Connections
 Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax                           Sep. 9, 2013                      Volume 53, Number 35  
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In This Issue 

"Faith Matters" blog - "Themes for Living"
India Partner Church principal honored
Sad news from the ministers 

Themes for Living: Introducing a new online resource
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Associate Minister Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig
Welcome to the new year at UUCF! I hope you had a great time at our superpower-themed kickoff services and picnic this weekend. It was so much fun seeing kids and adults alike in costumes illustrating their own favorite superpowers ... all in the service of encouraging each other to be our best selves and live out our mission to transform ourselves, our community and the world through acts of love and justice.

Did you see our children running around in capes, blessing the world with hope, color, strength, peace and a million other super-qualities? How about the grown-ups? Did you see Pragmatic Woman, Wilderness Rescue Man, Super Mom, Blood Donor Hero, Earth Mother and all the other heroes who showed up this weekend? Just in case you had to miss this weekend, check out these great pictures.

We'll be working on our superpowers all year long, in all their wonderful diversity ... and we have some great monthly themes coming up to help us get into it. September's theme is Enthusiasm - just what we need to get the new year going. Enthusiasm is all about having a spark of life in you, and that's exactly what we saw in you this weekend. To keep the energy going, I want to share with you a new online resource we've put together to help us all engage more deeply with enthusiasm and all the rest of our UUCF monthly themes. We're calling it Themes for Living. You'll find juicy quotes and readings about each month's themes ... images, music, video clips ... questions to ponder ... ideas - especially for families and children ... and reflections from UUCFers about what the themes mean to them. Just one thing is missing: Your contributions! We want to hear about your reflections, favorite quotes, pictures, movies, songs, etc. - however you connect to our themes. Please post your ideas on the page or email me and we'll add them to this evolving resource. Thanks for helping us make this a great year.

Warmly,
Laura

P.S. Let me know if you'd like to help us develop these resources in advance, too. I would be glad to add you to the group I am emailing a month in advance to start brainstorming for next month's theme. Thanks! 
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India Partner Church
principal honored
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Ditol Mylliemngap, the principal of the Puriang Unitarian School, affiliated with UUCF's Partner Church in Puriang, India, has been honored with the District Teacher Award by the Unitarian Union of Northeast India.  
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Ditol Mylliemngap, Principal of the Puriang Unitarian School 

In its commendation for Ditol, the Education Committee of the Unitarian Union of Northeast India wrote:
"You sent 26 students in the last matriculation exam conducted by the government and it's not easy to get all of them promoted with flying colors. But you did! In a city it is possible. But to have 100% success in a village school like yours is nearly impossible. Some students do not have enough books and stationery, some do not have electricity so they have to study with a traditional lamp, some do not have enough time to study because they have to help their poor parents in the field. The list of hurdles is endless. However, you made it not just this time but many times. Honeybees work not just for their own needs but mostly for others; you are our honeybee."

UUCF has partner churches in Puriang, Meghalaya, India, and Szentgerice, Transylvania, Romania. Many UUCF members provide financial support to students at the Unitarian schools affiliated with both partner churches.

We send Ditol our congratulations! 
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Sad news from the ministers
Marilyn Renfield

We were saddened to learn that former UUCF member
Marilyn Renfield died unexpectedly on Saturday. She had been ill with kidney disease. A memorial service will be held this Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church.

Mary Katherine and Laura
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax
We are a liberal religious congregation whose mission is to transform
ourselves, our community and the world through acts of love and justice. 
 
(703) 281-4230