UUCA Newsletter - Connections

Join Us for Worship this Sunday

Sunday, January 14, 9:15 & 11:15 a.m.

Strength to Love

Please join us this Sunday when we welcome to our pulpit The Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker, President Emerita, Starr King School for the Ministry and Theologian in Residence, All Souls Church Unitarian, DC .

Livestream

Church Matters

Note: Monday, January 15 - UUCA offices and building will be closed in observation of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

What Are We Celebrating on February 4?

In early 1948 a group of Arlingtonians and the denomination agreed, that there would be a Unitarian Church of Arlington County, and groundbreaking for the first church building, later Reeb Hall, occurred later that year. On February 4, the Annual Giving Team has planned a Celebration Sunday to kick-off the annual campaign and to acknowledge the 70 ^th anniversary of this church. We’ve planned a full day of food, music, fellowship and fun--see the schedule of events here. We hope all congregants will come for at least some part of the celebration.

A way to honor our rich past is to ensure the future of UUCA. Before Celebration Sunday, each congregant will receive a pledge card in the mail. We’ve asked congregants to begin searching their intention regarding a pledge to the church for the fiscal year that begins in June. We encourage you to bring your pledge card with you to Celebration Sunday to honor our legacy and to make your commitment to UUCA’s future.

Pledge Intentions

During our January reflections on Intention, the annual giving team asks each congregant to consider their financial pledge to UUCA for next fiscal year. February is our congregation’s traditional time to ask each of you to formalize a pledge commitment for the 2018-19 fiscal year, which will begin on July 1, 2018. Later this month pledge cards will be mailed out. Is this your year to significantly increase your pledge commitment, as nearly 200 of you did last year? Is this your year to perhaps double your pledge, as more than 55 of you did last year? Is this your year to make a pledge commitment for the first time, as nearly 100 of you have done this past year? More information will become available over the coming weeks about the annual pledge campaign, but for now, please take some time in the next couple of weeks to search your intentions. UUCA depends on you.

Nominations Committee Seeks Nominees to the Board of Trustees

The UUCA Nominating Committee is in search of members to serve on the Board of Trustees as well as the Nominating Committee itself, all for two-year terms, starting in July 2018. If you are interested in learning more, nominating someone or nominating yourself, please stop by the Nominating Committee table between services on Sunday or contact any Nominating Committee member: Ben D’Avanzo, Liz Fuchs, Tina Hinh, James Tsai, or Bill Turner.

Read more here.

What's in store for UUCA in 2018?

All are welcome to join the Board of Trustees and other church leaders to hear about the exciting things in store for UUCA in 2018.

DATE: Saturday, January 27, 2018

TIME: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

LOCATION: Activity Room

Childcare will be provided. Please email Emily Goodin with questions: [email protected]

Lifespan Religious Education

CALLING ALL COOKS!

Time to stir the pot! Let's see who goes home a winner in this year's CHILI COOK-OFF! To enter the cook-off, please sign up here . All attendees get to judge the winners -- Mark your calendar for February 4.

All proceeds benefit the Youth Group and this year's mission trip.

RE Connect Newsletter

Discipline Workshop for Parents

Arlington Unitarian Preschool is offering a workshop (5-part series) on discipline. Reservations are not required. Workshop started January 10 and runs for five consecutive Wednesdays.

Session 1-Introduction to Discipline

Session 2-Structure and Routines

Session 3-Expectations and Incentives

Session 4-The Right Response

Session 5-Consequences

DETAILS HERE

Preschool Open House

Arlington Unitarian Cooperative Preschool ( AUCP) will hold its annual open house on Saturday, January 20 from 10 a.m. to Noon. Founded by UUCA members in 1969, the preschool has educated young children for over 45 years. The curriculum is child-centered, focusing on the process (exploration, experimentation, problem -solving) over the final product. As a true cooperative, parents work along with the teacher in their own child's classroom on a rotating basis, and participate in many of the administrative and maintenance functions of the school. UUCA members receive priority in the application process if they apply by Friday, February 2. For more information, visit the school’s website at www.aucpva.org, email [email protected], or call 703-892-3878.

Youth Ministry Training

UUCA is hosting a one-day Fundamentals of Healthy Youth Ministry Training in January. This is a shortened workshop of the week-long Fundamentals Training. It will cover the basics of safety and the web of youth ministry and address specific questions and challenges from the attending congregations. This training is for youth AND youth advisers. For more information and to register, click here.

Date: Saturday, January 20, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: Activity Room

Faith in Action

Peace Camp Registration Open!

This year's dates for Peace Camp are June 25-29 ($315) or July 2-6 ($265, no camp July 4). Rising K-6 graders are eligible to apply; rising 7-9 grades can be Counselors in Training (same fee, longer hours). Lunch is included! Before and after-care, as well as partial or full scholarships, are available (See [email protected]). UUCA Peace Camp volunteers will be at tables in Fellowship Hall from January 21 thru March 18 for more information or to register. To register on-line click HERE!

Thank you Secret Santas!

On Sunday, please be sure to check out the display of "Thank You" cards from some of our Secret Santa recipients--the display will be in Fellowship Hall.

