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Weekend worship
Listen to podcasts of past sermons.
Religious
Exploration
View schedule here. Nursery care in Sanctuary Building up to age 3.
December's worship theme is Grace.
"I do not understand
the mystery of grace - only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us."
- Anne Lamott
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Our next deadline is Sun., Dec. 22. Send announcements to our communications staff. All entries are edited before publication for brevity, clarity and style.
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Announcements
for Dec. 19-26
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Happy holidays from UUCF!
Special offering at Christmas Eve services
 We've been working hard planning various worship opportunities for the next week. Here's a rundown of our upcoming services: Sat., Dec. 21, 4:30 p.m., A Storyteller's Solstice. All-congregation service, led by the Women's Ritual Council. Women's Chamber Choir will perform under the direction of Mark Vogel. Service will include stories and songs marking the longest night of the year and celebrating the return of the light. Please bring rattles and sistrums if you have them. Sun., Dec. 22, 9:15 and 11:15 a.m., Songs and Stories of the Season. These services for all ages feature some of the best-loved Christmas stories and songs. Tue., Dec. 24, 4:30 and 6 p.m. Christmas pageants for all ages. Children are invited to dress as animals, shepherds or angels. In addition, costumes will be available. The Children's Choir will perform at the first service and the Youth Choir at the second. Tue., Dec. 24, 8 p.m. Contemplative Christmas service featuring the Chorale and Handbell Choir. Mary Katherine Morn will deliver a homily. At all three Christmas Eve services, we will take an offering to benefit the Ministers' Discretionary Fund and the FACETS Hypothermia Shelter here at UUCF in February. We appreciate your generosity for this once-a-year collection. Hope to see you several times in the next week! --UUCF Staff
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This week & weekend
Explore this month's worship theme. We hope you've been enjoying our Worship Theme web page each month. This month our theme is Grace. Explore that topic through readings, quotations, images, reflections and questions.
Memoirs Writing Group. Fri., Dec. 20, 1:30-3 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Contact Kristin Moyer.
FLY pizza and movie night. Fri., Dec. 20, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Prog. Bldg. FLY is a support/social group for LGBTQ youth and allies ages 12 (with parental permission) to 19.
Young Adult cookie baking. Sat., Dec. 21, 1-4 p.m., Sanctuary kitchen. Contact Mary Gaskins. Sunday Forum - Science, Reason & Religion. Next meeting will be Sun., Feb. 2. Look for our 2014 discussion topics in January. Gifts for Beacon House. Look for gift tags on the tree in the Commons, which direct you to buy and return unwrapped gifts to UUCF by Sun., Dec. 22. Great Books Discussion Group. Meets 4th Mon. Next meeting Dec. 23, 7:30-9 p.m., Room 11, Prog. Bldg. Discussions explore the meaning of "classic" books. This month reading Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Book for January is A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway. Contact Randy Adams.
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Ushers needed for Christmas Eve services. Tue., Dec. 24, 4:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sanctuary. It's fun and easy, and training will be provided. Contact Mary Foster.
UUCF benefits from Amazon purchases using link on uucf.org. If you plan to buy through Amazon.com this holiday season (and throughout the year), consider using this link. Through the Amazon Affiliates program, UUCF gets 4-8% of purchases made through this link. Last fiscal year, UUCF got $3,600 in Amazon rebates!
Holiday schedule. For the next couple weeks, our worship schedule varies a bit. View the schedule here.
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Children & youth
PlaygroUUp potluck. Sun., Dec. 22, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Social Hall. Fellowship group of babies, toddlers, preschoolers and their parents/caregivers. Siblings welcome. Bring a dish to share. Great chance for families who can't attend weekday PlaygroUUp to meet other UUCF families with young children. Contact Meghan Crowley.
High School Youth Group - cookie making in the Sanctuary. Sun., Dec. 22, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Sanctuary kitchen. Plan on competitions, prizes and cookie-themed worship. Note: Postponed from Dec. 8. Contact James Forrest.
No RE classes Dec. 21-22 and 28-29. All-congregation worship services in the Sanctuary. Note: Only one service on Sun., Dec. 29, at 10 a.m. (Click here for full schedule.) Nursery care available at all services. Child care for children ages 3-10 on Sundays in the Prog. Bldg.
Christmas Eve services youth volunteers needed. Tue., Dec. 24, 4:30 and 6 p.m. family services, Sanctuary. High schoolers are ushers at the 4:30 p.m. service and welcomers at the 6 p.m. service. Middle schoolers are welcomers at the 4:30 p.m. service and ushers at the 6 p.m. service. Contact James Forrest to volunteer. Note: 8 p.m. service is more contemplative in nature and focused on older youth/adults.
