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Join us for our Annual Auction, Sat. Mar. 8
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 Click the icon to listen to last weekend's sermon.
Religious
Exploration
View schedule here. Nursery care in Sanctuary Building up to age 3.
February's worship theme is Vulnerability.
"Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path."
- Brené Brown, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead
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recipient for February is Equality Virginia, seeking equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Virginia, through advocacy, outreach and education.
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Our next deadline is Tue., Feb. 25. Send announcements to our communications staff. All entries are edited before publication for brevity, clarity and style.
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Announcements
for Feb. 20-27
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Winter Gatherings
Sharing our experiences,
hopes and dreams for UUCF
 In the next couple weeks, members and friends have three more opportunities to attend one of the Winter Gatherings being held around the area. The next one, hosted by Liz and Eric Anderson, takes place Sun., Feb. 23, from 4:30-6 p.m. at Greenbriar Cale Community Center in Chantilly. Join the Andersons, Rev. Mary Katherine Morn and Board President Don Reagan as we share refreshments and our experiences, hopes and dreams for UUCF. How are you feeling about UUCF? Is it helping you grow and make connections? What would make your experience at UUCF as enriching as possible? If you can't attend the Feb. 23 gathering, there are two more the following weekend: Sat., Mar. 1, from 6-7:30 p.m. in the UUCF Sanctuary and Sun., Mar. 2, from 4-5:30 p.m. at Reston Regional Library. RSVP for any of the remaining Winter Gatherings here. |
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UUism beyond our walls
Calling all Unitarian Universalists!
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Craig Bennett
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If you've never had the awesome experience of worshipping with 4,000 other UUs, or if you've ever wondered how UUs organize and govern beyond the walls of the local congregation, keep reading. I write to make you aware of upcoming opportunities to grow, connect and serve with UUs on a ... (read more) |
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This week & weekend
Sign up to volunteer for Rebuilding Together 2014. Sat., Apr. 26. Sign-up deadline is Thu., Feb. 20. We're firing up the paint brushes, hammers, saws and rakes for another great Rebuilding Together. We need 35-45 volunteers to help disadvantaged local homeowners with repairs allowing them to live safely and accessibly in their homes. All skill levels welcome, from master carpenters to gardeners and painters. Sign up online. Contact Mary Lareau.
Save money on Auction bidder registration - now through Mar. 2. Is it warmer temperatures melting the snow or the collective warm thoughts of the congregation anticipating our Island Paradise Auction on Mar. 8, just a little more than two weeks away? To bid on Auction night you need to register as a bidder. Do this online by Mar. 2 and you'll save a few dollars you can use toward a drink at the event. Mar. 2 is also the deadline to register for child care, which you do as part of the registration process. You can pay at the Auction table in the Commons or at the door on the big night. We still need more volunteers to help with this spectacular event; see what needs doing and sign up here.
Wi$dom Path: Money, Spirit and Life. Adult Programs course. Thu., Feb. 20, Mar. 27, Apr. 24, May 15, Jun. 12, Sep. 11 and 25, Oct. 9 and 23, Nov. 13, Dec. 11, 7:30-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Led by Bonnie Wald and Janine Greenwood. Note: No classes in July or August. Participants explore how 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.
Memoirs Writing Group. 1st and 3rd Fri. Feb. 21, 1:30-3 p.m., Room 2, Prog. Bldg. Contact Kristin Moyer.
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Grounds Work Day - Green Sanctuary Group. Sat., Feb. 22, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Note: At press time, it was unclear whether enough snow will have melted by Sat. morning to allow the Grounds Work Day to proceed. To get the latest word on the status of the event, please call Suzy Foster, 703-201-7635. Help tidy the UUCF grounds by removing invasive plants and dispersing mounds of debris that are smothering healthy trees. We'll also walk the route of the proposed sewer connection and assess the need for trail maintenance. The March work day will take place on Sat., Mar. 22, when we'll construct brush piles to promote wildlife and begin to prepare the perimeter of the parking lot for work this summer.
Membership class. Sat., Feb. 22, 3 p.m., Library. This minister-led class is for those who are ready to explore the commitment of membership. Register with Carol Jensen.
Saturday Polylogue. Feb. 22, after the 4:30 p.m. worship service, Music
Room. All are invited to continue the conversation after the service. Join Rev. Mary Katherine Morn for a 30-minute discussion on the topic of her sermon,
Humanism. Note: Polylogue is a dialogue among many participants; sharing of one's thoughts on a topic and respectful listening to others' perspectives.
