The Coming Week  
 
Sunday, August 21

Worship at 10:15 am.
Questions of Faith. Rev. Hardies. Rev. Hardies returns from his sabbatical to answer your Questions of Faith. You can send yours to [email protected], with "Question of Faith" on the subject line.

Young Souls Teach-In with Dorie Ladner, of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and Brianne Nadeau, DC Council Member of Ward 1. 12:00 noon, Eaton Room (upstairs).
 
Interested in supporting refugees? Learn about refugee support projects All Souls is exploring for the upcoming church year. 12:00 noon, Spirit Room (lower level).

Mindful Souls. Meditation. 11:45 am, classroom 2.
 
Upcoming Happenings

Find events and registration links at www.all-souls.org/happenings.
 
Religious Education for Children and Youth

Recruitment for teachers and workshop leaders is in full swing.Ours is a cooperative RE Program, which requires all parents/guardians to volunteer. (Yes, that means you!) We greatly welcome those without children as well. What a fantastic way to engage with our Beloved Community! Contact Dolores for details on how to get involved.

For information about our Religious Education programs for children and youth, go to www.all-souls.org/re. To receive an RE newsletter with up-to-date happenings, contact Director of Religious Education for Children and Youth Dolores Miller (dmiller${"["}@]allsouls.ws)
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Children's Choir

All Souls Children's Choir seeks new members!
The All Souls Children's Choir is looking for singers ages 6-14 to join us for another fun season of music-making! The choir rehearses weekly on Tuesdays, 6:30-7:15 pm, and performs roughly every six to eight weeks during the church year. The group has sung in six languages and has participated in collaborations with all of our adult ensembles and the Bokamoso Youth Choir from South Africa. In addition to singing in worship, the group learns basic music skills including rhythmic notation, solfege, sight singing, and singing in harmony. Click to listen to their performance of "Tell the World" at last spring's Prism Concert! (Link here to attached recording) Our first performance of the year will be at the Blessing of the Animals service on Sun., Aug. 28. For more details or to sign up, please contact Director of Music and Arts Jen Hayman (jhayman${"["}@]allsouls.ws).


Religious Education for Adults

Jubilee Anti-Racism Training is back at All Souls. Participants will develop a shared analysis of racism and its individual, institutional, and cultural manifestations with other members of the community. They'll also see how to can apply what they learn to our community and the wider world. Cost $160. Register online: http://bit.ly/sept-jubilee. Sept. 16-18.

Bible Book Group. Although the Bible is a foundational work of Western culture, many of us are confused by its contradictory messages and voices. Following last year's discussion of the Hebrew scriptures, this year we will discuss Christianity's canonical scriptures, the 27 books from the Gospel of Matthew to the Book of Revelation. As "spiritual archeologists," we'll explore these 1st-century characters and stories for 21st-century resonance, without deference to dogmatic interpretations, but with help from diverse theologians and historians. Mostly, we will enjoy the probing company of fellow UU seekers. All are welcome to drop in on any or all discussions. The only required text is a Bible of any version; a schedule of weekly texts is available and we encourage participants to read them before discussion meetings. For more information, contact Dana E. Connors (dana.e.connors${"["}@]gmail.com) or Jos� Luis S�nchez (jl.sanchez${"["}@]verizon.net). No fee. Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30 pm, Sep. 20, 2016, to May 30, 2017
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Adult OWL: Let's talk about sex and sexuality. Using the UU's "Our Whole Lives" [OWL] curriculum for adults, we've planned a series of discussion sessions and classes throughout the 2016-17 church year. Join us for the following opportunities to ponder and discuss sexuality in our lives and community today.

Fall 2016, single sessions (2.5 hours) on Sundays after second service:
  • Sep. 18: Intro session. (Prerequisite for participating the follow-on sessions.)
  • Oct. 16: (Topic to be determined following intro session.)
  • Nov. 13: (Topic to be determined following previous session.)
Winter/Spring 2017 (dates to be announced)
  • OWL for Adults course (6-8 weeks)
  • Single-session opportunities
OWL leadership training. We are looking for additional people interested in getting trained to be OWL leaders. Next opportunity: August 26-28 at Cedar Lane UU (Bethesda). Register here.

Summer Choir

This July and August the All Souls Summer Choir will provide music for services on four Sundays (July 17 and 31, and August 14 and 28). The other Sundays will be covered by special ensembles. All interested singers 8-years-old and up are welcome to participate on any or all of the Summer Choir Sundays. Choir membership is not required. The Summer Choir meets on performance Sundays at 9:00 am to rehearse for the 10:15 am service. We do our best to choose music that is relevant, learnable in one rehearsal and fun to sing. Come join in the singing and get or stay involved in this part of the All Souls ministry.
 
Opportunities

Sing in a choir. Help decorate the church. Visit fellow congregants to discuss their commitment to All Souls. Become a church leader. Host traveling UUs in your home. Find these and other opportunities on our website.

Take an important leadership role in our church.
The Board is responsible for the church's governance and direction of the affairs. Trustees and officers give of their expertise, commitment, and time to ensure that All Souls continues to be the beloved community we all know, value, and love. Want to learn more or apply? Go to www.all-souls.org/2017-leadership-application or contact Leadership Development/ Nominating Committee Co-Chairs Jen duMond ([email protected]) or Liz Coit ([email protected]).
Deadline to submit applications to be nominated as a Board trustee (four openings) or church assistant treasurer in 2017: Friday, August 26.

The Sunday Lunch Ministry needs YOUR help! We are holding a luncheon to celebrate the start of the new church year, and need folk to help with every step of the process. From chopping, baking, serving, and cleanup, we hope you'll share this day with us. Sign up here.

Podcast setup experience needed. Contact Gary Penn ([email protected]; 202.517.1465). 

Budget

Dear All Souls Church committee chairs and committee members,

We're reaching the time of year when church committees submit budget requests for the next calendar year. As we do so, it is important to recognize both the churches accomplishments and challenges. All Souls continues to be a welcoming place for newcomers and a spiritual home for its many members, with programs that support causes and communities near and dear to our hearts, all in a newly modernized building that will serve us well as we enter our third century. Yet, even though membership steadily grows, the number of pledges is declining, and last year income from pledges was flat. This, as we approach 2017 and the beginning of payments to repay money we borrowed to help renovate the building.

We will try to increase pledges and church rental income, but until we get back on sure footing, we should seek to reduce or maintain expenditures in 2017. Therefore, we ask that you minimize budget increases for your committee. If you do request additional funds, please clearly explain what they are for and how you'll cover the increase.

You'll find the budget calendar and request form at all-souls.org/governance-finance, under "Financial Forms."

Thank you,
John Strongman, Treasurer and Finance Committee member.

All Souls Church Unitarian
1500 Harvard Street NW, Washington DC 20009
202-332-5266 | [email protected] | www.all-souls.org
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