High School Youth Group New Year's Eve overnight celebration. Tue., Dec. 31, 6 p.m. to Wed., Jan. 1, noon. All HS students welcome! White elephant gift exchange, Christmas movies, countdown at midnight, youth worship service and games. Contact James Forrest. If you don't already have the general Youth Activities Permission form on file, fill one out here.
Saturday RE families - please note. Beginning Sun., Jan. 5, elementary classes move to Sundays only. OWL and HS classses will continue meeting on Saturdays .
Sunday RE classes in session Jan. 5. K-Grade 5 begin in the Sanctuary for Together Time before going to class (9:15) and workshops (11:15). All other ages and grades begin in their classrooms. High School OWL orientation. Sun., Jan. 5, 1-3 p.m., Room 11, Prog. Bldg. Contact Janet Cushing. Middle School Youth Group. Sun., Jan. 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Teen Center. MS Youth Advisers Xavire Alire and Bini Dahlman lead the group. Bridging kickoff for seniors and parents/guardians. Tue., Jan. 7, 7:30-9 p.m., Room 11, Prog. Bldg. Contact Linnea Nelson for info and to RSVP. RE teacher training. Sat., Jan. 11, team meetings, noon-1 p.m.; workshops, 1-3 p.m. Help share our leadership with youth and build a strong youth community. HS facilitators and advisers, please plan to attend. Contact James Forrest or Linnea Nelson to RSVP and/or request child care. High School fundraiser dinner. Sat., Jan. 11, 6-8 p.m. Don't miss this Second Saturday event! Great food, including vegetarian options, served to you by our youth. Donations support FUUSE internships (takes $600 per intern) and to offset expenses for youth trips to Boston, UU-UNO and Quaker Work Camp. Multinational heritage trip to Romania. Experience our heritage with other members of the UUCF community and your HS youth group. Participants need to commit by mid-January. Contact James Forrest for info on costs and itinerary.
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Caring news
Milestones, rites of passage and caring needs in our UUCF community.
Condolences to Steve Condas, his wife, Kim, and their children, Carl and Rob, on the recent death of Steve's mother, Marilee Condas. |
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Grow
The following programs and opportunities help us grow as individuals and as a community.
Humanists of UUCF. Mon., Jan. 6, 7:30 p.m., Chapel. Video featuring Sam Harris addressing Science Can Answer Moral Questions. Contact Mary Bellamy.
Creating Our Lives Consciously From Our Deepest Inner Resources. Adult Programs course. Mon., Jan. 13, Feb. 10, Mar. 24, Apr. 7, May 5 and Jun. 2, 7:30-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Led by Zimri Putney, 703-517-7372. Join a supportive community in a practical spiritual journey, opening the path to loving connections, peace, joy and success. We will read and reflect on the teachings of Chödrön, Tolle, Brach and others. Register at ap@uucf.org.
Wi$dom Path: Money, Spirit and Life. Adult Programs course. Thu., Jan. 23, Feb. 20, Mar. 27, Apr. 24, May 15, Jun. 12, Sep. 11 and 25, Oct. 9 and 23, Nov. 12, Dec. 11, 7:30-9 p.m. Prog. Bldg. Note: No classes in July or August. Participants explore how to make real and meaningful changes to better align their financial lives with their spiritual priorities and values. Attendance at all sessions encouraged but not required. Register at ap@uucf.org. Contact Bonnie Wald, 703-581-6825.
Beloved Conversations: Meditations on Race and Ethnicity. Adult Programs course. With. Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig and Amy Kegley. Opening retreat Sat., Jan. 25, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Class meets Tue., Feb. 4 and 18, Mar. 4 and 18, Apr. 1 and 15, and May 6 and 20, 7-9 p.m. In the spirit of covenant groups, Beloved Conversations is an experiential and evocative curriculum for exploring the spiritual and intellectual dimensions of racism in our lives. Limited to 10 participants; register at ap@uucf.org. Wisdom of Pema Chödrön. Adult Programs course. Tue., Jan. 28, Feb. 11, Mar. 11 and 25, Apr. 8 and 22, 7:30-9 p.m. Prog. Bldg. Note: No meeting Feb. 25 because of the Hypothermia Project on our campus. Ongoing meditation/discussion group. Participants will discuss Chödrön's guide to compassionate living and its applications to our daily lives. Register at ap@uucf.org. Contact Sarah Hover. Sunday Forum - Science, Reason & Religion. Next meeting Sun., Feb. 2, 12:30-2 p.m., Chapel. Informative and provocative sessions now being developed on topics including failed nation states, slave-holding, nuclear risks, food policy and care for the land. Narratives and Counter-Narratives. Adult Programs course. Sun., Feb. 2 and 16, Mar. 16 and Apr. 13, 1-2:30 p.m., Prog. Bldg. With Eve Stevens. Participants seek to understand how stories we have been told shape our ideas and perceptions. We will try to hear the voices and stories in theology, history and literature that have been drowned out by the dominating perspective. As we listen for these counter-narratives, we will find new ways of telling our own stories and those of our UU community. Register at ap@uucf.org.