Willing to serve your faith community? Sun., Feb. 23, Sanctuary Commons. Nominate yourself or others to be in the pool of candidates for the Board and Endowment and Nominating committees. Contact Bill Ades, 703-591-3549. Seeking UUCF delegates to JPD Annual Assembly and UUA General Assembly. Sun., Feb. 23, Sanctuary Commons. Gather with other UUs for worship, learning and governance. Contact Craig Bennett. We Are What We Eat: So What Are We? Sunday Forum - Science, Reason & Religion. Sun., Feb. 23, 12:30 p.m., Sanctuary. With Erik Olson. Learn more here. Contact Bob Hatfield. Narratives and Counter-Narratives. Adult Programs course. Sun., Feb. 23, Mar. 16 and Apr. 13, 1-2:30 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Note: Class will meet in the Library on Feb. 23. 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.
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Caring news
Condolences to Kathy Price and her husband, Lee, on the recent death of Kathy's brother.
Condolences to Mike Wingo, his wife, Diah, and their children, Daniel and Tory, on the recent death of Mike's mother, Sadie Wingo.
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Sunday RE classes in session Feb. 23. K-Grade 5 begin in the Chapel with Rev. Laura before going to class (9:15) and Kindergarten or workshops (11:15). All other ages and grades begin in classrooms. Sat. OWL is a double session and participants should bring $5 for pizza. Nursery care available in the Sanctuary Building.
PlaygroUUp potluck. Sun., Feb. 23, 4:30-6:30 p.m., at the Smerke-Hochberg home. Bring a dish to share. Contact Meghan Crowley or Kathy Smerke. PlaygroUUp - Valentine's Day Party. NEW DATE: Tue., Feb. 25, 10-11:30 a.m., Teen Center, Prog. Bldg. Bring a dozen valentines to exchange with your PlaygroUUp friends. Fellowship group of babies, toddlers, preschoolers and their parents/caregivers. Siblings welcome. Contact Meghan Crowley. No RE Mar. 1-2. Jazz worship service. Come hear our Jazz Band that includes some of our musical youth! Child care for ages 3-10 in Prog. Bldg. MS ice skating. Sun., Mar. 2, 3-5 p.m. Meet at SkateQuest in Reston at 3 p.m. Youth must have General Youth Activities Permission form on file. If not, complete it online here. Three chaperones needed for this outing. Contact James Forrest to volunteer or with questions.UU-UNO (United Nations Office) spring seminar trip. Apr. 2-6, New York City. Join UU youth and adults from around the US and Canada for an exciting and educational spring seminar. UUCF youth will take the train to NYC, leaving Wed. afternoon, Apr. 2, and returning Sat., Apr. 6. Activities take place at the UN building and youth stay at All Souls UU Church accompanied by trained adult advisers. Approximate cost of trip is $400. RSVP to James Forrest by Mar. 7. HS Youth Group Oscar party. Sun., Mar. 2, 7-10:30 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Come enjoy all or part of the annual awards show. Two parent volunteers needed for this event. Contact James Forrest to volunteer or with questions. UU summer camps. Register online for summer leadership and camp opportunities and General Assembly youth programming. Rising Grade 9-12 youth: Save Aug. 21-24 for our annual beach trip.
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Grow
The following programs and opportunities help us grow as individuals and as a community.
What Can I Say? How Can I Help? Adult Programs course. Sun., Mar. 2, 1-3 p.m. With retired RN Kathy Birnbaum. All of us have experienced a friend or family member being seriously ill. Facilitated discussion based on personal experiences, pastoral care training materials and various printed resources. Register at ap@uucf.org. Embracing Our Vulnerability: Learning How to Live With Courage, Compassion and Connection. Adult Programs course. Sun., Mar. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, Apr. 6, 13 and 27, May 4 and 11, 1-2:30 p.m., Room 2, Prog. Bldg. Note: No class Sun., Apr. 20, because of Easter. Facilitated by Rachel Bailey, UUC Reston member, and based on Bren é Brown's Connections, Shame and Resilience curriculum. Class will provide strategies and exercises for identifying our true authentic selves, recognizing and moving out of shame, connecting more genuinely with others, living wholeheartedly and encouraging others to do so. Register at ap@uucf.org. Contact Barb Brehm. Humanists of UUCF. Mon., Mar. 3, 7:30-9 p.m., Chapel. Mary Bellamy shares her experiences from Camp Quest Chesapeake, a local camp that is part of Camp Quest Inc., a network of coed residential summer camps based on humanist values for kids ages 8-17. She'll describe some typical camp activities and then the group will "re-enact" part of the camp experience, including singing songs and participating in a Socrates cafe. Next Chapter: How to Retire Wild, Happy and Free the UUCF Way. Adult Programs course. Tue., Mar. 4 and 18, Apr. 1, 15 and 29, 7:30-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. With 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 it. 