Sunday, August 14, 10:15 a.m.

"Summer's Cauldron" Sermon by Rev. Aaron McEmrys, Senior Minister It's amazing how things grow in the summer. A kind of feverish abundance takes over that can be both exhilarating and enervating. In this way seasons of growth in our lives can be almost as challenging as seasons of fallow. What to do with all this *life*? Live-streaming of the service is at www.uucava.org.

Not able to make Sunday's service?

You can catch the service live beginning at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday on our church website at  www.uucava.org. To watch recordings of past services 24/7, click on the "Archives" tab -- THEN at the bottom of the video video slide the bar to the right to view the video list.

Designing Worship at UUMN

This year's conference, held at First Unitarian Society in Madison Wisconsin, focused on collaborative worship design -- how to intentionally design worship with music to enhance the worship experience for our congregations. The Worship Design Team -- selected through application -- included a minister, a music director, a religious educator and a lay leader. I was thrilled to learn that our own Rev. Aaron was selected to be part of this team!

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Spreading the Love

Have you picked up the latest Heart Balm cards yet? These little cards have messages of love, hope, and compassion printed over beautiful images that help convey the messages. The images were painted by UUCA artist Meika Ungricht. The cards are meant for handing out -- to spread the message of love -- a message our world needs to hear more than ever. You can certainly share them with those that are close to you, but please also pass them out to that stranger passing by -- or leave a few in the doctor's waiting room or leave with your tip at the restaurant -- you get the idea. It's a simple act love that sends a powerful message.  

Gathering of the Waters Service - September 11

ASPAN, ALIVE!, AFAC

July GTP - Thank you!

Attention Back-to-School Shoppers

If you are using Amazon.com for any of your back-to-school shopping (or any other shopping), please be sure to go through the AmazonSmile program and choose "Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington" as the charitable organization. The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate to the church 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible purchases. Please note, these donations are not tax deductible and not part of your annual pledge. 

Fall OWL Registration 

Registration for UUCA members for 5th and 8th grade OWL (Our Whole Lives sexuality education) is now open.   Fall OWL registration HERE. 

Mandatory OWL Parent Orientation Dates

In order for your child/youth to participate in the Our Whole Lives sexuality program, parents must attend one of the orientation sessions. 

 

5th Grade OWL

• Sunday, Sept. 11, 4-6 p.m. 
• Wednesday, Sept. 14, 7-9 p.m. 

You can find more information about the OWL program here.

Annual UUCA Auction

Join the Team!

Telling our story . . . Track it forward

Happy Wednesday everyone! The summer is flying by and we are getting closer to an exciting new church year. One of the things I am really excited about is celebrating all of the activities that this community engages in each and every week. Over the past several months, a few people have been utilizing a pilot application to track volunteer time. The feedback has been great and we have decided to move forward using this during the next year. The platform is called "Track it Forward". This technology will enable everyone who volunteers to record their time and activities. We can tell the story of the wonderful things happening here in our community!

Let me give you an example. We currently have 34 volunteers registered. Out of those 34, since February there have been 492.5 hours reported. If we calculated this value it would be $12,849.33 (based on Virginia wage values given by www.independentsector.org/volunteer_time). 

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Fellowship X Friday Night - August 12, 7:30 p.m.

Fellowship X will gather for a collaborative dinner-making in the Fellowship Hall kitchen. Dinner will be a baked potato bar with a variety of toppings. Please join in for prep and sharing beginning at 7:30 pm. Donations to cover cost appreciated.  Fellowship X is a social and spiritual fellowship serving Generation X (those born in the '60s and '70s).  For more information on the group, please visit their "meetup" page at  http://www.meetup.com/Fellowship-X-NoVa/ . 

UUCA's Happy Hour - Wed., Aug. 17, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Wow - summer is almost over! During these dog-days of summer, let's get together for one more happy hour before our fall schedules kick in. Join us for a refreshing brew, bubbly, softy -- whatever is your favorite, bring it to share -- and plan to chip in for pizza. See you there!