Another VOICE Accomplishment in 2017: Get-Out-the-Vote Effort Most Successful in Virginia

One of the ironies of modern democracy is that people who most need attention from the system are often the least inspired to make their voices known: They’ve lost faith in the system. We’re happy to report that VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement) can now claim partial responsibility for the turn-out miracle last November. In what proved to be the largest Get-Out-the-Vote (GOTV) effort in the state, the week before the election 375 VOICE volunteers canvassed eight low-voting precincts in Fairfax and Prince William counties, both bellwethers for Virginia elections. The impact? Voter turnout, while it increased across the state, increased an additional 8 to 10 percent in all but two of the precincts where VOICE knocked on doors. We further discovered that VOICE canvassers were more than twice as successful in the number of commitments (to vote) they received from residents during their canvassing forays than typical GOTV efforts are. VOICE’s nonpartisan philosophy was key. Canvassers reported that voters expressed appreciation that they weren’t being told how to vote, just that voting was in the best interest of their families and communities. VOICE is already planning efforts for 2018. This is what democracy looks like!

African American Book Sharing Group

We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates is our focus for the January African American Book Sharing Circle on Friday, January 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the Welcome Room. This collection of essays previously published in The Atlantic is organized chronologically during the span of Barack Obama’s term as President of the United States. We have the advantage of reading these essays in the context of time and change: Coates writes these essays in the immediate present; what do we think of them in the context of what has happened since? If you have questions or need more information, please contact Pat Findikoglu, [email protected] or Linda Lutes-Corsoro, [email protected].

Date: Friday, January 19, 7:30 p.m.

Location: Welcome Room

Music Ministry

Lend your voice to justice

You don't want to miss being part of January's POP-UP Choir. The Choir sings on January 14 (MLK Sunday). The special music will have a civil rights and social justice theme. Come and lend your voice to justice! Anyone can sing in UUCA's POP-UP Choir. No auditions, no music experience needed, no long-term commitments. Just drop in on the second Sunday of the month. We gather early (8:00 a.m.) to learn one or two easy-to-learn songs and then perform them that same morning in the services. Questions? Contact Mimi Bornstein , [email protected] .

Date: Sunday, January 14, 8 a.m.

Location: Sanctuary

UUCA Host to Opera NOVA Concert

“Celebrating African American Opera Singers Past and Present”

UUCA is thrilled to be hosting this concert that honors Martin Luther King Jr. and shines light on the African American Opera World--past and present. The concert includes a recollection of the musical career of Coretta Scott King, soprano. The highlight will be performances by today’s rising and accomplished African American vocalists: Joyce Lundy, Elise Jenkins, Jackson Caesar, Dei Nikoi, and Marcel Sawyer. Tickets $10. Email [email protected]. Informational flyer here.

Date: Sunday, January 21, 3 p.m.

Location: Sanctuary

Congregational Life

Men's Book Group

The Men's Book Group will meet in January to discuss The Sellout, a novel by Paul Beatty that won the 2016 Man Booker Prize for fiction. The author, a 54-year-old New York resident, born in Los Angeles, is the first American to win the prize in its 48-year history. For more information about the group, please contact Ken Marshall, [email protected].

Date: Sunday, January 14, 7:30 p.m.

Location: Chapel

New UU Class

This class is a great opportunity to learn the history and theology of Unitarian Universalism. UUism is a way of thinking and being in the world. It is a faith discipline, enriched by faith traditions, that forms the foundation for a way to live this life. This class is also part of the path to membership at UUCA. Childcare is available. Class is free and includes breakfast. Questions? Contact [email protected] .

Date: Saturday, January 20, 9 a.m. to noon

Location: Chapel

Young Adult Sunday Brunch

The Young Adults will meet for brunch after the second service on Sunday, January 14. Ages 18-35 are welcome. You don’t need to bring a thing. The group will discuss and plan activities for the coming year. We want your input, so please don't miss this Sunday!

Date: Sunday, January 14, 12:30 p.m.

Location: Activity Room

Beer, Pizza, and Questions About the Universe

Folks between the ages of 21 and 35 are welcome to join the Young Adults for beer, pizza, and questions about the universe on Tuesday, January 16, from 7 to 9 p.m., in the Center. The event is BYOB--bring your own beer, but the pizza will be provided. We discuss topics ranging from politics, to science, to philosophy. Every time the topic is different but the discussion is always interesting.

Date: Tuesday, January 16, 7 p.m.

Location: Center

Happy Hour

The UUCA Nominating Committee will host our January Happy Hour. All are welcome. You’ll have a chance to learn about General Assembly (GA), the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association. Come and chat with former delegates about the ins and outs, the joys and rewards of attending GA—in person or as an offsite/online delegate—and learn more. Some food and drink will be provided for the reception. Please bring more (beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks). Mark your calendars and join us!

Date: Wednesday, January 17, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Location: Fellowship Hall

Photo Directory

Photography appointments are still available for next week and we’ve added Feb 1-3. You can sign up here or at the table in Fellowship Hall on Sunday. Questions? Contact [email protected].