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. Urban and Suburban Meadows: Bringing Meadowscaping to Big and Small Spaces. Sun., Mar. 9, 1-3 p.m., at the home of Kristin Moyer (near UUCF). View and discuss a 60-minute video illustrating the diversity of life inhabiting meadows and prairies. Produced by author and photographer Catherine Zimmerman, the video addresses the problem of extensive planting of non-native grass lawns across America and how we can make a difference. Meadow experts will walk us through meadow site preparation, design, planting and maintenance and the intricate connections between native plants and insects and the soil food web. Maximum of 12 participants. Register at ap@uucf.org. Poison-Free Gardening. Tue., Mar. 11, 7-9 p.m. With Barbara Harding. Would you like to know how to raise healthy plants without great effort and while sparing the environment and your wallet? Spoil your garden with homemade compost. Class includes a quick way to produce your own compost using ingredients easily found in and around your home. Register at ap@uucf.org. Wisdom of Pema Chödrön. Adult Programs course. Tue., Mar. 11 and 25, Apr. 8 and 22, 7:30-9 p.m., Rooms 3 & 4, Prog. Bldg. 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. 2,000 Years of UU History: A Whirlwind Tour. Adult Programs course. Wed., Mar. 12, 7-9 p.m., Room 5, Prog. Bldg. With Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig. Where did Unitarian Universalism 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 discussion. This two-hour session is a repeat of the one offered last fall. Register at ap@uucf.org. Creating Our Lives Consciously From Our Deepest Inner Resources. Adult Programs course. Mon., Mar. 24, Apr. 7, May 5 and Jun. 2, 7:30-9 p.m., Rooms 3 & 4, 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. |
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Connect
Click here for a listing of ways to get involved and connect with each other at UUCF.
Monday Night Book Club. 2nd Mon. Mar. 10, 7:30-9 p.m., Room 11, Prog. Bldg. We'll discuss Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende. Contact Don Andress.
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Click here to find out about opportunities to live our values through service and advocacy within our congregation and beyond.
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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 and campus events.
Interfaith Peace Circle: An Evening of Sacred Invocation. Fri., Feb. 21, 7-9:30 p.m., Chapel. Featuring Saraswati Rain, a ritualist and songstress from Denver, CO. All are welcome to join in an experiential invocation of peace using interfaith and intercultural prayer, poetry, music and candle-lighting. Some easy, gentle movements and hand gestures are optional - those who would prefer to simply witness are encouraged to do so. Suggested offering $10-15/person. Contact Diana Pinkham, 703-591-2426.
FLY pizza and movie night. Fri., Feb. 21, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Room 11, Prog. Bldg. FLY is a social/support group for LGBTQ youth and allies ages 12 (with parental permission) to 19.
Beethoven Blockbusters benefit concert and reception. Sat., Mar. 1, 7 p.m., River Road UU Congregation, Bethesda. Proceeds benefit the UUSC-UUA Philippines Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund. Featuring four of Beethoven's most popular piano sonatas: Moonlight, Les Adieux, Appassionata and Pathetique performed by award-winning, international pianist Eugene Albulescu. Tickets are on sale and available to be picked up at the door; $25 each or two for $40. Contact Emily Purcell, 301-910-4882, to purchase.
Eat well and do good! Sun., Mar. 2, 5 p.m., UUCF Sanctuary. Sponsored by NOVA Catholic community, this year's banquet is a fundraiser for Dream Project-VA, a local non-profit that provides mentoring and college scholarships to immigrant youth (some documented, some not; most reside in Arlington). Goal is to raise $10,000. Tickets are $60. Come enjoy fabulous food, wine and entertainment for a good cause. Contact Joanna Walker for tickets or see her in the Commons after services.
Salvete! Latin enrichment for Grades 5-8. Fri., Mar. 7, 14, 21 and 28; Apr. 4, 11 and 25; May 9, 16 and 30; Jun. 6 and 13, 4:15-6:15 p.m., UUCF. An introduction to Latin language and culture of the ancient Romans presented by engaging, creative instructors from non-profit Ascanius: The Youth Classics Institute. Cost is $250 per student; financial aid is available. For info and to register, visit the website. Register by Feb. 21.
Women's journeys in midlife. Sat., Mar. 8, 7:30 p.m., Accotink UU Church in Burke. Over the years, many of us have heard a woman's life metaphorically divided into maiden, mother, crone. These days, women face new possibilities in their extended midlife period. They're not ready to retreat as "crone" but they are stepping into their self-assurance as "queen." We'll hold a ceremony of ritual and dance to mark this passage. Sign-up required by Mar. 6. Contact Judy Robison, 703-440-8479, and please indicate if you are a queen or a crone.
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