Behind the Kitchen Door, a discussion of the UUA Common Read for 2013-14. Two alternative sessions: Sun., Feb. 2, 4-5:30 p.m. and Wed., Feb. 5, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Please read the book in advance; it makes a great holiday present. Contact Mary Bellamy. Creating Spiritual Family Practices at Home. Adult Programs course. Sat., Feb. 8, 2-3:30 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Join Linnea Nelson, Director of Religious Exploration, to explore how your family can create regular spiritual practices and meaningful rituals. After a brief worship, your family will choose between writing a grace to say before meals or creating a bedtime ritual (i.e., journaling, sharing gratitudes, taking a walk, meditating) that creates a peaceful space for your family. Bring your favorite poetry or meditation books for inspiration. Ages 5 and older with family members. Individual adults and couples welcome too. Register at ap@uucf.org. Doodling is good for you! Adult Programs course. Sun., Feb. 9, 1-3 p.m., Prog. Bldg. When you were in school, did you fill the margins of your notebooks with doodles? In meetings, are you drawing patterns on your memo pad? Guess what? You're feeding your brain! Learn some doodling techniques that may help you feel more centered and focused. $5 materials fee, payable to Kim at the beginning of class. Register at ap@uucf.org. Contact Kim Condas. The Hidden Spring - A Spiritual Retreat. Adult Programs course. Sat., Feb. 15, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Sanctuary. In late winter, we are enlivened by the knowledge that there is a hidden spring beneath us, waiting to emerge. The seeds are sprouting down in the cold earth and within ourselves. Join Rev. Mary Katherine Morn and fellow congregants for a day of spiritual exploration, practice and singing. A vegetarian soup and bread lunch is included. A $10 donation for food is requested. Register at ap@uucf.org. Contact Susan Bennett. Darwin Day potluck - Humanists of UUCF. Sun., Feb. 16, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Sanctuary. Dr. Mark Reimers will speak on The Evolution of the Human Mind. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) level 1 training. Adult Programs course. Tue., Feb. 18, Mar. 4, 11, 18 and 25, Apr. 1, 8 and 15, 7-9:30 p.m., Social Hall. Note: No class Feb. 25 because of the Hypothermia Project on campus that week. Learn disaster preparedness, fire safety, basic medical operations, psychology and more. Free class is presented by trained volunteers, and basic gear is provided by Fairfax County. Register here. Next Chapter: How to Retire Wild, Happy and Free the UUCF Way. Adult Programs course. Tue., Feb. 18, Mar. 4 and 18, Apr. 1, 15 and 29, 7:30-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Presenters: Tom Hillman and Craig Clark. Retirement is a familiar term but perhaps the next chapter of your successful, gratifying and meaningful life is a better way to describe retirement. Class focuses on how to make our next chapter the one we want it to be. We'll learn from each other as well as from people who have written on this topic. Register at ap@uucf.org. |
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Connect
Click here for a listing of ways to get involved and connect with each other at UUCF.
New member-to-member Yahoo group. Forum allows members to share information, ask questions and post personal requests, including items for sale, etc. Sign up here.
Grief and Loss Support Group. Sun., Jan. 5, 12, 19, 1-2:30 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Drop-in support group for those experiencing grief and loss. Led by UUCF member Meghan Crowley, a social worker with expertise in bereavement. Contact Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig.