Sunday Morning Volunteer Opportunities

Greeters Sarah Munson and Mary Ellen Zipper invite you to join the Sunday morning volunteer team

Greeters, ushers, coffee servers and more! Whether you're outgoing or reserved, like to come early or like to stay late, a fan of regular schedules or ready to step in at the last minute, we have a role for you on Sunday mornings. Contact  [email protected]. 

Photo by Thibeaux Lincecum

Dishwasher Training -  Sunday, August 14

Covenant Groups - Beginning Soon!

UUCA's strong commitment to small group ministry has enriched hundreds of lives through our Covenant Groups. These small groups of 8 to 12, meet regularly throughout the church year and are led by trained facilitators. UUCA's Covenant Groups offers you the chance to connect, grow deeper, and offer service back to the community. Newer UUCAers form meaningful connections with others; longtime members enjoy exploring new learnings and deepening relationships.

Last year, many of our groups followed a series called Soul Matters. Rev. McEmrys' sermons follow the themes, and the readings, resources, and spiritual exercises are made available to UUCA's Soul Matters Covenant Groups. Other Covenant Groups follow their own readings or themes.

Online registration begins September 1. A registration table will be in Fellowship Hall after the services on September 11 and 18.

Covenant Group Facilitators Needed

We are accepting applications for Covenant Group facilitators for the new church year. Training is provided by the ministers. If you are interested, please contact [email protected].

VASES, VASES, VASES

Fall Retreat -- There's still time to sign-up!

Thinking of signing up for the fall retreat but afraid it is too late? Good news! It's not too late. This Sunday, August 14, members of this year's Fall Retreat team will be in Fellowship Hall after the service to take registrations and answer any questions you may have.   If you are already signed up,  you will soon get a letter telling where to mail your payment. If you are interested in registering and not unable to make it to church in August, you can contact Sandy Finley at [email protected] or 703-350-3848.

Come From Away - Tuesday, Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m.

DIG Meeting Aug. 17  |  Next Workday August 27

A huge THANKS to Bob Blinn (pictured) and Jennifer Frum -- two of our intrepid DIG (Do It Green) Team members who beat the heat early this morning when participating in today's workday. To encourage the growth of more native plants, they patiently pulled invasives  throughout the property. Regular workdays are held on the second Thursday and fourth Saturday of each month -- between 9 and 11 a.m. during the summer.  The next workday is on Saturday, August 27. It's a great opportunity to work with your hands and truly touch the earth. Church groups and families are welcome. If you are interested in grounds planning or sharing your ideas, please plan on attending their next meeting on Wednesday, August 17, 3 p.m. in the Volunteer Room. For more information, please contact Jennifer Frum at [email protected].

A Moral Revival is Coming to D.C. August 28 -- UUCA will be there!

The Rev. Dr. William Barber, North Carolina NAACP President, who gave one of the most memorable speeches at the Democratic Convention, will be in Washington at the end of the month bringing the Moral Revival message to our national leaders. Rev. Barber, along with partners Sister Simone Campbell of Nuns on the Bus fame, and Rev. Dr. James Forbes, will speak at the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church, 3000 Penn. Ave., SE, DC, on Sunday, August 28, 5 to 6:30 p.m.  Rev. Linda urges everyone not to miss this opportunity to join her for an experience not to be missed. If you'd like to join those who have already signed on to attend, contact [email protected] today!  We're organizing carpools - and may even rent a bus if enough of us decide to go!

Rev. Barber speaks at the DNC Convention More about the Moral Revival HERE

Finding Common Ground to End Gun Violence - Sat., Sept. 17, 6-8:30 p.m.

"Get On The Bus" - Take Action for Justice on October 16!
Do you care about issues such as gun violence, affordable housing, racist bullying, and school overcrowding? Will you help create inclusive and safe communities in Northern Virginia and ensure that our lower-income, African American, Muslim, and immigrant neighbors do not suffer injustice? If so, then join 225 UUCA friends to create a force of voices 1500-strong to challenge our state and local elected officials to support a bold VOICE justice agenda.

There is something in the very nature of my freedom 

that inclines me to love, to do good,

to dedicate myself to others.

-- Thomas Merton

VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement) is a non-partisan coalition of almost 50 faith communities and civic organizations in Northern Virginia working together to build civic power in middle and low-income communities.