For Sunday 11:15 a.m. and Saturday teachers, this is your chance to learn your role in the new Workshop format.

You'll have a chance to meet with the RE staff, including the new Youth Ministry Coordinator and our two ministers. Emphasis will be developing facilitation skills and on developing youth leadership. The new Workshop approach will also be introduced.

Our region is blessed with multicultural diversity. But has that blessing carried over to UUCF?

To raise our awareness and become more interculturally competent, the UUCF Coordinating Team has contracted nationally recognized consultants to present "Facilitating Cultural Change" training to our staff and leadership. This training has been done in numerous UU settings to rave reviews.

We have a few slots open for others who feel called to do this important work for our congregation. If you're interested, please contact Rich Sider.

Chair Rejuvenation. We're still going strong till the job is finished. New schedule for fall: Saturdays 9:30 a.m.-noon; Tuesdays 10 a.m.-noon, Fridays 10 a.m.-noon. All days equally important. Your help is needed and appreciated. Contact Judy Gallimore or stop by the table in the Commons after services.

Monday Night Book Club. Sep. 9 , 7:30-9 p.m., Program Building. This month reading "Things Fall Apart," by Chinua Achebe. Questions to Don Andress.

Women's Personal Growth Group. Tue., Sep. 10, 10 a.m.-noon. Program Building. Contact Connie Drapeau.

Brown Bag Theology Lunch With the Ministers. Wed., Sep. 11, noon., Commons. Bring your lunch and join the ministers for conversation about a range of topics. Children welcome.

Join the UUCF Climate Action Group this fall. Second and fourth Wednesdays, Sep. 11 and 25, 7-9 p.m., Social Hall. Group is growing with major new initiatives. If you have not come to a meeting before, please join us. Bring a bag dinner at 7 p.m.; meeting starts at 7:15 p.m. Join our Religious Action on Climate Linked In group and our Facebook page. Information: Eric Goplerud, 703-759-0218. 

Writer's Resource Group. Second Wed. of each month, Sep. 11, 7:30-9 p.m. No registration needed; drop-ins welcome. Facilitated by Joy Hatfield, and Linda Hunt. Need to jump-start your creative writer's juices? No reading or critiquing; just encouragement and sharing tips, techniques, articles, books to read, etc. Occasional speakers and field trips.

A memorial service will be held on Sun., Sep. 8, at 2 p.m., for Robert McOmber, husband of Norma McOmber and father of Carissa McOmber, who died on Aug. 13 after a long illness.

A memorial service will be held in South Carolina on Sat., Oct. 5, 11 a.m. for former UUCF member Cos Renzi, who died Jul. 14 at his home in Seneca, SC. The service will be held at Clemson UU Fellowship. The Renzi's attended UUCF from 1976 to 1997, when they retired to Seneca. Donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York NY 10163-4777.

Condolences to UUCF member Karen Solon on the death of her aunt.

The following programs and opportunities help us grow as individuals and as a community.

New! Climate Action Group documentary series. Second Friday of each month, 7:30 p.m., Sanctuary. Series premiere Sep. 14. Free series kicks off with "Bidder 70," the story of a young hero's great risk on behalf of the environment. It's a moving film calling us to work on behalf of the environment and humanity. Co-sponsored by Sierra Club-Great Falls Group, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light, and the Fairfax chapter of 350.org.

"Creating our Lives Consciously from our Deepest Inner Resources." Adult Programs course. First and third Wed., starting Sep. 18, 7:30-9 p.m., Program Building. Led by Zimri Putney, 703-517-7372. Email ap@uucf.org to register. Join a supportive community in a practical spiritual journey, opening the path to the loving connections, peace, joy and success available from learning to hear and follow our intelligence, emotions, feelings and values. We will read and reflect on the teachings of Pema Chodron, Eckhart Tolle, David Richo, Tara Brach, the Pathwork Guide and others. Each meeting includes meditation, movement, reading and sharing of our insights and journeys.

"2000 Years of UU History: A Whirlwind Tour." Adult Programs course. Sun., Sep. 22, 1-3 p.m.; repeats Wed., Oct. 16, 7-9 p.m. Led by Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig. Registration appreciated; not required. Where did UUism come from? How have we changed over the years, and what's stayed the same? We'll take a whirlwind tour through our history from its earliest origins to today, with time for your questions and a few tangents depending on the interests of the group.

"UUCF Leadership Circle." Adult Programs course. Sun., Sep. 22, 1-3 p.m. (lunch provided); Wed., Nov. 13, 7-8:30 p.m.; Wed., Feb. 19, 7-8:30 p.m.; Sun., May 18, 1-2:30 p.m. (lunch provided). Led by Revs. Mary Katherine Morn and Laura Horton-Ludwig. Registration appreciated; not required. Join this quarterly gathering of current and future UUCF leaders. All UUCFers welcome, whether you've been a UUCF leader for decades or are just getting started. Worship, skill-building and mutual support and counsel on leadership challenges included. Attendance at all four sessions not required, but should plan to attend at least two.

"World Religions and Spirituality: Exploring and Experiencing." Adult Programs course. Second and fourth Weds., starting Sep. 25, 7:30-9 p.m., Program Building. Facilitated by Jennifer Yi and Mark Magee. Register by email. Similar to UUCF's "Neighboring Faiths/Building Bridges" children's class, this year-long course explores various world religions - Eastern religions, judeo-christian-islamic faiths and atheism, humanism, paganism and our own UU faith - through readings from holy texts, guest speakers and/or visits to places of worship. Goal is greater appreciation, respect and understanding of the world religions and exploration of our own faith.

"Classics of Unitarian and Universalist Theology." Adult Programs course.
Click here for dates/times. Drop-ins welcome; Registration appreciated; not required. Facilitated by Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig. Do you ever wonder where Unitarian Universalism came from? Do you wish you were better at explaining UUism to other people? We'll trace the historical evolution of UUism in the U.S. by studying classic texts by UU theologians. Last year we focused on 19th-Century UUs. This year, we explore 20th- and 21st-Century theologians. Please come having read the assigned reading before the class.