24th Annual UUCF Chili Cook-Off - save the date. Sat., Feb. 8, 5:30-9:30 p.m. Volunteers needed to make chili and side dishes, as well as help with setup and cleanup. Contact Pete or Kathy Bridgeman, 703-255-9684. Island Paradise Auction - save the date. Sat., Mar. 8, Sanctuary. Listen, can you hear them? The strum of a slack key guitar, waves lapping on soft beach sand. These are the sounds beckoning you to go to your calendars and save this date for the UUCF Annual Auction. Then all through the chill of winter, you can look forward to an evening of tropical-themed food and drinks and bidding merriment. To help, contact Karen Liggett or David McWilliams at auction@uucf.org or 571-314-2804. Trip to Transylvania. Join the trip for UUCF youth and adults to Transylvania to visit our Partner Church, see historic Unitarian sites and explore Dracula's castle, Jul. 6-17, with a possible two-day extension in beautiful Budapest. Contact Dick Van Duizend, 703-536-3476.
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Click here to find out about opportunities to live our values through service and advocacy within our congregation and beyond.
One weekend when we can all serve. UUCF Weekend of Service. Sat.-Mon., Jan. 18-20. We honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with a weekend of service in January. You can pick your own project or join in one of six that UUCF has planned, including packaging meals for Stop Hunger Now, making fleece blankets for our Hypothermia Shelter, collecting food for Food for Others, taking part in a children's party at an area shelter or working to beautify Artemis House shelter or our own campus. See more and sign up here. If you have other service plans, we'd like to add your hours of service to our totals for the weekend. During the Weekend of Service, please keep track of your hours and email Kären Rasmussen and let her know the project you worked on and how many hours you spent. Wanted: Possible candidates for the Board of Directors, Endowment Committee and Nominating Committee. Serving on the Board or committees is a wonderful way to make a difference at UUCF. Lend your voice by recommending someone - including yourself - as a possible candidate for the slate of nominees that the congregation will elect at the June Annual Meeting. To make a recommendation, contact Bill Ades, 703-591-3549. For more information, click here.
DC Regional UU Action Meeting on Climate Change and Environmental Justice. Sat., Jan. 4, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., All Souls Church Unitarian. Join UU congregations in the metro DC area and individual UUs to plan coordinated action and sharing. Contact Eric Goplerud, 703-759-0218. UUCF Blood Drive. Sun., Jan. 19, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sign up here or contact Ken Foley, 703-242-0258. (Provide your preferred time on the quarter hour.)
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From our friends
This section brings you announcements from UUCF members and friends, neighboring UU congregations, UU organizations or other organizations affiliated with this congregation.
Christmas tree sale benefits Stop Hunger Now. Through Dec. 22. Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri. 6-9 p.m. Buy a fresh-cut Christmas tree from Vale United Methodist Church in Oakton and your purchase will provide, on average, 120 life-saving meals for hungry children and families around the world. High-quality trees come in a range of sizes and varieties. Wreaths and pine roping also available, plus optional delivery to your home. Free hot cider and cookies. Mention UUCF and get a 10% discount. More information, call 703-620-2594 or email the church.
Yoga for the 21st Century. Saturdays through Dec. 21, 9:30-11 a.m., Prog. Bldg. Yoga can help re-frame your life, reduce stress and re-pattern your brain. Contact Ravi, 571-213-3192.
7th Annual Bethlehem Prayer Service. Sat., Dec. 21, 10 a.m., Washington National Cathedral. A joint simulcast service with the people of Bethlehem. Join worshipers at National Cathedral or watch the service here.
Winter solstice celebration. Sun., Dec. 22, 5 p.m., Chapel at Cedar Lane UU Church, Bethesda. The winter solstice marks the longest night of the year and the start of the lengthening days. Join us for a vespers celebration with music, accompanied by readings of the mystery of darkness and the joy of light. Seasonal refreshments served after the service. Optional cash-only donations for Beacon House and the musicians welcome.
UUCF ESOL seeks volunteer. Tue. mornings, Jan. through mid-June, Reston. Team teach English to adults using prepared curriculum. No experience needed; flexible schedule. Contact Lily Reider.
OWL Sexuality Education for Adults. Wed., Jan. 15, 22, 29 and Feb. 5, 7-8 p.m., River Road UU Congregation. $50 fee; scholarships available. Child care available if reserved by Jan. 8. Contact Gabrielle Farrell, 301-229-0400 x104.
Virginia Immigrant Advocacy Day 2014 - save the date. Tue., Jan. 21, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Greater Richmond Convention Center. The Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations annual Immigrant Advocacy Day will be held during the 2014 General Assembly. We will meet with elected representatives and advocates for the VA Dream Act, Medicaid expansion and other proposed legislation and issues important to Virginia's immigrant communities. Contact Hal Fuller.
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