service. No matter where you are (as long as you are still on the grid), you can join us online for the livestreaming of the service beginning around 10:10 a.m. at www.uucava.org.
 
UUCAers Join Sanctuaries DC "Soul Slam"

Sanctuaries DC:
Our mission is to empower people
to live creative and soulful lives.
We're harnessing the power of the creative arts
to transform two of the most
divisive issues of our time - 
race and religion - into forces
for personal growth and social change. 
Whether we're sharing a meal or painting a mural,
everything that we do involves our core values:
(1) Creativity: Be real. Express yourself.
(2) Spirituality: Focus on what matters most.
(3) Diversity: Create a world that works for all of us.

art+soul+justice
As part of our deepening partnership with Sanctuaries DC, a group of UUCAers recently attended a special edition of their monthly "Soul Slam." Soul Slam is an amazing intersection where soul meets art, with every kind of artist (and non-artist) you can imagine getting together to collaborate around a shared theme, and contributing their particular artistic voice to a fresh creation. One week after their first meeting, these teams of artists (many of whom have met before - or shared their art in public before) get together to share what they have created. The results are deep, inspiring, spiritually rich and profoundly moving.

Robert Buckman was one of the UUCAers on the scene, and I think his reflection needs to be shared with our wider community. I am especially moved by how he moves from his experience of witnessing artists "unmask" themselves to his own "Where I'm From" poem. This is my great hope - that as we hear one another into presence we will be increasingly courageous about sharing our own "soul stories."
Rev Aaron signature


Rev. Aaron
A Soul-Shaken Soul Slam - Reflection by Robert Buckman
Buckman photo
Robert Buckman
Soul Slam was a powerful multi-cultural experience for me. Powerful, even though my life has been filled with deep multi-cultural moments that have shaped whom I am today, and even though with VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement) I function in a complete multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-faith, and multi-economic world. But this experience went further. Let me try to explain. Soul Slam was a performance. Through song, poetry reading, improv, humor, and essay, white, black, asian, men, women, LBGTQ, and straight performers took off the "masks" they present to the world and revealed who they are and what it has been like to be "who and what they are." Their performances were all honest and very brave and very powerful and very emotion-packed. They stood there, before a capacity room, and told their truth.

I was shaken. I am shaken with questions of what it would take for me, for us, for UUCA to be truly multi-cultural? What does multi-cultural really mean? How honest and brave do we need to be? What has to be stripped away, what has to be named to truly love thy neighbor as thy self? Where do we start? Where do I start? Intentional listening has to be a good beginning.

Maybe trying to write an honest and brave, Where I'm From poem.


Where I'm From

I am from the Shore, long days fishing on jetties, absorbed in the pulsing of the water, deep green, crashing on the rocks.

I am from wonder, honeysuckle forts in the woods, wild raspberries, climbing trees, bees in jars, fireflies at night, sleeping under the stars, walking the Appalachian Trail, and reading "Ripley's Believe it or Not" over and over til the cover fell off.

I am from a free-range childhood. . .

Give the PlateGivePlate
Give the Plate button
You can make your GTP donation now
Sunday's Give the Plate goes to the Unitarian Universalist Children's Choir (UUCC). The UUCC is a program of the Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network (UUMN), designed to provide young singers an opportunity to grow in their musicianship and their faith through a week long intensive music camp. The UUCC is held every three  years. This year's program will be held in conjunction with the UUMN conference in Madison, Wisconsin later this month.  Sunday's offertory music will be sung by some of UUCA's past and present members of the UUCC. The GTP offering will go to scholarships for children around the country to take part in this important and unique program. Please give generously to support this vital opportunity, to nurture and inspire our young singers in our music ministry and engage them in meaningful work to further our UU values.
Green Umbrella
Did you miss the first one?  Revenue Enhancement Open Meeting - July 13
idea_loading.jpg Join us Wednesday, July 13, 7:30 p.m., for another high-energy brainstorming-and-planning session as we move toward broadening UUCA's revenue base well beyond our yearly pledges. Bring your best ideas. Please reserve your spot by email to Stewardship Coordinator, Diane Ullius, [email protected]. You can contact those chairing new projects, in the meantime, if you would like to volunteer or ask questions; view list here
Attention Amazon Shoppers
Amazon smile logoAmazon shoppers -- please remember to use ww.smile.amazon.com and choose UUCA as the charity to receive a donation each time you shop. The church receives a 0.5% donation from Amazon on eligible purchases. It's easy and painless and no extra cost to you. Please note that any donations through the AmazonSmile program is an additional gift to your annual pledge giving and there is no tax deduction.
Lifespan and Religious EducationReligiousEd
Important OWL Registration Schedule
We are in the process of preparing for next year's OWL (Our Whole Lives sexuality program). Registration for UUCA members opens next week. Watch RE Connect and Connections for the registration link. 
  • For UUCA Members Friday, July 8. Registration will open for 5th and 8th Grade OWL.
  • For Friends and Non-UUCA Members,  Friday, July 29. Registration for any remaining openings for the fall OWL program. 
Watch RE Connect and Connections for the registration link. You can find out more about the OWL program here OWL: Lifespan Sexuality Education.
 
Seven Principle Banners this Fall
Banner photo Did you see the lovely UU Principles Banner hanging from the pulpit last Sunday? Our elementary kids will be making our own set of banners this fall. Ways you can support the banner project:
  • Sewing the banners together -- this can be done on your own time at home
  • Tie Dye Party -- assist the kids in Tie Dyeing fabric on a Sunday 
  • Pre-cutting Fabric -- this too can be done at home
  • Hosting the Art Show -- that's right when the banners are complete we will celebrate with an art show!
  • Classroom Assistant -- helping kids on Sunday with the various projects. This can be a onetime volunteer opportunity. 
Materials and supplies provided. Find out more about assisting with the Banner Project or to sign up click here: Banner Project Sign Up
Youth Summer Sundays
Don't take the summer off! We have programming for everyone. Our Youth program is for rising 6th graders and older and meets in the Youth Room.
Adult Faith Development
  • Qigong Practice Sessions. Each Thursday 10:30-Noon. Qigong is an ancient approach for achieving balance and vitality. The movements are gentle and can be done sitting, standing, or lying down. Qigong will meet in the Center from 10:30-Noon on Thursdays. Wear comfortable clothing. $10 suggested donation. Instructor: Carol Baker, Registered Nurse. No registration required, but appreciated. For more information, contact Carol at [email protected].
  • Biblical Storytelling Workshop. Sat., July 16, 10 a.m. Would you like to fully engage people of all ages in texts by making them come to life? Then this workshop is for you! You'll learn techniques for learning and telling stories, and you'll leave this 90-minute workshop with a story ready to go.  The focus is on biblical text, but the techniques you learn can be applied to learning and telling any story. You'l learn how to engage in the text, and how to help others engage as well. Contact Rev. Madelyn Campbell if you have questions or to register for the workshop at  [email protected]
Faith in Action: Connecting - Growing - ServingFaith
Iftar Dinner - Saturday, July 2 - At UUCA
Muslim meal Our friends from the Moroccan Muslim Community invite UUCAer's to an Iftar dinner this Saturday, July 2, 8 p.m. for conversation and dinner at 8:30 p.m., in Fellowship Hall.  During this month of Ramadan, the Moroccan Muslim Community conducts nightly prayers at UUCA and on Saturday there will be a special dinner at sundown and members and friends of UUCA are invited to join them for fellowship when they break their fast with a special meal. This is not a potluck -- no need to bring a dish. 
Peace Camp 2016 is on the Upbeat
drumming photo
drumming photo

peace camp photo


View photo album here.
Flood Relief for West Virginia
Every little donation helps
Interfaith collaboration and coordination have come together as clergy and congregations from all faiths are working together on disaster relief for last week's devastating floods in West Virginia that killed at least 23 people. Disaster areas have been declared for 44 of the 55 counties in the state. Yet again, the UU Congregation Charleston, West Virginia is on call to deal with water issues (in 2014 the Charleston drinking water was contaminated by a chemical link). The UUC building has been mobilized as an emergency center to receive and distribute necessities. For updates on the situation, please visit the UU Charleston Facebook page. You can mail monetary donations to UUC Clean Water Fund, 520 Kanawha Boulevard West, Charleston, WV 25302.
DIG Upcoming Workdays
  • Thursday, July 14, 9-11 a.m. Led by Jennifer Frum.
  • Wednesday, July 20, 3-4:30 p.m. Regular meeting.
UUCA's Do It Green Team has regularly scheduled workdays for ongoing grounds maintenance.  If you have gardening tools, please bring them -- a few extras will be available.
VOICE Needs You to "Get On The Bus!"
VOICE_LOGO Plan now to be counted when 300 people from UUCA board buses to attend a 2000-person VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement) ACTION in October when we will ask political candidates competing in the November elections whether they agree to work with VOICE on a bold justice agenda. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe will be there and he will be expecting to see you. Mark your calendars now: Sunday, October 16, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Buses leave UUCA at 3 p.m. and return by 6:30 p.m. Stay tuned for details to follow.
Congregational Life
Welcome New Members
Goss family photo
Lucy and Brian Goss
Bridget Joyce

Roberta Kiver
Roberta Kiver

Zane Reeves and Heidi Atwood
Zayne Reeves and Heidi Atwood

In June, UUCA had six new members join the church. When you see them on Sunday morning, be sure to give them a warm UUCA welcome! 
New UU - Wednesday, July 20, 6 - 9 p.m.
UUCA 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 are 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 here. Free childcare is available on request. For childcare and more information, contact [email protected]
Bowlers Needed!
bowling_pins2.jpg Are you looking for a multi-cultural and spiritual experience? The team representing UUCA in the Alfred Street Baptist Church Saturday bowling league is looking for bowlers! We need one or two regular bowlers to fill out our four person team, and someone willing to be a substitute bowler. Experience is not needed. This is a 100 percent handicap league so your average score matters not at all. Having fun and being in relationship with other people are the only requirements for joining! The league bowls one Saturday afternoon each month of the year. If you are interested contact Frank Corsoro at [email protected] as soon as possible. Our next scheduled match is July 9.
Live at the Center Concert CANCELED
The Live at the Center/Stone Room Concert scheduled for Sunday, July 3 has been canceled.
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Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington   |   4444 Arlington Blvd, Arlington VA 22204   |   703-892-2565

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